Ultimate Spider-Man #122

Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Artist: Stuart Immonen
Inker: Wade von Grawbagder
Colorist: Justin Ponsor
Letterer: VC’s Cory Petit
Plot:At an undisclosed location, Peter Parker is suspended upside-down, unmasked, and chained by the Shocker, who’s threatening to kill him. His mind flashes back hours ago to his helping MJ with her news broadcast for her project when the Shocker made his exit from a bank. Peter suited up and engaged him in battle, but Shocker got the best of him and, tired of the constant humiliation, decided it was time to eliminate the wall-crawler from his life. Desperate to save Peter, MJ called Kitty (who was very surprised) for her assistance. Back to the present, Herman Schultz goes over how Roxxon, his previous employer, deliberately claimed ownership of his inventions, thus leading him to take on a life of crime. Peter again pointed out his lack of intelligence in using his brilliance (i.e. his vibration devices) to rob banks rather than do something more altruistic…and pays for it in vibro-shocks for being so “naive.” Meanwhile, MJ and Kitty take a chance on entrusting a cop at the NYPD who Logan (Wolverine) knows with his assistance (and confidentiality regarding his secret) in locating Spider-Man via the videotaped footage which MJ shot of his escape. At the same time, Herman’s now prepared to deliver the killing blow to Peter. However, the constant zapping eventually loosens the chains and Peter breaks free. Enraged, he wastes no time in returning the abuse inflicted in kind. Kitty arrives and masks him before the police burst into the warehouse.

Likes:

• Hilarious beginning with MJ and Peter; MJ’s Eddie Murphy impression was hiliarious DAMNIT!
• Good backstory for Herman, as well as Peter showing empathy for a guy who he’s always regarded as a “guy he beat up every other week”
• MJ and Kitty working together
• The pacing

Dislikes

• Repeated pacing from last issue (slightly)
• Kitty being stupid enough to take the video to the police (is there SOMEONE in Manhattan that doesn’t know Peter is Spider-Man?!)
• The amount of unmaskings in this book
• Yet another connection to Roxxon
• No visual flashback to accompany Herman’s lament

Rating: 4.5/5 Webs

Additional Notes:

As listed above, the format for this issue almost mirrors the last issue. It also seems reminiscent of a season one episode of Smallville called “Zero.” Like Peter, Lex Luthor is chained upside down and tortured and the story is told in retrospect. Also like the episode it shows personal growth in Peter Parker. In his own words, this is a villain he has easily dispatched several times since the series began with zero background. After hearing about his mistreatment at the hands of the corrupt Roxxon Company, he feels empathy towards Shocker. However, I feel that they took the Vulture’s origin from Marvel continuity and gave it to Shocker; like Schultz, Toomes had been robbed of both his share in the profits in his inventions as well as the patents. Still it makes sense in this case. Rather than let him be a one-dimensional character they added depth to his path in life; Nietzsche would classify this as an example of Bad Conscience; because Herman was screwed, he feels that he is within the right to cause as much punishment to whomever he chooses in order to feel justified and compensated. However, psychology 101 would determine this also as transferrence of aggression or displacement of anger.

What doesn’t work in this story is the naivete of Kitty Pryde to trust a police officer just because he’s had dealings with Wolverine. She doesn’t know the nature of their relationship, nor whether he can be trusted. All she knows is that she cannot hope to locate Peter without professional assistance. It’s also character development in regards to the Kitty-MJ relationship. They hate each other and yet they have to help each other since they can trust no one. Uhm, Aunt May anyone? She’s not technologically impaired and it’s not like she doesn’t have a radio at work.

Also it’s really book-ended since the entire discussion between Peter and Herman was about who’s the bigger idiot: the one who uses his powers altruistically, or the one who uses his gifts for monetary gain through dishonest illegal means? The last comment by that cop cemented it. As usual BMB’s writing is top notch and he pulls no punches, but (although I know it couldn’t be avoided) he unmasks Parker too much, thus lessening the anonymity he treasures. SHIELD or the NYPD will not always bail his butt out. In closing, Brian, please lessen the unmasking (if it can be helped) or just pull a Civil War. All in all however, great story.