Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #3 – Review

Don’t Stop Believin’, Miles will be behind the mask soon enough. However, our new Ultimate hero doesn’t need a mask to save lives as he gets his first taste of heroics in this issue. Miles doesn’t dig his new powers too much, but he is enjoying the new responsibilities that come with his enrollment at the Brooklyn Visions Academy… at least until the events of the Ultimate Death of Spider-Man catch up to Miles and the other students at the school. Join me now as Miles continues his journey towards super hero-dom.   

Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man #3

Writer: Brian Michael Bendis

Artist: Sara Pichelli
Colors: Justin Ponsor
Lettering: VC’s Cory Petit
Cover: Kaare Andrews

Plot: Miles Morales is reading in his bedroom when his best friend Ganke busts in. Ganke demands that Miles show him his ability to stick to walls, which Miles obliges him by clinging to the ceiling. The two friends discuss the origin of Miles’ abilities and Ganke assures his friend that he is not a mutant, having gained his powers from the spider bite. Against the wishes of his father, Miles and Ganke visit his Uncle Aaron to learn more about the mysterious spider.

The next day, the duo arrive at Uncle Aaron’s apartment, only to find it empty. Miles wonders if the spider did belong to his missing uncle. On the way home, Ganke tells Miles that he needs to test his powers. Soon after Miles shoots down the idea, fire trucks scream down the street. The teenagers come across a burning building; a lady cries for help.

Ganke convinces Miles to help, despite the firefighters standing in his way. Miles leaps over the crowd and scales the side of the building to reach the victim. The frantic lady refuses Miles’ help, so the novice hero pulls her from the window and tosses her to the safety cushion below. Miles crawls into the building, much to the onlookers’ astonishment, and emerges in a few minutes with a small child. Miles hands the young girl over to the authorities and flees the scene before they can get any answers out of him.

Ganke finds a distraught Miles in an alley. Miles ignores Ganke’s praise and tells him that he isn’t a hero and there’s already a Spider-Man. Miles tells Ganke he’s done with the heroics and his secret must stay between the friends.

Later at the Brooklyn Visions Academy, Miles and Ganke meet their new roommate, Judge. The trio spends their time attending classes, enjoying lunch with friends, and reading in their room. One night, Miles has a nightmare in which he dreams that Electro has come to kill Spider-Man. He wakes himself and his roommates. At the same time, a school counselor enters their room to gather all the students in the school’s gym. The administrators tell the school that there is an emergency involving a superhero war at the Queensboro Bridge. While not all the information is revealed, Miles and the rest of his classmates are told that Spider-Man has been shot.

*

Trial by Fire: Why does it seem that a burning building is always the perfect test for Spider-Man? Miles Morales is tasked with rescuing victims from a roaring fire, and he does a great job in his heroic debut. I liked the way Miles handled himself. His first rescue seemed a little reckless when he simply tossed the lady from her window, but that was a good way of illustrating the teen’s inexperience. He does a great job, however, by going deeper into the inferno to save the little girl. I’m glad they added that extra part to give Miles a more touching rescue.

Pichelli’s art did a great job of adding depth to the interaction between Miles and the girl. I liked how the girl clung to Miles’ shirt after he turned her over to the female officer, and the modest, bashful look Pichelli gave Miles. The affectionate moment really cemented how good a person Miles is and gives me hope that he’ll be a good hero. Pichelli has being doing a great job as the main artist in this relaunch. I’m a big fan of all of the subtle comic book nods she adds to the artwork, such as Ganke’s super hero shirts and messaging avatars, as well as the Captain America shield logo on the blanket Miles wrapped the little girl in.

*

Arrival: Whether Miles wants to admit it or not, he is growing into a hero. And whether the fans want to admit it or not, he’s growing into Spider-Man. I’m a little annoyed at how often Bendis reminds the reader that Miles is here to stay as Spider-Man. Characters are constantly calling Miles and his heroics “amazing,” and Ganke keeps telling Miles – and the reader – “You’re Spider-Man.” After Miles saves the day, one of the cops tells his buddy, “I told you Spider-Man was black.” However, I am happy to see that Miles is beginning to dream about Spider-Man’s bad guys coming for him.

I’m glad that we have finally gotten to the point when Peter Parker was shot because I think it’s about time we see Miles actually take over the mantle. I was disappointed that Miles found out the news while in school because I expected him to be a bit more involved with Peter’s death,  possibly by being in the crowd when his predecessor falls or by having Pete save his life at some point. I hope we get a bit more insight into Miles reaction in the next issue because, after he so adamantly opposed the idea of being a hero and fighting crime, why would he suddenly change his mind when he realizes how dangerous it can be? As Ganke pointed out, Miles doesn’t even have his signature spidey webs yet. My guess is that the web shooters designed by Tony Stark will be coming in handy soon.

Miles and Ganke finally begin their education at the Brooklyn Visions Academy, and I like that they chose to illustrate the first few days or weeks at the school as a montage to show them getting accustomed to their new lives. It will be interesting to see how the school and roommates will effect Miles’ career as a young superhero. I don’t understand why Ganke would just blurt out “Do you have super powers, too?” to their new roommate, Judge, when he shows up. I would think Miles would be a little annoyed.

*

Departure: I was a fan of the trusting friendship Miles had with Ganke in the last issue, but now I wouldn’t be surprised if this secret will strain their friendship. I did not appreciate how pushy Ganke has become in this issue. I think their differing views on having special abilities will serve as an interesting conflict between these two characters. Ganke doesn’t really seem to have Miles’ best interests in mind when he keeps suggesting that Miles try out his powers. Ganke even urges Miles’ to disobey his “lame ass” dad and visit his Uncle Aaron.

The most interesting story line in this series has been put on hold for now as Uncle Aaron makes a sudden departure from the story. This story angle seems rather important for the characters, so hopefully Aaron will be back sooner rather than later. I am happy to see that after his talk with his father Miles is beginning to distrust his uncle. Miles even begins to suspect that the spider which bit him belonged to Aaron and I hope that this will cause a bit more tension between the close relatives, especially when Miles learns of his uncle’s nighttime activities as a prowling burglar.

*

Rating: Good, art. Meh, characterization, story and writing. Poor, action. 3/5 Midnight Trains

“Remember that one time during the fight when it looked like you might actually win? No? Me neither.” – Marvel vs. Capcom 3
“Did I mention I beat up Firelord once? No, seriously. Firelord.” – Ultimate Alliance 2