“Super heroes don’t exactly have the best mortality rate. Remember what happened to the last Spider-Man?”
The Ultimate Goblin versus The Ultimate Spider…Men? What’s going on here???
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Artist: David Marquez
Color: Justin Ponsor
Lettering: VC’s Cory Petit
Cover Art: David Marquez with Justin Ponsor
Assistant Editor: Emily Shaw
Editor: Mark Paniccia
The Story: Katie runs home crying, confessing to her sister that Miles is Spider-Man. Miles, in the meantime is facing off with his predecessor’s killer. Things look dire for Spidey until Spidey shows up?!?!
Thoughts: Man, did this seem like a quick read, heightened by the fact that there were two scenes this issue. Now, that doesn’t mean it wasn’t enjoyable, just that there wasn’t as much to chew on this month.
Kicking off the issue with Katie, we get the first glimpse of her home life in this series. Apparently, she’s got an older sister and they both have an ominous feeling about their parents finding out that Miles is Spidey. When I say ominous, my take was that it was something along a more sinister line than just a disapproval of super heroes. I’m not that familiar with Katie’s 616 counterpart, only knowing that she takes on the mantle of Hawkeye at one point, so this angle definitely has me intrigued, especially with her sister saying the best thing would be for a super villain to kill Miles.
The rest of the issue primarily takes place back in Peter’s old neighborhood, with a few reaction shots from the cast. Say what you want about the Ultimate version of the Green Goblin, but there is a great tension derived from Marquez’s art when you compare Norman’s bulking, Hulk-like size to Miles’ more diminutive form. I definitely feel concerned for Miles in this circumstance, especially knowing that main characters aren’t guaranteed safety in this universe. Marquez also continues to sell the emotional beats with his art in the Katie scene. I just love the way his characters emote. This guy would crush it on a big Top 10 book.
Bendis sets up a little more intrigue whilst stretching out his other mysteries as well. We get no forward motion on the Fly Twins or any further understanding on whether this is the real Peter back from the dead, a clone, or something else entirely. For all I know, he could be from a spider-verse similar to the Ultimate one. Whomever he is, he makes a great entrance against the Goblin. Norman’s consternation is great and gets magnified when he faces Miles’ venom blast. The Spidey titles are at their best when they mix drama with humor and Bendis has never had a problem doing that on this book.
The creative team put out another enjoyable, albeit brief, issue, and I’m looking forward to next issue where we’re promised only one of the two Ultimate Spider-Men shall rise!
My Grade: B+
Javi’s Huh?: Where are Aunt May and Gwen living these days? I’m assuming they are no longer staying at the old home that’s up for sale where the fight is taking place. The previous issue showed the house dark and May and Gwen are watching the fight unfurl on tv in a brightly lit room in this issue.
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Scarlet Spider, I think Marquez does fine with it, but since he’s giving Peter the old hairdo, I’d like to see him go more Bagley with the eyes. Not as crazy as when Lafuente did it, but definitely more in a late 90s style than 60s.
I will feel very bad for Aunt May, if this Peter is not real.
don’t like the wait for #5. the shear speed at which kitty told his secret agh this is why men bottle things up, if you can’t trust yourself with a secret then you can’t trust anyone else. i liked the battle between miles and the goblin ‘thats for peter parker, if peter parkers still dead, if not cool moment ruined’ the audience is getting teased. i am enjoying this, (maybe) peter showing up get where people are coming from in that it cheepens ultimate peters death but 1/6th of the worlds population like a good resurrection story.
I really like miles as a character. My complaint is that most of these issues are nuggety, quick read issues. It is like paying for a regular ice cream come and getting a junior cone; there just isn’t a lot there.
A good action focused issue. My only complaint is that Marquez’s version of the classic costume looks a bit off, it’s far from being a terrible rendition of the costume, it just doesn’t look as well drawn as Miles costume.