Ultimate Spider-Man Reviews By Amy Kelly aka Spider-Woman

Ultimate Spider-Man Reviews
By Amy Kelly, HB56, and Den Dotson

Ultimate Spider-Man #11 "Discovery"
The Story: Peter decides to do a little sleuthing into the company that provides the surveillance equipment the Kingpin uses in his company. Peter's literally still stinging from the shock he got from Electro and he's replaying the fight over in his head. On top of that, a counselor from his school is interviewing what seems to be key students (Peter and Liz Allen) about how they are dealing with the recent battle of the Green Goblin and Spidey there at their school. The info that Peter gets from the surveillance website and emailed to a phony account he set up gets Spidey back into a battle concerning the Kingpin.
The Good: The cover was really good for this iss. It's like Bendis had read my last reviews! All it is a nice simple shot of Spidey clinging to the side of the building (almost a little too generic for what the issue was), but Spidey's head and feet break through those annoying margins on both sides of the cover! YES! Let's get rid of some of that unused space, guys! That whole scene with the school counselor was also pretty good. After walking out of her office, Peter thinks, "What was that all about? Was that for real? Or is someone--like, investigating the whole thing? And if they are--why are they talking to me? Do they know I'm Spider-Man?" For a counselor where a major costumed battle recently took place that was all over the news, the counselor didn't know a whole lot. Peter had to tell her that everyone knew that Gobby was Norman Osbourn. "Harry Osbourn...Harry Osbourn...that's the young man that doesn't go to school here anymore, right?" Yeah, she's really on the ball. I don't think she's on the total up and up and I think we'll be seeing more of her in a future iss or two. Spidey has homself a pretty tight little fight with one of the surveillance guys that are watching the Kingpin and his flunkeys. The entire battle takes place at the end of the iss (of course, got to have that bit of a cliffhanger) and we see the Enforcers return, minus one member. I recommend this iss just for that fight scene!
The Bad: MJ is still mad at Peter for breaking their date. I know teenagers can be fickle, but come on...how much real-time would one comic equal out to? I think the writers need to let this go and have MJ and Peter's awkward teenage relationship back. Let's dwell on something else!
The Ugly: The last couple of issues have been a little darker and less humorous. I think Ultimate Spidey is starting to lose his comic edge that we all know him for. Rating: This is a lot better than #10 was! |
Rating: I give this one out of four Spidey heads! But as bad as #10 was, you really need to read that one before you pick up #11. Most times, you can pick up a Spidey comic and get the story going, even if you've missed a few iss's. I suggest, really, starting back at #9, to be safe.
Reviewed by Amy Kelly aka Spider-Woman

Ultimate Spider-Man #10 "The Worst Thing"
The Story: Spidey's in the Kingpin's office, surrounded by the Enforcers once again and a new villian, Electro. Spidey is no match for the entire group at once, and after losing his mask, Peter sulks his way home. There, he and Aunt May have kind of a heartfelt, yet confusing, talk about the way life seems to end up being. Later on, we witness Fancy Dan (of the Enforcers) Spidey-mask wearing death at the hands of Wilson Fisk, who has the body dumped in the East River. The televised report of the body's discovery has the reporter trying to list Spidey as a suspect in the murder.
The Good: The cover's artwork of Spidey sitting on a lamppost. It has a nice halo effect around the light while fuzzing out the background, giving it almost a photo-quality. It's a well put together cover, even if it has NOTHING to do with the story itself. Also good is seeing the almost-confrontation between Aunt May and Peter. It's only three pages long but it gives a glimpse of the frail, unsecure Aunt May we all know. It's a nice little touch of nostalgia of the other SM titles from years past.
The Bad: I hate to say it, but damn near the entire iss was pretty bad, I think. There wasn't a whole lot of flow with the story this time, compared to issue #9. I was expecting a tighter story this time around, considering how good the last one was. The whole issue seems to stagger too much, and it doesn't REALLY seem to come together until the last 2 1/2 pages, where school is back in session. The students (including Peter and MJ) are discussing Nixon and why he recorded everything that went on around him, even if it incriminated him. The teacher says, "Nixon was a paranoid man. Not without reason, of course--the man certainly had his enemies in the world." When she asks why he was so paranoid, we see Peter mentally flash back to being in the Kingpin's office and realizing he's looking straight into a video camera. He answers the teacher, "...because he thinks he's untouchable." Teach thinks Peter's talking about Nixon.
The Ugly: Damn, not even any slightly funny liners from Spidey. But then again, this was a more serious iss. Besides that, Peter actually calls MJ "Mary" when she calls him on the phone. Mary? Since when is she Mary? Not an Mary Jane or even MJ? It was just lost on me. On top of that, Peter's whining about needing to somehow come up with a new mask. If it's that big of a deal, then HOW did he come up with the first one anyway? (I didn't read the origin of USM's costume.)It couldn't have been too hard if he was able to make the first costume.
Rating: Anyhoo, after all this, I give the month a rating of only
Spidey heads out of a total of four. The negatives outweighed the positives of the iss. It was a pretty big disappointment. Save your money and let this one be the issue you flip through in the comic book store while you're browsing.
Reviewed by Amy Kelly aka Spider-Woman

Ultimate Spider-Man #9
"Meet the Enforcers"
The Story: Spidey uses the Enforcers to track down the Kingpin, in looking for one hitman in particular, rumored to have worked for the Big Man. This hitman...the man who murdered Uncle Ben.
The Good: Bagley's artwork!!! I think Mark Bagley is one of the best Spidey artists in a long time. As far as the visuals alone, I think USM #9 has a great layout throughout the entire iss, which is only enhanced by Bagley's attention to detail on his panels. He and Bendis (the writer) are great together. During a stand-down between Spidey, the Enforcers and the FBI, one entire page is 12 individual shots, each getting closer and closer on the guns and eyes of those involved. Nice details here on Spidey's lenses. Also a nice touch was Peter and MJ agreeing to go out for the first time. One more little aspect I liked was Peter's first disagreement with JJJ on the one sided view of Spider-Man in the Daily Bugle. Peter wants more of a well rounded look to the articles but JJJ tells him, "People are sheep. They'll read what you give them." And in turn, believe what you give them to read.
The Bad: When MJ asks Peter out, we don't even get a line reminiscent of, "Tiger, you just hit the jackpot!" It would have been nostalgically-great (even a word?) to see Peter say something like that, since their roles were kind of reversed this time around. Instead, what does Peter utter? "So...just us? Like, just the both of us?" Real brilliant for a guy who hangs around a newspaper!
The Ugly: Friday night, Wilson Fisk is scheduled to be throwing a gala fundraiser in his office tower. That little bit of information was just GIVEN away to Spidey by Fancy Dan, one of the Enforcers, during his battle with the Web Head. This makes it way too easy for Spidey to track him down. Once there at Fisk's high rise, it's a snap for Spidey to sneak right in to his office. It would have been a little better to see Peter at the fundraiser, on assignment for the DB, giving him the opportunity to just watch things and chill for a little bit, instead of just jumping right into things. One other small detail I'm not too fond of...the vertical bars on the covers of the USM issues. This seems to confine the cover's action just a little bit. If the cover artists want to stick with this type of design, at least have a little fun with it once in a while. Remember how the Dark Phoenix broke the X-Men title with her bare hands? Remember how She-Hulk would interact with her audience? While covers are supposed to be representative of the action, usually at the end of the issue, this month's cover is like a detailed section of the last panel. It just seems to lack something.
Rating: out of four Spider-Man heads. If I had been reading this title from the beginning and knew more about the storylines and characters as they exist in the Ultimate-verse, I'd probably go four out of four.
Reviewed by Amy Kelly aka Spider-Woman

Ultimate Spider-Man # 8
PLOT: Spidey easily stops the Ultimate version of the Shocker from robbing an armor car. Peter hears the Daily Bugle is offering money for a picture of Spider-Man so he takes some of himself clinging to his basement wall. At the Bugle he sells a picture for fifty dollars but inadvertantly lands a job as the paper's web page master by overhearing and solving a problem with their internet site. Still haunted by the murder of Uncle Ben, Peter searches the internet for info on the killer and finds he was once a henchman of the Kingpin. Spider-Man has found his new target.
LIKES: Ultimate Spider-Man #8 $2.25. Second rate easily defeated Shocker: priceless. Portrayal of J. Jonah Jameson as not only a ranting hot head but a component newspaper man: priceless. Aunt May taking JJJ to task unheard over the phone: priceless. Bagley and Thibert's artwork throughout but especially in Peter's dream sequence: priceless.
DISLIKES: Can't find anything to dislike here now that the Goblin is out of the way. Getting around Norman Osborn knowing of Peter's powers from the get go is the only reason I can see for having the Goblin be an inarticulate zombie goon.
RATING: .75 out of 5 webheads for lack of any real drama and mainly because I don't want to get to free with the perfect scores.
Reviewed by HB56

Ultimate Spiderman #7-Secret Identity
Plot: This issue continues the first battle between Ultimate Green Goblin and Ultimate Spiderman. The issue opens where the last one left off with Spiderman hearing the Goblin growl out his civilian name, "PPPPPPRRRKKKEERRR". As Spidey is thrown through the air by the Goblin he gets his first test of his new webbing. The two battle in the skies and on the rooftops of the city until the NYPD get involved and corner the Goblin and Spidey on a bridge. Here Spidey tries to persuade the Goblin to stand down and give up. Instead the police open fire on the pair. Spiderman is forced to flee and the Goblin, shot multiple times, plunges into the water and disappears. Spidey is left with the mystery of how the Goblin knew his name. Meanwhile, back at the school, Harry Osborn tries with much babbling to convince people he knows who the Goblin is and that he came to the school to kill him.
Likes: As always in Ultimate Spiderman the artwork here was superb. Mark Bagley is going to be remembered as a high-mark in Spiderman artists for years to come. Much of the artwork leading up to this issue has been more subdued and indoors. Here with the introduction of an all-out battle the scene moves outdoors and into the skies. The setting made the feeling of a big battle even bigger. The use of the school as a starting point for the battle gave reflections from the news of recent school violence. What helped make the violence palatable was that it was superheroes not kids providing the danger. Brian Michael Bendis skillfully takes a very realistic setting and makes the fantasy of superheroes seem real in it.
The other "like" I couldn't go without mentioning is the scene near the end when Spiderman pleads with the police to let him save the Goblin after he falls into the water. Heroes and especially superheroes in the 21st century have become increasing borderline "heroic." You never know if Wolverine, for e xample, is going to save someone or murder them. Here Spiderman and to a greater degree Peter Parker is a hero in or out of costume. This is not to say he is portrayed as some caricature you can't believe in. No, rather he is an average teenager put into an extraordinary situation where he keeps his values and morals. This is a rare instance of true heroism in an increasingly jaded and cynical world. Moments just like this one are why I started reading comics when I was eight and are what keeps me reading now that I am a youngster of 35.
Dislikes: I had two small problems with this issue and they were small. First is the treatment of the NY police department. The police do not shoot first and ask questions later. When the police are forced to shoot someone it is followed by inquiries, reports, and tiresome investigations. Here the police are portrayed as unthinking, trigger happy thugs. This is an insult to our intelligence and to the police officers of the world. This is a cliche used in action-movies but one that Bendis usually avoids. Second, I disliked the way the scene at the end where Harry Osborn tries to tell someone that he knew who the Goblin was and why he attacked the school. In a crisis situation like this what he had to say would have been noticed and well-noted. Whenever there is tragedy the first question people want answered is: Why?
Rating: With strong action involving well crafted characterization and an incredible example of heroism... I would have to give this issue
out of 4 web heads...well done.
Reviewed by Den Dotson

Ultimate Spiderman #6
Plot: This issue is the first meeting between Ultimate Spiderman and Ultimate Green Goblin. The issue opens with J. Jonah Jameson scolding his staff for their lack of Spiderman coverage. This scene moves into Peter Parker (in his underwear no less) finishing development of his fathers web-fluid formula.
The answer just hits him. Then the rest of the issue takes place in Peter's school as first he falls asleep in class, then he quits "the team", witnesses the Goblin attacking the school, discovers changing into superhero duds is harder than it looks, and finally has his first battle with the Goblin.
Likes: Ultimate Spiderman has far and away been the best of the Ultimate line and at the moment has to be my favorite Spiderman title. Leading up to this issue the story has been very character driven, a quality noticeably lacking in the modern comic book, with a few exceptions.
This issue ends with the most action in this series to date. What's remarkable about it is even the action is character driven. Peter discovering that changing to Spiderman in a crisis is harder than ducking into the restroom makes for a very funny and "in-character" moment.
I wish Brian Michael Bendis' writing had this depth in Ultimate Team-Up.
The story overall moves from one scene to another with nice transitions and feels quite "movie-like" in its pace. The third definite "like" in this series, and really showing through in this issue is the artwork. Mark Bagley has given the characters an updated look without losing what made them who they were the first time around.
He does as well with the quiet conversation scenes as he does with the all-out action. The scene with Spiderman fighting the Goblin is perfect. From the opening shot of Spidey leaping over the kids heads to Spidey face to face with the Goblin at the end.
Dislikes: My major dislike would have to be inconsistency. I understand Marvel, and in particular Joe Quesada, wanting do unburden the stories of continuity to the past. However, the Ultimate line seems to not even be consistent with itself. If the Ultimate X-Men live in the same universe, wouldn't giant Sentinels walking the streets of New York be a bigger news story than Spiderman? Not to mention if the kids and a room full of scientists saw Peter Parker bit by the spider (mentioned again here), and his fellow students and the city of New York know him as a famous wrestler (also mentioned in this issue) wouldn't someone notice Peter's connection to all of the above? Continuity has become a bad word in recent months but comics, even when started over should stay at the very least consistent to themselves. Without these mistakes yanking the reader out of the story, Ultimate Spiderman would rise from a good read to a great comic.
Rating: I love the character driven writing and the introduction of super-heroic action in this issue. Also, I can't say enough about the fabulous artwork. The people who work on the Ultimates just need to read each others work and stay consistent within their own writing. I would have to give this issue
out of 4 web heads
Reviewed by Den Dotson

Ultimate Spider-Man #5
PLOT: The Osborn home is burned down and Mrs. Osborn killed by the hulking monstrosity from last issue. Then it is on to the one we all know. Uncle Ben is murdered by a burglar. Peter overhears the police saying he might be holed up in a nearby abandoned warehouse. Peter, as Spider-Man, goes after the burglar. After overpowering him he discovers it is the mugger he let get away last issue. Now understanding what Ben was trying to tell him about responsibility Peter vows to use his spider powers for the benefit and protection of everyone.
LIKES: Bendis and Bagley hit on all cylinders in retelling the meat of Spidey's origin. From the double page lay out of the murder scene to the stunning final page of MJ comforting Peter the emotional impact is powerfully strong throughout. The original had the narrator deliver the now famous great power, great responsibility line. Here, Peter reaches the conclusion himself to much greater effect, in not quite a word for word qoute from Amazing Fantasy 15. Besides an acknowledgement in the credits, Bendis gives a tip of the hat to Stan Lee by having Spidey mouth, "Mister, there is no place on Earth you can hide from me!" exactly as he did in the original. By the way, if there's a Captain Stacy in the Ultimate Universe is there a Gwen?
DISLIKES: Absolutley nothing in the Peter part of the story. But this Goblin stuff continues in a most umpromising vein.
RATING: out of 5. Even the Goblin nonsense can't detract from this issue.
Reviewed by HB56

Ultimate Spider-Man #4
PLOT: The explosion at Osborn Industries is all over the news. Peter's wrestling career comes to an end when he is accused of stealing the arena's petty cash. Lost in thought and full of self pity, Peter lets a purse snatcher run right past him. At home he's confronted by Uncle Ben and Aunt May concerning a sharp drop in his English grade. An arguement ensues and Peter goes to crash at Kong's house. Kong has a party and a tipsy Liz Allen comes on to Peter. Of course MJ sees this and runs off. Uncle Ben comes to retrieve Peter from the party. Ben proceeds to give Peter a lecture about talent and the responsibility to help people. Peter runs off. When he finally returns home he finds police cars and an ambulance outside.
LIKES: Bendis does a terrific job here portraying Peter's reaction to troubles. His inner dialogue moments before he allows the mugger to escape makes his inaction seem natural. The idea of Peter contemplating telling Ben and May his secret shows the strenght of their relationship and his decision to tell all at the end makes what we know to come all the more tragic. Peter's admission that he doesn't even like basketball and wrestling and his confusion about everything that's happen since the spider incident make for a great portrayal of teenage angst.
DISLIKES: If that hulking gargoyle lumbering around some ruins (Osborn Industries) is the new Green Goblin I'm not sure that's a good thing.
RATING: webheads out of 5
Reviewed by HB56

Ultimate Spider-Man 3
PLOT: Wearing a ski mask Peter starts wrestling anonymously to earn money to help Uncle Ben and Aunt May pay for Flash Thompson's medical bills. He leaves the money at their door with a note saying it is from faculty members who wish to help the Parkers. The wrestling manager gives Peter a uniform and dubs him the Amazing Spider-Man. Peter joins the school basketball team and uses his spider powers to dominate. Norman Osborn prepares to have himself injected with his own DNA to enhance his capabilities as the spider enhanced Peter's.
LIKES: Bendis continues to tweak the Lee/Ditko original in the right places. Having the wrestling manager provide Peter with a costume is a lot more plausible than having him sew one himself. Also, as a normal teenager would, Peter continues to use his powers to have fun and enchance his standing at school. The dialogue remains sharp. The scenes of Peter talking to his Aunt and Uncle from upstairs are clever and realistic.
DISLIKES: The origin arc starts to drag a little here. This book barely advances the story at all. Peter gets an uniform through wrestling and Osborn begins to experiment on himself. That's it. Next issue needs to bring a bigger payoff.
Reviewed by HB56

Ultimate Spider-Man 2
PLOT: Peter's developing spider powers cause him more problems at school. He spasms and crushes a desk in class. In gym he beans Flash Thompson with a basketball to protect Mary Jane from his advances. While protesting himself from Flash in an after school fight he breaks Flash's hand by blocking a punch. Thompson's parents threatened to sue Peter's aunt and uncle unless they pay the $2,500.00 hospital bill. Of course it will be very difficult for them to raise the money. Osborn gets his son Harry to invite Peter to his labs so one of his scientist, Dr. Otto Octavius can obtain a new blood sample. The sample reveals that Peter is not dying but has actually stabilized with an improved metabolism. Osborn decides the experiment needs to be replicated in a controlled environment on another human subject, namely himself.
LIKES: Again Bendis scores in his acurate portrayal of a 15 year old. Even though Peter is still discovering his powers and using them haltingly they already get him into trouble when he accidently breaks Flash's hand and Aunt May and Uncle Ben have to literally pay the price. Peter's outburst is beautifully done. You can feel for him as well as May and Ben. Bendis is right on the mark by not having Peter fully hide his powers at school. No 15 year old could resist the temptation, especially one as put upon as Peter. The introduction of Doc Ock is adds a bit of spice.
DISLIKES: Those upset by the lack of Spidey in the first issue are going to be doubly displeased here. Peter is no closer to donning a costume and fighting crime as he was at the end of last issue. This doesn't bother me at all since the character development going on here will make the future developments all the richer. One thing though, Peter will have to watch when he does adopt a secret identity as events at school and Osborn Industries will leave plenty of people with alot of information about Peter and his abilities. By the way does anyone else think Peter looks like Harry Potter here?
RATING: out of 5 webheads
Reviewed by HB56

Ultimate Spider-Man #1
PLOT: Brian Michael Bendis updates the origin of Spider-Man which originally appeared in Amazing Fantasy 15 and introduces the Ultimate Universe. While the outline of the story remains basically the same Bendis makes some subtle and significant changes. Instead of being bitten by a spider accidentley irradiated at a science exhibition here Peter is bitten by a spider which has been genetically altered by Osborn Industries. That's right, Norman Osborn plays a role in Spidey's origin. We also get Harry Osborn as an All-American jock who sort of befriends Peter but is unwilling to risk his social status to stop other jocks from tormenting him. Additionally Bendis has added a high school version of Mary Jane Watson who, like Peter, is a science geek, but hovers in between the world of the geeks and the cheerleaders. Here Uncle Ben and Aunt May are aging hippies. Of course Peter is still a science geek supreme and Bendis goes to great lengths to portray the torture Peter endures at the hands of Flash Thompson and a new character, Kong. The spider bite actually causes Peter even more torment at school. In fact Bendis goes to such lengths to develop characters that Peter comes nowhere near getting in costume in this issue. He does learn he has amazing strength, speed and agility and the ability to stick to surfaces. Also Norman Osborn at first wants Peter killed so the effects of the spider bite won't be revealed and traced back to his business. After discovering Peter's unusual abilities Norman decides it's better for his project if he just observes Peter as his first human test subject.
LIKES: You name it, I like it. Bendis seems to make all the right moves. The addition of Mary Jane is particularly welcome, especially in light of her mishandling and then "death" in the main books. The Norman Osborn angle adds a new dynamic to the story and puts Byrne's imposition of Dr. Octopus in the "Chapter One" origin to shame. This adds menace and intrigue to the story immediately. However the real attraction here is the beautifully written characters. Everything and everyone ring true. The bullying of Peter is almost unbearable to read but all too authentic. The budding and halting relationship between Peter and Mary Jane holds great promise. Already Uncle Ben and Aunt May are more fleshed out then they've ever been. Finally, I don't mean it as an afterthought but I'd be remiss not to mention the outstanding artwork of Mark Bagley and Art Thibert.
DISLIKES: There's nothing to dislike here unless you feel Amazing Fantasy 15 is sacrosanct and it is blasphemy to tamper with it. For those of you who might feel that way I would remind you that the Ultimate Universe apparently doesn't impact the Marvel Universe as we know it and the goal here, to attract new and younger readers, is a commendable one.
RATING: out of 5 webheads. A wonderful start to an exciting project. I can't wait to see where Bendis and Company go with this next.
Reviewed by HB56