Ultimate Comics: Avengers Vs. New Ultimates #4

DEATH OF SPIDER-MAN: Part Four

Writer: Mark Millar

Layouts: Leinil Yu
Finishes: Stephen Segovia & Leinil Yu
Inkers: Gerry Alanguilan with Jason Paz & Jeff Huet
Colorists: Sunny Gho
Letterer: VC’s Joe Sabino
Cover: Leinil Yu & Sunny Gho
Variant Cover: Bryan Hitch, Paul Neary & Paul Mounts

Spidey is caught in the crossfire of the Avengers/ New Ultimates brawl! So what happened right after the conclusion to both Ultimate Spider-Man #157 and Avengers Vs. New Ultimates #3? Check out the review for the answer.
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BANG! It figures that the weekend I decide to catch up on some gaming, television and reading, I fall behind and miss out on all the exciting news for Ultimate Spider-Man. By now everyone should know about the shot heard round the Ultimate world, as well as Axel Alonso’s follow up announcement that we’ll see a new character take up the mantle of Ultimate Spidey. In a spiffy new costume too. Exciting things ahead for Ultimate Spider-Man for sure. But for now, Pete’s in the crossfire of the Avengers and New Ultimates grudge match.

Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man #157

Writer: Brian Michael Bendis

Penciler: Mark Bagley
Inker: Andy Lanning
Colorist: Justin Ponsor
Letterer: VC’s Cory Petit
Cover Art: Mark Bagley & Justin Ponsor

Plot: Spider-Man swings away from the battle between the New Ultimates and Avengers. After having just been told that Norman Osborn is alive and loose, he has no other choice but to return home and make sure his family is safe. Osborn, along with five of Spidey’s most dangerous foes, is taking refuge in an empty apartment. The villains remark that they are fortunate to have escaped at the same time the battle is being shown on the news and then they discuss their next course of action. (more…)

Ultimate Comics: Avengers Vs. New Ultimates #3

DEATH OF SPIDER-MAN: Part Three

Writer: Mark Millar

Layouts: Leinil Yu
Finishes: Stephen Segovia & Leinil Yu
Inkers: Gerry Alanguilan with Jason Paz & Jeff Huet
Colorists: Sunny Gho
Letterer: VC’s Cory Petit
Cover: Leinil Yu & Frank Martin
Variant Cover: Frank Cho & Brandon Peterson

The Mission
Thor comes back to his and Jane’s apartment and as he gets into bed with her he tells her that Nick Fury has been behind this entire mess. (more…)

Finally, Mark Bagley has come back to Ultimate Spider-Man! And just in time for the Death of Spider-Man arc to kick off. My apologies to those who have been feverishly waiting for my opinion on the beginning of this much-hyped story, but I had some issues with my internet provider this weekend. I won’t name names, but they’re the reigning champions of the Consumerist’s Worst Company in America bracket. So anyways, here at last is the beginning of the Death of Spider-Man. If you smell what the Bagley is cookin… er, drawing.

Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man #156

Writer: Brian Michael Bendis

Penciler: Mark Bagley
Inker: Andy Lanning
Colorist: Justin Ponsor
Letterer: VC’s Cory Petit
Cover Art: Mark Bagley & Justin Ponsor

Plot: Norman Osborn is revealed to be alive, and in the custody of the world peace-keeping agency, S.H.I.E.L.D. Carol Danvers, the head of the organization, interrogates him and threatens him with a gun when he turns hostile. Norman backs down to Carol and later is visited by a psychiatrist while Danvers watches and speaks to him from a surveillance room. The director of S.H.I.E.L.D. authorizes an order to kill Osborn when he proves uncooperative. Enraged, Norman begins to transform into his monstrous alter-ego, despite any indication that the transformation would still be possible. (more…)

Ultimate Comics: Avengers Vs. New Ultimates #2

DEATH OF SPIDER-MAN: Part Two

Writer: Mark Millar

Pencils: Leinil Yu & Stephen Segovia
Inkers: Gerry Alanguilan with Jason Paz & Jeff Huet
Colorists: Sunny Gho
Letterer: VC’s Cory Petit
Cover: Leinil Yu & Frank Martin
Variant Cover: Bryan Hitch, Paul Neary & Paul Mounts

The Mission
The issue continues right where the last one left off with Nick Fury visiting the Punisher at the prison facility he is being kept at. Frank tells him he isn’t interested in working for his “assassination squad” but Fury makes a deal with him. (more…)

Hello. Is it the Ultimate Spider-Man Review you’re looking for? I can see it in your eyes. I can see it in your smile. This is all you’ve ever wanted, and the review is down below. I’ll admit, I stole that from somebody else. That’s not an entirely, original Brian-opening, but the review found below is totally 100% mine. Don’t judge this book by its cover though, cause the Sinister Six is nowhere to be found. You do get some good character build up before the upcoming “Death of Spider-Man” story though. So, enjoy.

Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man #155

Writer: Brian Michael Bendis

Artist: Chris Samnee
Colorist: Justin Ponsor
Letterer: VC’s Cory Petit
Cover Art: Oliver Coipel, Mark Morales & Laura Martin

Plot: Peter Parker has gone from the frying pan to the fire after he saved New York from Mysterio and the destructive Zodiac Key. This time, he has been fired from his fast food job in the mall’s food court. After a loud, humiliating public dismissal from work, Peter receives a call from J. Jonah Jameson. This is the first time he has heard from J.J. since the news editor discovered that Peter and Spidey were one and the same back in issue 13. Peter suits up in his Spider-Man gear and swings across town to meet Jameson at the Daily Bugle, all the while bemoaning his unfortunate Parker luck. (more…)

Hey, there. Do you wanna know how the Zodiac Key storyline finishes up in Ultimate Spider-Man? Yeah? Well I got that story for you right here. Wait, you say you don’t really care about that arc? All you care about is the Death of Spider-Man story that you’ve been hearing so much about? Well, sorry. You have to wait another issue before we get to that juicy story. In the meantime, here’s the conclusion to our prelude story. It was noted on the title page, in tiny fine print, that the events of this comic take place before the Ultimate Comics: Avengers vs New Ultimates #1 issue (reviewed by Nathaniel Collins here), which ties into the Death of Spider-Man, so make sure to check that out when you’re done here. Enjoy.

Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man #154

Writer: Brian Michael Bendis

Artists: Sara Pichelli, David Lafuente, & Elena Casagrande
Colorists: Justin Ponsor
Letterer: VC’s Cory Petit
Cover Art: SteveMcNiven & Dean White

Plot: Mary Jane passes by the Parker house as Gwen Stacy is leaving. The two girls share an awkward conversation about Gwen’s return and her recently-ended relationship with Peter. Gwen tells Mary Jane that Peter is off “being you-know-who” and training with Iron Man. A beam of energy shoots forth into the sky and Mary Jane wonders if it has to do with Peter. The girls share another uncomfortable moment when they realize they are clinging together. (more…)

Hello. I was only slightly kidding a while ago when I said that issue #150 of Ultimate Spider-Man was going to be a super-special, double-sized review. I thought I could fit this whole large $5.99 comic into one entry, but I sure was wrong. The extra section at the end of this issue, called the “Ultimate Spider-Man Super Special #1″ was way too large for me to add on to this one, so for now, you’ll just get the first part of this issue. Then later, after this weeks’ newest comics and reviews have been released and heavily commented on (at least the Amazing comic and Gerard’s review of it), I’ll sneak in the final part of this review. So let’s all hop in our collective DoLoreans and head back in time for part one of issue #150.

Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man #150

Spidey’s 150^th Anniversary Special

Writer: Brian Michael Bendis

Artists
Spidey & The Ringer: David Lafuente and Justin Ponsor
Carol Danvers & The Ultimates: Sara Pichelli & Justin Ponsor
Spidey & Iron Man: Joëlle Jones, Sunny Gho & Sakti Yuwono of IFS
Spidey & Captain America: Jamie McKelvie & Matthew Wilson
Spidey & Thor: Skottie Young & Jean-Francois Beaulieu
Letterer: VC’s Cory Petit

Plot: Spider-Man engages The Ringer after the hooped-hoodlum robs the Diamond Exchange. The Ringer tosses metallic hoops haphazardly in the streets and Spidey dodges them. Spider-Man gets tangled up in two of the projectiles and falls behind a vehicle. As the destruction escalates and the gathered crowd turns hostile, Spider-Man realizes it’s time to wrap things up. He slugs the bad guy and leaves him webbed to a burning tree in the sidewalk. (more…)

Ultimate Comics: Avengers Vs. New Ultimates #1

Previously in ULTIMATE COMICS: AVENGERS
The Avengers is a Black Ops Initiative lead by Nick Fury with Gregory Stark, Tony Stark’s brother, providing tech. (more…)

Hello. Looks like we’re caught up on our main story after skipping around for a bit (I still owe you a review of 150, but that doesn’t really deal with the current story arc so we can go back to that one at another time). If all the jumping around has confused you, you can get caught up using the reviews of the latest issues here and here. Good, now that you’re all brought up to speed, here’s your latest dose of Ultimate Spider-Man, with a little bit of Fight Club and Futurama mixed in for good measure.

Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man #153

Writer: Brian Michael Bendis

Artists: Sara Pichelli, David Lafuente, Lan Medina & Ed Tadeo
Colorists: Justin Ponsor
Letterer: VC’s Cory Petit
Cover Art: Ed McGuinness & Morry Hollowell

Plot: Years ago, in Cairo, Kingpin visited a contact named Yasif. Yasif turned over a wrapped item in exchange for enough money to make him the “King of Cairo.” Kingpin unveiled the ankh and is told by Yasif that the artifact “honors the request of its holder,” but those requests come with a price. Kingpin held the Zodiac Key and closed his eyes. When he opened his eyes he was horrified to see all men and structures around him destroyed as though in a nuclear explosion. He dropped to his knees and recovered the ankh he had dropped and flees, exclaiming “no one can ever have this.” (more…)

Hello! Thought I’d pull my head out of the stack of comics I am catching up on to bring you the not-entirely-latest-but-most-recent-I-have-finished review of Ultimate Spider-Man. No fear though, I have read issue #153 and will have that one geared up to deliver to you this weekend, followed by a super-special-magical-double-sized review of #150 (levels of superiority, specialty and magical-ness are subject to change). Somewhere in there will be the latest New Avengers review where (spoiler alert) Spidey is late in protecting another ally from harm! Oh noes! For now, let’s Prince of Persia this story and head back two issues with Ultimate Spidey.

Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man #151

Writer: Brian Michael Bendis

Artist: Sara Pichelli
Colorists: Justin Ponsor
Letterer: VC’s Cory Petit
Cover Art: David Lafuente & Justin Ponsor

Plot: One month ago, Black Cat is perched on a rooftop with the Kingpin in her gun’s sights. With his head in her crosshairs, she hesitated before pulling the trigger. A bolt of energy from somewhere within the office hits the Kingpin and the crime lord tumbled backward through the window. Black Cat watched in silent horror as his rotund body fell to the street. The murderer, seen now to be Mysterio, came to the window and Black Cat fled after taking one look at him through the scope of her gun. (more…)

Hello. Just wanted to say good luck and best wishes again to Jason Marsh Larouche who is off to influence the minds of our youth. His departure opened the door for me to slip in and take over the Ultimate Spider-Man reviews, so I will do my best to continue providing the quality reviews like Jason had offered this site for some time. I’m the first to admit that I am not the biggest Ultimate buff, I am currently making my way through the X-Men and Spider-Man TPBs, and after a rash spending spree at my local comic book shop, I’ve recently jumped into the current Ultimate storyline. I’m using Jason’s past reviews and the nice Teenage Wasteland podcast to answer any questions I may have, but please correct me if I ultimately botch anything. (pun intended.) In the meantime, we’re going to Benjamin Button these past three issues of Ultimate Spider-Man and end with the very large and very special issue #150.

Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man #152

Writer: Brian Michael Bendis

Artists: Sara Pichelli & David Lafuente
Colorists: Justin Ponsor
Letterer: VC’s Cory Petit
Cover Art: J. Scott Campbell & Justin Ponsor

Plot: Two weeks ago, Black Cat began staking out Mysterio in his new headquarters. Spider-Man swings by, unaware of her presence and proceeds into the hide out. Black Cat watches through her binoculars as Spidey takes a swipe at Mysterio, whose misty head disappears. Cop cars arrive outside the building before it explodes with both Spider-Man and Mysterio inside. Black Cat looks on in surprise as the hero is dragged out of the building by police officers. (more…)

Writer: Brian Michael Bendis

Art: Sara Pichelli
Colorist: Justin Ponsor
Letterer: JC’s Cory Petit

The night before, at the Triskelion, SHIELD Director Carol Danvers visits Peter Parker in his hospital room. While she believes his statement regarding the Chameleon twins, she confesses to always seeing him as a problem she inherited from Nick Fury’s administration. (more…)

Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Art: David Lafuente
Colors: Justin Ponsor
Letterer: VC’s Cory Petit

Exhausted from his crime spree as Spider-Man, Chameleon, hauling a wheel barrow of gold bars past a recently killed armored car driver, , reluctantly takes a few more mutant growth hormone pills, swearing he’ll kick the habit once he and his sister are out of the city. Iceman and Human Torch encounter him, demanding he takes off the mask. Chameleon quickly realizes they’re Johnny and Bobby from the house and removes the mask, still resembling Peter. While Johnny’s duped, Bobby isn’t. Chameleon then cops to it and swears to take them to their friend…then pulls out an AK-47 and opens fire. Bobby and Johnny easily melt and freeze the bullets, but then Chameleon unleashes an electric bolt from his hand, courtesy of those pills, and makes a getaway.
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Writer: Brian Michael Bendis

Art: David LaFluente
Colors: Justin Ponsor
Letterer: VC’s Cory Petit

Now in Peter’s Spider-Man costume and web-shooters, Chameleon muses about Parker’s genius and stupidity as he attempts to learn how to swing on webs…and fails numerous times despite the mutant growth hormones in his system. Elsewhere, Peter Parker wakes up to J. Jonah Jameson, the both of them tied down to chairs facing each other. Both are unaware of where they are. Jameson swears it wasn’t him that attacked Peter in the parking lot, then questions him as to why he was also abducted. Then he puts two and two together and figures out Peter’s secret; Peter warns him to keep it to himself in case whoever abducted them is listening.  Given that he can’t break free of his bonds, they both figure out they’ve been drugged. Jonah continues to dwell on his inability to see that Spider-Man was working under his nose and Peter’s anger escalates. (more…)

Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Art: David Lafuente
Colorist: Justin Ponsor
Letterer: VC’s Cory Petit

The Chameleon, in the guise of Peter Parker, rides back to Forest Hills with MJ via cab from the Daily Bugle. He makes advances on her, which she initially doesn’t object to, but comes to her senses for Gwen’s sake. He notes “you girls are all the same”, causing MJ to tell the driver to let her out, leaving him to figure out where to find Peter’s house. (more…)

Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Art: David LaFuente
Colorist: Justin Ponsor
Letterer: VC’s Cory Petit

In the kitchen, May advises the boys to tone down their superhero activities for the time being in light of what happened to Kitty; they are getting a new principal in light of Suitress’ resignation, so in order to avoid suspicion at the hands of an unpredictable replacement, the “Spider-Friends” have to stay incognito for a while. As to Kitty’s whereabouts with Kenny, the group are still in the dark. Bobby doesn’t want to give up on her, and while Gwen reminds them that there’s a chance Kenny can make her come around, he isn’t so positive. May reminds them nicely that she’ll know if they suit up via online. Bobby suggests to Johnny they get jobs and Peter suggests Burger Frog because they’re always hiring. (more…)

Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Artist: David LaFuente
Colorist: Justin Ponsor
Letterer: VC’s Cory Petit

Picking up from last issue, Kenny assaults one of the FBI agents when he pressures Kitty to leave. THe other agents gang up on Kenny to subdue him. Johnny and Bobby debate whether to get involved despite their secret identities, but Pete takes Gwen side and tells them all to stay back. He then tells Kitty she has to go otherwise someone’s going to get hurt. Kitty consents, but still they pull their guns on her. She takes advantage of the situation, grabs Kenny, and phases through the floor with him in tow down into the sewer. She tells him what he did was amazing and that she never should have broken up with her. They kiss, then they run.

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Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Artist: David LaFuente
Ink: Wade Von Grawbadger
Color: Justin Ponsor
Letterer: VC’s Cory Petit

The Bombshells are back in foul-mouthed business in a big way, this time robbing a turned-over armored truck when Spider-Woman intercepts and engages them in battle. (more…)

Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Art: Takeshi Miyazawa
Colorist: Justin Ponsor
Letterer: VC’s Cory Petit

Picking up from last issue, Rick Jones, with the help of Spider-Man, the Human Torch, and Iceman, slowly pieces together that he is the herald chosen by the Watcher artifacts…which does not make him any less freaked. (more…)

Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Art: Takeshi Miyazawa
Colorist: Justin Ponsor
Letterer: VC’s Cory Petit

Rick Jones as Savior??? May as team leader??? Iceman with icicles on his back??? New artist???
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Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Artist: David Lafuente
Colorist: Justin Ponsor
Letterer: VC’s Cory Petit

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Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Art: David Lafuente
Colorist: Justin Ponsor
Letterer: VC’s Cory Petit

Kitty Pryde’s mother argues with Midtown High’s principal via her cell as she walks in the house about expelling her daughter because she’s a mutant when she’s startled by how cold it is in the house. She finds Bobby Drake, aka Iceman, hiding down in the basement, begging for a place to stay.
Back on the Queensboro Bridge, Mysterio deactivates the Hulk hologram and prepares to deliver the killing blow to Spider-Man when the mysterious Hood ambushes him from nowhere. While he manages to overpower the caped figure, Spidey gets a second wind and reengages the criminal. However, Mysterio again gets the upper hand and again is upstaged by the Hood. This time, however, the vigilante’s kick deactivates the head disguiser on his collar and his face is revealed. In a panic, he unleashes a maelstrom of lights and explosions to cover his escape. Spidey catches him on the beam above, but the guy manages to teleport out. He tries to question the hooded figure as to who this is and whose side he/she is on. The interrogation is interrupted by Peter distracted by a piece of the villain’s costume on the ground, allowing the Hood to escape. Spidey’s suprised for the fourth time…with an attractive girl asking for his autograph. (more…)

Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Artist: David Lafuente
Colorist: Justin Ponsor
Letterer: JC’s Cory Petit (more…)

Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Artist: David Lafuente
Letter: VC’s Cory Petit
Colorist: Justin Ponsor (more…)

Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Penciller/Inker: David Lafuente
Colorist: Justin Ponsor
Letterer: VC’s Cory Petit

Picking it up from last issue, Peter, Gwen, and May discuss an exhausted Johnny Storm crashing at the Parker household. Meanwhile, across town, the mysterious assailant of Wilson Fisk reads about the coverage of the murder. Talking to a webcam, he proclaims that he no longer wants a piece of the underworld – he wants it all and  (more…)

 Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Pencillers: Mark Bagley and Stuart Immonen
Inkers: Scott Hanna and Wade von Grawbadger
Colorist: Pete Pantazis and Justin Ponsor
Letterer: VC’s Cory Petit

Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Pencils: Stuart Immonen
Inks: Wade Von Grawbadger
Colorist: Justin Ponsor
Letterer: VC’s Cory Petit

PLOT:
The shockwave and debris of the explosion in SoHo knocks Spider-Woman off of her webline. The erupting energy vanishes in the cloud, leaving behind the destroyed Sanctum Sanctorum in its wake…and the incredible Hulk. Consumed with mindless rage, he spots Jessica and instantly starts to pursue her simply because she’s there. She tries to swing, but a thunder clap again causes her to lose her grip and she ricochets down the walls of an alley. The creature continues his violent assault, as Drew narrowly evades it by the skin of her teeth. With some webbing blinding him, Jessica manages to hide just as a military chopper spots the Hulk, assuming he’s responsible for the devastation of New York, and opens fire. The Hulk easily takes down the chopper with a few hurled cars and, losing interest in Spider-Woman, leaps away into the night. Jessica goes back to the Sanctum to try and find Peter. No luck. Kitty Pryde appears on the scene. For her it’s the first encounter with Spider-Woman, but for (more…)