Ultimate Spider-Man

Nineteen days.  That’s how long it takes to read 320 issues of Brian Michael Bendis Ultimate Spider-Man.  It’s been a most enjoyable experience.  Not quite as good as I was expecting, but it’s still Brian Michael Bendis’ magnum opus.  (Despite what I just said, that’s not damning with faint praise, this really is a phenomenal work.)  

Spider-Men II 1-5

The Miles Morales of Earth-616 turns out to be Wilson Fisk’s best friend(!) and former enforcer.  The story is basically a convoluted path towards 616-Miles going to the Ultimate universe (which is somehow not destroyed anymore?) to be with the Ultimate version of his dead love.  Thinking about it, the ending wouldn’t really have been any different if the Spider-Men hadn’t gotten involved.  

But it’s all okay, because it’s a chance for Bendis to give us one last glimpse of Ultimate Peter Parker and the happy ending he’s always deserved.

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: Yes

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Good

Spider-Man 234-240

Not a bad way for Bendis to end his run, with one final battle against his Uncle Aaron (back from the dead) and a new Sinister Six.  There are just enough emotional stakes involved to make it impactful (Aaron, Lana’s mom, Miles’ new girlfriend), but they aren’t so devastating as to be hard to read.  (Basically anything where Green Goblin threatens Peter’s family.)  

The last issue may not provide a perfect ending from a story POV (the fight from the previous issue ends awfully quickly, and there are a ton of loose ends that don’t get tied up), but it hits all the sentimental beats that I want out of a finale.  As I said the first time I read this, “Thanks, Bendis!”

Hahaha, one last time.

So good.

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: Yes

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Really good

Ultimate Spider-Man

Spider-Man 12-14

Spider-Gwen 16-18

This crossover should have been a lot more fun.  Miles and Gwen on a cross-dimensional jaunt where they start to develop feelings for each other? Should be a slam dunk.  Instead, it’s a bit of a mess, especially on the Spider-Gwen side; Jason Latour has some problems with storytelling clarity.  Plus, the main plot about dimension-jumping bad guys led by alternate reality Jefferson Davis is a total clunker.

Still, seeing the two of them married in the future and the cute open-ended “let’s stay friends for now” is totally satisfying.

Aww.

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: Yes

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Pretty good

Spider-Man 15-21

Miles’ mom discovers the truth, Miles fights Hammerhead, Bombshell falls in love with Miles, Goldballs leaves without giving a reason, Ganke hooks up with Spider-Man fangirl Danika, and Miles randomly infiltrates a Japanese underground casino.  Nothing particularly standout, but all pretty fun.

True...

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: Yes

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Good

Generations: Spider-Men 1

All of these Generations titles were pretty much a waste of time.  This one is no exception.  Miles travels back to the day Peter Parker lifts a building in the classic Amazing Spider-Man 33.  They have a heart-to-heart, and Miles finds new resolve to remain Spider-Man.  Apparently this is also the day young Miles meets Ganke, and present-day Miles gets to witness that scene as well.  I’d only buy it again for completionist’s sake.

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: Yes

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Nice

Ultimate Spider-Man, New comics

New comics!

Nightwing 95

Major things happening as Nightwing and his superhero friends take on Blockbuster, who retaliates by destroying a chunk of Bludhaven and discovering Dick’s secret identity.  Tom Taylor and Bruno Redondo continue to put out excellent product.

DCeased: War of the Undead Gods 1

Apparently the final arc in Taylor’s epic.  Superman comes back and the zombified New Gods are set up as the big bads of the story.

Spider-Man 1-11

Miles Morales’ new life in the 616 begins with confrontations against the Black Cat, who’s apparently the current Kingpin of NYC, and his tyrannical grandmother.  Only one is diabolical enough to confiscate his phone.

After being an asshat in the Ultimate universe, Jefferson became cools dad awfully quick.

As amazing as this series is, 200+ issues is still a lot to read all in a row.  I was experiencing a sense of “sigh, time to read more of this” today, never what you want going into a session.  But as he has throughout his run, Brian Michael Bendis immediately pulled me back into this engaging world, and I was all aboard with the first page.

I'm Asian and skinny.  So that means...what exactly?

Goldballs is back and rooming with them!

Great drawing of Nova's face by Nico Leon.

I will never get sick of a well-done Bendis conversation.  They’re rife with humor, character growth, and crackling interactions.

Representation matters.

Then there’s a bunch of Civil War II tie-in stuff, which really works as Bendis wrote both.

By the way, that vague pre-read tedium and the fact that as good as it is, Ultimate Spider-Man doesn’t scream out “re-read me NOW!” is the reason this doesn’t hit Really Good levels.  But make no mistake about how much I love this series.

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: Yes

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Good

Ultimate Spider-Man, Ultimate End

Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man 200

Even more Peter Parker catharsis as his friends and family gather on the two-year anniversary of his death.  I’m so glad that Brian Michael Bendis hasn’t forgotten about the Parker legacy as he moves on with Miles’ story.  This has been the heart of the series.

Bwahaha!

Bendis did a great job w/ JJJ this whole series.

Poor, poor Kitty.

!!!!   !!!!!!!!!!

By the way, there’s been a whole running gag with the For Sale sign in front of May Parker’s house.  I wish I’d been keeping track of it.

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: Yes

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Really good

Miles Morales: Ultimate Spider-Man 1-7

How did I forget that Bendis brought Peter Parker back to life?  I think the deal with the Oz formula is that it basically makes him (and Norman Osborn) immortal?  I’m like Miles, I really thought this was a clone or something.  This Peter just acted…not like the one I remember.  Who would have thought, Peter's death made for a better story than his return. Careful what you wish for and all that. But hey, at least he and MJ get to drive off into the sunset…Just in time for the whole Ultimate universe to be destroyed.

Poor JJJ.

So satisfying.

I expected this to be more emotionally affecting for me.  Still not bad, though.

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: Yes

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Really good

Miles Morales: Ultimate Spider-Man 8-12

Miles’ dad returns after abandoning his son in a truly epic parenting fail.  He reveals his backstory and the fact that he was an undercover SHIELD agent.  

At least he owns up to it.

Great Kingpin by David Marquez.

I'm positive I've seen this exact pose in a Jim Lee drawing...

...I thought it was of Rogue, but this is the closest I could find.

Then, ignoring all of his friends, Miles does the first really stupid thing in his superhero career and tells his girlfriend, Katie Bishop, his secret identity.  Katie, of course, tells her sister.  Who tells her parents.  Who are Hydra agents.  Everything goes as expected from there - Miles gets kidnapped, Hydra turns out to be working with Doctor Doom (somehow alive despite getting his skull crushed by Ben Grimm in Ultimatum), Miles fights his way out with his friends, and the world as they know it is about to end.

Should have listened.

Should have listened.  Also, love the Miles/Ganke relationship.

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: Yes

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Good

Ultimate End 1-5

A disappointing ending to what was a magnificent experiment.  All of the other Ultimate titles eventually tailed off in quality, but it was truly glorious for a while.  And of course there’s the stellar run that’s been Ultimate Spider-Man.  Maybe the Secret Wars event this is a tie-in for is better.  (I’ve placed a hold for it at the library.)

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: Yes

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Nice

Ultimate Spider-Man, Cataclysm

Spider-Men 1-5

What a superb run of comics today.  Brian Michael Bendis is really at his peak here.

This crossover between Miles Morales and Peter Parker of the 616 is everything I could want from it.  Actually, all I wanted was issue 4, where Peter meets Ultimate May and Gwen, leading to the catharsis and resolution that I was looking for from the disappointing Ultimate Fallout.  There’s some stunningly emotional stuff here.

Everyone needed this so much.

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: Yes

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Good (Pure joy for 4)

Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man 19-22

Miles fights Venom.  His dad gets crippled (busted leg) and his mom dies.  Thank god she comes back when the universes merge.

Hah, English accent.  What a brilliant touch by Bendis.

That smash cut freaked me out when I saw it.

Pride and protection in her last moment.  What a mom.

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: Yes

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Good

Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man 23-28

Cataclysm: Spider-Man 1-3

Jump forward a year.  Miles hasn’t put on the costume since his mom died.  Cloak and Dagger make their debut.  Bombshell tries to be a good guy.  (And succeeds.)  Jessica leads them all against Roxxon.  It all sounds by-the-book, but Bendis and David Marquez absolutely crush it on execution.  

The look on Jessica's face at the end.

Takes my breath away every time.

Go Gwen.

So sad the All-New Ultimates title sucked.  If only Bendis wrote it.

Then 616 Galactus shows up and everything goes to shit.  Miles’ dad continues to be pretty unlikeable with his bitching and self-righteous complaining.

Hee.  "It can be both."

His mom took it a lot better.

Credit to Miles for not reacting poorly in turn.

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: Yes

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Really good

Cataclysm: Ultimates’ Last Stand 1-5

Survive 1

Once again, Bendis shows that he’s a master of events comics.  Kitty Pryde’s the superstar this time around, with a major assist from evil Reed Richards.  Captain America dies and Thor gets trapped in the Negative Zone w/ Galactus.  (I don’t remember how they bring him back to 616.)

I didn't notice until now how "blood and urine" is a Bendis running gag.

I wish I'd been keeping track through all his titles.

No hesitation from Kitty.  Love her.

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: Yes

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Good