Wow. Forget everything you thought you knew about Miles Morales. When that kid tore up his Spider-Man costume at the end of last issue and declared “No more!” he really meant it. On the very first page of this new issue, Miles hasn’t been Spider-Man for an entire year! And now everything is different! I guess writer Brian Michael Bendis may have spoiled this in some interviews, but I had no idea that Ultimate Spider-Man was going to jump ahead one year. It was a complete surprise – and a glorious one at that.

Ultimate Spider-Man #23

The one-year jump is always a risky maneuver in fiction, but Bendis sticks the landing with ease, giving us a more mature, young adult Miles Morales, and successfully taking us into this new chapter of his life.

Comic Rating: 4.5/5: Very Good.

I am in awe at the skill from both Bendis and artist David Marquez in showing the passage of time, and how it has changed Miles and his supporting cast. Miles clearly went through a growth spurt sometime in the past year, and is clearly in the harsh grips of puberty. Ganke too. Both of them look a little taller. Their faces, the way they carry themselves – everything about them looks a little more mature, but just enough that they still look like teenagers. Ganke is still pudgy, but his body is definitely growing into his weight. He’s not the chubby-faced little kid he was just one issue ago. Their dialogue is different too, at least with Miles. He’s not a different person, but like another reviewer said, you can practically hear his deeper voice. The change in these characters is a marvel to behold.

The story this issue is basically just a tour of Miles’ new status quo, with visits to his father, Gwen Stacy, Spider-Woman and even his new girlfriend! As we all could have guessed, that cute girl with the colorful hair who was eyeing Miles in class is now his girlfriend, and she’s Kate Bishop from the Young Avengers! How fun. With the exception of some cliffhanger action at the end, this issue is all talking heads, which is Bendis’ specialty, and he is at the top of the game. The conversations are full of character and do an excellent job of getting us situated in Miles’ new world. I love a good talking heads issue.

I also have to agree with Bendis that we probably didn’t need to see the days, weeks and months after Miles’ mother died. It was probably just filled with grief, horror and tough reconciliation. This is definitely a much stronger footing to start the next chapter in Miles’ life.

Join me after the jump for a full synopsis and more review!

We open, quite simply, at school, with a fun little scene between Miles, Katie and Ganke. Miles’ best friend still loves LEGOs, and he is heartbroken that he missed out on a limited edition Triskelion set. Katie can’t quite understand what the big deal is, but I guess she never played with LEGOs as a kid or something. Poor Katie. And like I said, the subtlety in the art and how these characters have aged is a sight to behold.

Girls just don’t understand

Katie takes off, leaving Miles and Ganke alone to talk girls and whether or not girls like talking about LEGOs. Miles says they don’t, but Ganke says the right girl will. Also, Miles is considering telling Katie about his spider-powers and the fact that he used to be Spider-Man. Ganke tells Miles that he shouldn’t do it, that it’s always a bad idea to tell your girlfriend that you’re Spider-Man. Besides, Ganke considers Miles ‘on break’, whereas Miles is insistent that he’s given up being Spider-Man for good.

Their conversation is interrupted by a text from Spider-Woman. Miles was supposed to meet with her, but he forgot. So he excuses himself from Ganke and runs up the side of a skyscraper to meet with her on the roof.

Spider-Women just don’t understand

She has a new present for him, a shiny silver briefcase, just like the last present she gave him. But Miles doesn’t want it, and the two of them argue about whether or not he should be Spider-Man again. Spider-Woman tells him about power and responsibility, and Miles throws it back in her face that his responsibility is to his family. He leaves, telling her not to come around anymore.

Next we pay a visit to Miles’ father, who has not only grown a beard and walks with a cane, but seems much more chill these days. Miles heads home to make a quick visit, and his dad suggests they go out for dinner. Miles heads to his room first and finds out that Spider-Woman put the briefcase on his bed. He peeks inside, and it’s a new costume and new web-shooters. Figured as much. There’s also a note in the case asking Miles how many people he could have saved in the past year. Miles crumples up the letter, puts the costume on top of his closet and joins his dad for Chinese.

The two chat while they walk. It seems that they’re suing the city since it was an NYPD officer who shot Miles’ mom while she was trying to save people, so the city looks to settle and give the two of them enough money to pay for Miles’ college and perhaps a trip. But, of course, things are a little tied up in court. Then at the restaurant, they talk about girls.

Kids still say ‘macking’, right?

Speaking of girls, guess who works at the Chinese restaurant: Gwen Stacy! She and Miles have an awkward moment since they haven’t seen each other in a year, then Gwen takes their orders and walks off. Miles excuses himself from his dad to go and talk to Gwen for a moment.

Dads maybe understand too much

Gwen gives Miles a quick hug once they’re alone. She tells him about how her father died, and how she understands what Miles is going through. She tells him that it’s clear to everybody that he’s not OK, but he’s never going to be, that’s what happens when you lose a parent. But Miles walks out on her. He thinks he’ll be fine. Miles rejoins his dad and the two of them decide to take off rather than force Miles to hang around Gwen and have anything be all awkward. They head for the door, which starts a little argument with the owner, who thinks Gwen did something to get them to leave. Miles’ dad tries to defend Gwen, but none of them have much time to talk since Miles’ spider sense goes off and the restaurant explodes inwards.

Looks like there’s a big super-villain fight outside!

Isn’t that always the case?

Oh sweet, it’s Bombshell! I was planning to do a Forgotten Characters segment on her, looks like I won’t need to do it now.

I’m excited to see Bombshell. Before editorial decided that Bendis should kill Peter Parker, it looked to me like Bendis was setting Bombshell up as a new love interest. Bombshell is a teenage villain who got into costumed crime because of her mother. But once her mom got arrested, this girl was sent to live with other relatives, then was placed at Peter’s school. I was really enjoying that story, and it was one of the things I miss most about Peter being killed off. So maybe Bendis can scrape together some of his plans for Bombshell and use them with Miles instead. I’d like that.

As for Cloak and Dagger…I have no feelings one way or another. I’ve never been a big fan, or even a non fan. So seeing them finally pop up in the Ultimate Universe means next to nothing to me. Though it seems a little low key if they’re the best Bendis can come up with to get Miles back into costume.

At any rate, I really enjoyed this issue. I love a good talking heads issue, and Bendis is probably the writer I trust most to deliver. I loved all of the little scenes and conversations between the characters. It’s a great way to catch us all up to the one year jump – which I think Bendis pulled off flawlessly – as well as show us how Miles has changed. And while he’s definitely still Miles Morales, he’s also matured. You can see it in his look, you can ‘hear’ it in his ‘voice’. This was a very good issue, pulling off a complex time skip with ease and setting us up for what will probably be a great second act for our new Spider-Man.