Now this is more like it! We get some awesome Spider-Man action as Miles Morales finally, officially becomes the new Spider-Man. He’s got to pass through Spider-Woman, Nick Fury and Electro to do it, but Miles kicks ass with flying colors. And he’s funny, too! That’s almost a prerequisite for both Spider-Man and writer Brian Michael Bendis, but here it’s delightful. Miles isn’t Peter Parker, but it’s great to see that Spider-Man will still be witty.

Ultimate Spider-Man #5

If only the Ultimate Universe wasn’t such a crappy place these days.

Comic rating: 4/5: Good!

If Marvel sticks with the tradition of having 6-issue story arcs, then this was the penultimate chapter of Miles Morales’ origin story. Which means we’ve got one more issue to go to wrap this thing up in a bow. I wonder what’s going to happen. Is Miles going to get his own super-villain? Maybe we’ll finally see his parents again. Or maybe he’ll hang out with Aunt May for some reason. Either way, this was a good issue, it’s good to see Miles in his own costume and I’m definitely ready to see this young man spread his webs and fly.

Though I’d probably still make the better Spider-Man. Spoilers after the jump.

We pick up exactly where we left off, with Miles being confronted by Spider-Woman on a rooftop in New York City. Miles has gone out in his cheap Spider-Man costume a few times now, and it’s drawn the attention of Spider-Woman. For those who don’t know, she is a clone of Peter Parker who was altered in the test tube to be a female version of Peter Parker. So she’s definitely broken up by Peter’s death and is rightly pissed that someone is going around pretending to be Spider-Man.

Learn this lesson well, Miles: women be crazy!

She wants to know where he came from, how he got his powers and why he’s dressing like Spider-Man. Miles, meanwhile, is just freaking out at the confrontation. He’s still getting used to super-powers and superheroes, and now he’s got some strange chick interrogating him. Miles doesn’t give her a straight answer and even tries to flee, but Spider-Woman just webs him up. She’s a pro at this. I’m a big fan of Ultimate Spider-Woman. The female clone of Peter Parker was a neat and suitably creepy idea, and she’s just a fun person regardless.

When Miles tries to hop away, despite being webbed up, he doesn’t get very far.

What a noob

Miles wakes up in the Triskelion, the headquarters of the Ultimates, who are the Ultimate version of the Avengers. I have no idea what’s going on these days in Ultimate continuity because I’ve pretty much given up on every corner of the Ultimate Universe that isn’t Ultimate Spider-Man. Once upon a time, the Ultimates was the best comic book being produced. Now it’s mired down in years worth of crap stories and meaningless character deaths. For our purposes, Miles is in a holding cell being monitored by Nick Fury, Iron Man, Hawkeye and Spider-Woman.

You’re dead to me, Ultimates! Dead to me!

Miles is still very freaked out and doesn’t give anyone a straight answer. But mostly the superheroes talk among themselves about the idea of some kid dressing up as Spider-Man. Iron Man runs a test and reveals that Miles isn’t a mutant, just that he’s been altered. In the Ultimate Universe, superheroes are more closely monitored by the government. The Ultimates and SHIELD are part of the U.S. Government, so everything just has a more bureaucratic feel to it. In the normal Marvel Universe, Peter Parker can dress up like Spider-Man and nobody will bat an eye. In the Ultimate Universe, that sort of activity comes under the scrutiny of Nick Fury and SHIELD.

You may recognize the Ultimate version of Nick Fury:

He’s not talking about motherfucking snakes on this motherfucking plane

This is the reason why Samuel L. Jackson has been appearing in all the Marvel movies.  Back when the Ultimates first started (back when it was good) someone somewhere made the creative decision to make Ultimate Nick Fury a black man, instead of white like in the normal comics. Someone also artistically decided to make Nick Fury look exactly like Samuel L. Jackson, most likely because Samuel L. Jackson is a complete and total badass. So when it came time to add Nick Fury and SHIELD to the Marvel movies, the geniuses at Marvel decided to just roll with it and cast Samuel L. Jackson.

Because sometimes the world can be a creative and awesome place.

Anyway, Nick Fury always had a soft spot for Peter Parker, so he’s not sure what to think about Miles. The kid is just trying to help, and Fury understands that, but what he’s doing is dangerous. Fury and Miles have a heart-to-heart, in which Fury reveals that he already knows everything about Miles, because he’s Nick Fury, dammit! They also know all about Miles’ Uncle Aaron and how the FBI calls him ‘The Prowler’. So awesome, actual confirmation that Uncle Aaron is the Ultimate Prowler!

But all is not well in the Triskelion. While Fury is talking with Miles, the villainous Electro escapes!

Being a doctor is clearly not as much fun as Scrubs made it seem

Electro is a classic Spider-Man villain who is a frequent foe in the pages of Ultimate Spider-Man. He was even there when Peter Parker was killed. Some stupid nurse didn’t properly sedate Electro in the Triskelion and so he wakes up and goes on a murder rampage. Because that’s how he rolls. The Ultimates respond, with Iron Man, Hawkeye and Spider-Woman each taking a shot. Electro shorts out Iron Man’s armor, he laughs off Hawkeye’s arrows and he doesn’t even know who Spider-Woman is! Basically he’s looking to be pretty unstoppable.

When he spies Nick Fury, Electro wants to get his revenge. But young Miles Morales goes invisible and decides to lend a hand. Fury and Miles had talked about the spider that bit Miles, and that Miles became Spider-Man as a way to honor Peter Parker. Miles wants to help, and does he ever!

Open up a can of whoop-crate on his ass!

Once in costume, Miles is hilarious. Writer Brian Michael Bendis writes fantastic dialogue, especially witty and snappy banter. The fight between the new Spider-Man and Electro is just a blast.

I guess you’d have to have been there

Eventually Miles knocks out Electro for good using his ‘venom sting’ move that was revealed a few issues ago. Seems like forever. So Miles has saved the day! And the Ultimates let him go home, since they have a lot more to worry about at the moment. Miles hooks back up with his best friend Ganke, who is beside himself with glee at Miles teaming up with Nick Fury and the Ultimates. Miles is less than thrilled, and is still kind of freaked out by the whole encounter.

Then they run into Spider-Woman out of costume, who I think goes by the name Jessica Drew. She apologizes for being so mean to Miles when she first confronted him on that rooftop. She tells Miles that Nick Fury has decided to give him one chance at being Spider-Man. Miles wasn’t going to have any chances, but defeating Electro has bought him one chance. She also has a present for Miles, one that establishes for sure that he is the brand-new, officials Spider-Man!

With it’s own limited edition carrying case

Like I said, it’s a pretty awesome comic. The final page is Miles in his costume, so after 5 issues, we’re finally at the part where Miles is Spider-Man. I’ve said in previous reviews that Bendis is something of a slow writer, and that’s perfectly fine. He takes the time to flesh out his characters and their situations before turning that build up into excitement. Miles kicked ass against Electro. He’s going to be a pleasure to read once he really kicks off into his own adventures. I’m very excited to see what comes up.

Artist Sarah Pichelli continues to shine on this series. She finally gets some superhero action to draw, and she does not disappoint. Electro, sadly, is a visually uninteresting character, but Spider-Man will always be a hoot to see in action. He’s all limbs and odd angles. She also draws a pretty mean Wonder Woman. Though her Spider-Woman could use a little work, I’m afraid. The face just isn’t very clear in a lot of shots. She’s supposed to be a clone of Peter Parker, but do we know that from this comic? I’m just not sure. Still, a minor gripe for a spectacular artist.