I missed this review the week it came out because of a little thing called Grand Theft Auto V. Fortunately for me, there were no big review comics this week, so I’ve decided to pick up the slack and check out what might be one of the last Ultimate Spider-Man comics ever. Cataclysm is on the horizon, and nobody yet knows what’s going to happen to Miles Morales or even the Ultimate Universe itself. This could be the end of their entire world! But until then, Miles still has to worry about Cloak, Dagger, Bombshell and the newly introduced Ultimate Taskmaster. All of them come together in this action heavy issue.

Ultimate Spider-Man #27

If the end is truly near, I’m a little saddened that this story is so low key. Miles Morales puts the costume back on just to randomly help Cloak and Dagger? Taking on Roxxon feels kind of underwhelming, and I would have to imagine Bendis would have something bigger and better planned if the series was really coming to an end.

Comic Rating: 7/10 – Good.

The new issue remains as entertaining as the last few. Bendis has done a great job building up Cloak and Dagger into interesting characters, and his Miles remains as strong as ever. The new villain, Taskmaster, isn’t really anything to write home about though. He’d tough, he’s got some neat powers, and at least he doesn’t look as silly as the bright white, orange and blue swashbuckler from regular continuity. Why did Marvel go back to that costume instead of sticking with the awesome, blue Udon design? I definitely like the Ultimate design.

But ultimately, Taskmaster doesn’t prove to be all that interesting storywise. He’s a tough, no-holds-barred mercenary, and he puts up a good fight, but I’m not a big fight fan. Bendis’ best Ultimate Spider-Man issues are dialogue-heavy. So when it’s punch-heavy, it’s just not as good. Especially since Taskmaster came out of nowhere only last issue. He’s Roxxon’s hitman, but so what? He’s just a villain and the heroes defeat him, there’s not much to that story. And overall, Roxxon isn’t much of a villain either. They’re evil, sure, but they’re evil without a purpose. They’re just evil for the sake of being evil. And I’m sure Spider-Man will put them in their place, and that will be it.

If this series is truly coming to an end, I would have liked a story strong enough to go out on. Instead, it’s a simple fight issue, with some good character moments here and there.

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

We open with Cloak and Dagger looking up at the Roxxon building, trying to decide their next move.

That thing gives Wayne Tower a run for it’s money

They’re struggling to accept what’s happened to them, while at the same time, they’re not sure who they can trust. At least they can agree that they are both teenagers who are in way over their heads. Then a nearby explosion draws their attention…

Nine minutes earlier, Taskmaster is standing over the TASERed bodies of Bombshell, Spider-Man and Spider-Woman (though for some reason, it’s nighttime, when it was clearly the middle of the day at the end of last issue). He decides that capturing the new Spider-Man’s secret identity on camera would be worth some bucks, so he reaches down to pull of Spidey’s mask – but Miles’ Venom Sting activates somehow and zaps Taskmaster backwards. Miles is still conscious, he just can’t move thanks to the Taskmaster’s weapon.

Zappo-Kerblappo!

Miles tries to stand, but he says he feels like he’s been dipped in Novocain. Taskmaster recovers and grabs Miles by the back of the head, flinging him off the roof. Somehow Miles is able to recover enough to get a webline off, saving him from smooshing in the street below. He uses his momentum to swing up and around, back towards the roof – and just in time too, because Taskmaster has decided to shoot the girls and sort it out later. Apparently he had similar trouble with Wolverine in Kuwait.

Then the swinging Spider-Man saves the day!

More Kerblappo!

Spider-Woman and Bombshell recover as Miles takes on Taskmaster. Bombshell flees from the rooftop while Spider-Woman finds the source of their neutralization: a piece of banned Hydra paralysis tech. She gets rid of it and joins the fight against Taskmaster. Everyone trades blows and eventually Spider-Woman gets Taskmaster down…only for him to get right back up with a smile on his face. He’s faster now and stronger, and attacks the two of them with ease. The Spideys fight back, but Taskmaster is too tough. It seems his power in the Ultimate Universe is to mimic any super-power, and now he’s not only got their speed and strength, but also Spider-Man’s Venom Sting.

Taskmaster grabs Spider-Woman and uses the Sting on her, blasting her off the roof. Spidey swings down and saves her, scared that the sting has somehow toasted her brain – but she’s fine. Singed and angry, but nonetheless fine. While they’re distracted, Taskmaster lines up his shot – but fortunately, the Spiders have an ally.

Now that’s a ‘Boom’!

That would have been more awesome if Taskmaster didn’t simply absorb her powers. He survives her attack and readies a blast of his own, but then the Spiders show up and web him from both sides. They pull him back to create some space, but he still explodes – the same large explosion that Cloak and Dagger saw at the beginning.

The two show up after the Spiders have Taskmaster on the ropes. He absorbs Dagger’s light powers and is ready to get back into the fight – but then he doesn’t have as much luck absorbing Cloak’s powers.

Let it happen

Sucking Taskmaster into the dark dimension knocks him out, and then everyone starts comparing notes and figuring out who each of them is. Cloak and Dagger explain why they attacked Bombshell, and they bury the hatchet. Spider-Woman pulls out Taskmaster’s wallet and gets proof that he was hired by Roxxon, which is proof enough for her. She no longer cares that SHIELD and Roxxon are in bed together. She’s off the grid, and she’s going to make Roxxon pay. Who’s with her?

Ultimate New Warriors, maybe?

That was a legitimately cool ending. I like this little team Bendis has put together, and I look forward to them taking on Roxxon. But it’s definitely lacking a compelling story. I may be too judgmental about this, but the fight against Roxxon just doesn’t seem like too big of a deal to me. It sucks for Cloak and Dagger, sure, but Roxxon is a little too generic. Apparently, 15 years ago, they made Bombshell’s mom. And now they make Cloak and Dagger? What have they been doing for 15 years? And are they just a random super-powers generator? There isn’t much definition behind Roxxon, despite the fact that they’ve apparently been a big-bad for at least 15 years. And I think they’re name popped up in that Ultimate Spider-Man video game, so they’ve troubled Peter Parker in the past. But still, they just don’t come off as very threatening or villainously evil.

So while it will be nice to get some revenge for Cloak and Dagger, they’re just not that solid of an antagonist. It doesn’t help that I don’t particularly like their collection of random Ultimate Universe scientists.

The issue itself is fun. The Taskmaster proves tough to defeat, and the action is pretty intense. There’s all manner of webbing, swinging, punching and beat downs. Bombshell’s return is an awesome moment for the character, and both Spider-Man and Spider-Woman hold their own. They’re also both great protagonists, both narrating various scenes during the fight. So it’s a solid fight and the comic is entertaining, but the issue and story don’t rise to greatness.