If I’m being honest with myself, I would have to admit that Miles Morales probably couldn’t defeat the Green Goblin 1-on-1. But how cool would it have been if Miles held his ground and somehow pulled out a win? Superheroes pull out the win all the time! That’s what I wanted from the latest issue of Ultimate Spider-Man. But writer Brian Michael Bendis clearly had other ideas in mind. So it’s an odd little dynamic. I want one thing. Bendis has other plans. And in the end, he wins, because I’m just the reader. That’s how this relationship works. Fortunately, Bendis and artist David Marquez still deliver one heck of an awesome battle.

Ultimate Spider-Man #4

Is there anything more exciting than Spider-Man fighting the Green Goblin? I suppose there are a few things out there, but Bendis really knows how to spin it.

Comic Rating: 8/10 – Very Good.

This review is pretty darn late, and I could have skipped it completely, but I haven’t missed an issue of Miles Morales yet…I don’t think. I’m chronicling his adventures for posterity! It’s like a personal quest. Maybe a self-fulfilling prophecy. Or I might be mixing everything up in my head. Whatever the case may be, we’ve got a new issue on our hands, and it’s actually pretty cool. Miles Morales vs. Green Goblin for the first time, on the very spot where Peter Parker was killed. This is a huge story, and Bendis fills it with hugeness. The fight is pretty darn good, and Marquez, as usually, draws the heck out of it.

But the focus doesn’t stay with Miles for long, and that disappoints me. Bendis has another big subplot he’s working on these days, and as much fun as it might be, it takes the focus away from Miles at a very crucial, pro-Miles moment. I won’t spoil it up here, but I will later in the synopsis. Suffice to say, Miles can handle the spotlight, and this could have been a hero making moment for him.

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

Katie Bishop has a problem. Her boyfriend just revealed to her that he’s Spider-Man! And she immediately ran away! She rushes home, in tears, and tries to lock herself in her room, but Katie’s sister Misha comes in to try and help her sister out with some girl talk. Katie then shares the news with Misha, and Misha is just as shocked!

See? Girls talk about Spider-Man

But Katie Bishop has her own secrets. They’re only hinted at in this scene, but there would definitely be some kind of friction if her parents found out she was dating Spider-Man. Misha suggests that the best case scenario is that some supervillain kills Miles and they no longer have to worry. Spider-Men don’t live that long anyway, right?

Speaking of Spider-Men not living long, Miles is facing off against an enraged Green Goblin on the very spot where Peter Parker was killed!

Though the symbolism might have gone over his head

The two do battle, with Osborn carrying the conversation. He seems more interested in assessing Miles’ unique powers than in actually fighting, such as Miles’ ability to go invisible. A neighbor sticks her head out her window and calls 9-1-1. Eventually the media finds out and sends a chopper, and we get a montage of sorts of all the various supporting characters listening to the news, like Ben Urich, Ganke, Aunt May, Mary Jane, Jameson and the like. They listen and watch intently as Miles and Osborn trade blows, the Goblin and his fire powers claiming the upper hand.

Until help arrives…

Shaka-laka

The Goblin is enraged to see Spider-Man and charges at him, but Peter easily deflects. The fight rages on, with the cops getting involved and opening fire, but Peter is like an old pro at this. He easily gets the better of the Green Goblin.

Maybe if you’d left Miles the web-shooters he could have done this

And while Gobby is trussed up, Miles hits him with a Venom Blast to further incapacitate him.

Eventually the Goblin blasts off, fleeing the scene in defeat. Peter and Miles compare notes for a bit before the cops come around, ordering the two of them to get on the ground and surrender. The two Spideys raise their arms, the moment playing on all the news channels. And Aunt May is convinced that this Spider-Man is her Peter come back from the dead.

Which is really going to break her heart when he’s revealed to be a clone!

Or whatever this Peter Parker is, because you can be damn sure he’s not the real Peter Parker. Unless…he is somehow. I really, really doubt that Bendis has actually brought Peter Parker back to life. That sort of thing would be announced somewhere. Marvel would milk it for all the publicity that they could. So it’s definitely a trick. On the other hand, there are always rumors that the Ultimate Universe is coming to an end. Both All-New Ultimates and Ultimate F4 have been cancelled before they barely got started. If Marvel is going to do away with the Ultimate Universe somehow…why not let Bendis bring back Peter Parker and make everybody happy? Who says the rules of this fictional universe have to be maintained when there won’t be a fictional universe for much longer?

At least we should get some fun comics until then! This was an excellent fight, both before and after Peter Parker showed up. Miles did his best, fought for what he believed in, and for once, the Green Goblin is actually kind of menacing instead of just being this stupid villain who won’t die.