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Review: Cataclysm: Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man #1
Cataclysm is upon us. The Ultimate Universe has been chugging along for more than a decade now, and with Cataclysm, it looks like we might be at the end. We comic book fans don’t yet know what’s going to happen at the end, but all signs are pointing to some kind of cancellation of the Ultimate line. Or maybe a streamlining? Who can really say? All I know is that Galactus, Devourer of Worlds, has crossed the interdimensional barrier and plans on eating the planet Earth in the Ultimate Universe. All of the Ultimate heroes are scrambling to deal with the problem, including our much-beloved Miles Morales – which is a huge shame, since this means Miles’ book might be cancelled. It seems writer Brian Michael Bendis got the memo a little too late.
Cataclysm Spider-Man #1
With the first issue of this Cataclysm tie-in, Bendis proves that he fully intended to just keep writing Ultimate Spider-Man, regardless of whatever cosmic demigods decided to show up. That means this issue is even more bittersweet.
Comic Rating: 8/10 – Very Good.
The last few issues of Ultimate Spider-Man were all about Miles teaming up with Spider-Woman, Bombshell, Cloak and Dagger for a wacky adventure against the Roxxon Corporation. This issue, despite being renamed and renumbered to tie-in to Cataclysm, picks up exactly where the last issues left off, following all four of those characters in the aftermath of their team-up. In all honesty, and some spoilers, Galactus doesn’t even show up until the very last page. This is less a tie-in than it is Ultimate Spider-Man #29. On the one hand, there’s nothing wrong with that, because I could read Bendis writing the daily lives of these characters until the cows come home. But if this is truly the end, if these characters are soon to be gone forever, then it’s kind of a waste of an issue. Bendis could have found a lot more to do in terms of Miles, his family and his friends reacting to the end of the world.
If you’re at all invested in Miles and his Amazing Friends, you should enjoy this issue. I know I did. The art by David Marquez is as amazing as ever. The pencils are a little sketchier than I’m used to, but the art remains top notch. Bendis’ writing is, likewise, a ton of fun to read. There’s a fantastic scene between Spider-Woman and the Ultimates, and solid scenes for the rest of them. It’s clear that Bendis has stories in mind for everyone. I just really hope he gets a chance to tell them to completion.
Review: Ultimate Comics: All-New Spider-Man #28
I apologize for the lateness of this review. These are busy days and I am nothing if not a horrible procrastinator. I picked a bad issue to be late on though because this is the last issue of Ultimate Spider-Man! They say that very thing in the letters page. As we all know by now, Cataclysm begins in a month or so, possibly bringing about the end of the Ultimate Universe. We don’t yet know what’s to come of our hero, Miles Morales, but it’s not looking good. I’ve said before that I don’t want to see him brought over to the normal Marvel Universe, but obviously the decision is out of my hands. All I can do is enjoy the final issue of Ultimate Spider-Man for what it is: a fun superhero romp.
Ultimate Spider-Man #28
The last issue of Ultimate Spider-Man sees an end to the threat of Roxxon in playful fashion. It also reaffirms Miles as Spider-Man – while answering a few questions about his origin – just in time to close the book.
Comic Rating: 7/10 – Good.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it until the end of time: Miles Morales worked, at least creatively. It was a bold move for Marvel to kill off Ultimate Peter Parker and replace him with a brand new character, but writer Brian Michael Bendis made the absolute most of it. Miles lives up to the ideals and character we expect from Spider-Man, but he’s a different sort of man than Peter Parker. He’s quieter, for one. And sometimes it feels like he has a lot more responsibility resting on his shoulders. But he’s as entertaining as Spider-Man has ever been. I would happily read about Miles from now until that very end of time. I want to read about him growing up. I want to read about Miles as an adult Spider-Man. I want him to have the life Ultimate Peter Parker never did.
But the world is unfair and Ultimate Spider-Man as we know it is probably over. This is why we can’t have nice things.
This final issue is a good one. Spider-Man and his amazing friends team up to take down Roxxon, and they make fine work of it. The story isn’t written like an ending. By all accounts, it seems like Bendis is more than ready to keep going. The villains at Roxxon don’t put up much of a challenge at all for our little team, which isn’t too bad. Climactic fights are fun, but I’m a man who likes words and dialogue more than punches, and this issue is good on those. This victory means more to the heroes than the villains. And, of course, it’s all drawn spectacularly by Dave Marquez. The man is a dream artist. I would read Bendis and Marquez on Miles Morales well into the afterlife.
But I can’t, because this may very well be it. Join me after the jump for a full synopsis and more review!
Review: Ultimate Comics: All-New Spider-Man #27
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.
Review: Ultimate Comics: All-New Spider-Man #26
Back in business and ain’t it grand? Mile Morales has suited up again as Spider-Man, and he’s back to web-slinging and joking around, just like the good old days. He really takes to it well, with some snappy banter and a good heart. That he gets to team up with Spider-Woman is a real treat, as is the fact that they’re going after Bombshell! I am very excited to see her again too!
Ultimate Spider-Man #26
Ultimate Spider-Man is back in business, with Miles suited up and ready to face the evils of the Roxxon Corporation. Ultimate Spider-Man #26 is a fun return to form, with the promise of more fun down the line. Though let’s hope there is a ‘down the line’.
Comic Rating: 7/10 – Good.
Back before Peter Parker was killed, the storyline I was enjoying most in Ultimate Spider-Man was that of the teenage Bombshell. She and her mother are original characters for the Ultimate Universe, and the story went that the daughter started going to Peter Parker’s school. In fact, Bendis started building up a friendship between the two, possibly even a romance. The loss of that Peter/Bombshell storyline was the thing I miss most from when Peter was killed, so it’s really cool to see her show up again, even if it’s not the same.
I don’t know if a relationship with Miles would be as good as a relationship with Peter. There was something about Peter and his love life that I thought Bombshell fit into perfectly, and I wanted to see explored. But Miles hasn’t had the relationship drama that Peter did, so I don’t know how I’d feel about that kind of story. But Miles could always just be friends with Bombshell. We’ll see where it goes.
Also, this issue introduces Ultimate Taskmaster, so that’s pretty badass.
Join me after the jump for a full synopsis and more review!
Review: Ultimate Comics: All-New Spider-Man #25
If you couldn’t wait another moment for Miles Morales to become Spider-Man again, then your prayers have been answered! Our young hero dons the red and blacks at the end of this issue, when character after character either yells at him or guilt trips him into just doing it already. Part of it feels anti-climactic. We knew Miles would be Spider-Man again, but I was hoping for some kind of big moment where he couldn’t help but to put on the costume again. Instead, writer Brian Michael Bendis gives us a talking heads issue, where everybody simply points out that he should be Spider-Man. Why didn’t any of them mention this to Miles over the past year if all it took was a strong talking to?
Ultimate Spider-Man #25
Usually I love Bendis’ talking heads issues, but this one failed to impress. It’s still a good issue, and I’m glad Miles is Spider-Man again, but I feel it should have taken something a lot more dramatic to get him to put on the costume once again.
Comic Rating: 7/10 – Good.
I guess I was hoping for some kind of big, dramatic moment. Like maybe Miles’ dad’s life in in jeopardy. Or a big super-villain is going to destroy the city. Or anything, really. Maybe he has to reveal himself to save his girlfriend, Kate Bishop. Anything would have been better than Miles simply being talked into it. The people doing the talking are all favorites of mine – especially Spider-Woman – but I guess I just wanted something more. Still, it’s good to have Miles back in costume. I want to see some quality Spider-Man action, and Bendis has yet to truly disappoint in that regard.
Speaking of which, I hope the rumors that the Ultimate Universe is going to end in the upcoming Cataclysm storyline aren’t true. Or, well, I don’t mind if the rest of the Ultimate books are cancelled, just so long as the story of Miles Morales gets to continue. And I don’t mean it gets to continue with him joining the Exiles or coming to the regular Marvel Universe. No thank you. I just want to read the uncomplicated, highly-entertaining story of the new Ultimate Spider-Man.
Also, anyone super excited for Cloak and Dagger might also be disappointed with this issue, because their one scene is just another flashback that’s more weird than good. Oh well. Still a solid comic, and the next issue will hopefully be fantastic.
Join me after the jump for a full synopsis and more review!
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