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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!
Review: Ultimate Comics: All-New Spider-Man #24
Prepare to get hit right in the feels, people. Writer Brian Michael Bendis introduces us to Cloak and Dagger this issue, then immediately makes them the most likable characters ever…then also immediately breaks your heart. All of Bendis’ skills as a storyteller and character creator are on display this issue as he updates Cloak and Dagger’s origins, turning them into some of the most sympathetic heroes ever. I feel for them. Heaven help Cloak and Dagger.
Ultimate Spider-Man #24
Bendis still writes a pretty good Spider-Man. But this is Cloak and Dagger’s issue, and we’re all the better for it.
Comic Rating: 4.5/5 – Very Good!
This issue is told almost exclusively in flashback, presenting the tragic origin of Cloak and Dagger. The origin is very well done, and in only a matter of pages, Bendis creates two very real, very amazing people. The actual superheroic origin is tied a little too awkwardly to the rest of the Ultimate Universe, but not in a distracting way. Bendis comes up with an acceptable way to give superpowers to Tandy Bowen and Ty Johnson. But seriously, the powers are only secondary. These two are most definitely people first, superheroes second, which I love. But it also makes the superhero scenes a little weird. This issue doesn’t contain the transition between the origin story and how the pair wound up fighting Bombshell outside a Chinese restaurant in Brooklyn, so there’s a bit of a disconnect between the issue’s two storylines.
Basically, I’m just not sure how Cloak and Dagger go from their tragic origin to trying to playing crimefighter. But I’m sure we’ll find out soon enough.
Miles barely appears in the issue, but he has some strong scenes as he continues to deny his responsibility as Spider-Man. Gwen Stacy gives him a piece of her mind, and both come off well in this issue. I think Bendis is doing an OK job building up Miles’ return as Spider-Man. Part of me is worried that he’ll waste it on someone as minor as Bombshell, but if Bendis somehow connects the tragedy of Cloak and Dagger into Miles’ return to heroism, he’ll have pulled off a masterstroke!
Join me after the jump for a full synopsis and more review!
Review: Ultimate Comics: All-New Spider-Man #23
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!
Review: Ultimate Comics: All-New Spider-Man #22
Oh Miles. Poor, poor Miles. In this issue, our young hero finally learns the price of being Spider-Man. And it’s not just a dead uncle. Miles learns the hard way that Spider-Man can’t save everyone. That no matter the power or the responsibility, you’re going to let people down, and that not everything is under your control. And that there will always be giant rampaging monsters to contend with. They never go away. Writer Brian Michael Bendis gives us the most emotionally devastating issue of the new Ultimate Spider-Man yet, and it’s as powerful as you’d expect from such a great comic.
Ultimate Spider-Man #22
I’m saddened by both the actual loss and pain Miles goes through, and the loss of potential that I don’t think this series managed to sufficiently explore. Still, amazing issue nonetheless.
Comic Rating: 5/5: Great.
I’m not going to spoil the big moment just yet. I’ll save that for the synopsis. Suffice to say, it’s a doozy, and I’m excited to see what it does for Miles’ growth as a hero. Granted, that sounds a little morbid, but you’ll see what I mean when we get to it. I’m also disappointed in what this moment takes away from the series. Some people might say this moment was inevitable, but at 22 issues into the series, I didn’t think anything was inevitable. And even when the previews started hinting that something bad was going to happen, I definitely didn’t imagine this.
I read somewhere that this might be the end of the unofficial Act 1 for Miles’ superhero career, and I can believe it. Bendis has been telling a fantastic story over the course of these 22 issues. Miles has been an incredible hero, from humble beginnings, through a lot of highs in his superhero career, and with the occasional lows. I definitely look forward to seeing what comes next.
Join me after the jump for a full synopsis and more review!
