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Post by Erik-El on Feb 7, 2011 13:14:43 GMT -5
Ultimate Spider-Man reviews are to be done here. Current issues, back issues, whatever. I will kick things off with issue 151. Ultimate Spider-Man 151  Brian Michael Bendis - Story Sara Pichelli - Art The life of Ultimate Peter Parker is so filled with teen high-school drama, I love it. There was not a single web slinging scene the entire issue but that was fine by me. What it lacked in Parker combat quips, it made up for in utter ridiculous humor. The Human Torch is so full of himself that you cannot help but feel sorry for him. He had an almost zen-like moment for a second, which honestly really threw me for a loop but it was a total misdirect as he was only talking about himself the entire time. Totally enjoyable scene in the cafeteria. Gwen has still not returned home after the mess with the Chameleon twins and Aunt May is just crashing over it. We even see 2 little cut scenes with the Black Cat that supply us with some action. The art was great in a kind of fun way. Pichelli can really land those awkward teen expressions. It is not amazing art but it fits with Spider-Man's story seamlessly. There was only one spot that I had trouble with, Mysterio seemingly shocks Black Cat's wrist and she screams in pain.... But her mouth is closed and her face seems almost bored as her eyes are half closed. It is not a huge deal when one panel is screwed up but it did take me out of the story to read it over a few times to make sure it was not just poor speech bubble placement. Based on Black Cat's face, I thought it was Mysterio screaming at first. I found Aunt May's conversation with Gwen's phone a little touching. It is very clear that she needs Gwen a great deal. Oh and Iron Man shows up at the end of the issue to take Parker to his super hero training. It is kind of cool because he is wearing the suit from the Iron Man 1 movie. I got a bit of a kick out of it personally but it was just a final page hook for the next issue. Nothing that will really steam your socks. Overall, I give the issue an 8 out of 10. As much as I loved the issue, and I truly did enjoy it, nothing really happened in it. The art is good and the story is good but it is anything but crucial to the series. |
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Post by Erik-El on Feb 7, 2011 13:16:23 GMT -5
Ultimate Spider-Man 152  Brian Michael Bendis - Story Sara Pichelli and David Lafuente - Art Another issue where not a whole lot happens. But still, for all the nothing that happens, a great deal is going on. We start with another Black Cat segment from two weeks prior to the current issue. It covers Parker's fight with Mysterio from Black Cat's point of view. Once the dust settles and the cops tape off the area, she goes in to the building and recovers a very special item. The Zodiac Key, which is apparently what Kingpin used to control people. Mysterio shows up and poof, Black Cat spirits them both away. Then we jump to the current events. Iron Man nearly gives Aunt May a heart attack with his serious compromised judgment. I suspect he was actually drunk to show up at Parker's house in armor to pick Peter up. Either that, or he did not get the memo that Parker is not publicly known as Spider-Man. So he asks for directions once a crowd gathers to form a shaky cover story and away he goes. It has the same exact snarky humor that is typical of Brain Bendis Ultimate Spider-Man. I actually love it. Gwen is back and she and Peter sort things out a bit. Though I am a bit surprised that Peter never explained that it was one of the Chameleon twins that Gwen saw kissing Mary Jane. It seems like it would be a very important point to make. The art was okay. I could tell where Pichelli did her art and Lafuente did his. It is something that I usually do not care for unless there is a certain justification. Such as needing to set certain moods for different character's stories. I did not feel that was needed here so the artist switching bugged me a bit. It was not badly done art, just one was more zany than the other. I just felt it to be unnecessary and it was noticeable enough to pull me out of the reading experience. Overall, the story was fun to read and got a few laughs but it did not really give me much in the way of story. The art was good but the switching bothered me. So I give it a 7 out of 10. It was good but not a good starting point if you have not read any of the series yet. |
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Post by cm24 on Feb 7, 2011 14:48:16 GMT -5
Nice reviews. It looks like a nice series.
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Post by Power NeXus on Feb 7, 2011 16:59:49 GMT -5
Iron Man is mentoring Spider-Man for superhero training?
That sounds really cool.
I've kinda been boycotting the Ultimate universe ever since Ultimatum, but I guess maybe I should look back into what's going on there now.
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Post by Erik-El on Feb 7, 2011 17:42:17 GMT -5
I felt the same way about the Ultimate universe. But I have to admit, the stories they have going on now sure suck you in.
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Post by Admin on Feb 7, 2011 18:14:32 GMT -5
Too bad he's allegedly getting killed off soon  Nice reviews, Erik. |
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Post by Erik-El on Feb 7, 2011 18:51:59 GMT -5
Everyone in the Ultimate universe will die. I have just come to accept it. Might as well because 616 universe is bringing back characters I thought were better off dead like Wasp.
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Post by Strafe Prower on Feb 7, 2011 18:58:58 GMT -5
Nice!
I'd love to see some back issue reviews!
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Post by Crom-Cruach on Feb 7, 2011 19:03:57 GMT -5
After Ultimatum, the ultimate universe was dead to me.
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Post by Erik-El on Feb 7, 2011 19:04:39 GMT -5
I would if I had the time but I am doing a ton of current stuff. Back issues might have to be done by someone else but I want them posted here.
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Post by Strafe Prower on Feb 7, 2011 19:18:46 GMT -5
I understand maybe someone will.
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Post by Erik-El on Feb 7, 2011 19:29:22 GMT -5
I hope they do. It is a good series anyway.
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Post by Strafe Prower on Feb 7, 2011 21:23:16 GMT -5
I hope they do. It is a good series anyway. agreed. |
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Post by Erik-El on Mar 2, 2011 1:30:36 GMT -5
Ultimate Spider-Man 154  Brian Michael Bendis - Story Sara Pichelli/David Lafuente/Elena Casagrande - Art Justin Ponsor - Colors The Death of Spider-Man Prelude. Not so happy this event is finally here. I love Ultimate Spider-Man and he in going to be gone in a few months. OH! Spoiler Alert!!  The issue continues with the Zodiac Key. It was just one giant three-way fight between Black Cat, Mysterio and team Iron-Spidey. Aside from some cool moves we see Spider-Man do, nothing in the issue was really that important other than seeing Tony get his shiny new armor turned into confetti. While we are on Tony and his armor, I would like to note that it has changed some, intentionally or by accident on Bendis' part. Tony does not wear an undersheath in the Ultimate universe or at least had not before. He normally is just in underwear so the suit can poke holes in his body to release the nanites within and he can control the armor that way. Now he is just like Pre-Extremis Iron Man with the body stocking. I should note that I thought the undersheath looked cool though. Oh and we learned something kind of cool about Mysterio. Other than that, the issue was really a speedy read. I am spending more time on this review trying to figure out what to write than what I spent actually reading it. It blew right on by. The multiple artists kind of sucked and it is really easy to tell when they did switch the artists around. I do not like that in issues unless it serves a real purpose. Overall, I was not really happy with the issue. Parker was all bummed out at the end because this was some total catastrophe or whatever but I personally can think of over a dozen things he has gone through in his career that trump this instance by miles. So with art and story, I give it a 6 out of 10. It was still a nice read, but it was not a great read. |
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Post by jakefury on Apr 7, 2011 21:04:59 GMT -5
 Ultimate Spider-Man #156 Death of Spider-Man Chapter One Writer: Brian M. Bendis Artist: Mark Bagley Inker: Andy Lanning This issue kicks off and the first that comes to mind is that it still feels like the very first issue of the series. That's definitely a good thing because Mark Bagley can draw USM like nobody else. I haven't read an issue of USM since probably around issue #70 or so but the handy dandy index page catches me up to speed. Spidey is back with Mary-Jane and he's also training after school with the Ultimates. The two lovebirds get interrupted when Captain America calls and tells Petey its time for some training. He takes off to do some training and at the same time a potential disaster is unfolding. The Sinister Six have escaped the Triskellion. Led by Norman Osborn (who Peter thinks is dead) and joined by Doc Ock, Electro, Kraven, Sandman and the vicious Vulture. They waste no time in escaping into the city and their escape doesn't go unnoticed. They're caught on videotape by several news outlets and the escape is soon all over the news. At the same time, Cap is giving Spidey some lessons in super heroism when he's called away for a mission. He says he doesn't need Spidey's help and takes off to take on Nick Fury's black ops team who've apparently gone rogue. Spidey decides to follow him and see exactly what's going on. He arrives to witness a huge firefight between the Ultimates and Ultimate Avengers. He gets a call from Mary Jane to tell him the news but informs her he's already seeing it. She tells him that isn't the big story. The big story is the Sinister Six are getting ready to hunt down his family and send them to the next life. 8/10 I'm hooked. This series feels just like it did the first time I picked it up. Check it out. |
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Post by jakefury on Apr 13, 2011 21:11:36 GMT -5
 Writer: Brian Michael Bendis Artist: Mark Bagley Inks: Andy Lanning Ultimate Spider-Man 157 This issue kicks into high gear right after the events of last issue. The Sinister Six are on the run and we begin to see dissension among the members. Doc Ock just wants to go be a scientist again. Norman objects to this and the 2 square off in a pretty awesome fight with a shocking result. Meanwhile, Spidey is making sure Gwen and Aunt May are safe. After doing so he heads off to check out the big battle between the Ultimates & Ultimate Avengers. He arrives just in time for tragedy to strike. The Good: Everything about this issue is good. It's a seriously fun story and very easy to follow. I hadn't picked up an issue of Ultimate Spidey in many years when I decided to follow this story. It's very easy to jump right in for former readers or someone looking to check it out. I highly recommend this arc. 8.5/10 |
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Post by Admin on Apr 13, 2011 21:23:47 GMT -5
I'll promote this on Facebook.
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Post by Erik-El on Apr 13, 2011 23:27:51 GMT -5
Awesome review Fury. It will be tweeted for additional exposure!
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Post by Admin on Apr 13, 2011 23:28:43 GMT -5
ULTIMATE SPIDER TWEET!
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Post by jakefury on Apr 14, 2011 6:38:37 GMT -5
This series is awesome.
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