Like the "Venom" story arc before it, this new story, capitalizing on the renewed popularity of the symbiote characters in the Ultimate continuity, is more about super-hero action than characterization. The greatest strength of the series has been the latter, but that doesn't mean the creators don't handle action well. This is a rather light read, but it's a fun one that allows penciller Mark Bagley's angular and kinetic style to shine. A couple of new characters are introduced into the world of Marvel's Ultimate heroes as well, one that was an integral part of Spidey's life for a time, and one that had little to do with the wallcrawling super-hero.
Dr. Curt Connors's life is falling apart. He's having dreams in which he transformed back into the Lizard monster that faced off against Spider-Man months ago, and his wife has left, taking their son with her. Professionally, he's in trouble as well, as he has failed produce any results, which means no more grants are coming his way. Meanwhile, a madman takes a bank full of people hostage in Brooklyn, and a certain friendly neighborhood Spider-Man drops in on the party to see if he can save some lives.
The bulk of this issue centers around super-hero action, so Bagley is clearly feeling right at home. I think what most struck me about the line art, though, was how effectively Bagley grants an obscure Marvel villain here a larger-than-life, monstrous quality. He towers over every other figure in the book. Bagley has also opted to maintain the Silver Age charm of the villain's costume; no changes in design leap out at me. What does surprise me about Bagley's art in this issue, though, is how he seems to gloss over the cop in charge at the scene. The character is a significant one, as longtime Spidey readers will recognize, but we don't really get a clear sense of what the character looks like in this issue.
I love how Bendis sometimes reintroduces classic Marvel villains in a way that's completely unlike their original appearances in mainstream Marvel continuity. Some time ago, the Ultimate Rhino showed up, only to be subdued by Iron Man. Here, Spidey faces off against a Silver Age Daredevil villain, and it adds a small measure of unpredictability to this new continuity. Bendis could have easily filled the role of this issue's antagonist with an inconsequential Spider-foe, so this choice is a pleasant surprise.
This issue is about Peter Parker dealing with life as a super-hero and not Peter Parker dealing with life as a teenager. The latter is always where this series is stronger, but this is a super-hero series after all, so the former is necessary. And it's fun, don't get me wrong. I just prefer the more personal focus, and like the "Venom" story arc, I suspect most of that stuff will be put on hold over the course of the "Carnage" storyline.
