ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #26
"Circles"
Recommended (8/10)
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Marvel Comics
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Pencils: Mark Bagley
Inks: Art Thibert
Colors: Transparency Digital
Letters: Chris Eliopoulos
Editor: Ralph Macchio
Price: $2.25 US/$3.75 CAN |
That was a low-down, dirty trick, Bendis, using past Marvel continuity to mess with our heads. Fortunately, you continue to instill this title with some raw, genuine emotion that offsets the fantastic and extreme nature of the characters.
I always find the strongest issues of this series are the ones that examine the life of Peter Parker and his friends, not the adventures of a costumed hero named Spider-Man. Still, when Bendis delves into the super-hero side of the character, he does so incredibly effectively, often injecting some powerful but extreme moments of humanity into the script. This action-oriented issue is just such a case, and it makes for some solid reading.
Spider-Man turns his attention back to the Green Goblin, who stands atop a New York City bridge, under attack by the forces of S.H.I.E.L.D., under orders from General Nick Fury. They pull back, though, when they see the wallcrawler battering the green behemoth, and doing a better job of it than they were. The battle reaches a climax not on the bridge, though, but back in the city, right in front of the Goblin's son and Peter's friend, Harry.
Bagley conveys the ferocity and power of the fight between Spidey and the Goblin with great clarity. One gets the sense that it's not their powers that create the chaos, but the intense rage of the title character and the determination and desperation of the monstrous villain. I thought the cover for this issue was particularly sharp as well, including a great deal of detail and energy despite the limiting cover motif with those solid bars on either side.
I found the resolution of Mary Jane's fate as rather anti-climactic, and therefore, a little on the disappointing side. On the other hand, my fear that Bendis was merely repeating what had already come before in the Spider-Man mythos was laid to rest. Furthermore, the trauma of her involvement in the Goblin's vendetta against Spider-Man should offer plenty of character-driven moments in the issues to come.
This issue boasts what is essentially an extended fight scene, but it accomplishes much more than offering the simple thrill of action and violence. Bendis's ear for dialogue and the emotion he injects into his characters make for a much more satisfying and layered read. I honestly have no idea where he's headed next with this conflict, and I can't wait to learn the answer.
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