ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #14
"Doctor Octopus"
Recommended (8/10)
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Marvel Comics
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Pencils: Mark Bagley
Inks: Art Thibert
Colors: Transparency Digital
Letters: Sharpefont
Editor: Ralph Macchio
Price: $2.25 US/$3.50 CAN |
Though the writing and art in this issue is as strong as ever, the production side of the book takes a hit with new colorists and letterers. The lettering is intrusive, and the colors are off as well. Nevertheless, Ultimate Spider-Man continues to stand out as the strongest Spidey title in Marvel's entire line.
The more frequent sightings of new and different super-heroes sparks discussion at Peter and Mary Jane's high school, both in and outside of the classroom. One of the most vocal among those students debating the pros and cons of the colorful figures is a new girl who goes by the name of Gwen. Meanwhile, Otto Octavius emerges from a coma in which he's been trapped in the three months since the explosion at Osborn Industries, the same explosion that created the Green Goblin.
Bagley's art is as dynamic and fun as ever, but he's really showing people that his angular style can serve to convey the quieter, more human moments of a story as well. Most importantly, he captures the youth of the characters. These teens aren't just portrayed as short adults. One can see the bridge between childhood and adulthood in them.
We see a shift in the companies hired to color and letter the issue, and boy, does it show. Transparency Digital has done some good work on other Marvel books, but the colors in this book are gaudy and distracting. They take away from the realism established in the dialogue. The letters are a bit off as well. I can't really put my finger on it, but they distract from the story as well.
I've never really understood Dr. Octopus before. He was a brilliant scientist that was always so angry, and I never really saw why. In reinventing the character, Bendis has given him a reason to be angry. Whereas in mainstream Marvel continuity, his condition was of his own creation (he wasn't careful enough when conducting experiments), now he has someone to blame. Bendis also focuses in on how the physical scars of the accident could be connected to emotional ones as well.
Again, though, the strongest aspect of the book is how Bendis offers up a believable look at teenage life in suburban America. I love that modern events find their way into the classroom and into discussions on the school grounds. The writer has also made a strong addition to the Spidey supporting cast in Kong, who gets much more "screen" time in this issue. The character is about to play an important role, and I look forward to where Bendis takes this new subplot.
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