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ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #22
"Reflections Of..."
Highly Recommended (10/10)
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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: $3.50 US/$5.75 CAN |
I don't think I've been terribly shy about saying that the last story arc of Ultimate Spider-Man seemed to lose a little something as it went on. Honestly, I was a little afraid that the title had run its course already. So you can imagine the relief when this issue is one of the strongest yet, up there with the popular #13 or the first issue that hooked me. It's got a lot of the banter and characterization that is the reason I buy the book, but it also has a few surprises and a fun action sequence to kick it off. Later this week, the Spider-Man movie opens in theatres, and I expect it'll be pretty good... but us comic fans have already had a taste of the fun that the movie will have to offer for two years, with Ultimate Spider-Man.
What I love about this book,
and what really makes it succeed to my mind, is the strong focus on the human
characteristics, rather than the super-heroic elements. The friendships,
rivalries and romances of high school that Bendis has created are based on the
interactions that Stan Lee created, but with a more modern and realistic edge.
The bullying that Peter undergoes is a little more tame, but the payoff for that
is a cast of characters that is generally likable and recognizable as teenagers.
I particularly enjoy the introduction of new characters into the mix, or the
return of old ones, such as when Gwen made her first appearance in the book, and
there's some interesting character interaction of that nature in this issue as
well.
Ask anyone who is reading Ultimate Spider-Man what they like about it, and "it's
funny" is guaranteed to be at least part of their answer. Bendis does a great
job with Spidey's banter, but he also really captures the feeling that Spidey is
just Peter intensified, rather than a whole different personality. Peter's
dialogue with Mary about being grounded shows the same sense of humor (and sense
of responsibility) as the one he displays as Spider-Man. And the banter with
other characters was also pretty good, especially Flash's indignant responses to
insults.
Bagley displays the strong
storytelling skills that have made him an indispensable part of the book in this
issue. Little things, like the change from a dour expression to a smile or the
cocking of an eyebrow at a wrong answer, speak volumes about what's going on.
The only way that Bendis's script will work as well is if the artist can handle
realistic human expressions and movement, and Bagley and Thibert have no problem
in that regard. They also kick things off with a strong and fluid action
sequence, a little heavy on computerized blur effects from Transparency Digital
perhaps but generally really good. Even the mixed-case lettering, which I'm
still not sold on, is improving now that it is in the hands of Chris Eliopoulos.
Basically, this is as good a time as any to check Ultimate Spider-Man out, and
it's an issue likely to kickstart the enthusiasm of anyone who (like me) might
have been losing a little faith in the last couple of issues. I won't say it's
the best issue of the series so far, because there have been a couple of really
hard-to-top issues in the run, but it's certainly in the top five.
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