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ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #23
(Best of the Week!)
"Responsible"
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: $2.25 US/$3.75 CAN |
This new story arc is easily the best one that Ultimate Spider-Man has had so far, keeping in the tradition of telling a classic
Spidey story (his first rematch with the Green Goblin) but in a completely
unexpected way. This issue is a rollercoaster of emotional highs and lows, with
an amazing cliffhanger ending that has me anxiously awaiting the next issue, and
what's all the more impressive is how all of this intensity comes through with
not one single fight scene. Bendis and Bagley are at their best when they're
tackling Peter's reaction to all these changes in his life, and though there are
definitely super-heroic elements to what's going on, this is first and foremost
a teen drama/comedy with stellar writing and art, and it's easily one of the
best things Marvel is publishing right now.
Bendis takes the reader on an
emotional rollercoaster in this issue, introducing any number of changes into
Peter's life without ever giving him (or us) a chance to breathe and take it all
in. There are such highs and lows in this issue, as well as changes in the way
he interacts with several characters and a building complication in one of his
relationships, and it feels like a lot of progress is made in the story this
issue. There are also some big revelations, from the behavior of Norman Osborn
to the return of a supporting character who is more than she appeared to be.
Leaving aside the overall
strength of the story structure, this issue has several of the classic Bendis
moments that make the book so much fun. Norman Osborn's imaginative threats are
chilling, and Bagley does a phenomenal job of showing Peter reacting to this
stress. Little touches like the shark tank in the background to reinforce
Osborn's nature, or the jumbled and chaotic presentation of the TV special while
Peter's world is spinning all combine to give a sense of how big all of these
changes are for Peter. In addition, the midnight snack in Peter's house was a
lot of fun, getting to see some of the different characters interact in new
ways, and despite how much I like this version of Mary Jane, I'm really growing
to like Gwen as well.
There are some important
reaction shots this issue that require a talented artist, and Bagley and Thibert
do a terrific job on those moments. Peter's almost shattered mind, trying to
wrap itself around the turn of events, shows up quite clearly when he is talking
to his Aunt May, unable to tell her the truth. His terror at a knock in the
middle of the night speaks volumes about what he's fearing might be at that
door. And his physical expression of Gwen's mental state is hilarious.
It's hard to express how much
fun this issue is, even when the fun is in seeing Bendis twist the knife in some
of his characters a little. The development of Peter's ever-complicated romantic
life is a lot of fun, and the return of the Green Goblin in this particular form
was unexpected, and the ending is a shocker. Even those who can figure out the
mystery guest's identity will have to wait until next issue to see what he wants
with Spider-Man, and how this might tie more of the Ultimate universe together,
without getting into the dreaded crossover territory.
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