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ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #16
"Kraven the Hunter"
Highly Recommended (9/10)
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Marvel Comics
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Pencils: Mark Bagley
Inks: Art Thibert & Eric Benson
Colors: Sharpefont
Letters: Comicraft
Editor: Ralph Macchio
Price: $2.25 US/$3.50 CAN |
This issue,
it's all about the accents. Kraven's got a new one, and so does Justin Hammer,
and it's a perfect example of the sort of minor but important change that Bendis
has been making to bring these characters up to date. More seriously, while the
changes in the characters' accents are interesting and telling, the story as a
whole keeps up the pace and tone that Bendis and Bagley have established,
showing us more of what made Doctor Octopus what he is, giving us some fantastic
scenes with Peter in the Daily Bugle newsroom and building up a familiar
character into a new threat with the Ultimate version of another classic
villain.
Doctor Octopus, at least the
Ultimate version, is shaping up to be an interesting adversary. He's got
insanity as a driving force, but it's not the sort of quiet madness that
overtook the Green Goblin. And it's fairly easy to sympathize with the guy, who
was never particularly nice but has still suffered as a result of his accident.
The introduction of Justin Hammer (one of my absolute favorite Iron Man
villains) into his backstory was a nice touch.
However, the big surprises this issue are introductions of new characters. Turning Kraven from a Slavic hunter into an Australian TV sensation is genius, a terrific 21st century take on the character. He comes across as a bit goofy, but that's probably because I find the Crocodile Hunter and Survivor, two of his influences, quite goofy as well. I
also enjoyed that Bendis has infused power-mad industrialist Justin Hammer with
a bit of H. Ross Perot, a perfect match if ever there was one. And the
introduction of an old favorite from SHIELD was a pleasant surprise as well.
Bendis and Millar are reshaping SHIELD into something of a gray-morality
organization in the Ultimate universe, and I find it more interesting than the
spandex cops that we originally got from the characters.
Quite honestly, Bagley seems
a little off his game this issue, possibly due to Benson's inks. His work seems
scratchier and occasionally a little unfinished in the backgrounds. However, his
storytelling is excellent as always, with a wonderful glaring moment from Jonah
Jameson and a nice quiet discussion scene in Hammer's office. And while I'm not
sold on the less-than-inspired Kraven design, which can't match the bizarre
beauty of the lion-themed outfit he normally wears, I do think his horrific Doc
Ock design and his work on Spidey continues to be pretty solid.
Leaving aside the introductions of new characters and the action, we have humor, which has always been a defining element of Ultimate Spider-Man. Ben
Urich's trick to get Stacy to talk to him was hilarious, and the introduction of
Kraven's goofy Australian accent had me laughing out loud as well.
When Ultimate Spider-Man began, it had little competition for the title of best Spider-Man title, battling Howard Mackie's death rattle on the key titles. However, even with stronger stories in all of the other Spider-Man titles, Ultimate Spider-Man continues to
shine and stand tall with the others, and serve as one of the best entry points
into comics for readers young and old.
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