Again, not really a fan of Marvel. I couldn't tell you who was actually in the Avengers to save my life. I could probably come up with a few but not the whole team. The Ultimates is apparently the Ultimate universe version of the Avengers. With a Captain America back from the dead (well, back from the frozen ice), a hippie Thor, and Giant Man, the Wasp and the Hulk exhibiting terrible personal problems. I think Iron Man is pretty much the same.
It's the terrible personal problems that really surprised me. When I was first recommended this book it was to catch up on what's going on in the world of the Ultimate Spider-Man. I was told that I should probably read the first two volumes of the Ultimates before getting beyond Volume 10 of Spider-Man. So I did, expecting to find more of the same. It's not the same. It's a lot more adult. There's still a tonne of complaining going on, but it's less like the teenage angst of Spider-Man and more like the marital problems of unhinged people.
I like the dark turn, probably because I don't know any of the characters though. Even so, I'll give it a 4.
Friday, August 29, 2008
Ultimate Spider-Man Volume 8 Cats and Kings
Cats and Kings has one of my favourite covers of the volumes. It just evokes the feeling that he's had enough of these people.
In this volume Peter asks the questions that no one wants to hear. There's a bit less teenage moping and more moping about the fact that the Kingpin can do what he wants because he has money and power. It's a tough pill for Spider-Man to swallow because he thinks it should be more black and white than it actually is. Throw in a little subplot about female temptation in the form of the Black Cat and it's another outing of Spider-Man wondering why it seems like the whole city is against him.
There's some nice story telling and some nice visuals but the whole is just OK so it gets a 3.
In this volume Peter asks the questions that no one wants to hear. There's a bit less teenage moping and more moping about the fact that the Kingpin can do what he wants because he has money and power. It's a tough pill for Spider-Man to swallow because he thinks it should be more black and white than it actually is. Throw in a little subplot about female temptation in the form of the Black Cat and it's another outing of Spider-Man wondering why it seems like the whole city is against him.
There's some nice story telling and some nice visuals but the whole is just OK so it gets a 3.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Ultimate Marvel Team-Up
Trying to stick to the Ultimate Spider-Man theme going on here I found a place to force in the Ultimate Marvel Team-Up. It was tough, as although all the stories in the team-up were written by Brian Michael Bendis, they don't exactly fit into the continuity.
Some of the stories are great: like the Spider-Man/X-Men story or the Spider-Man/Shang-Chi stories. Some of them are terrible: like the Spider-Man/Iron Man story. The Spider-Man/ Daredevil/Punisher story was interesting but seemed more like an excuse to write a Daredevil/Punisher story.
The quality of writing and the quality of art is all over the place with this one and I can't really recommend it as much as the series itself. There are some neat things in it and it does put Peter squarely in the Marvel universe but it could have been a lot better. I guess it gets a 2.
Some of the stories are great: like the Spider-Man/X-Men story or the Spider-Man/Shang-Chi stories. Some of them are terrible: like the Spider-Man/Iron Man story. The Spider-Man/ Daredevil/Punisher story was interesting but seemed more like an excuse to write a Daredevil/Punisher story.
The quality of writing and the quality of art is all over the place with this one and I can't really recommend it as much as the series itself. There are some neat things in it and it does put Peter squarely in the Marvel universe but it could have been a lot better. I guess it gets a 2.
Ultimate Spider-Man Volume 7 Irresponsible
Irresponsible strikes me as something of a transitions story. There's no real arc after the Venom story it's just stuff that happened to Peter between villains. It's mostly teen age drama with him moping about Mary Jane and then getting back together with her. The introduction of the Ultimate X-Men (while a fun story) doesn't really seem to fit with the other stories Bendis has been telling. It does make Spider-Man more a part of the world and brings in the whole mutant-phobia stuff that is the back bone of Marvel comics.
Probably the best thing about this volume is that Bendis makes Aunt May a person. Every incarnation of Aunt May previous to Bendis' portrayal shows Aunt May as a constant: always there with a hug or a cup of hot cocoa or just something that Peter needed. She was someone that he had to hide from and someone that occasionally would need to be rescued by Spider-Man. She had no character. In this issue Bendis does something different. He sends Aunt May to a therapist. He lets the reader see how Ben's death and Peter's changing lifestyle have really affected her. It's an excellent piece of story telling and really rounds out an iconic figure.
Still, it's the only really interesting story in Irresponsible so I'll give this volume a 3.
Probably the best thing about this volume is that Bendis makes Aunt May a person. Every incarnation of Aunt May previous to Bendis' portrayal shows Aunt May as a constant: always there with a hug or a cup of hot cocoa or just something that Peter needed. She was someone that he had to hide from and someone that occasionally would need to be rescued by Spider-Man. She had no character. In this issue Bendis does something different. He sends Aunt May to a therapist. He lets the reader see how Ben's death and Peter's changing lifestyle have really affected her. It's an excellent piece of story telling and really rounds out an iconic figure.
Still, it's the only really interesting story in Irresponsible so I'll give this volume a 3.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Ultimate Spider-Man Volume 6 Venom
This one is interesting because Peter isn't in the classic Spider-Man outfit for most of the story. In fact, in Venom, he appears more often in a stolen pair of pants and a hoody.
Venom is another character that I'm not that familiar with. I like that in the Ultimate universe Bendis made Eddie a friend rather than a rival and connects the story to Peter's father and his work as a scientist. The art in this one really lent a lot to the story as so much of it takes place in the rain and at night.
I guess I was expecting the Venom storyline to be told over a few more issues. It's one of the few instances in this Ultimate Spider-Man where I can say I found the pace a little fast. Most of the time Bendis lays down the pieces over a long time but here Peter's in and out of the Venom suit in an evening. Gwen and Mary Jane are just in the story to remind us that they're still in Peter's life.
I think this is the first stumble. I give it a 3.
Venom is another character that I'm not that familiar with. I like that in the Ultimate universe Bendis made Eddie a friend rather than a rival and connects the story to Peter's father and his work as a scientist. The art in this one really lent a lot to the story as so much of it takes place in the rain and at night.
I guess I was expecting the Venom storyline to be told over a few more issues. It's one of the few instances in this Ultimate Spider-Man where I can say I found the pace a little fast. Most of the time Bendis lays down the pieces over a long time but here Peter's in and out of the Venom suit in an evening. Gwen and Mary Jane are just in the story to remind us that they're still in Peter's life.
I think this is the first stumble. I give it a 3.
Ultimate Spider-Man Volume 5 Public Scrutiny
This is one of my favourite books so far with the Ultimate Spider-Man series. It feels kind of sadistic to say that though because Public Scrutiny is the one where everything goes wrong. Peter should be feeling pretty good about his super-hero career but with someone pretending to be Spider-Man going on a crime spree, the triangle forming between him, Gwen Stacy and Mary Jane Watson and the epic break up just rounds out to a terrible few days for our hero.
I have to admit I'm on Peter's side when it comes to Mary Jane. She does have a point that he could ask about her and what's going on in her life for a change but he is absolutely devoted to her and there's nothing going on between him and Gwen. He can't control who his aunt invites to stay with them.
Plus, Aunt May is awesome. I admit, I joke about her from the old cartoon Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends and I still think of her as an old weathered spinster. But the depiction she gets in the Ultimate Spider-Man makes her a saint among women.
So, as a favourite, I'm giving this one a 5.
I have to admit I'm on Peter's side when it comes to Mary Jane. She does have a point that he could ask about her and what's going on in her life for a change but he is absolutely devoted to her and there's nothing going on between him and Gwen. He can't control who his aunt invites to stay with them.
Plus, Aunt May is awesome. I admit, I joke about her from the old cartoon Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends and I still think of her as an old weathered spinster. But the depiction she gets in the Ultimate Spider-Man makes her a saint among women.
So, as a favourite, I'm giving this one a 5.
Ultimate Spider-Man Volume 4 Legacy
The Green Goblin. I admit, most of what I know about this character is from the movie. Legacy was a great story but sort of relied pretty heavily on the teen angst between confrontations. I sort of like that about this series though. Bendis really tries to make Peter human. He tries to write him like a typical (but brainy) teen. He tries to have the people around him react to him like he's a teen. Grounding a super-hero is something that really doesn't happen in a lot of other comics.
Quick reads, but good reads. I'll give it another 4.
Quick reads, but good reads. I'll give it another 4.
Ultimate Spider-Man Volume 3 Double Trouble
In Double Trouble Brian Michael Bendis tells the stories of two of Spider-Man's villains. In my memory both of them were ridiculous. Doctor Octopus - 4 metal arms attached to a band around his waist, green jumpsuit, and goggles. Really? That isn't silly? And Kraven the Hunter - um... What does he do exactly? Bendis makes one of them menacing and the other retains his silliness.
The re imagining of Doc Oc is great. He becomes scary and nasty and an actual threat to a new hero. Yet, at the same time, there's some empathy for the poor guy. He didn't ask to be grafted to his body but actually killing people takes it a bit too far.
Kraven the Hunter could have been played solely for laughs. It was pretty close to that but Peter was concerned that he was just trying to do the right thing and there's this guy that wants to hunt him down like an animal. Still the whole one-punch confrontation was amusing.
I'm still enjoying these books. I'll give it a 4.
The re imagining of Doc Oc is great. He becomes scary and nasty and an actual threat to a new hero. Yet, at the same time, there's some empathy for the poor guy. He didn't ask to be grafted to his body but actually killing people takes it a bit too far.
Kraven the Hunter could have been played solely for laughs. It was pretty close to that but Peter was concerned that he was just trying to do the right thing and there's this guy that wants to hunt him down like an animal. Still the whole one-punch confrontation was amusing.
I'm still enjoying these books. I'll give it a 4.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Ultimate Spider-Man Volume 2 Learning Curve
I like a book where they're not afraid to show the hero can make mistakes.
That's exactly what happens when Brian Michael Bendis writes Spider-Man. In Learning Curve Spider-Man continues to try and figure out the ins and outs of being a superhero. How to make a little cash on the side, what not to do when facing a criminal organisation and how to talk to Mary-Jane.
One of the things I really like with this rendition of Spider-Man is the relationship between Peter and Mary-Jane. Bendis has a feel for surly teenager and teens in love. I like the way conversations happen in school and how Aunt May deals with a teenage boy in her house.
This is one is as much about the relationships as it is about the super-heroics. I'll give it a 4.
That's exactly what happens when Brian Michael Bendis writes Spider-Man. In Learning Curve Spider-Man continues to try and figure out the ins and outs of being a superhero. How to make a little cash on the side, what not to do when facing a criminal organisation and how to talk to Mary-Jane.
One of the things I really like with this rendition of Spider-Man is the relationship between Peter and Mary-Jane. Bendis has a feel for surly teenager and teens in love. I like the way conversations happen in school and how Aunt May deals with a teenage boy in her house.
This is one is as much about the relationships as it is about the super-heroics. I'll give it a 4.
Ultimate Spider-Man Volume 1 Power and Responsibility
I've never been a big Spider-Man fan. I was more into the DC universe because it seemed to have the idea that heroes became heroes because it was the right thing to do while in Marvel they became heroes because they were rejected by the rest of society. Spider-Man's always been a little different in that but I had gotten tired of the plot and his reasons for doing things. Brian Michael Bendis turns that around with The Ultimate Spider-Man Volume 1 Power and Responsibility.
This version of Spider-Man is supposed to be new for the 21st century. I wasn't familiar with early Spider-Man stories except his origin (who doesn't know his origin?) but I really like what Bendis did to acknowledge what has come before and to make the material his own. The pacing in the first volume is really interesting. It's practically a day by day account of Peter's life the day before he's bitten by the spider to the moment he fights his first super-villain.
The dialogue is snappy and I really like the use of the narration box to actually give Peter a voice. It could have been done with all thought balloons but the box makes it tidier. The art isn't bad. The hardest thing in comics is to give a feeling of motion and Mark Bagley does an OK job of convincing the reader that Peter can do the things he can.
This is my second time through these books so I'm giving it a 4.
This version of Spider-Man is supposed to be new for the 21st century. I wasn't familiar with early Spider-Man stories except his origin (who doesn't know his origin?) but I really like what Bendis did to acknowledge what has come before and to make the material his own. The pacing in the first volume is really interesting. It's practically a day by day account of Peter's life the day before he's bitten by the spider to the moment he fights his first super-villain.
The dialogue is snappy and I really like the use of the narration box to actually give Peter a voice. It could have been done with all thought balloons but the box makes it tidier. The art isn't bad. The hardest thing in comics is to give a feeling of motion and Mark Bagley does an OK job of convincing the reader that Peter can do the things he can.
This is my second time through these books so I'm giving it a 4.
How to Get Your Kid to Eat... But Not Too Much
As I said when I finished Food Chaining, I have a picky eater. He's not as picky in as the children in that book but I think he may be pickier than the children in How to Get Your Kids to Eat... But Not Too Much by Ellyn Satter. I found the advice in Food Chaining too extreme and I find the advice in this one not extreme enough.
Basically, Satter's premise comes down to this: "It's my job to give him healthy meals and snacks but it's his job to eat it." It sounds simple enough and maybe by reading these two books I've decided that my son's eating really isn't so much of a problem. I'm learning to let him do his thing and since I've done that he's started putting different foods in his diet and he's starting to eat a bit more. It's making meal times less stressful so I'll give it that.
The other thing I took out of this book is scheduled snack times. Maybe he's just not hungry when he comes to the table. I'm trying to work snacks into a schedule but I don't want to be too quick to do so. I'd rather he not notice that there seems to be something changing.
I'm hoping that the book has helped me to be a better parent with food. I know it's an issue for me and I don't want it to be an issue for my boys too. I'll give it a 3.
Basically, Satter's premise comes down to this: "It's my job to give him healthy meals and snacks but it's his job to eat it." It sounds simple enough and maybe by reading these two books I've decided that my son's eating really isn't so much of a problem. I'm learning to let him do his thing and since I've done that he's started putting different foods in his diet and he's starting to eat a bit more. It's making meal times less stressful so I'll give it that.
The other thing I took out of this book is scheduled snack times. Maybe he's just not hungry when he comes to the table. I'm trying to work snacks into a schedule but I don't want to be too quick to do so. I'd rather he not notice that there seems to be something changing.
I'm hoping that the book has helped me to be a better parent with food. I know it's an issue for me and I don't want it to be an issue for my boys too. I'll give it a 3.
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