Ultimate Spider-Man Volume 21 War of the Symbiotes

Another Ultimate Spider-Man, another story about clones. Ho hum. I liked War of the Symbiotes but there seemed to be something missing. Or maybe there was just too much plot stuffed into too small a package. I absolutely loved the bits with Eddie talking to people on the park bench. You knew where it was going but the anticipation was built up fabulously. The inner monologue of Peter when he was swallowed by the Venom suit was also fantastic. It gave a great sense that he wasn't in control.

Unfortunately, I think the Gwen Stacy moments and the Ultimates and Carnage were just a bit too much to cram into the one volume. The story didn't really seem developed and felt like it was in a rush to get somewhere. I'm also not that fond of Silver Sable and her Syndicate. They were almost as unnecessary as the Beetle. This volume suffered from too many villains syndrome so I can only give it a 3.

Ultimate Spider-Man Volume 20 Ultimate Spider-Man and his Amazing Friends

This is the one that got me started on re-reading the series. I wanted to be fresh so read something that reminded me of my childhood.

I was not disappointed. Ultimate Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends really focuses on what I feel is the strongest part of the series. It's not the action (though that is great) it's the way people react to each other. From the opening monologues where each character reflects on why he or she feels his or her life sucks to the revelation that Kenny is not as stupid as you might think he is to the awesome tale of the Shocker.

While the actual team-up of Ice Man, Spider-Man and "Firestar" that was inspired by the 80s cartoon was short and more about high school students who happen to have super powers the true strength of this volume is the final story. For most of the run the Shocker has been a running gag. He's the villain whose grand plans get foiled with little to no effort from our hero but in this one he's pushed just a bit too far. And that pushing makes for a great tale. I'm giving it a 5.

Ultimate Spider-Man Volume 19 Death of a Goblin

Death of a Goblin made me cry. It's not really a hard thing for books to do to me but I wasn't expecting it from this one. The beginning of this is so strong. The interaction between characters just works. People say what you expect them to say in the way you expect them to say it. The only complaint I have is that the death of which goblin was sort of telegraphed.

Still, it's a good story and it's told well so I'll give it a 4.

Ultimate Spider-Man Volume 18 Ultimate Knights

Yet another team-up for Spider-Man in Ultimate Knights. I'm almost wondering if Spidey is capable of taking on the big guys by himself. Nevertheless, I did really enjoy this one because it really showed what kind of person that Peter is. The Kingpin has been causing him no end of trouble over the past year (maybe less, Bendis does move this story slowly) but when it comes right down to it, Peter still knows what makes a man a hero. And can stand up to Daredevil to prove it.

The final chapter of this story is the talk between Aunt May and Peter. I mention it because it's a truly awesome story. It captures everything that needs to be said between these two with the revelation that Spider-Man is also part of their lives. Bendis is very skilled at making heroes people too. The whole volume gets a 5 from me.

Ultimate Spider-Man Volume 17 Clone Saga

Apparently the original run of Spider-Man had a whole clone thing. I'm not aware of that. I do know that I enjoyed Clone Saga from the Ultimate Spider-Man , even though it felt like a giant excuse to get Peter and Mary Jane back together after their earlier break up.

By far, the most interesting clone was Spider-Woman. I'd like to see more of her. The Scorpion clone, not so much. The thing I really like about Brian Michael Bendis is his ability to give real emotion to his characters. The scene where Peter finally tells Aunt May his secret is really moving. His reaction to her subsequent heart attack just feels real. I'm giving this one a 5.

Ultimate Spider-Man Volume 16 Deadpool

What happens when superheroes date? According to Deadpool they get kidnapped and forced to star in reality television.

There's actually a lot of team-ups in Ultimate Spider-Man. This one has him with the X-men, Moebius (the vampire) and Daredevil. Some of them are treading the same ground, especially the Daredevil/Punisher/Moon Knight story but the X-Men arc that starts the volume is fun. I sort of wish Bendis spent more time writing Peter and Kitty dating rather than Spider-Man and Shadowcat fighting bad guys but he gives hints that there is something going on behind the scenes. Because there could have been so much more I'm only giving it a 3.

Ultimate Spider-Man Volume 15 Silver Sable

I'm not really sure why this is called Silver Sable as she doesn't really take up that much of the story. It actually kind of jumps around a bit with the loose association of the stuff that was made to get Roxxon. It does introduce Kitty Pride of the X-Men as a love interest for Peter (like) and then spends some time introducing various villains for Spider-Man to fight.

The actual Silver Sable story line was interesting. I liked the kidnapping of Flash Thompson and what it turned in to. I'm intrigued by Silver Sable and what she actually does but I was a little let down by the conclusion to the story. Once again, it's Nick Fury and the Ultimates to the rescue (behind the scenes this time).

All in all, I'll give it a 3.

Ultimate Spider-Man Volume 14 Warriors

When Spider-Man has to fight something that's a little less obvious I find the story a lot more intriguing. In Warriors the foe isn't some crazed genetic experiment like Carnage or the Green Goblin, or a maniac like Doctor Octopus, it's organised crime. And trying to figure out where the side of good lies.

I liked the introduction of the Moon Knight. There was enough information given to make me want to find out more but not too much to remove the sense of the mysterious. The Black Cat and her various reactions to the situation was fun and Spider-Man just getting tired of trying to figure out which side was the right one and instead deciding to web the whole lot of them was great. I'll give it a 4.

Ultimate Spider-Man Volume 13 Hobgoblin

Hobgoblin was another one I didn't really get. It felt like a really convoluted way to get Peter to break up with Mary Jane. Not that I completely disagree with Peter's reasoning. She did get into the middle of trouble with ease but he could have told her a bit more to give her a better idea of why she should stay away. And, oh yeah, Harry used to date her and that's why she was in big danger when he turned into the Hobgoblin. Didn't really capture me. I'm giving it a 3.

Ultimate Spider-Man Volume 12 Superstars

Superstars is another team-up book. It takes place more in the continuity than Ultimate Marvel Team-Up so it's not quite so confusing to read but it still feels slightly apart from the rest of the series.

Still, it has one of the funniest stories in the series. That of Wolverine and Peter switching bodies. I really liked the introduction of the Ultimate Human Torch. It makes him more human and more of a teen. The Ultimates and Doctor Strange are just kind of meh but the beginning of the volume is just so strong that I'll give it a 4.

Ultimate Spider-Man Volume 11 Carnage

I don't know what to think of this one. Carnage just seemed a bit rushed. From the introduction of Carnage and what he was to the death of Gwen Stacy to the ultimate battle between Spider-Man and the genetic experiment gone awry to Peter quitting Spider-Man (yet again). It just seemed like it had to cover too much ground in not enough space. I kind of get the feeling that Brian Michael Bendis was just not that into telling this part of the Spider-Man story. It felt like there were certain points that he felt had to be made, and that they might as well be made here but they weren't really story elements that he was all that interested in. It was OK, I guess. It's a 3.

Ultimate Spider-Man Volume 10 Hollywood

This one's just great. From Peter's disbelief that they can make a movie about Spider-Man without his actual consent to the fight that starts in New York and ends in Brazil. Hollywood is just full of great little moments. It's high action with a heart as Gwen Stacy finds out the truth near the end of this volume. I'm giving it a 5.

Ultimate Spider-Man Volume 9 Ultimate 6

I can see why it was recommended to read Ultimates before reading Ultimate 6. It reads more like The Ultimates than it does Spider-Man.

The five major villains that Spider-Man has fought so far (Doctor Octopus, the Green Goblin, Sandman, Kraven and Electro) are being held by S.H.I.E.L.D and manage to escape. They take Peter with them because Norman is convinced that he's part of them for some reason that really never made sense to me. I guess it's because he's insane but it never really came across very well.

Even the art takes a shift towards the Ultimates. While it works in that series, it just doesn't seem to fit in this one. I can only give this one a 2.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.