Comics The Ultimate Comics Spider-Man Thread!!!

[SpideyZERO]

Issue 2 was rather lackluster. The fight was random and the art was really messy in this issue. The whole issue feels like a filler, I really hope Bendis would tell what happened in these 6 months already.

I'm not pleased with how MJ was handled this issue. It made her looks like a selfish b*tch. And I really don't like Gwen and Peter together. Gwen doesn't even feel like herself....

After a rather entertaining first issue, the second part was pretty weak. Hope the third issue will pick up the pace

 

[Ultimate Jay]

Peter & Gwen is probably my favorite thing about the reboot, though I do think Gwen is acting a little less like her old self than I'd like. I think that's probably due to the fact that Bendis hasn't written her in a while - at least not a lot - since the original's death.

Then again, it's also possible that her experience has changed her to that degree. There's a less smart-ass, more subtle personality there. Just less of an edge, which that kind of experience could potentially have on someone like that.

If I have any concern, it's that Bendis is filling this book with too many 'leftovers' from the pre-Ultimatum stuff. Kitty was there before, though to be honest, I was never a huge fan, but now Johnny Storm, and who knows who else. Maybe more time spent dealing with how things got to this point would be best rather than introducing a new UU cast-off each issue.

 

[Don Yoyo]

When people talks about "good old (Ultimate) Gwen Stacy", they always talk about the knife thing... but at that time, Gwen was deeply troubled by her family life, especially her mother's disinterest and her father's absence due to his work. After she found something more stable in Aunt May and Peter, and despite her father's death, I always thought that she softened a lot. Her more defining feature after that was her misanthropy (she hates the Mall) and her suspicion of everything "hyped", like college.

 

[ragingdemon155]

Peter & Gwen is probably my favorite thing about the reboot, though I do think Gwen is acting a little less like her old self than I'd like. I think that's probably due to the fact that Bendis hasn't written her in a while - at least not a lot - since the original's death.

Then again, it's also possible that her experience has changed her to that degree. There's a less smart-ass, more subtle personality there. Just less of an edge, which that kind of experience could potentially have on someone like that.

If I have any concern, it's that Bendis is filling this book with too many 'leftovers' from the pre-Ultimatum stuff. Kitty was there before, though to be honest, I was never a huge fan, but now Johnny Storm, and who knows who else. Maybe more time spent dealing with how things got to this point would be best rather than introducing a new UU cast-off each issue.

Johnny doesn't fit in. I will give you that. Granted it's only been two issues so there is time for Bendis to integrate the character into the title better. Still though, the inclusion of Johnny into USM came out of left field. So far, I'm not liking it.

Kitty works for the title on so many levels. I'm so glad that Bendis has decided to incorporate her into the main cast and from the looks of it...keep her there. The core "teenage" cast for USM should be Peter, MJ, Gwen, Kitty and possibly even Kong. Never been a big fan of Kong's character, but I don't mind him in the title.

I'm wondering though, isn't Spider-Woman supposed to be returning into the title? Has Bendis stated anything about plans to keep her as a supporting character? It does seem like the title is becoming overloaded with characters, but Bendis for the most part does a great job of making it work. At least, so far he's made it work.

 

[Ultimate Jay]

Kong is a great character waiting to be developed, IMO. I really hope they continue to develop him and feature him more. I was actually really looking forward to seeing how things turned out with him & Kitty.

 

[Ugfugly]

Only thing I really liked with the art is Mysterio. Everything else is kind of meh. I hate the Spidey bubble head. I hate the whole "anime" style with Peter looking like frikkin Impulse.

I don't understand the animosity towards Johnny. He had always looked at Peter as one of his few friends. I enjoyed his previous cameos and one of my favourite issues were the ones with them in the beach.

Oh well, I hope the story picks up and they get a new artist or i might drop the title (which I dont want to since USM is the only one I pick up with any regularity now).

 

[Don Yoyo]

Unlettered preview of UC Spider-Man #3 :

http://comicbookresources.com/?page=preview&id=3486&disp=table

Mysterio definitely still has a knack for illusions, am I wrong? Wonder what are his intentions...

Apparently Lafuente likes to draw Spidey with a backpack, that's two issues where he does it. And round-head Spidey is great for one thing : the "Oh crap" scenes, they're just hilarious with that design.

 

[mre]

"You'll never believe what iconic superhero is moving into Aunt May's house."
Seriously? Doesn't issue one give this away? Marvel tries way to hard to keep us in suspense.

I'm not liking UCSM. I definitely do not like the art, and I think it is distracting me enough to not even pay attention to the writing. This feels like a whole new book.

 

[mre]

It all feels like something you would find in "The Adventures of Kid Spider-Man!"

 

[Don Yoyo]

Seriously? Doesn't issue one give this away? Marvel tries way to hard to keep us in suspense.

Those were written before the first issue was out, that's why. Synopsis for issue 2 made us believe that perhaps Spidey wasn't Peter, but it didn't work after issue #1.

This feels like a whole new book.

That was partly the effect researched, I think.

 

[shinlyle]

Well, I've been thinking about it, and it looks like the time has come for me to part ways with Ultimate Spider-Man, and with him, the Ultiamte Universe. This issue was really bad. Two villians from nowhere...supporting cast is all screwy, and my defense of Lafuente's artwork seems silly now, as I feel he really dropped the ball on this issue. It's WAY too anime-ish for my tastes. If that's your cup o' tea, then have at it...me, I'm done. I may get the trades if I hear good things.

 

[Don Yoyo]

Lettered preview for Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #3 :

http://comicbookresources.com/?page=preview&id=3522&disp=table

Like what I see. I wonder why Mysterio would tell anyone in advance of his intentions? Does he just have an ego the size of a little moon, of is there something else that we can't see?

 

[Happenstance]

Yeah looking at that preview I think im definately gonna drop the book until it changes artist, I just cant get along with the style

 

[SpideyZERO]

The preview looks good. Hmm, now Jessica Jones sees Spidey as hero? And MJ seems to hate Spidey now? I really want to know why they broke up

 

[mre]

I really don't even care about the book anymore. Ultimatum ****ed everything up.

 

[JackIvyGB]

While I won't say the art sucks, as it definitely has it's strong points and is consistent, I will say that it is kind of grating on me.

I don't think it has anything to do with an "anime" style in general. I mean come on, if a new artist jumped on the book and made it look remeniscient of Cowboy Bebop or something, we'd probably all be ecstatic!

Now, it is obvious the guy is influenced by anime/manga, but I think he is leaning too far into the cutesy pokemon/youth type of anime as opposed to something we would probably all really dig, like a Ghost in the Shell, or the aforementioned Cowboy Bebop style.

Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane had a very anime flavored style (at least for a while there until Terry Moore started doing the writing. I forget the new artist's name) and it was pretty darn spectacular. Had USM looked anything like that, I would have been extremely happy.

I personally think that Immonen was the best artist on the book by far and it'll be hard to top him, as I think he just had a pitch perfect feel for the chracters. I don't hate LaFuente's style, I just don't think it was the best choice for the book.

Likewise, there are certain things about the story so far I can't get behind. Mostly Gwen and Peter being together. What is with this sudden desire to rip comics' Golden Couple apart?! Even more than Clark and Lois, I think Peter and MJ are the quintessential couple in comics.

With how Gwen was established as more of a sister figure to Peter, it's quite awkward to all of a sudden see her and Pete as a couple, especially with no explanation.

Johnny seems kind of awkwardly placed as well.

I have to say what some of the others are saying. I bought the first issue, read the second in the shop, but I think I'll wait for the graphic novel now to see how everything shapes up and just get story tid bits from the interwebs. Kinda sucks, cause I had only read off and on when Bagely was doing it, partly because I couldn't dedicate the money to pick it up. I would just read it in the bookstores and such. When Immonen joined though, I just fell so in love with his art that while I couldn't get it monthly, I got all the graphic novels of his issues and I did get his stuff during Ultimatum.

I hope USM is able to pull something a little more solid together soon. It's hard to find a good Spidey book nowadays, and I'd hate to put this down. Heck, even though I have been enjoying Ultimate Avengers, the art has been feeling a little lacking. Not as much as USM, but still. It's hard to follow up guys like Immonen, Hitch, and I suppose even Bagely, but I can't help feeling that there were better guys for the job out there somewhere.

 

[Don Yoyo]

Now, it is obvious the guy is influenced by anime/manga

I don't know about that. The guy has listed his references in an interview, and there is no manga artist in that, only european comics and american comics. Plus I've already seen work by european artists who are influenced by manga and anime : it doesn't look like what Lafuente does.

With how Gwen was established as more of a sister figure to Peter, it's quite awkward to all of a sudden see her and Pete as a couple, especially with no explanation.

We will have explanation. For the sister thing, I think Gwen was always attracted to Peter, but cared too much about her friendship with him and MJ to ever make a move about it. Dying must have changed her views on that.

I hope USM is able to pull something a little more solid together soon.

Out of him and Millar, Bendis seem to be the one with the lesser ego, so he is the one who got to take into account the whole Ultimatum fiasco in his book. He detailed the new statu quo out of that mess in the first two issues, and it looks like things will get really serious from the middle of the third one. So I say let's just wait for the end of that arc.

 

[Toxin]

I don't know about that. The guy has listed his references in an interview, and there is no manga artist in that, only european comics and american comics. Plus I've already seen work by european artists who are influenced by manga and anime : it doesn't look like what Lafuente does.

You can't honestly say that this guy is not influenced by manga or animé. He's got the ridiculous-shaped sparkly eyes, the very bare-bones angular faces, the hair that somehow is see-through when placed over eyeballs, and the general ^_^ "kawaii desu" expressions used by teenage anime fans on the internet. I don't think I've ever heard anyone else ever even suggest that he's drawing anything but manga-style (or at least, ****** manga style).

 

[Don Yoyo]

He's got the ridiculous-shaped sparkly eyes

His eyes are perfectly shaped, nothing like what most manga aimed at young readers give to their young protagonists. And the iris is the size of a normal human, not twice that.

the very bare-bones angular faces

That's true only for Gwen and Aunt May, not for the other characters.

the general ^_^ "kawaii desu" expressions used by teenage anime fans on the internet

Really? I didn't see anything "kawai" in those two issues, myself.

 

[Hound55]

Bagley come back,
You can blame it all on meee
I was wrong
And I just can't li-ive without youuu...

 

[SpideyZERO]

Issue 3 was good. Fun and enjoyable. Spidey doesn't get the blame for once. And we are slowly getting to why and how MJ and Peter broke up. My favorite page of the issue is this

Spoiler

 

[Don Yoyo]

Just read issue #3. Good read, seeing Peter and MJ interacting gives some needed intelligence about what happened during that time skip. Mysterio is also a really menacing and efficient villain, can't wait for the moment where he really confronts Spidey!

I just noticed : Lafuente already got cohesion problems, Gwen doesn't wear the same clothes that she wore in the previous issue, despite both occurring the same day. Especially noticeable are the shoes, from boots to normal shoes.

 

[terry78]

Yeah, it's always good to see Spidey catch a break on occasion in his stories, considering how ****ed up stuff is for him at times.

 

[stillanerd]

Here’s what I thought about issue #3:

Spoiler

*One thing I will say, Bendis’s Ultimate version of Mysterio is certainly an intriguing and fascinating take on the classic Spider-Man villain. We’ve already seen how deadly he is, what with the Kingpin’s murder, and how he embraces technology to help spread his “message,” and here we see how methodical he is. Not to mention how he despises having plans he’s worked weeks in advance being spoiled. True, there definitely was a Scarecrow aspect involved with using a “chemical agent” to make Manhattan think they were being attacked by giant spiders, but it’s still, this Mysterio is nicely done.

*Another thing I got a kick out of was when the police found Spider-Man with the gold and the reader automatically thinks “Oh, here we go. Spider-Man is going to get blamed for this.” And then you find out the headline for the web article reads “Spider-Man stops Massive Gold Heist. Mysterio to Blame.” Great tweaking on the “Parker Luck” convention on Bendis’ part.

*I also liked how this issue finally gives us a taste on what may have caused Peter and Mary Jane to break up via them literally running into each other at the Burger Frog. It seems Peter is just as much in the dark as the reader about why he and MJ are no longer together, as he only assumed things were over when MJ stopped returning his phone calls and that this is the first time they’ve talked to one another in months. And I like how MJ voices some reader’s objections about Peter inexplicably dating Gwen by saying how “gross” it is since they are like “brother and sister.” Although Peter is right that he never said that to MJ--it was actually Gwen.

*The whole business with Johnny Storm moving in one could see coming from a mile away. Still, it did give us a nice scene with Johnny and Aunt May, and with Peter and Sue Storm.

*Still, Lafuente’s art is definitely an acquired taste. At times it looks great, considering the book is essentially a “teen drama” and thus appropriately shooting for an audience that is more inclined towards manga. But there’s definitely parts where it feels too childish, as certain characters--especially in some panels--appear unfinished and flat.

Even so, Bendis appears to be having a great handle on this “second stage” of Ultimate Spider-Man.

 

[ragingdemon155]

Another fantastic issue. I'm loving the USM version of Mysterio. It looks like he will take the place of Kingpin as the next "big" USM villain. I agere with you stillanerd in regards to the artwork. At times it feels rushed, but overall I'm liking the style quite a bit.

Finally we have some info on the Peter/MJ situation. It seems that she broke up with him after the whole Magneto goes crazy situation. My only fear for the title is that maybe Bendis will bite off more then he can chew with all the characters. I know that's one problem he's never had before with his supporting characters, so maybe I'm worried for nothing.

Bendis has found a way to reinvent the title, while still having that classic USM feel to it.