Ultimate Spider-man #152
This issue starts out two weeks in the past. The Black Cat is spying on Mysterio while he is recording a message for the world. Spidey then swings in and the building explodes. Jump to the present day, with Aunt May and Gwen trying to get Iron Man away from their house before someone realizes Peter's secret. Stark doesn't figure it out right away and, when he finally does, he plays it out as cool as he can and flies off. Flashback to a week ago, and the Black Cat is searching for something in Mysterio's wrecked lab. She uncovers what she was looking for: a device called the Zodiac Key. Mysterio walks in on Cat and tells her that the Key was the reason why the Kingpin stayed in power for so long. Mysterio tells Black Cat that he doesn't know how to work it but she does, using it to get away from Mysterio. Back in the present day, Pete, Johnny, and Bobby are walking home from school, talking about girls and their secret identities. They overhear that Iron Man was in the area and they rush home to see if Aunt May knows anything. When they get home, they are shocked to see that Gwen has returned. May tells Peter that Iron Man came to start Pete's training. Gwen takes Peter upstairs to talk about them and their relationship. Peter gushes his heart out to Gwen, but Gwen insists that they break up. Gwen tells Peter that she feels like she forced him into dating her which Peter denies. The two decide to be just friends as Peter gets a call from Stark, telling him to get over to Stark HQ to start his training.
This is the last issue before the prelude to "Death of Spider-man" and it does not disappoint. The art duties are split by David Lafuente and Sara Pichelli. Pichelli continues to draw the Black Cat/Mysterio aspects of the story while Lafuente draws the Peter Parker aspect. While we don't see Spidey in his costume until the final page, it doesn't matter. Bendis keeps the plot moving not only with the Peter story but with the intriguing Black Cat story. I'm really starting to feel that Mysterio is going to have a big hand in the DoS storyline, using the Zodiac Key to control the Ultimate Six. The art on this issue rocked. This is the first time that I found myself enjoying Pichelli's art as it was very clean and very impressive, even though she didn't have a lot of material in this issue. This issue also brings back one of my favorite artists David Lafuente. There are a few times in the issue that the art seems a little rushed, but the final panel of Spider-man swinging through the city is amazing and deserves to be a poster or t-shirt or something. The only complaint I have with this issue is Bendis mixing up his storylines regarding Mysterio. He shows Mysterio recording this post-Kingpin message which happened in Issue #2. However, he shows Spidey appearing and the lab being destroyed, which happened in the third annual. This was a little bit confusing but it did not take much away from a phenominal story. I'm so happy that for these next few months, Ult. Spidey will be coming out twice a month, even though Bagley is returning. I'm looking forward to DoS like crazy now and I hope it does not disappoint.
Story- 4/5
Art- 5/5
Overall- 9/10
Amazing Spider-man #653
This issue starts off right off where the last issue left us. Smythe's robo-bugs are attacking Jonah's limo, which holds the mayor himself, Jay Sr., and Glory Grant. Gargan and Spidey are still fighting on the rocket, with Pete having trouble figuring out what to do. Knowing that he needs help, Spidey phones the Avengers Mansion, home of the New Avengers. Unfortunately, no one is home except for Squirrel Girl, who tells Spidey that the Avengers are on their way home from a mission. Spidey freaks out on her and while Squirrel Girl starts to in return lecture him, he loses her. Back on the ground, Max Modell and Mr. Muntz decide to stop the rocket without Peter and Max starts to think about Spidey and Peter never being in the same place at the same time. Though Spidey gets Max to get into contact with the rocket, the real hero is, surprisingly, Doc Ock, who saves the rocket because it will mess with his master plan. The rocket gets released and Spidey and Gargan falling off the rocket. Jonah gloats to Smythe, but Smythe tells Jonah that his slayer swarm are watching his friends, loved ones, and everyone he holds near and dear to him. Spidey tries to web together a parachute but Scorpion tackles him. However, Ms. Marvel comes to Pete's rescue and Smythe picks up Gargan after he crashes to the ground. The rest of the New Avengers show up to fight Smythe's swarm until Jonah shows up, asking the Avengers to rescue his friends and family. Peter tells Ms. Marvel and Jessica Jones to go to the Bugle, Luke Cage and Iron Fist staying at the launch zone, and Mockingbird, the Thing, and himself going to the spa to save Mrs. Jameson and Aunt May. The swarm makes it to the spa and the Bugle and the teams make it to their respective points. The fighting begins, but the slayers have a spider-sense like attack which makes it almost impossible for the Avengers to fight them. Pete swings off to Horizon to whip up an invention but gets confronted by Max, who questions him about Spider-man.
This issue was pretty good. The actual writer of this issue was Fred Van Lente while Dan Slott did the plot, due to Slott's recent sickness and Marvel's move and the craziness it caused. The script is written very well and Van Lente's back story, involving Spider-man, the new Power Man, and the Looter, is also written very well. The art by Stefano Caselli was better this issue. I really liked how Caselli drew the New Avengers and I'm really digging his Scorpion. Slott deserves a lot of credit; he is making this book one of the best books out there. I really liked his decision to bring in the New Avengers, as I like that team more than the true Avengers. The finale for this arc is shaping up to be epic, plus with this issue ending, we are one more issue closer to Marcos Martin. But that is no slam on Caselli or Humberto Ramos. This is probably the best book out there right now.
Story- 5/5
Art- 5/5
Overall- 10/10
V Episode 2.4 "Unholy Alliance"
This episode was a bit of a let down after the last few episodes. The main parts of this episode were about Anna going to the Vatican to talk to the Pope and Erica and the Fifth Column going after Eli Cohn. The main reason for Anna going to the Vatican is to get those who speak out against the V's, like Jack, out of service. Though she was turned down in the beginning, after basically threatening the priests, she gets her way and the Vatican bans anti-V services. Meanwhile, Erica gets a new partner who is primed to stab her in the back, again. However, it looks like this guy is NOT a V, which I guess is a good thing. The thing that upset me the most in this episode was Tyler. He is starting to be a real annoyance and I really wish that his character would get written out or die. We all know that he is probably going to die after mating with Lisa, who had too little of time in this episode. The character of Eli Cohn is an interesting one. His radical movement of the suicide bombings and the murders of the Peace Ambassadors are a little too extreme, but I like how the Fifth Column decides to let him join up. They need his connections if they are going to beat the Vs once and for all.
Random Stuff
- Finally, Smallville returns tonite. I am so super pumped for this. I will be reviewing it tomorrow during the 10 Things post.
- There have also been some new pictures of Chris Evans as Captain America flying around. Here is one of them:
I must say, I am intrigued by this movie. I like Chris Evans in the Fantastic Four and, even though I'm not the biggest Cap fan, this movie looks pretty good. - Now, I know that I made a post about my lack of excitement about Mark Bagley returning to Ultimate Spider-man for "Death of Spider-man". But the pictures I have seen so far are pretty good and I'm optomistic about it.
- Marvel, via Dan Slott and a few others, have slowly been releasing images of Marcos Martin's and David Lafuente's most recent stuff. I absolutely LOVE all of the things I've seen.
Lafuente via Marvel
Marcos Martin via Stephen Wacker's Twitter
Well, that's it for this extended review post. Tomorrow I will be posting my review of "Collateral" and my top 10 favorite comic book artists. Sunday will be the day that I pick the Super Bowl. Follow me at Twitter.
Okay. See ya guys later.
-RandomBlogger
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