Weekly Comic Book Review

By Brian Bendis (writer), Stuart Immonen (pencils), Wade Von Grawbadger (inks), Justin Ponsor (colors)

The Story: Ultimatum drudges on in Ultimate Spider-Man like sludge through a sewer. New York is still destroyed and people are still scrambling for survival.  Spidey and the Hulk confront monsters at Doctor Strange’s mansion,  while the people closest to Peter look for him, dramatically.

What’s Good: Peter’s inner-monologue and overall personality is highly kinetic and enjoyable. As alway, Bendis has a great and consistent take on Spider-Man. Although they can border on campy, I like Peter’s supporting cast and despite that they are supposed to be teenagers but act like they are plucked from 30 Something, they help this issue stay above water. Even if they only make a brief appearance.

I am also a big fan of Stuart Immonen; and the great art in this issue is par for the course with him. Spidey has been drawn by all the greats and I think Immonen’s particular take ranks up there with the best. In this issue, due to induced nightmares on the central characters, Immonen gets to draw a range of characters and action and nails it all.

What’s Not So Good: It’s really hard to care about what’s transpiring in this issue. In fact, it is difficult to not be resentful that the great world of Ultimate Spider-Man is being sacrificed for Ultimatum. There are so many pointless detours in this story, like Hulk being haunted by those who he killed and diving into Ultimate Dr. Strange– a character who has never worked.

I was also really confused about the main villain in this issue as all of a sudden he showed up as a blue Human Torch; but before that was supposed to be a spirit or something. At one point, like me, Spidey asked, “Why is this happening?” I guess we were both clueless.

I like the idea of a Hulk/Spidey team up and last issue was an excellent depiction of this dynamic (remember Peter telling Hulk, “Friends don’t smash friends”? How awesome was that?). But in this issue, the relationship was flat and didn’t add anything to the story. Also, seeing Hulk rage his way into defeating a spirit was a little illogical.

Conclusion: Its official: Ultimatum has ruined the Ultimate Universe– literally, as the bad of Loeb’s Ultimatum’s is stronger than the good of Bendis’ USM. Also, I hope Bendis isn’t planning on killing Spidey, but I think he is and replacing him with…Spider-Woman! I guess, for some unknown reason, one prominent Spider-Woman, found in the regular Marvel U, is not enough for Bendis to work with.

Although this issue is rather poor, it is a necessary piece in the puzzle. I’m hoping that the next issue will have a big rebound as the characters and plotlines coalesce.

Grade: C-

-Rob G.

Filed under: Marvel Comics, Reviews Tagged: | Brian Bendis, Justin Ponsor, Marvel, Marvel Reviews, Spider-Man, Stuart Immonen, Ultimate Spider-Man, Ultimate Spider-Man #132, Ultimate Spider-Man #132 - Review, Ultimatum, Wade Von Grawbadger, Weekly Comic Book Review, Weekly Comic Reviews