MADMINISTER.COM

Comic Bool Review

Comic Book: "Ultimate Spider-Man" (Ongoing Series)
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Artist: Mark Bagley
Available: At most online comic shops.

Background/Summary: One of the latest things Marvel Comics has started doing in order to try and expand their market into the younger generation has been to re-tell several of their flagship stories in a here/now setting, re-envisioning the stories, the characters and adding more details in some places.
They launched the line with this title, "Ultimate Spider-Man" and quickly continued with "Ultimate X-Men" and "Ultimate Marvel Team-Up." New readers have been born out of this maneuver and their readership is expanding as a result of this line, even though some comics fans are still against it.
Issues # 1 through 6 told the Spider-Man origin story and introduced the Green Goblin as his first major villian. Issues #7 through 12 told the story of Spider-man's first run-in with the Kingpin of crime and his gang of mobsters, which included the introduction of Electro, another one of Spider-man's classic foes.
Currently on issue #13, this story was a sweet one-shot issue in which Peter Parker tells his best friend, Mary Jane Watson, his secret identity.

Props:
+ Brian Bendis' stories! Ultimate Spider-Man has quietly moved into my #1 favorite comic spot due to its real and compelling stories, strong characterizations and amazing dialogue.
+ Mark Bagley's artwork! The art is crisp, action-packed and contributes to the overall story.
+ The overall concept. Tis kind of move was definitely necessary in order to begin to make advances in gaining new readers. Between this comic, the re-vamp of the original Spider-Man titles and the movie, due out next Summer, Spider-Man should once again be restored as one of the top super-heroes!
+ The sly in-jokes and sight gags. If you look harder, there are tons of little things that will make even the most stoic comic fanboy smile.
+ For this new interpretation of Peter Parker. Between the art and the characterization, this is definitely one of comics' top heroes! The "ultimate" Peter Parker has to be one of my two favorite characters and is slowly edging Nightwing outta' the #1 spot.

Slops:
+ Not really any. There's zero sex or cursing, but the violence has progressed a little bit more. This shouldn't be a problem though, because the aim of this series and the entire line has been stated as being "mainstream" in its intended appeal. Meaning that they're aiming at teenagers, but not through gratuitous sex or violence, but rather through great art and awesome writing.

Mad Minister's Verdict: I have to be honest and say that after a full year of issues, the quality has stayed exactly the same… which was excellent. Nothing tapered off and the comic is just as strong today as it was a year ago when it initially launched!
I have to place this in the same category as "Robin" and "Meridian" and state that this is a completely "safe for teens" comic book title! And it really pleases me to be able to say that cause of some of the other crap that's out there.
I can whole-heartedly recommend this comic title to anyone and everyone who might wanna pick it up and check it out.

Points: 4 outta' 5.