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Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #11 Review

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What happens when you're a young superhero and your uncle is the opposite AND knows your secret? No one said being a hero was easy.

The Good

The best thing for a superhero is to have a great supervillain. For us readers, we want great stories to showcase how cool the hero is. A character could have the coolest powers but if they don't have worthy adversaries, it gets boring really fast.

For Miles Morales, adjusting to being Spider-Man at such a young age and keeping the secret from others is a hard task. To make it worse, his uncle happens to be a shady guy (and is the Prowler in this universe). Miles' uncle also knows his secret and uses that to convince Miles to help him take out the Scorpion, who has arrived in New York City with the intentions of being the new Kingpin. That may sound like a noble gesture but Uncle Aaron was mixed up with the Scorpion and owes him money. He's hoping to use Miles' abilities as Spider-Man to take care of the problem.

This is where Bendis shines with ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN. From the beginning, it would have been easy to just tell new updated versions of a young Spider-Man. Bendis has always tried taking different routes when possible. With Peter getting killed and Miles taking up the mantle, it's as different from the original as you can get. The idea of Spider-Man's secret identity being known by a criminal relative adds a huge wrench into the mix and keeps us in suspense.

David Marquez has only been on the series for a few issues but it feels like he's been here a while. He's clearly comfortable with the characters and he has a great way of showing Miles as Spider-Man in action.

The Bad

I have to question how much stamina and healing ability Miles has. He gets a solid punch to the face and while he is a little dazed, he brushes this and getting his head smashed into a table with no problem. Later when he returns to school, there's not a single mark or bruise on his face. Perhaps I missed or have forgotten a mention of his being able to heal really quickly.

I am enjoying the Miles/Uncle Aaron angle but I wonder where the story could go.

The Verdict

It's hard to believe it's only been eleven issues with Miles as the new Ultimate Spider-Man. Bendis is doing a great job establishing him as this universe's Spider-Man and you can't help but like Miles as a character. Bendis also ensures that these are different sorts of Spider-Man stories. The angle of Miles' shady uncle knowing his secret is fascinating. We also have an interesting development at the end of the issue. David Marquez is killing it on the art and continues to show he's earned the right to draw these stories. I continue to be amazed each month that I can enjoy this series without Peter Parker around but since Bendis has succeeded throughout the entire previous series, it's really no surprise he would continue to make this such an enjoyable series.

18 Comments
Posted by Superdork

I love Miles!

Posted by sentryman555

Wait in the ultimate universe isn't Scorpion a clone of Peter?

Posted by lmephisto

Nice :D

Posted by GBrutality

@sentryman555: they probably realized that wasn't a great idea later and thought to make the character into something totally different.

you gotta wonder though, just what the hell is scorpion? he seems almost invulnerable with his ability to shrug bullets right off.

Posted by sentryman555

@GBrutality: Yeah that makes sense. I've been kind of going in and out with Ultimate Spiderman since Miles took over. I like his character but these last couple issues haven't felt like a must have for me. The plot sounds really interesting though I might have to pick this one up.

Posted by Skaddix

this was pretty awesome issue, i would pick this up then keep going into divided we fall.

Posted by notarandomguy
The idea of Spider-Man's secret identity being known by a criminal relative adds a huge wrench into the mix and keeps us in suspense.

hahahaha I think you forgot almost every hero and villain knew ultimate Peter was spider-man :P

Posted by feargalr

I love this series, although I kinda wish he had his web shooters already :/

Posted by Owie

This series continues to come along nicely. Good mix between home life and action, with a nice focus on the action this month. Good characterization and good art.

Posted by MrArrogant

managed to catch up with this series after reading the trade and buying the rest at a sale at my LCS so I'll certainly be picking this up. It's quickly became one of my favorite marvel books with both great art that fits the tone and a genuinely interesting story. I'm loving the angle of the series being more about this young kid Miles life changing so much (not just with spider-powers but with his new boarding school) and seeing how he reacts to and overcomes his struggles as opposed to punching out villains and wise-cracking (not that there isn't that or I don't like that). Bendis is strongest when writing characters and stories he cares about and he is definitely full force on this book. Glad he is leaving the avengers books if only it means he can focus on this and powers.

Posted by mattwing87

@sentryman555: Yes but this is a new Scorpion. He has hard skin and a chain weapon in the shape of a scorpion tail. How he got hard skin has not been explained yet as far as I know. I have not gotten this issue yet because of Marvel's slow ass subscription service :P

Posted by bookerman20

Series keeps on getting better. I have a gut feeling where this Miles/Uncle Aaron relationship is heading, and I believe it will become Miles sense of responsibility. Bendis has done a great job of turning this Ultimate version of Spider-Man into his own identity.

Posted by odysseyuwrf

I like this version a lot. But I'm wondering when he will run into a villain that give him a real challenge. So far he has taken guys out with relative ease. Also wondering where the Aunt May/Gwen Stacy thread is going.

Posted by ssj2DeadPool

This is a pretty cool book. I like Miles too. I kind of can not wait for Spider-Men now.

Posted by Knight Train

My favourite book on the market, five stars for me. Just because it hasn't explained the extent of his powers yet isn't really a negative for the book.

Posted by Knight Train

My favourite book on the market, five stars for me. Just because it hasn't explained the extent of his powers yet isn't really a negative for the book

Posted by THEBlaqueBasterd

@bookerman20: actually this kid already had an innate "sense of responsibility" he didnt need an uncle being killed because of his selfishness to take up the helm.. he realised he had powers &the original spidey was dead.. &decided there was a gap needed filling.. rather naively yes.. but no great tragedy was needed.. but your probly right.. Bendis looks like he's about to add some tragedy to the kids history.. whatever it is it wont be typical

Posted by ExtraLarge

The first rule of Spider Club is you do not talk about Spider Club. The second rule of Spider Club is that your uncle must be essential in defining yor career as a hero. This was a good issue. I'm liking Ult Spider-Man, but I'm not loving it. It feels very disconnected from the rest of the Ult Universe. The world is falling apart in Ultimates and Ult X-Men, but none of those events seem to be felt in Ult Spider-Man. I have a feeling next issue will be a momentous one when Miles meets Aunt May. Could be Miles may be inheriting some web shooters.