Ultimate Spider-man V2 #5: Crowded House
Brian Michael Bendis is hellbent on making Mysterio more than a glorified smokey chrome dome version of Arcade in the Ultimate universe. From issue #1, Mysterio deposed the Kingpin, rolled up his sleeve, and reshaped the criminal underworld. Realizing NYC is still recovering from the tsunami, he drums up an illusion to put the city in a state of panic while he tried to rob a bank but was foiled by Spider-man. Mysterio is not only undeterred, but he also makes it personal. Spider-man falls for Mysterio’s trap and with our hero in peril who will come to his aid?
Mary Jane? Fail. Gwen Stacy? Fail. Human Torch? Fail. Kitty Pryde? Fail.
No instead Bendis used the re-imagined 616 character The Hood to save Spider-man but who is he or she? No one can say.
Meanwhile, Spidey’s home is getting more and more crowded as yet another alleged casualty of Ultimatum pops up alive. Is this Bendis undoing the work Loeb had set out? Or is there something more to this? Peter had a dream of all the dead heroes drowning along with himself.
Bendis has a lot of interesting things going on in Peter Parker’s life. In fact, Pete’s life is more interesting than what’s going on in the streets of New York City. The city doesn’t feel as alive as Peter’s home life. I’m sure Bendis will continue to amp up action but at this point I am getting a little tired of Mysterio. In fact, I don’t even care what happens to him next issue.
Rating: Borrow it.