Comics / Comic Reviews / Marvel Comics

Ultimate Spider-Man #159

By Zak Edwards
June 12, 2011 - 13:12

This issue of Ultimate Spider-Man, the penultimate issue of the series (before the return to #1), has me conflicted.  On the one hand, the big “Death of Spider-Man” story has dragged on far too long across multiple titles for no reason; but on the other, this issue has most of what has made this series great, at least when Peter’s in his costume.  There is legitimate tension and wonderful humour, playing Bendis’ precarious blend of tragedy and comedy into a single issue and, more often, single panels.  But the end is almost here and the wait has been so long, meandering, and simply representative of the shameless hype that comes with comic books sometimes after they discovered events have a positive impact on sales.  And here we are, almost there, and the necessary and extremely telegraphed (anti) climactic battle has started and largely finished in this issue.  While less of a meander and waste of time than the last issue, this event is showing how old its getting, and needs to end.  Thankfully, that mostly occurs next issue.

Before going any further: Spoiler Alert.

This issue is hardly a pain to read by any stretch.  All the greatest aspects of the Spider-Man in Ultimate Spider-Man are here, complete with pencils by returning artist Mark Bagley, it’s just the issue would be so much better if “Death of Spider-Man was plastered everywhere for what seems like far too long now.  Those waiting for the trade will certainly be in for a treat as Bendis has moved so many pieces into place to bring this battle to an epic and nostalgic moment, bringing back many villains who haven’t been used for a while to do battle with a dying Peter Parker.  As I’ve said before, the series has quickly returned to its roots just in time for the hero to undergo whatever change is coming.  Despite the issue being one long fight between Spider-Man and four villains, Bendis manages to pack a couple of important scenes in here which I think will be fairly integral to the future of the series.  Most importantly, Peter being captured on camera and basically how his identity will play out now that its probably pretty public knowledge.  The scene is pretty reminiscent of the train scene in Spider-Man 2, but hopefully this will be a little different and actually have consequences.  Of course, Aunt May steals the issue, having always been such a wonderfully constructed character, and her shooting Electro is a defining moment of the issue.  The crazy violence of the issue is giving a strange grounding through her actions, and Peter’s final lines of the issue, as he collapses into his aunt’s arms, is a great moment, filled with humour and desperation, all in a single panel.  So while the issue feels like the necessary and stereotypical battle, the issue will probably work much better as a trade rather than these drawn out individual issues.  Bendis’ script is amazing, but Bagley’s pencils create the necessary mood and tension of the issue.

The issue is an absolute joy to read and look at, Bagley’s pencils and Bendis’ tight script play with each other so well, the issue is the very definition of synergy.  You can almost see the conversations between the two creators on the page.  This is not an artist who is drawing what he’s told, Bagley is creating a wonderful comic from Bendis’ script.  The clumsiness of Peter compounds the impact of Peter's heroics and state, his weakened state is glaringly obvious, and every hit Peter takes is brought to life with the pencils.  While being heroic, Bagley draws Peter as a character in pain, barely holding on and unable to simply ignore the massive trauma his body is going under.  The art doesn’t allow the beaten hero the opportunity to heroically rise up and ignore what’s going on, and instead focuses on the efforts he makes, and the immediate and direct consequences of both his state and condition.  The issue's art is almost solely responsible for this running theme, not allowing the tropes of a hero to make Peter seem more than he is.  Peter cannot ignore the pain and wounds, and this instead emphasizes his heroics because of his inability to ignore it and continuing as best he can rather than taking the easy route of sloughing off what’s going on.  He is losing this fight, actually losing, and Bagley’s choices in the art drive this point home.

Grade: B+   Outside the hype, this is everything that makes Ultimate Spider-Man one of the most consistent and enjoyable superhero books on the shelf.

Last Updated: August 31, 2023 - 08:12