ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #42 REVIEW

[Brian Wilkinson]

<a href="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/covers/ultspiderman42.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/covers/ultspiderman42t.jpg" align=left alt="Ultimate Spider-Man #42"></a>Reviewer: Brian E. Wilkinson, bewilkinson@xfan.cjb.net
Quick Rating: Great!
Story Title: Temptations

Spider-Man and Geldoff face off with words rather than actions, but is either of them winning?

Written by: Brian Michael Bendis
Pencilled by: Mark Bagley
Inked by: Art Thibert
Colors by: Transparency Digital
Letters by: Chris Eliopoulos
Assistant Editor: Nick Lowe
Associate Editor: C.B. Cebulski
Editor: Ralph Macchio
Editor In Chief: Joe Quesada
President: Bill Jemas

I still believe with every fibre of my comic book geek soul that Ultimate Spider-Man is the best book currently being produced by Marvel, even though this issue doesn't quite live up to the standards of recent issues of the series. After all, last issue featured Peter and Mary Jane getting back together, introduced Geldoff, and had a few great spotlight moments on several characters.

This issue, however, focuses tightly on power vs. responsibility. Peter gets tangled up with the car-exploding Geldoff and does his best to explain to the Latverian exchange student that the best way to use a gift like that is to help people.

Geldoff asks 'why'?

And it's a valid question. After alll, Peter had reasons for choosing the path he did, but so did Doc Ock, Wolverine, Cyclops, Punisher, Daredevil, and every other character whether they were hero, villain, or something else. Perhaps the lesson here for Peter is that the line between good and bad isn't as clear as he'd like it to be, and with great power comes the OPTION of great responsibility.

There's nothing noble about Geldoff's attitude, but it's one that I'm sure a lot of people might have if in his situation.

Just because Geldoff is perhaps the dumbest character I've ever seen in concepts (intelligence wise, not concept), doesn't mean that he doesn't have a right to his own bizarre thoughts, it just means that he's not the same as Peter.

Which is too bad, because things could possibly get messy.

Other than the confrontation between the two characters, and a blatant example of Peter's choice in life conveniently happening while the conversation with Geldoff is going on, nothing really happens this issue. The conversation (as I may have called this issue myself) is a strong point, and a welcome change to the 'let's fight' mentality that tears through many comic books these days. Bendis provides a well thought out encounter, but unfortunately it's with a 'villain' that the general audience doesn't know and doesn't yet care about. After all, getting 'picked on' a little hardly qualifies you as something the Ultimates need to take care of.

It is, however, the arrival of the X-Men at the end of the issue that really surprised me. I had been expecting a three-issue arc before the crossover with the team, but it seems as though it's happening now. This should make for some very interesting reading, and I can't deny a thrill at seeing the merry mutants under the talented pencils of artist Mark Bagley.

Though I had to do a double-take at first, as Bagley's style is much more cartoony than the usual fare in Ultimate X-Men. I'm still very much happy, though.

Bagley, as usual, does his best to make us all feel inferior at the ease with which he seems to draw each issue. Everything looks marvelous as usual, and his attention to detail in Peter's pseudo-costume, as well as the look of the X-Men women, is just perfect. I've said it before, but I'm going to stay with this book as long as this unbeatable team stay with it. It's just THAT good.

To sum up, the issue isn't the best we've seen from Bendis, but it's still far and away one of the strongest series on the comic rack these days. They work brilliantly as single issues, or collected in trade format (of which I buy both), and either way make for some great reading.

Pick it up today.



ART:
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STORY:
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OVERALL:
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Buy this issue online now from X-World Comics and save! (http://x-worldcomics.com/yourvirtualstore/shopdisplayproducts.asp?id=538&cat=X%2DMEN+2+MOVIE+COMICS)

[Booyah9]

I love this book too. The only Marvel book that I think can beat it is Daredevil, which is win/win for Bendis. The reason I say so is because Bendis' style seems to fit books like Daredevil and Alias a little better than this one. Which isn't saying much, because this book rocks. I'm really exited about the next issue... and Ultimate X-Men... Heck, anything Bendis is writing, I want right now ;)

[UMichWolverine]

This book is so consistently great that I almost think that I am taking it for granted. I hope that the day doesn't come that we hit a subpar issue and I lose it because it isn't up to task with previous stories.

I could not stop laughing when Peter was on his way to Geldhoff's school. Nor could I stop laughing when he kept referring to Geldhoff as an idiot.

Yet, Geldhoff captures so much in a single character. He is what I would call the anti-Peter in so many ways. His opinion about being a mutant is also portrayed quite well.

If you have not started reading Ultimate Spiderman you are seriously missing out.

[Gat0r-ManX]

Yups, I sorta agree with Booyah9.

I just think Bendis is a freakin' genius.

[spinarakboi]

Yeah it was really good, a little boring but that's okay now and then. It still is great. I wasn't really interested in Geldoff from the beginning but other than that I have no complaints what-so-ever.

[SmashedPumpkin]

I'm gonna have to agree with you and say that Ultimate Spiderman is *close* to being the best book on the market. I love Ultimates way too much to give Spiderman that, but i'm hooked. I had a real "pfft" attitude about it until I read some of my brothers issues he had lying around and I was like "whoa". So here I be.

[Kevin Sutton]

Ultimate Spider Man is one of the best books on the market, but 'm finding this arc a little boring so far. Here's hoping things get more ineresting.

[The_One]

This is what I think will happen...

POSSIBLE SPOILERS!!!

Alright, so we know that Geldoff isn't a huge fan of mutants, or so we have seen, and my guess is is that he doesn't take well to the women of the X-Men... He spouts off on them and reeks havoc for them with his developing powers, Spider-Man just there for the ride.

There are a lot of untied ends to this assumption, but I am sure they can all come around and make Geldoff a villain by arcs end...

[ferretnaura]

having collected Spider-man (all 12 titles or so) in the 80's. Quitting the whole shebang just before the clone crap, I am very happy to have Ultimate Spider-man!

This title is fresh and enjoyable to read. yes, Bagley draws cartoony, but it seems I enjoy his Spider-man universe drawn this way. But only spider-man characters. Like the review, I was kind of put off on the X-ladies and Bagley's style... thinking.. they're not supposed to be drawn cartoony... but if that's my only gripe.. I'm in for the long haul.

Like another poster mentioned. Bendis has not gone wrong yet (in my opinion).. I pick up all of his titles. he's been writing his books for a few years and every new storyline is fresh and enjoyable..... no skidmarks ...yet (and I hope there won't be)

[D4773T]

Originally posted by SuperMutant
Ultimate Spider Man is one of the best books on the market, but 'm finding this arc a little boring so far. Here's hoping things get more ineresting. The action will come on the last two pages of the last part of the story arc where the bad guy will blow up. Its so much stuffing u can fill your mattress with it. But u got to keep those tpbks coming.