Stephanie Kay
Oct 13, 2007, 11:13 pm
<a href="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/4images/details.php?image_id=10412" align=left hspace=10 alt="Ultimate Spider-Man #103" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/covers/marvel/ultspiderman103t.jpg" align=left hspace=10 alt="Ultimate Spider-Man #103"></a>Reviewer: Corey Brotherson, cbrotherson@googlemail.com
Story Title: Clone Saga: Part 7
"Are you going to cry? Is Spider-Man going to cry?"
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Penciler: Mark Bagley
Inker: Drew Hennessy
Colorist: Studio F
Letterer: VC's Cory Petit
Production: Rich Ginter
Associate Editor: John Barber
Editor: Ralph Macchio
Editor In Chief: Joe Quesada
Publisher: Dan Buckley
Published by: Marvel Comics (www.marvel.com)
You'd be forgiven for thinking the Ultimate Clone Saga has been going on for as long as its original 616 inspiration. Truth is, while one of the longest running storylines in Ultimate Spider-Man to date, this tale of clones, identity and estranged parenthood is still well within any imaginary boundaries of length. It's refreshing to see a creative team take pains to give a story as much time as needed to breathe in an age where six issue arcs are the norm to help satisfy the typical trade paperback format.
And it's indeed an epic yarn. Stretching across its 100th milestone issue, the Clone Saga builds on elements trailing all the way back to the book's opening. Old characters meld with new ones, prior relationships are explored and nasty wounds are reopened. As the penultimate chapter there's a ton of exposition and explanation, but there's a strong sense of satisfaction that comes with it. Partially because writer Brian Bendis shows some supreme characterisation here, with even the more peripheral likes of Kitty Pryde getting a nice moment that provides more than just a much needed spot of light relief. There's also a large amount of importance given to the story's events that potentially could affect the whole Ultimate universe, the Ultimates most prominently, with the genuine implication of Peter Parker being involved in something far bigger than he even imagined, unable to comprehend or deal with it in the way he wants. It's a powerful narrative tool that brings us closer to Peter, with his helplessness in other people's grand machinations offering nothing but pathos. He struggles to fight his way out of situations that just happen to him with little provocation on his part and that's something we can all relate to. In this issue it's an element that comes to the fore with so much force that it's hard not to feel bowled over as hit follows hit follows hit, and the young teen's life gets dismantled piece by piece. As painful as it is to watch, it makes for great reading in what's generally been an intensely engaging, if somewhat bewildering, arc.
It's interesting to note that this story works well -and will arguably work better when read in its trade format, sans monthly gaps- for the same reason the original Clone Saga worked (before it got way out of hand). That reason being a well devised mixture of action with a strong emotional core that turns Peter's life upside down. The titular hero is taken for a spin where the very essence of what he believes in is challenged and altered, messing with the heart of the character's sensibilities. Peter thrives on responsibility over power, while his foes abuse their power forsaking responsibility, and it's his family that suffers the consequences. Which is why the bare bones of the Clone Saga strikes such a chord as a Spider-Man story. It's a reassessment of the fundamentals that forced poor Parker to take up his fight against crime. What's clear is that Bendis understands the mechanics of what makes it tick as a tale and despite the traps that could have easily been fallen into; the writer has managed to keep his head above water and maintains the story within manageable and meaningful confines.
Also, like the original Saga, it elevates a villain of lesser status to that of a more prominent and memorable role. Here this antagonist manages to become more evil and menacing than most who have come before him, especially during one scene where he unveils many of the answers we've been waiting for with a sinister grin of smug malevolence. His punchline underscores the whole storyline, made only more shocking when another blow comes merely one page later in a devastating revelation that some may consider a slightly cheap move. However, for me it wasn’t too much of a problem and opens up an interesting facet that could be worth exploring past Saga's conclusion. However, the other discovery at the end of this part sat a little less comfortably, as does anything which appears a little vague or less defined - it's a revelation that jars slightly in the slew of potent and character driven exposition. But I'm willing to give Bendis the benefit of the doubt given we're only one issue off the big finale and due to the mysterious yet all encompassing nature of the Clone Saga it's worth hanging in there to see where it all leads.
Mark Bagley proves just how much he will be missed with some sterling art that compliments Bendis' well paced script. Surprisingly, a couple of the facial expressions are a bit off (poor Mary Jane looks like she's hopped up on crystal meth in her mother's photo and at times Sue Storm is far too close to Gwen Stacy, looks-wise), but the strength of the work on a whole is 'typical' Bagley excellence; dynamic, sharp and lucid. A page where Peter's mind races through justifiably manic options is drawn brilliantly; his and other characters' emotions coming to the fore clearly and combining well with the dialogue to make for a powerful page.
So, one of Marvel's more consistent books continues in fine form. Parker may well never be the same after this (which is great for us, all the same), but Ultimate Spider-Man has almost triumphantly come through the potential story minefield unscathed. We're just a conclusion off a truly fantastic Spidey tale. Consider my breath duly bated.
OVERALL:
http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/spifull.jpghttp://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/spifull.jpghttp://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/spifull.jpghttp://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/spifull.jpghttp://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/spihalf.jpg
Buy Ultimate Spider-Man #103 online now from X-World and save! (http://x-worldcomics.com/yourvirtualstore/shopexd.asp?id=21534)
Story Title: Clone Saga: Part 7
"Are you going to cry? Is Spider-Man going to cry?"
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Penciler: Mark Bagley
Inker: Drew Hennessy
Colorist: Studio F
Letterer: VC's Cory Petit
Production: Rich Ginter
Associate Editor: John Barber
Editor: Ralph Macchio
Editor In Chief: Joe Quesada
Publisher: Dan Buckley
Published by: Marvel Comics (www.marvel.com)
You'd be forgiven for thinking the Ultimate Clone Saga has been going on for as long as its original 616 inspiration. Truth is, while one of the longest running storylines in Ultimate Spider-Man to date, this tale of clones, identity and estranged parenthood is still well within any imaginary boundaries of length. It's refreshing to see a creative team take pains to give a story as much time as needed to breathe in an age where six issue arcs are the norm to help satisfy the typical trade paperback format.
And it's indeed an epic yarn. Stretching across its 100th milestone issue, the Clone Saga builds on elements trailing all the way back to the book's opening. Old characters meld with new ones, prior relationships are explored and nasty wounds are reopened. As the penultimate chapter there's a ton of exposition and explanation, but there's a strong sense of satisfaction that comes with it. Partially because writer Brian Bendis shows some supreme characterisation here, with even the more peripheral likes of Kitty Pryde getting a nice moment that provides more than just a much needed spot of light relief. There's also a large amount of importance given to the story's events that potentially could affect the whole Ultimate universe, the Ultimates most prominently, with the genuine implication of Peter Parker being involved in something far bigger than he even imagined, unable to comprehend or deal with it in the way he wants. It's a powerful narrative tool that brings us closer to Peter, with his helplessness in other people's grand machinations offering nothing but pathos. He struggles to fight his way out of situations that just happen to him with little provocation on his part and that's something we can all relate to. In this issue it's an element that comes to the fore with so much force that it's hard not to feel bowled over as hit follows hit follows hit, and the young teen's life gets dismantled piece by piece. As painful as it is to watch, it makes for great reading in what's generally been an intensely engaging, if somewhat bewildering, arc.
It's interesting to note that this story works well -and will arguably work better when read in its trade format, sans monthly gaps- for the same reason the original Clone Saga worked (before it got way out of hand). That reason being a well devised mixture of action with a strong emotional core that turns Peter's life upside down. The titular hero is taken for a spin where the very essence of what he believes in is challenged and altered, messing with the heart of the character's sensibilities. Peter thrives on responsibility over power, while his foes abuse their power forsaking responsibility, and it's his family that suffers the consequences. Which is why the bare bones of the Clone Saga strikes such a chord as a Spider-Man story. It's a reassessment of the fundamentals that forced poor Parker to take up his fight against crime. What's clear is that Bendis understands the mechanics of what makes it tick as a tale and despite the traps that could have easily been fallen into; the writer has managed to keep his head above water and maintains the story within manageable and meaningful confines.
Also, like the original Saga, it elevates a villain of lesser status to that of a more prominent and memorable role. Here this antagonist manages to become more evil and menacing than most who have come before him, especially during one scene where he unveils many of the answers we've been waiting for with a sinister grin of smug malevolence. His punchline underscores the whole storyline, made only more shocking when another blow comes merely one page later in a devastating revelation that some may consider a slightly cheap move. However, for me it wasn’t too much of a problem and opens up an interesting facet that could be worth exploring past Saga's conclusion. However, the other discovery at the end of this part sat a little less comfortably, as does anything which appears a little vague or less defined - it's a revelation that jars slightly in the slew of potent and character driven exposition. But I'm willing to give Bendis the benefit of the doubt given we're only one issue off the big finale and due to the mysterious yet all encompassing nature of the Clone Saga it's worth hanging in there to see where it all leads.
Mark Bagley proves just how much he will be missed with some sterling art that compliments Bendis' well paced script. Surprisingly, a couple of the facial expressions are a bit off (poor Mary Jane looks like she's hopped up on crystal meth in her mother's photo and at times Sue Storm is far too close to Gwen Stacy, looks-wise), but the strength of the work on a whole is 'typical' Bagley excellence; dynamic, sharp and lucid. A page where Peter's mind races through justifiably manic options is drawn brilliantly; his and other characters' emotions coming to the fore clearly and combining well with the dialogue to make for a powerful page.
So, one of Marvel's more consistent books continues in fine form. Parker may well never be the same after this (which is great for us, all the same), but Ultimate Spider-Man has almost triumphantly come through the potential story minefield unscathed. We're just a conclusion off a truly fantastic Spidey tale. Consider my breath duly bated.
OVERALL:
http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/spifull.jpghttp://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/spifull.jpghttp://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/spifull.jpghttp://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/spifull.jpghttp://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/spihalf.jpg
Buy Ultimate Spider-Man #103 online now from X-World and save! (http://x-worldcomics.com/yourvirtualstore/shopexd.asp?id=21534)