Ultimate Spider-Man Vol. 3: Double Trouble
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Penciller: Mark Bagely
Inker: Art Thibert
The overall story involves Peter going up against his first supervillain, Doctor Octopus. I’m not counting Electro because he was really only a henchman. Octavius wakes up from his coma (he was injured at Oscorp back in the first volume) and finds out that his mechanical arms are permanently stuck to him. He doesn't take it well and I can't blame him. So, he unleashes a rampage on the city and blames one man: billionare Justin Hammer. This gets Spider-Man involved and he and Doc Ock go head to head in two awesome battles.
Peter also has to deal with
keeping his double life a secret from people from school, some TV star named Kraven The Hunter,
and his aunt. Luckily, he does have Mary Jane to confide in since he told her
his secret in the last volume. She even helps him with fixing his costume. He
also has to still deal with a public that fears and mistrusts him but it looks
like that may change. We also get the first appearances of the Ultimate
versions of Gwen Stacy and George Stacy. SHIELD also plays a small role in this
and it marks the beginning of their role in this book.
OPINION
I thought this trade as a whole was pretty good. I think
it was the first four volumes of this series that convinced me to check out the
rest of it. Peter continues to grow in the trade. He and MJ make it official in
one of the most “Awwwwww!!!” panels I have ever seen. They just look good
together. We also get his reaction when Gwen Stacy enters the scene. Now, this
isn’t your normal universe’s Gwen. This version is a bit wilder and she even tries
to talk like some hippie. I like her. She reminds me of someone from high
school though I don’t think this person carried a knife around with her.
We also see Peter go up against Doctor Octopus in two
battles. We see that Peter’s still learning when dealing with these villains
because he gets pummeled in his first battle. Peter also has to deal with
Kraven the Hunter who’s a TV star in this universe. He’s also looking more like
Ra’s al Gul with that goatee of his. A definite highlight of the book is when
these two go at it. It’s pretty funny. Spider-Man finally gets some respect in this volume from the
public. It comes at the end and it’s pretty satisfying. Of course, he
doesn’t completely win since Aunt May grills him about getting home late and
grounds him.
The villains are a bit mixed. I thought Doctor Octopus (Doc
Ock) was a good villain and had a nice origin. Doc Ock basically wants
revenge on billionaire Justin Hammer (not this Hammer) because he believes that
Hammer had something to do with the accident that bonded the arms to him. Doc
Ock also doesn’t remember what happened in the accident and he doesn’t remember
that Peter was bitten by a radioactive spider… until the end, of course. His
new costume design is pretty cool but I think the style of the sunglasses is a
little much. Kraven’s first appearance here was okay. I thought it was weird to
make him in to a faux Steve Irwin, but the fight between him and Spider-Man
made up for it.
The artwork is good as usual. I really don’t have many
complaints there. Bagely’s pencils and Thibert’s inks make for a good combo. The
action in the trade (and the series in general) is pretty awesome. The writing
is good, but some of the dialogue is a bit much. I then remember that this is
Brian Michael Bendis, so I just go on and accept some of the dialogue. I
definitely recommend this to any fan of the Wall-Crawler.
Revealed Secret/Unmaskings of Spider-Man: 1
When Dock Ock captured by SHIELD and drugged up at the end,
he begins to remember that Peter Parker is Spider-Man. It makes sense because
he was working on Peter’s blood all the way back in the first volume. It could be 2 revealings since Kong does put two and two together, but he never finds out. So, take
a drink or eat an Oreo, I don’t care which.
Total Revealed Secret/Unmaskings of Spider-Man: 3
Highlights
Finally, here are the highlights of the issue. There’s a lot
I like, but I’ll just slim it down to a few points:
Gwen Stacy – Her first appearance is milked for all its
worth. We also find out she’s not to be trifled with.
Peter Parker: Actor? - When Kong begins to piece together
that Peter is Spider-Man, he tries to prove it by being a douche. So, Peter has
to suck it up and basically put on a performance of a lifetime. I give a 7 out
of 10! Also, when this guy almost figures out your identity, I think it's time to dawn some glasses or a playboy billionaire attitude.
Spidey vs. Doc Ock – Both fights between the two are pretty
epic. There isn’t much to say in that regard. While Peter does get trounced in
the first round, he does come back swinging (pun intended) in the second round.
Spidey’s version of Batman’s “One Punch” – While the fight
between Spidey and Dock Ock was epic, the fight between he and Kraven was less
epic. Still, it provided a nice laugh from me.
Peter’s Speech at the end – After all is said and done with
Kraven and Doc Ock, the press interviews Spider-Man. The words Peter says ring
true to the character. I especially like what he said about his reasons for the
mask. Unfortunately, this also brings up the dumb decision Marvel made when
Peter reveals his identity in Civil War a few years later. Oh well…
..........................................................
Well, that’s all I got for today. I may try these short
reviews out every once in a while. I might just save them for the Ultimate
Spidey stuff. So, I bid farewell. Peace and God Bless.
NEXT TIME: NEIL GAI--- EH, I don't know as of yet!!!!
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