Ultimate Spiderman #74 (Spoilers)

[Kid Seven]

Well, looks like no one else has started a thread for this, so it's up to me. :)
And, of course....SPOILERS.....




I really enjoyed this issue. There's not much in the way of advancing the plot, at least in terms of the Hobgoblin storyline, but we do get Peter confronting MJ about her (seemingly brief) relationship with Harry. They have a big fight and seem to be broken up, at least for now.

There's a great fight scene, or rather, a great 'dialouge-during-and-after-a fight' scene, featuring Jean DeWolfe. Nice to see her again. Issue ends with Harry telling Peter to meet him.

And to bring the costume... Dun Dun Da Dun!....

Thoughts?

[Siddon]

You mean the third issue where nothing happens, I mean jeez is Hobgoblin going to show up in the final panal or something.

[The Lucky One]

Honestly? I usually like Bendis's decompressed style, I really do, and I enjoy his dialogue... normally. But this is taking things to an entirely new level. Three issues into the Hobgoblin story, and the major events are:

-Harry is back, and knows Peter is Spidey (which we already knew);
-Harry and MJ dated, and no one told Peter;
-Harry has access to his father's secret lab.

And that's it. Seems like the kinds of things that could have been handled in one, maybe two issues tops, to me. Is it really asking so much that in the Hobgoblin story, by the end of the third issue, we get just the briefest glimpse of... you know, the Hobgoblin? The way things are heading now, he and Peter can have their big, climactic fight just in time for the big issue 100.
;)

Bendis writes great interaction between characters, and believe me, I never thought I of all people would be saying this, but... enough characterization, get to the action already!

-D

[LukeRed5]

Eventhough we still haven't seen the Hobgoblin, I really like this issue. Ultimate Spider-man has been sucking lately and I think this issue put things back on track - I loved the cliffhanger. I hope the next issue pays off.

[perfect_Cell]

It helps advance the character so its fine... I can totally enjoy Petes development

[Kid Seven]

I'm with the second school of thought on this. Though there was in fact little advancement of the Hobgoblin story I actually really liked it. It felt like the characters were moving, as a opposed to a story like "Carnage" where I felt it was more a case of Bendis forcing the characters into emotions and plot points.

[Yes its me]

Anyone think the Punisher will make an apperance?

[TJ Shoun]

Sometimes I get a little bored with this title, then I get an issue like this which really gets me into it again.

(I think I'm one of those rare fans who would sometimes rather see an entire issue without obligatory action.)

I mean, who hasn't went through a fight like that with their high school girlfriend - got pissed and ran off half-cocked because you thought she wasn't being 100% honest with about an ex or something stupid like that? In hindsight high school is pretty damn stupid and silly, but stuff like that honestly seems like a friggin' Greek tragedy to you at the time.

Bendis does a great job of capturing that bit of teenage angst and it's really what's made Ultimate Spider-Man so special and distinct from the plethora of other Spidey titles out there. It's also the reason this book becomes stale once that teen emotional component is removed and we get more-or-less standard-fare superheroing.

Peter Parker is the hard-luck everyman superhero in the main Marvel U.
But Ultimate Peter isn't necessarily a hard-luck guy, he's just a typical teen.
And that's the key difference between the two.

[Bullies to go]

This issue took me two minutes to read, as opposed to my usual two and a half.

This comic is seriously becoming a joke. At one time I called it my favorite, but I really can't say that anymore. This issue was good by recent USM standards. But overall, it's just so depressing. For some reason this all hit me after this issue.

[Alan2099]

I get enough people standing around talking in real life. What I DON'T get in real life is people in costumes fighting each other.

As Evil said, " A little less conversation, a little more action please All this aggravation ain't satisfactioning me".

While I have nothing against character devlopment and supporting casts and all, can't we have comics where we get to see the characters AND we get a fight? We used to see it all the time.

[Troy Wall]

I hate that I do not enjoy USM as much as I used to. Dang it, I am not a hater, and I am a huge Bendis fan. His DD is ridiculously fantastic, as is much of his other work.

I think its time for Brian to bow out gracefully. His USM is no longer entertaining and is becoming very repetitive. I think the new writing for TPB movement makes matters worse. Its as if theres a new law that states you can't thread plot lines past a set amount of issues preordained to fill up a TPB. Its just get in there, tell a decompressed and boring story, and get out. I had to drop UFF because of this. No way I could stick around for the six part made for TPB "N-Zone" crapfest. UXM will probably have to go soon after having endured "The Most Dangerous Game" arc. I used to love all three of these books. Ultimate Iron Man is my current fave title in the UMU.

[sony]

This issue took me two minutes to read, as opposed to my usual two and a half.

This comic is seriously becoming a joke. At one time I called it my favorite, but I really can't say that anymore. This issue was good by recent USM standards. But overall, it's just so depressing. For some reason this all hit me after this issue.

I stopped reading it because it literally also takes me about 2 minutes to read an issue. I don't want to waste the money. Spider-Girl, for instance, though $2.99 takes awhile to read. Heck, I don't even read Chris Claremont books anymore but at least it takes awhile to read his lame stories.

Sales have really fallen lately, so you and I aren't the only ones realizing this.

[sony]

I hate that I do not enjoy USM as much as I used to. Dang it, I am not a hater, and I am a huge Bendis fan. His DD is ridiculously fantastic, as is much of his other work.

I think its time for Brian to bow out gracefully. His USM is no longer entertaining and is becoming very repetitive. I think the new writing for TPB movement makes matters worse. Its as if theres a new law that states you can't thread plot lines past a set amount of issues preordained to fill up a TPB. Its just get in there, tell a decompressed and boring story, and get out. I had to drop UFF because of this. No way I could stick around for the six part made for TPB "N-Zone" crapfest. UXM will probably have to go soon after having endured "The Most Dangerous Game" arc. I used to love all three of these books. Ultimate Iron Man is my current fave title in the UMU.


Yeah..it's sad. I don't read ASM but they are really going to have 6 issues of Peter SPOILER.................








moving in Avengers Mansion. Those issues will probably still move faster than this story arc though

[UniqueFrequency]

it was another 'eh'? issue for me. like yeah nothing really advances.. but we know it's going somewhere.. at least next issue we'll finally see what harry has up his sleeve

[chicainery]

I liked it.

I also don't really want to see Bendis or Bagley leave Ultimate Spider-man anytime soon. They've made this book wonderful.

[Siddon]

I don't think any of the last three issues were bad persay. I feel like had this been a subplot stretched over a year and given more time to other arcs I would love it. But the point of this arc is to tell the story of Hobgoblin and what we have recieved is a story of Harry Osborn who may become hobgoblin. I'm just disapointed.

[Kid Seven]

I guess part of it for me is that Ultimate Spidey works better if I don't look at any story arc demarcations or anything like that. It reads actually more like Manga in some ways, where stories can strecth for seven or eight issues at a time and just pace themselves.

As long as I'm still interested I'm happy.

[TonyS]

I have to admit that USM reads better for me in TPB format. The issues do read too fast.

What I like about this issue, arc and the series lately: Peter is definitely changed since Carnage/Gwen's death. he notion that people around him get hurt/killed and he can't seem to help it. He's going off on MJ, and Aunt May is conspicuously absent much of the time, which says to me that Peter is avoiding her.

What I like about all this is that while Peter is affected, he's not resolved or even fully aware of what he's doing _ A big contrast to the comics of yesteryear.

I like that we don't yet know what Harry is up to, or what his state of mind is, etc.

I like (in this issue) that Harry is able to unsettle MJ about Peter. At first I asked, why should he be able to have such an impact on her? But it's less about him and more about the timing. Peter's been flipping out, MJ's confused, and so Harry is able to get under her skin.

[RandallFlagg19]

What I like about all this is that while Peter is affected, he's not resolved or even fully aware of what he's doing _ A big contrast to the comics of yesteryear.

Well said. Within the confines of comics and a comic book world, Peter's reactions to his life and what goes on around has a reality to it, a weight. He doesn't always understand his feelings or why he's having them, and sometimes he doesn't seem cognizant that he's even having them, period. Peter is reacting like many would--especially a teenager who's had to grow up incredibly quickly.

[Predator]

This issue has made me realize that I need a break from USM. It was great for the first few years, but the decompressed storyline has lost my interest. I think I'll go to trades and give myself a few months between sessions.

[Alex Dragon]

I guess part of it for me is that Ultimate Spidey works better if I don't look at any story arc demarcations or anything like that. It reads actually more like Manga in some ways, where stories can strecth for seven or eight issues at a time and just pace themselves.

As long as I'm still interested I'm happy.

I feel the same way. I never thought of it before you said that but I think what happens is some people hear "Here's the Hobgoblin story!!" or "Here's Venom!!" and they just want to get to see the villian. All the other characterization and buildup just gets in the way for them.

For me personally, all the other stuff happening is more interesting than seeing Spidey fight the latest villian. We've seen Spider-man fight villians thousands of time before and there's really not a whole lot a writer can do to impress me with yet another fight scene. On the other hand, Peter, MJ and the cast interacting and dealing with their problems is far more interesting and fresh to me.
I like the fights and action too but they have more impact when they aren't happening every five minutes.

For people who say "nothing happens" in an issue, I disagree. There's drama, tension, characterization and the story moves forward. Just because there wasn't a fight/action for me doesn't mean "nothing happened".
Yes, of course this book is probably a better read in trade form but what comic isn't? If there was long delays between issues it wouldn't work as well but Ultimate Spider-man comes out on time and even does extra issues during the year.

Obviously every story won't be a home run but overall this a very well done, exciting, fresh, at times funny, suspensful book.

[Core]

I feel the same way. I never thought of it before you said that but I think what happens is some people hear "Here's the Hobgoblin story!!" or "Here's Venom!!" and they just want to get to see the villian. All the other characterization and buildup just gets in the way for them.

For me personally, all the other stuff happening is more interesting than seeing Spidey fight the latest villian. We've seen Spider-man fight villians thousands of time before and there's really not a whole lot a writer can do to impress me with yet another fight scene. On the other hand, Peter, MJ and the cast interacting and dealing with their problems is far more interesting and fresh to me.
I like the fights and action too but they have more impact when they aren't happening every five minutes.

For people who say "nothing happens" in an issue, I disagree. There's drama, tension, characterization and the story moves forward. Just because there wasn't a fight/action for me doesn't mean "nothing happened".
Yes, of course this book is probably a better read in trade form but what comic isn't? If there was long delays between issues it wouldn't work as well but Ultimate Spider-man comes out on time and even does extra issues during the year.

Obviously every story won't be a home run but overall this a very well done, exciting, fresh, at times funny, suspensful book.

What a great post. I agree with every word of it.

I think what it comes down to, in the end, is a reader's personal taste in comics. Some people want two slugfests and a chase scene in every issue; some want more soap opera dramatization and subtle character nuances in between their action sequences. I am among those who like both, and that's one of the reasons that this book is one of my favorites being published each month.

[Alex Dragon]

What a great post. I agree with every word of it.

I think what it comes down to, in the end, is a reader's personal taste in comics. Some people want two slugfests and a chase scene in every issue; some want more soap opera dramatization and subtle character nuances in between their action sequences. I am among those who like both, and that's one of the reasons that this book is one of my favorites being published each month.

I think we get a great mix of action and drama but that's my opinion. I've been reading comics for awhile and I've read my share of the "villian of the month" stuff were every issue or so had the big fight and most subplots were all neatly tied up within a few issues. I've seen and read enough of that to last me. If this book were written that way I wouldn't bother with it.

The characters in Ultimate Spidey seem more "real" and interesting than in books written "villian of the month" type comics where the characters seem more like plot devices to move the story toward the big fight scenes.
For me some of the best stories and moments in the series had little or nothing to do with Spidey fighting someone. When Pete and MJ broke up it actually made me sad and I have to admit I was happy and excited when they got back together. That was only possible because Bendis spends the time to make the characters interesting and doesn't follow the cliche set of rules that most writers fall into. I've actually read issues of this book where there's no Spiderman in it and didn't even realize it until I got online and someone complained about. All I know, remembered or cared about that it was an entertaining story.
Can Spider-man punching the Goblin possibly be as great or memorable as the issue when Peter to MJ his secret?

All this isn't to say Bendis doesn't do the action stuff well or the book doesn't need action/fights but for me that stuff isn't really the heart of the series or what makes it stand out for me. It's a very good mixure of the two.

[Alex Dragon]

Accidental double post...nothing to see here...move along...

[RandallFlagg19]

Agreed, Alex Dragon. Spoilers about what I read concering what happens in the next months in terms of characterization is what gets most excited about USM. What happens to Peter and how he deals with it make the action bits have a greater weight, precisely because we know what his super hero exploits do to his psyche.