Comic Of The Week: Ultimate Comics Spider-man #4

Written by Brian Michael Bendis

Cover: Kaare Andrews

Pencils: Sara Pichelli

What Happens: I like the new Spider-man’s sleeves. Otherwise, nothing new to see on the cover.

Brooklyn Visions Academy, Night. The R.A. or Miss Garrett or whatever of Miles’ dorm, comes in and tells everyone to stay calm. They’ve already heard that Spider-man’s been shot, so staying calm is not an immediate option. Miles tells Ganke to cover for him, and he sneaks out a window. I’m not sure if Miles doesn’t fully trust his new powers, or if they just aren’t as finely tuned as Peter Parker’s, but for some reason, he goes out barefoot.

Peter Parker’s Last Stand. Oh no. Do we have to? Peter drops a truck on Green Goblin. Miles watches from across town as something explodes. Peter Parker was present at the explosion. We get his death scene again. I know it’s just a comic book, but Peter Parker was a good kid. Everyone is instantly stricken and crying. Miles finds Gwen Stacy sitting on the lawn, and asks Spider-man’s name.

The next day, Ganke and Miles are reading the story online. Miles says it was his fault. “Instead of being a coward. You know I could have helped stop this.” Miles thinks he should have used his powers sooner. Ganke points out that it could have gotten Miles killed too. Ganke says maybe now is time for Miles to be Spider-man.

The Funeral of Peter Parker. There’s a huge crowd outside, but Miles and Ganke work their way up front. They see Gwen Stacy, and Miles asks her, “Why did he do it? Why did he become Spider-man?” She doesn’t answer, and walks inside. A panel later, she returns, and tells the story of Uncle Ben’s death, including “With great power comes great responsibility.” She adds that he wore a mask, “Because he didn’t need anyone to know who he was to be a hero. And it looked @#$@ cool.”

Back in the dorm, Miles tries and fails to design a Spider-man suit. Ganke enters, having bought him a Spider-man Halloween costume. Miles worries that it’s in bad taste, something not usually concerning a middle school student.

Miles leaps around the city in his costume, which has floppy boots and gloves. He hears a crash off-panel.

The next day, Miles finds a Daily Bugle story online (I suppose this will be a regular feature of the book) criticizing the new Spider-man impostor for the way he handled a battle with the Kangaroo.

The other roommate, the kid with glasses, is knocking outside. They aren’t supposed to lock the doors. Ganke lets him in. He’s followed by guy who looks like a coach, who reminds the boys that it’s against policy for them to lock the door. Miles wonders to himself how he’s going to manage being Spider-man, how Peter did it, and why he narrates now. Ha.

Spider-man crouches on a gargoyle, trying to figure out how to find bad guys before they do bad things. He doesn’t understand the buzzing in his head. Is it cancer? No, it’s Spider-woman, there to kick him down. “Who the @#$@ do you think you are?”

Grade: A-

Also purchased: Batgirl #3; Batman and Robin #3