By Don M. Ventura
Ultimate Spider-Man #155
Marvel Comics
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Ultimate Spider-Man #155 is a pretty wonderful thing.
Brian Michael Bendis has delivered a superb script which, at its heart, asks the question: would J. Jonah Jameson really be that stubborn, inflexible and unforgiving?
And his answer is “no.” In eight glorious pages of dialogue between Jameson and former-employee Peter Parker, Bendis progresses the duo’s relationship in an honest and believable way. It is so easy to take Bendis’ writing for granted at this point in his career, after writing hundreds and hundreds of stories. But folks, this is Bendis at his very best.
After a near-death experience at the hands of Chameleon, Jameson realizes that maybe the world isn’t in worse shape as a result of Spider-Man’s swinging around the Big Apple. Kitty Pryde also comes back into Peter’s life in a cute interlude that occurs before Peter and Mary Jane reconnect.
Somehow, it had gotten past me that Chris Samnee was going to be drawing this issue. I have followed his blog, his work on Comic Twart, and especially his magical work over the course of eight all-too-brief issues of Thor: The Mighty Avenger. Is he getting better? I think so, because from cover to cover this issues is absolutely sumptuous.
Samnee understands body language like no other artist I can immediately recall. Samnee is adds richness to the dialogue by so ably handling the acting of the characters. Look at Peter’s discomfort, expressions and hand gestures during the scene with J. Jonah, Spider-Man swinging across Manhattan in two pages of beautifully individual panels, or the way Mary Jane stands and reacts to Peter at the close of the story. This is extraordinary stuff.
If you haven’t checked into Ultimate Spider-Man for a few years, or a few months, you can pick up the incredibly accessible issue and enjoy the entire story. From the witty and true dialogue, to each handsomely illustrated panel, this issue is simply oozing with talent, heart and charm.
Comics should always be this good.
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