Comic Rantings from Across the Pond

By Mark Frankland

Hello it’s time for another barely coherent rant about comics by that British guy.

Since I posted my last—some would say controversial—article. it appears that some rather big news has hit the comic book reading world. So consider this something of a rundown of my opinion on what has been going on in comics in the last few weeks, plus some other stuff that I just want to sound off about. I will try to keep it short and as filled with barely constrained bitterness as possible

Ultimate Spider-Man

******* called it. I knew the new Spiderman was going to be African-American. I just didn’t think it would be this guy. I figured it was going to be the Ultimate version of Ben Reilly, also African-American, and a dab hand at creating Spidermen. But I am apparently only partially omnipotent, so I was a little off.

Am I upset about the fact that we will now have a black Spiderman? Hell no! I’m not a moron.  In fact there are only two things that shock me about this change:

Sara Pichelli's Cover To Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #1

Today Marvel Comics provided fans with Sara Pichelli's cover to Ultimate Comics Spider-Man number one.

Like most readers I am becoming a huge fan of Sara's and I am really looking forward to this book.

However, the new Spidey clearly has a lot to learn....swinging around with out his mask on...jeez, what  a dope.

USA Today Reveals the New Ultimate Spider-Man!

Power and responsibility will be there. Wall crawling and a few new spider-powers will be there. Heck, even Aunt May and Gwen will be around to provide sage advice. But Peter Parker, as you probably know, is gone from the Ultimate Universe and the new Ultimate Spider-Man is about to make a big splash in just over a day.

USA Today, however, has broken the news as Marvel Comics has allowed the cat out of the bag. The new Spider-Man is…

SPOILER ALERT!

Another Teaser For The New Ultimate Spider-Man

I have to say...I really dig this ALL NEW SPIDER-MAN's costume. We all know this character ends up in black and red jammies but still, this one here is a lot of fun.

But, Marvel, please please don't release a new picture every day. It's called over kill.

Marvel's comments about the character at SDCC 2011 said the identity of the character will be media news worthy and that its something that can only be done in the Ultimate Universe.

A friend suggested it might be Flash Thompson, I think its President Obama.

What you think?

Ultimate Comics Teases All New Ultimate Spider-Man

Here is the first image of the ALL NEW SPIDER-MAN...from Ultimate Comics.

Obviously he/she/it is in their pre-final Spider-Man costume...but even here in this other suit, it just proves Spidey looks cool in any costume.

SDCC '11: Marvel's 'Next Big Thing' Panel

So who is the new Spider-Man in Ultimate Comics Spiderman? We have a few more weeks before we find out according to Marvel Comics’ Director of Communications Arune Singh at the Marvel’s “Next Big Thing” panel.

“It’s going to be talked about in comic book shops all over the country,” said Singh of the reveal that will take place in the six-issue mini-series Ultimate Fallout. “We’re going to do something you could never do in the regular Marvel Universe.” My interest is piqued and, while I have not read the entire run of Ultimate Spider-Man, I get the distinct hint that the new Spidey is going to be someone we know from the comic books.

Come September, the Ultimate Universe begins anew with Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #1 by Bendis and Sara Pichelli, Ultimate Comics The Ultimates by Jonathan Hickman and Esad Ribic, and Ultimate Comics X-Men by Nick Spencer and Paco Medina.

Editor-in-Chief Axel Alonso said that this mini-relaunched universe will feel more cohesive in the past because the three writers responsible are working together to do so. Alonso also announced that some of the books would be double-shipping during their initial months of publication.

Who Is The New Spider-Man?

Hey there Spider-Fans....

Today around the comic rack, I heard people discussing who they thought the new Spider-Man was...or who they hoped the new Spider-Man was.

Everything I heard was a nightmare.

I heard things like (not kidding)...Mary Jane, Spider-Man 2099, Peter Parker's clone.

When I shared my thoughts, I said, it will probably be a brand new character. One no one has seen before.

I was then stared at like I had no business speaking.

An older gent said, "For the book to work, it will have to be someone the fans cared about."

I think these fans were missing the point of what Bendis and co. want to do with this new Spider-Man and what Peter Parker's death means to this new hero.

However, what do you think?

Should the character be a familiar face? Or a fresh face?

Video Review: 'Ultimate Spider-Man' #160

Cristian is as enthusiastic about Ultimate Spider-Man #160 as we were! The “Death of Spider-Man” storyline, by Brian Michael Bendis and Mark Bagley, has gotten a lot of deserved attention and it doesn’t disappoint!

Check out Cristian’s YouTube page where he reviews Captain America #619, Brightest Day Aftermath: The Search for Swamp Thing #1, Batman: Gates of Gotham #2, and Action Comics #902. Cristian is also excited about the direction of Bucky’s storyline in Captain America and the fantastic artwork by Butch Guice. Cristian was not too pleased with John Constantine’s first official story in the DCU in Brightest Day Aftermatch: The Search for Swamp Thing by Jonathan Vankin—but the art by Marco Castiello, Vincenzo Acunzo is appealing.

Thanks for sharing Cristian!

Kaare Andrews Ultimate Covers

Starting in August the Ultimate Universe gets a new start...beginning with four new titles.

The first two ship in August (Ultimate Comics Ultimates #1 & Ultimate Comics Hawkeye #1) and then two more in September ( Ultimate Comics X-Men #1 & Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #1)

Artist Kaare Andrews is providing all the covers. Which all look amazing if I do say so.

Happy Tuesday.

Marvel Announces 'Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man' by Bendis and Pichelli

I think Spider-Man is really going to die.

Okay, this will come as no surprise to many of you, but out of fear of being duped, I’m usually the last one to accept the big advertising campaign. Even if said campaign is called “Death of Spider-Man.”

Marvel unveiled the last of their Ultimate Comics makeover today with the announcement of Brian Michael Bendis and Sara Pichelli on Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man. If that team seems familiar for this title, Bendis is promising that just everything else about the book is going to feel new.

Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #160 Quesada Variant Cover

Hey guys...Ultimate Spider-Man is in the middle of its Death of Spider-Man story and many fans are asking,

"what exactly is going to happen to Peter Parker"

Well today Marvel released this variant cover by Joe Quesada.

Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #160 hits shelves on June 22.

New Ultimate Spider-Man

This was announced today, via Marvel,

"Marvel has announced that after the shocking events of Death of Spider-Man, the sold out storyline currently running through Ultimate Comics Spider-Man and Ultimate Comics Avengers Vs Ultimates, there will be a new Spider-Man and a new character under the mask. Something’s happened to Peter Parker and here comes an all-new Spider-Man…in an all-new costume!"

WHAT COULD THIS MEAN? WHAT?

Marvel Editor In Chief Axel Alonso had this to say about this announcement,

“We called this story Death of Spider-Man for a reason, This is a huge story that’ll have fans around the world talking for a long time as we set the stage for the debut of our new Spider-Man.”

We've discussed the current Death of Spider-Man storyline on our podcast and in my opinion I said the good stuff will happen post death.

Seeing this, my fanboy senses are ah tingling.

Very cool.

Stayed tuned Commuters.

A Sign of Certain Doom: Marvel Polybags 'Death of Spider-Man'

When it was first announced that one of the Fantastic Four was going to bite the proverbial dust, I called Sue Storm-Richards (does she hyphenate her name?). I’m pretty bad at guessing—hence, I go to Vegas to do anything but gamble.

So rather than saying what I expect to happen at the conclusion of the “Death of Spider-Man” storyline that is currently running in Ultimate Comics Spider-Man, I’ll let you know what I hope happens. Because, after all, we are talking about my single favorite superhero.

Spider-Man does not die at the end of the story. He is either depowered or is forced to give up being Spider-Man. Why forced? His biggest and baddest are on the loose and gunning for him. I would think if—to get to Spidey—they kill Aunt May or (gasp!) Mary Jane, it would not be unbelievable that he gives up wall-crawling for good.

Spider-Man no more.

I think this would be a tragic way to end the series without having to kill my hero. Our hero. I’d hate for the beloved character that Brian Michael Bendis has put through the ringer for just over a decade would meet his maker at the hands of his greatest enemies. But, Bendis is known for throwing curve balls, so you never can tell what he has planned for the end of this storyline.

However, polybagging a comic book usually means that some pretty major blood is going to be spilled. Today Marvel released the two bold designs for the bags in which Ultimate Comics Spider-Man will be entombed.

Wednesday's Finest: 'Ultimate Spider-Man’ #155

By Don M. Ventura

Ultimate Spider-Man #155

Marvel Comics

««««

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.

Rating Scale:

Excellent ««««

Good «««

Average ««

Poor «

OUCH!

CBR (via Marvel) has released Ed McGuinness's variant cover to the up coming 'Death of Spider-Man'.

What do you think Commuters??? Is your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man going to bite the big one?

Bagley and Yu's Covers for 'Death of Spider-Man'

There are artists whose work on certain characters just feels right, and Mark Bagley on Ultimate Comics Spider-Man is such a case. Bagley worked on Ultimate Spider-Man for 111 whopping issues—a feat that is totally unheard of in modern comic books. I think inviting Bagley back to work with Bendis again on the “Death of Spider-Man” storyline is a class act.

Marvel released the cover for Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #157 (above) by Bagley and Ultimate Comics Avengers vs. New Ultimates #3 by Leinil Yu (below left). The Yu cover is an homage to the cover of Amazing Spider-Man #129 featuring the first appearance of the Punisher (below right).

Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #157 and Ultimate Comics Avengers vs. New Ultimates #3 are scheduled to ship in April.

McGuiness and McNiven Cover 'Ultimate Comics Spider-Man'

Marvel premiered the covers for the Ultimate Comics Spider-Man issues that are leading up to next year’s “Death of Spider-Man” storyline. This one is as confounding as those double rainbows. I stopped reading this book a long time ago, but will probably be picking this up out of interest.

Ed McGuiness handled the cover for Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #153 (above) and Steve McNiven’s handiwork can be found on the cover of Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #154 (below).

I think that if Brian Michael Bendis were to say “I think I’m done here” then this would be the perfect time to close shop on the book because it is so uniquely his voice.  Could you imagine another writer on Powers or Alias? Call it what you want, Ultimate Spider-Man or Ultimate Comics Spider-Man, they wouldn’t enjoy the same longevity without Bendis.

Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #153 is scheduled for release on February 2, 2011.

Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #154 is scheduled for release on February 23, 2011.