Ultimate Spider-Man - Volume 1: Power & Responsibility

After 42 years of stories, Spider-Man, like many other Marvel titles, has become bogged down in its own complex continuities. Many comics have gotten to the point where those who haven't been reading since way back have trouble understanding the plots. It is for this reason that the creation of the Ultimate series is such a smart move on Marvel's part. Now, on to comic being reviewed. Gone are the futile attempts by Lee and Ditko (Spidey's original creators) to come up with good villains and story lines every month (many old fans may look back not-so-fondly on such abysmal creations as the Terrible Tinkerer, or A Guy Named Joe). Since Spider-Man is already established as a great series, Bendis had more time to flesh out the characters, and elaborate on classic story arcs, without struggling to come up with new ideas every month. To make it more appealing to younger readers, Bendis put a more modern spin on Ultimate Spider-Man. This means that the characters act/talk like they're living in the year 2000, not 1963. Many long-time fans will notice several major changes in the continuity and characters. For one, Peter Parker starts out dating MJ Watson, bypassing his relationships with Betty Brant and Gwen Stacy (although they both make cameo appearences in a couple of stories). In addition, rather than being an insane-workaholic-costume-wearing-Spidey-foe, ultimate Green Goblin is an insane-workaholic-mutated-drug-addicted-Spidey-foe. Since it is known from the beginning that Norman Osbourn is the Green Goblin, his origin is told in a different manner, in a much shorter time (which is a change for the better, IMO). Finally, the event of Uncle Ben's murder is pretty similar to the original comic, except for the fact that Peter lets the crook go when he robs a deli, rather than a wrestling manager. Oh, and Aunt May is much younger, so Peter doesn't have to worry about her health (at least for the time being). That about covers all the MAJOR CHANGES in the first story arc, which are necessary for a better retelling of the exploits of the web-head. As for the artwork, Bagley does an excellent job providing the right atmosphere for the stories. In my opinion, his use of detail is top notch, and his style is great. Bagley can only get better as he continues his career. Overall, Power and Responsability is a great start to a promising new Spider-Man series.

I started reading "The Amazing Spider-Man" and "Peter Parker: Spider-Man" again when I started doing a unit on comic books for my Popular Culture class and had ignore "Ultimate Spider-Man." Seeing that the first seven issues were collected in "Ultimate Spider-Man: Power and Responsibility" I thought I would check it out and was more than pleasantly surprised. The idea here was to update Spider-Man for the 21st century, specifically by going back and starting over from the beginning, doing so fully cognizant of where Stan Lee and Steve Ditko started off the comic book and where the character would end up in terms of super villains and future bride. There is certainly a sense in which this version is compatible with the blockbuster "Spider-Man" movie, but that is more in terms of having Mary Jane Watson there from the start than anything else. Ultimately, the point here is tighten the original Spider-Man story and give the characters some twists."Power and Responsibility" takes its time in developing the origin of Spider-Man. The original story by Lee and Ditko in "Amazing Fantasy" #15 was eleven pages long. Here it takes six issues to get to the same point in the character's history. Of course, since we know where things are going, we can take time to appreciate the journey. At the same time, there is a concerted effort to bring various elements more into the mix. That infamous radioactive spider is the creation of Osborn Industries, the pet project of Norman Osborn and one of his chief scientists, Dr. Otto Octavius. Osborn is extremely interested in why young Peter Parker does not die after the bite and the creation of the Green Goblin becomes a direct consequence of the fateful spider bite. In time I am sure we will see the birth of Doctor Octopus will come from this as well. The stories here are by Bill Jemas and Brian Michael Bendis (who does the script), with pencils by Mark Bailey and inks by Art Theibert and Dan Panosian. In many ways I am reminded of when John Byrne had the responsibility of restarting Superman; there is a sense to be a bit more realistic. It is not that Peter Parker is an absolute scientific genius; it was his father who did most of the preliminary work on what would become the formula for Spider-Man's web. Once he gains his spider powers, Peter Parker does what just about any persecuted high school nerd would do; he goes out and becomes a super jock. When he starts web slinging he makes a lot of initial mistakes. I even like the way Peter snaps back at Uncle Ben and Aunt May as things start to get to him, both before and after the spider-bite. This jut increases the pathos of the tragedy that unfolds. I like the fact that "Ultimate Spider-Man" is divorced from the two "real" Spider-Man comic books. Going back to the original stories by Lee and Ditko (later John Romita, Sr.) in either "The Essential Spider-Man" or "Marvel Masterworks" series are not going to be really helpful to younger readers of th

I have been a fan of Spiderman since the early 1970s. In fact I practically grew up alongside Peter Parker. I've seen the character through plenty of ups (The Death of Gwen Stacy, Untold Tales of Spiderman) and downs (Spiderman 2099, the Howard Mackie years). So naturally, it was with great trepidation that I finally decided to read the new "take" on him that was presented in Power and Responsibility. I could not imagine the fun ride that was in store for me.Writers Bill Jemas and Brian Michael Bendis do an unbelievable job of keeping the beloved characters and elements that fans will know and love. But, at the same time they create just enough of a twist to keep readers intrigued and guessing as to what they will experience next. A perfect example is the character of Uncle Ben who is fully developed and around long enough to establish a strong relationship between himself and Peter. Readers have plenty of time to enjoy Uncle Ben while at the same time dreading the fate that they know will unfold around him. The death of Uncle Ben is the prime motivation for the entire character of Spiderman...and yet I liked Ben so much I hoped that this time around perhaps he'd live.The Ultimate Spiderman storyline also does a nice job of fleshing out the origin of Spiderman and his nemesis The Green Goblin (who is incredibly different). Interwoven between the characters several familiar faces also fall. I can't wait to see the Ultimate version of Doctor Octopus or to see how the character of Harry Osborn develops do to what occurs in this intial storyarc.Finally why should you read Ultimate Spiderman: Power and Responsibility? Bottom line - IT IS FUN. You'll have a chance to see a modern take on a classic hero and to watch as he grows, experiences the troubles of being a teenager, the challenges of being a newborn superhero, and as he learns that "with great power comes great responsibility."

Hats off to Marvel for making comics accessible again. Ultimate Spider-Man is a great comic that anyone can read and relate to. It tells the story of a nerdy high school sophomore who suddenly finds himself in possession of fantastic powers. It's an old story, with a hero that will be familiar to almost anyone. After all, Spider-Man is one of the most recognizable characters in entertainment history.But what's this "Ultimate" about? Spider-Man is a character who was created in the sixties, and since then he's been dragging forty years of continutity and backstory. Ultimate Spider-Man approaches the character from the ground up, with a contemporary voice and pop culture references that place the book squarely in the 21st century. This Peter Parker isn't married and successful yet; he's barely coming to grips with his powers. The origin is updated, the villains look different, and nothing about the hero's future is set.Longtime Spider-Man fans may still be more comfortable with the original character that they've grown up with. (The "classic" Spider-Man is still thriving and his ongoing series is currently enjoying the excellent writing of Babylon 5 creator J. Michael Straczynski.) But for those who lost interest in comics years ago, or those who are approaching the medium for the first time, this book is absolutely perfect.The writing, by comics wunderkind Brian Michael Bendis, is awesome. Dialogue is sharp and sparkling with very authentic voices. The art is attractive and expressive. The stories are easy to follow, even for a first time comics reader. It's a comic that anyone can enjoy, and one which I strongly recommend. I loved it, my girlfriend loved it, and I'm sure that you'll love it.

Stan Lee and Steve Ditko told this story in one issue of Amazing Fantasy in 1963. In Power and Responsibility, Brian Bendis and Bill Jemas have revised and expanded the tale as the launching point for the Ultimate Spider-Man series.The extra space is spent on a few new plot touches, but mostly it gives us a longer, deeper look at these characters. We see the pain of Peter's adolescence, compounded by his problems fitting in at school and the loss of his parents; we see the joy that his newfound abilities give him; we see the pressure of adjusting to the changes in his life that result. Peter spends a great deal of time in a basement lab, studying a set of equations left behind by his father. The one sided conversations he has with the blackboard are great character moments, filled with loneliness and determination. Peter also spends a great deal of time with his father figure, Uncle Ben, and here is one of Bendis' greatest touches - the extra time spent with Ben show that he's just the kind of caring, involved, lighthearted, generous sort we all wish we could have in a father, which makes his death hit that much harder.The art is also strong here -- good character expressions, appealing design work, and nice action sequences. Combined with Bendis' strong dialogue and characterization, this book conveys the essence of the character, and quite frankly the upcoming movie has a lot to live up to top this story.Power and Responsibility is an excellent introduction to the character for kids and other readers who may not be familiar with his published adventures. It also should entertain longtime Spider-Man fans who are ready to see the character stripped down to its basics and rebuilt again. (Although those familiar readers may rate the book slightly lower, given their familiarity with the story. I myself am looking forward to where Bendis will take Ultimate Spider-Man now that the origin is out of the way.)