Spider-Men #5

Hey guys, JT here with the last review of this comic week. After a super-mega-boffo-huge post that X made, obviously compensating for something... but I, your humble blogger, will present to you a modest review of the final issue of Spider-Men. How will things end for the partnership of Peter Parker and Miles Morales? Let's find out!

Spider-Men #5 of 5

Summary: This issue gets things underway with Mysterio getting ready to move on and leave Spider-Man suck in the Ultimate Universe, but he can't resist popping in to see Spidey one last time, which of course backfires. He opens the portal and is webbed through it by Spidey, and arrives in the Ultimate Universe, face to face with Spidey, Ultimate Spidey, Hawkeye, Thor, Iron Man, Nick Fury, and a bunch of S.H.I.E.L.D. agents. Spidey prepares to go through the portal and back to his own Universe when Mysterio puts his final plan into action, by using some kinda scarecrow-like gas to make each of the heroes see their fears. Spidey talks the guys through it since he's used to Mysterio's special effects, and Miles snaps out of it in time to see Mysterio trying to escape. Miles tackles Mysterio through the portal and he and Mysterio end up back in the 616 Universe. Miles is in awe and Mysterio tries to take advantage and attack him, but Miles counters his attack and kicks Mysterio back through the portal, as he follows, back to the Ultimate Universe. The Spider-Men dish out some vengeance to Mysterio and he's then arrested by the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents. Spider-Man asks if they're gonna keep Mysterio in the Ultimate Universe and Fury says its for the best, since he knows Peter Parker's secret identity, and that can do much more damage in Pete's universe than Miles'. Before he finally heads back home, Peter gives Miles his blessing, as well as a bunch of advice, including to never get cloned, keep Doctor Octopus from marrying his Aunt May, leave crime scenes ASAP or they make you clean up, and the most important advice, which Spidey doesn't get to say because the portal teleports him back to his Universe. Fury tells Miles that he earned Peter's blessing, now he has to keep earning it. The issue comes to a close as Peter, back at home, decides to look up Miles Morales in his world. He finds his answer, that we of course don't see, as Peter says "Oh my God."

Thoughts: This was a kinda odd comic. I like to imagine they were waiting for days before Mysterio just happened to open that portal and get webbed through it. This mini series was okay, I expected more but it could've definitely been worse. I'm going to be very disappointed if we don't find out anything about the 616 Miles Morales, and it better be big the way Peter reacted. Also, I'm kinda peeved we didn't get to see what Pete's "most important" advice was, that seemed like a cop out, especially when he gave him lesser advice like loaning Wolverine money... All in all, this wasn't a bad issue, but it was far from great, I'd say it was average.

Score: 6/10 

Iron Man: And I would give the opposite advice on almost every subject by the way, if anyone cares.

JT's Take: Spider-Men #4

Hey Todd Squad, today we're gonna check out the most recent issue of Spider-Men, we left off with Peter going to the home of the deceased Ultimate Universe Peter Parker and unmasking outside the house as he's met by Aunt May and Gwen Stacy.

Spider-Men #4 of 5

Summary: Things start off very hostile, as Aunt May walks up and slaps Peter across the face, and Gwen starts kicking him, as they obviously think this a cruel joke. Ultimate Spidey (Miles) shows up and tells the Universe, and he's aged, as Peter apologizes for coming there but says he needed to see them. Aunt May faints and wakes up a few hours later to Peter, Gwen and and unmasked Miles all upstairs talking about the differences between the worlds, but Peter doesn't mention Gwen's death. Aunt May eventually comes up and talks to Peter and see's that he is pretty much the same boy she raised, as they both quote the "Great Power" line. They touch on everything, including the Ultimate MJ being Goth and Moody while Peter's MJ is a model now, and even mention how Ultimate Pete and Kitty Pryde dated. Eventually the Spider-Men have to go, and Peter asks Gwen to look after Aunt May. Once the Spider-Men are back with Fury, they meet up with Tony Stark and try to figure out where Mysterio is broadcasting from. Miles quickly recognizes a building which gives them a hint where Mysterio's lab may be. Fury hops on the line and tells some agents he needs... everything, and the issue comes to a close as we see both Spider-Men web-slinging alongside Iron Man, Thor, and a group of S.H.I.E.L.D. agents.


Thoughts: Well... that was a very misleading cover. This was a fine issue, not much happened in terms of fighting but I enjoyed seeing Gwen, Miles, Aunt May and Peter talking about all the differences in both worlds, seeing Peter give Miles advice, and just having Gwen and Aunt May have a chance to say goodbye on happier terms. The ending with the Mysterio stuff seemed kinda rushed, and I'm not as excited for the final issue as I'd like to be, but I am wondering how things will end for Miles and Peter's team up.

Score: 6.5/10

Miles: Hey, do they have a Nick Fury where you come from?
Peter: Oh yes.
Fury: Yeah? What's he like?
Peter: Uh, white.
Fury: Sorry to hear that.

JT's Take: Spider-Men #2

Hey guys and gals, today we're gonna continue with Marvel's Universal cross-over featuring Spider-Man and... well, Spider-Man. After the last issue was a bit lackluster, here's hoping this issue kicks things up a bit, so let's see how it fared.

Spider-Men #2

Summary: We start off with Mysterio regaining consciousness and then sending a lifelike avatar through his portal to get rid of Spider-Man once and for all, because... closing the portal doesn't seem like a good enough idea I guess. Or maybe stealing while you know Spidey isn't in this Universe... but yeah... I'm no evil genius. Over in the Ultimate Universe, the two Spidey's question one another until Miles asks if Spidey is Peter Parker, obviously thinking of the Ultimate Version. Peter is confused so goes on the offensive, cause... yeah. Miles eventually catches Peter off guard with his Venom Sting maneuver and starts to unmask him but Peter recovers and the fight continues. The two go back and forth until Peter removes Miles mask, thankful that he isn't a younger clone of him. Miles gets defensive without his mask, since they're out in broad daylight and uses his Venom Sting again, this time knocking Spidey out cold. Peter wakes up in a holding cell met by Nick Fury, and after a long Bendis-ian explanation, Fury releases Peter Parker and formerly introduces him to Miles Morales. Fury decides to look into the time rift and sends Miles and Peter out to explain what happened to the younger Peter Parker. While flying on a helicopter, Peter asks Miles if his Universe's Peter Parker is dead, but before he can answer the Helicopter is blasted by a rocket launcher. The Spider-Men escape, and are met by the avatar of Mysterio as the issue ends.


Thoughts: Okay, so first things first, this issue was not without it's faults. I mean, Mysterio seems like a kind of lame choice to fight two Spider-Men... and Peter just attacking seemed weird, especially considering how many times he's been attacked by heroes due to a misunderstanding, but we can chalk that up to him thinking this may be a Mysterio illusion. That said, the stuff with Miles and Peter was really enjoyable. The banter while fighting, Miles being still likable, Peter wondering if Miles was a clone was funny, plus the fact Peter said Miles had a cooler costume was a nice line. Overall, I enjoyed this comic enough to continue reading it, and that's a hell of a plus after that slow first issue.

Score:  8/10

Spider-Man (Peter): And what's with your costume being cooler than mine?

JT's Take: Spider-Men #1

Hey Former X-Maniacs, and current unwilling members of the Todd Squad, JT here with another requested review. Today we're gonna see how The Amazing Spider-Man, Peter Parker, meets up with our newest Ultimate Spider-Man, Miles Morales. So let's check in with our friendly neighborhood Spider-Men.

Spider-Men #1

Summary: Things get started with The Amazing Spider-Man (Parker) swinging around New York, talking about how much he loves his city, he's prideful just like most New Yawkers. (Right X?) While proclaiming his love for the city, Spidey stops a crime in progress and is confronted by the police, but he leaves before they can do anything and continues to sing his praises about New York. Spidey continutes until he see's a strange beam shooting into the sky, so naturally, he goes to investigate. He's led to an old abandoned building where he finds some kind of portal but he's suddenly attacked by Mysterio. Spidey takes down Mysterio who is behaving more like a nutjob talking about the first time Spider-Man died, and he's able to shoot off a laser that hits the portal, causing everything to pretty much blow up and transports Spidey to another world. Spider-Man is clearly confused since it was night-time and now it's clearly daytime. Spidey returns to the formerly abandoned building to see it's populated with people that have clearly lived there for a while. While looking around the city for clues, Spidey drops in and saves a guy from muggers, the guy is thankful but says the costume is in terrible taste since it's the same as Peter Parker's. Naturally, Spidey is taken aback by this comment and leaves to find more clues, now even more confused. The issue comes to a close with Spider-Man shocked that he's now face to face with Ultimate Spider-Man.


Thoughts: This issue was a bit slow, it made sense as they had to set up the whole "How do we make them meet?" storyline, but I could've done without Peter's I love New York mentality, just because it's so often re-hashed. Also, I could have done with a little more Miles in this issue but that's just my personal opinion. Aside from that stuff, I'm very curious to see how this goes, as well as what will happen if Pete learns about the Ultimate Universe Reed Richards, as well as the former Ultimate Spider-Man, and maybe even Aunt May, MJ and Gwen Stacy?

Score:  7.5/10

Civilian: I appreciate you saving me, man, but can't you come up with your own costume?