Review: MILES MORALES: THE ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #2

MMULTSM2014002_DC11_LRMILES MORALES: THE ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #2
Written by Brian Michael Bendis
Art by David Marquez
Published by Marvel Comics
Release Date: June 4, 2014

Miles comes face to face with Peter Parker leading to some immense emotional confusion as one of the greatest threats in the Ultimate Universe looms in the distance.

Brian Michael Bendis is so locked in with these characters that there almost isn’t anything to say anymore. He writes Miles as a teen trying to find his way through this emotional minefield of being a hero and being a confused kid exceptionally well. In this issue Miles is dealing with the fallout of the reveal that there is a Peter Parker alive and in New York and what that means for him and Peter’s family & friends. The interactions between Miles and Peter are perfect, showcasing how different these characters are and how Miles is not simply a Peter replacement. He is entirely his own character and is strong enough to share the page with the iconic Peter Parker and not be overshadowed. Bendis builds a great amount of tension between the characters that gives this comic a ton of energy and asks a lot of questions that Miles and Ganke attempt to hash out later on. Bendis’ dialogue between these two friends is some of the strongest in comics today and whenever the two are on the page having a chat readers know they are going to be entertained. The two friends comprise one of the best bromances in comics and give this series a unique dynamic that is quite likable. Bendis checks in on the the major threats coming Miles’ way in this issue as well, with both Norman Osborn and these mysterious Spider-burglars getting panel time. Bendis handles Norman’s scenes brilliantly, using no dialogue or captions of any kind and letting the art do the talking. The silence in these pages makes the situation even more foreboding and dangerous, and we know Miles has a tough time coming up. While none of the major plot points are resolved in this issue Bendis builds tension across the board very well and there are some heavy times coming that are going to test Miles mightily.

David Marquez throws down more fantastic work in Miles Morales: The Ultimate Spider-Man #2 and has cemented himself as one of my favourite artists in comics at the moment. He conveys so much emotion in his art, hitting each beat that is so important to fleshing out Miles as a character. He keeps pages that involve long conversations dynamic and interesting through his use of layouts and the issue flows very well. Norman is brooding and ominous, power emanating from the character, and Peter Parker has something about him that is charming and also a bit dark. Subtle touches throughout the book enhance the story dramatically and Marquez is simply on fire. Justin Ponsor’s colour work is superb as well, complimenting Marquez’s artwork so very well and showcasing how in sync this team is. Everyone working on this book is locked in and Miles Morales: The Ultimate Spider-Man #2 is another great chapter in a long run of great chapters from this team.

This issue isn’t quite as dynamic as the first in the series as it is setting up some large situations that will pay off down the line, but it is written and penciled so well that it does not feel like a filler issue at all. Miles Morales: The Ultimate Spider-Man #2 is just a great issue in a top notch series, and I can’t wait to see where Bendis and Marquez take this book next.

The Verdict: 9.0/10

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3 Comments

  1. Fred said:

    Great idea, but unfortunately I give the series 22 more until its done. Dead comic walking. It just doesn’t know it yet.

  2. Matt SantoriGriffith said:

    Why do you say that? This title is written by one of the most surefire writers in the industry and has a decade of publication behind it. Not to mention that Miles Morales is going to be joining the cast of All New X-Men, one of Marvel’s best sellers, in August.

  3. jpooch said:

    Ultimate Spider-Man has consistently been one of Marvel’s best titles for almost 13 years, and still is near the very top. That’s DAMN impressive

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