Miles Morales: The Ultimate Spider-Man, Volume 2: Revelations

  As the Ultimate Universe begins to unravel, all of the remaining secrets you've been waiting for answers are uncovered before the final curtain goes down on Miles Morales and his band of New Ultimates.

   Reveals include:

•    How did Norman Osborne survive after seemingly dying during his climatic battle with Peter Parker in revealed?
•     Is the Peter Parker who returned asking to for his mantle of Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man the real deal or a blasted clone?
•     Where's Miles' dad and what's been the deep dark secret he kept for so long?
• and much more...

   

    While this volume does tidy things up in a big way, the ending boasts the biggest question of 2015? Just what happens to Miles and the rest of the world in Secret Wars when the Battleworld arrives at the series end?

    That's right, this volume is the last we'll ever see of Miles Morales in the Ultimate Universe. Well, for now, at least, as nothing really is forever in comics. 

    A grand capper to a great character in a great alternate universe from Marvel Comics. 

    It's fitting that the mastermind behind the Ultimate Comics universe, Brian Michael Bendis, crafted the swan song to Ultimate Spider-Man. The artwork by David Marquez was also very good. However, he's not the original artist behind UC: Spider-Man #1. That would've been the icing of the proverbial cake.

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Miles Morales: The Ultimate Spider-Man, Volume 1

Ok- I think the cover ruined Spoiler #2.

  

     It's a new series and a new life for Miles Morales, the Ultimate Spider-Man. After the assault on Roxxon Corp. Miles has some new allies in the form of SHIELD agent Ultimate Spider-Woman, feisty Bombshell, and the mysterious Cloak & Dagger. He also has a new family dynamic as the teen has been named a ward of the state as it's assumed that his father died during a recent visit from Galactus.

    In reality, Mr. Morales discovered that Miles is Spider-Man and blamed him for the death of his mother. It's been hinted that Miles' dad has a mysterious past and clearly having a son with super powers hit too close to home. But I have no idea when all of this happened nor which series it all takes place. It surely didn't happen in the pages of Ultimate Spider-Man! Thankfully, I know of these events now because of flashbacks and conjecture from other characters. But if not for these teasers I would've been clueless to about 50% of what's going on in this series.

   Along with these changes comes another villain from the Peter Parker Spider-Man's past. I don't want to spoil who it is, but it's a huge reveal. There's another big spoil in this book that involves a mysterious character and it very much could result in the end of Miles' claim to the mantle of Ultimate Spider-Man.

 But before any of this takes place, you're invited to a very special gathering of friends and family. It's been 2 years since the death of Peter Parker and Aunt May and Gwen Stacy have thrown a party to reflect and honor the fallen superheroes life. With tons of cameos and surprises, it was a very fun read that made me missed the original Ultimate Spidey series. It had heart, humor, and tons of food. It was perhaps the best recent story I've read in quite a while.

    The new series is just as good if not a teeny bit better than the first Miles Morales certain title. I still don't understand why Marvel needed to cancel that series and then immediately issue a new series (other than trying to cash in on those few readers who think an issue #1 will be worth big bucks one day.) The writing by Brian Michael Bendis is superior as always and the art was excellent. But like I mentioned earlier, if not for some very much needed flashbacks, I wouldn't have enjoyed this volume quite as much as I did.

  Worth Consuming

   Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Ultimate Comics Spider-Man, Volume 5

 

 It's been a year since Miles Morales' epic fight with Venom and the conflict still haunts him as it left one parent dead and the other crippled. Vowing to never again put friends or family into harms way, Miles has destroyed his suit and tried to go about life as a normal kid. But the life of a crime fighter isn't so easy to give up as friends, SHIELD agents, and superheroes are constantly trying to get Miles back in the game.

    It looks like the Ultimate universe will have to do without a Spider-Man. So when Miles witnesses an attack by the mysterious duo the media is calling Cloak & Dagger, his curiosity isn't peaked. That is until he learns that the ruthless Roxxon Corporation, that was behind Miles getting his spider powers, is now working behind the scenes attempting to recreate a new Spidey out of runaways and kidnap victims. Now it's full on war but will Miles fight alone or can he gain the trust of SHIELD and these new heroes in order to bring down the global giant?

    I'm not sure if Marvel had the entire Ultimate universe undergo a 'One Year Later' scenario or if it's just this title that jumps ahead 12 months. I've not been able to readily get my hands on other Ultimate Comics titles at my library. So, I'm not very familiar with anything else new under the Ultimates imprint. But, I liked the idea of having Miles' story jump ahead some.

   I've long felt that Miles was just too young and too frail looking to be Spider-Man. He has the attitude and the athletics but let's face it, he's a bean pole. With this transition, Miles has gained some much needed bulk and height. I'm not so afraid that if a strong guy like Juggernaut got a hold of him that he wouldn't break the kid in half anymore.

   Bendis continues to do a fantastic job with this new Spider-Man and the level of heart, angst, humor, passion, and action is top notch. Sadly, this volume is the last of Bendis' run on the Ultimate Comics Spider-Man title. Marvel has this hair-brained idea to now only run a series about 12 months to 2 years in order to produce better quality stories and, of course, make more money.

    (I mean, hey, if the cover says issue #1, it must be going to be worth a million days one day, right?)

But worry not true believers as Bendis, Miles,  and company will be back in the pages of Miles Morales: The Ultimate Spider-Man!

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Ultimate Comics Spider-Man, Volume 4

  After the battle that resulted in the accidental death of his uncle Aaron, Miles Morales' Spider-Man finds himself Public Enemy #1. On his trail is brash investigative reporter Betty Brant, who thinks she has a lead as to just who is behind the new mask of Spider-Man. But her snooping will result in a blast from the Peter Parker Spidey's past when Venom returns!  Believing Miles' father to be Spider-Man, Venom wages war on the Morales family. Sending mom and dad to the hospital, Miles must go on the attack or he'll be the next target on the enemy's hit list. Armed with the assistance of former Parker flames, Gwen Stacy and Mary Jane Watson, Miles will need all the intel and insight he can get in his first ever battle with the symbiote terror!

    It's been a few months since I last returned to the corner of the Ultimate universe. It wasn't because I didn't like the previous 3 volumes of this series. It's that I had to wait a very long time for my queue to pop up at my local library. That's how in demand this series is. 

     There's very little I don't like about the Miles Morales Spider-Man. Brian Michael Bendis gives this version of Spidey just as much care and attention to detail as he did to the Peter Parker incarnation. I know some cannot get over the fact that a Spider-Man is black. But that's never bothered me in the least. 

   My issue with the Morales wall-crawler is that he's so young and tiny. It's evidenced here in the fights scenes against gigantic Venom. In comparison, it looked like the villain could have snapped Morales in half like a twig and used his legs for toothpicks if he'd ever got his hands on the wily hero. Over the course of this series, Miles has inherited Peter's mantle, web-shooters, and powers. Now if he could inherit his muscle. 

   Not short on deft-defying acrobatics or zingers, this Spider-Man is here to stay, as long as a strong guy like Rhino doesn't catch him first!

  Worth Consuming
  
   Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Ultimate Comics Spider-Man, Vol. 3

All troubles I’ve had with a Spider-man this young has completely vanished. Though folks like Captain America are having trouble with the idea of such a youngster being an Ultimate, Miles Morales has won me over. With a great side storyline involving a sort of new Civil War has me on the look out for those tales. Divided We Fall/ United We Stand, you both are on my wish list. Art is fantastic as seen in the cover page’s easter worth. Cannot wait for further volumes.

Worth Consuming

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Ultimate Comics Spider-Man, Vol. 2

The new Spider-man keeps getting better. I know, I ranted about how young Miles Morales is. Well, the thing is that everyone seems to know whoever’s behind the mask is not old enough to drive a car. Since everyone else has this beef, I felt justified. But, it allowed me to enjoy the ride all that much better. The art is really good. I even like the covers, even though they are clearly CGI. The writing of Bendis is really what makes this book. Just like with the first Ultimate Spider-man series, he’s got me hooked again! I need volume 3 STAT! Worth Consuming.

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Ultimate Comics Spider-Man, Volume 1

   When the Ultimate Spider-Man/ Peter Parker dies; Fate, Destiny, or Kismet sees to it that a successor is chosen. Enter Miles Morales, a gifted youngster who's been bitten by one of Norman Osborne’s genetically altered spiders.

   The book starts off slow, with it being at least 3 issues before Miles dons the mantle of Spider-man. Adding to the odd flow of the book is that part of the story is of another issue that deals with the first appearance of Morales in the Ultimate Universe. Then after the first arc is completed, the rest of that ground breaking issue is reprinted, but it deals mostly with Mister Fantastic and the X-Men and has nothing to do with Spidey.
   
   Here is my big problem with the book. It’s not that this Spider-man is black. I have no problem with this. I signed the petition years back for Donald Glover to be Peter Parker in this newest Spider-man film and it turns out Glover was what inspired Bendis to create a minority replacement to Peter Parker. My issue with the book is that Morales is in middle school. He’s like 10-12 years old and it just doesn’t seem plausible that Nick Fury would use such a young kid considering how hesitant as he was to use Parker, who was 16, when he first became a costumed hero.

    Thankfully, Milo and his best friend are wonderfully crafted and they make for pleasant reads. Also, I like how Bendis is using Aunt May and Gwen Stacy as mentors giving Miles the “With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility” mantra that really inspired Peter. I think there is great potential for this book and I'm already standing in line, waiting for more to come.

   Worth Consuming.

   Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.