Ultimate Spider-Man # 62
W: Brian Michael Bendis
P: Mark Bagley
I: Scott Hanna with John Dell
C: J.D. Smith
NOTE: While I try to keep these clean, and it’s a shame to admit
it, my wanting to be a writer and all, I can’t find any other way to
express my opinion on this book except by swearing my head off.
So this particular review is restricted to “adults” only. Yes, it
is very childish and sad. But then so am I.
What Has Gone Before:
After discussing his waning research efforts with Pete during an
emergency patch-up call at his office, Dr. Curt Connors begins research
on some of Pete’s blood, that perhaps may cure Doc Connors’ still
messed-up DNA. With Pete’s blessing, Connors and his research
assistant Ben Reilly pursue their research, to the point of creating an
embryonic life form with some similarities to the “Venom”
creature. And it begins to show signs of life, unbeknownst to the
researchers.
What Happens Now:
“Carnage” (as yet unnamed in the book) breaks out of its test-tube
prison and drains the life out of an ESU guard. Reilly discovers
the breakout and calls in Dr. Connors. They’re both taken into
custody. Gwen visits M.J. at work and they come to a new
understanding about their relationships, including with Peter.
Meanwhile Carnage drains even more victims and has flashes of Peter’s
memories. Finding his way to Pete’s home, there is a devastating
encounter!
You Chrome-Domed Bastard
Damn you, Mr. Brian Michael Bendis, damn you to hell. You
bastard, you bastard, you bastard, you BASTARD! How DARE you do
this! I mean, GEEEZ! Sure, you know that some characters
are gonna have a given fate no matter where they are or what-all
universe, but man, what the FUCK is wrong with you? All the above
is, of course, slavish complement to the S.O.B. to both suck us in with
his near-peerless character development and interactions, and then
having the guts to just NAIL the reader to the wall with a horrible
finale! I am being deliberately coy about the exact nature of the
ending, because of the singular magnitude of it. If you’re a
loyal reader (and for heaven’s sake, why wouldn’t you be?), you’ll
finish the book with the same shock as if your mother just up and
socked you a surprisingly hard punch in the gut. Wow. Odd
how we’re still using the themes and characters of the progenitor book,
yet at the same time we’ve also gone WAY off of the rails! Nice
one, guy. Real nice.
You son of a bitch.
Recommendation: Buy
