Last Week’s Comics 9/21/2011

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Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #1

(Marvel – writer: Brian Michael Bendis; art: Sara Pichelli)

Bannen’s Book of the Week: Miles Morales is a great character. He’s as vulnerable as Peter Parker, but he doesn’t have the same baggage. Peter was driven by his uncle’s death. Miles, however, has no drive – yet. It’s early, but one of the strengths of the issue rests in the support system that exists around Miles Morales and how its influence will force him to become the new Spider-Man.

Here’s my one complaint for this issue: Miles’ spider powers are too convenient. It’s like Bendis wanted to get the change out of the way, so he made it occur as

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quickly as possible. It’s not the same as Peter’s, but it’s also not as genuine. Peter was accidentally bitten by a spider while visiting Norman Osborne’s lab. Miles, however, is bitten by a spider while in his uncle’s apartment. How it got there is the real shame of the issue. Bendis could have written it a lot better, so I was shocked to see his explanation be so … lazy.

The rest of the comic, however, is awesome. Sara Pichelli’s art is sharp. Her range is exhibited strongly in this issue, as she’s able to show Osborne’s insanity, and a few pages later, Miles’ innocence. Justin Ponsor adds some strikingly beautiful colors to her inks. Staring at this issue was one of the joys of reading it.

Also, Bendis does some of his best character development in this issue. It clearly references Waiting for “Superman,” a documentary on the American education system and the charter school lotteries that occur in urban school districts. Miles is as wholesome as Peter Parker. His humility gives him life and makes readers (or at least this reader) comfortable knowing that he will eventually become the new Spider-Man.

I’m glad to see Spider-Man written as a black person, and while I was afraid the initial reasoning behind it was as a gimmick to get people interested, I can honestly say that it’s one of the strengths of the new series. People need to have distance from Peter Parker, and Miles Morales provides it. There are hints of different powers, ones that readers haven’t seen before. This will, again, add a new dimension to the character and make for more interesting storylines.

Bendis is aware that he’s got a clean slate and a new milieu in which to explore this character. Sara Pichelli is a great choice for the book as well. Her art isn’t garish; it’s familiar. It’s comfortable. While the old series is over, there’s no need for Marvel to throw out the baby with the bathwater. There are things that worked very well for the previous Spider-Man series. And while Bendis has a new character to work with, he’s still keeping the heart of the series pure: with great power comes great responsibility.

This doesn’t mean, however, that I don’t miss Peter. After reading this issue, I miss him more than ever. I appreciate a new start with a new character, but I’m still sad that I won’t see be seeing my friend anytime soon.

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