Review: Spidermen #1

Ultimate Comics Spiderman creators Brian Michael Bendis and artist Sarah Pichelli do the impossible and bring Peter Parker and Miles Morales face to face.

Starting in the 616 universe, Bendis and Pichelli treat readers to a great aerial view of Manhattan as we follow Spiderman on his nightly patrol. Filled with Bendis’ trademark comedy, Spidey subdues a couple of thieves before he notices a strange purple glow in the sky.

Investigating this mystical light leads the web head in a battle with a very angry and confused Mysterio. In the middle of the brawl Spiderman is shoved towards the light and in a flash awakens on a bright and sunny New York day. But a New York he doesn’t recognize. A New York with a Triskelion off the coast of Manhattan, and its very own Spiderman!?

When the Ultimate Comics Universe was first introduced back in 2000, architect writers Brain Michael Bendis and Mark Millar swore if they ever planned a cross over with the regular Marvel 616 universe that they would have “Officially run out of ideas.” So when this project was first announced back in March, I was instantly hesitant. Although the idea of two Spidermen (Spidermans?) meeting was intriguing, the idea of cross these two continuities did have the smell of shark jumping.

The addition of Sarah Pichelli instantly sparked my interest. Her style is a mixture of realism and comic book exaggerations and her facial expressions and attention to detail make her one of the best artist working at Marvel.

So although I did originally pick up this title for the artwork, which was amazing, I was pleasantly surprised by the fun story Bendis has set up here. Spiderman has always been the character that Bendis seems to have the most fun writing, going full force with Spidey’s smartalec-ly banter. Although this just the foundation issue for a five issue run, the focus on Peter Parker and his reactions to the difference between his home and the Ultimate Universe really tell you there is a fun adventure in the works.

So although at first glance Spidermen seems like a Marvel ploy, every Spiderman fan (Original and Ultimate ) will convinced this is a series worth checking out after the first 22 pages.