Customer Reviews

Ultimate Spider-Man: Learning Curve (Turtleback School & Library Binding Edition) (Ultimate Spider-Man (Pb))

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If you're a long time fan of the Amazing Spiderman comics, if you're a new reader, or if you're just curious about this character before the Sam Raimi film hits on May 3, 2002...THEN THIS IS THE BOOK FOR YOU.

Brian Michael Bendis is the best thing to happen to Spiderman since Stan Lee and John Romita. He's got a firm grip on the character and successfully manages to put a 21st century spin on things so both old and new fans can equally enjoy. Peter Parker is portrayed even more realistically here than he was in the classic run of the original title. Here's a hero with worries, problems, goof-ups, and oh yeah...superpowers.

The first Ultimate Spiderman collection "Power and Responsibility" is arguably one of the Top 5 story collections in Spidey history. With "Learning Cruve" Bendis proves that he is not going to have a sophomore jinx.

This collection of stories from the Ultimate Spiderman comic series covers issues 8-13. Inside we're treated to: Peter still struggling with his powers and his new role as a hero, Spiderman's clash with the Kingpin, an Ultimate spin on J.J. Jameson and the staff of the Daily Bugle, and revamped characters of The Enforcers and Electro.

There is no way to give the story justice in a review. You need to read and enjoy Learning Curve like any Spiderman fan should...with a smile on your face!

There are some noted examples of a writer coming in and revitalizing a comic book by tinkering with the fundamental nature of the character, as Alan Moore did with "The Swamp Thing" and Frank Miller accomplished with "Daredevil." But starting from scratch, as Marvel is attempting with "Ultimate Spider-Man" is a much rarer attempt (e.g., John Byrne starting over with Superman). However, writer Brian Michael Bendis is well aware of the high stakes game he is playing and through this second trade paperback collection of comic book stories ("Ultimate Spider-Man" issues 8-13) the results are quite admirable.

At first glance the obvious intent here is to condense the story of Spider-Man. In what we know consider Volume 1 of "The Amazing Spider-Man" Wilson Fisk, a.k.a. the Kingpin, does not show up until issue #50 (and really did not become the monolithic New York City crime boss until Miller worked the character into "Daredevil"). Here he catches Peter Parker's attention in issue #8 and it is Spider-Man's attempt to bring down the secretive crime lord that creates the story arc of this collection. This means that we get to avoid the Terrible Tinkerer and other abominations from the early years of Spider-Man under Stan Lee and Steve Ditko. On the Peter Parker side of the equation we pass Betty Bryant and Gwen Stacy and go immediately to Mary Jane Watson.

The theme of these stories is that Spider-Man, who is in point of fact almost sixteen years old, is in way over his head as a superhero. The Kingpin proves this by taking about a half dozen pages to defeat Spider-Man and toss his unconscious body out the window. Spider-Man's early attempts at crime fighter are so inept that he actually contributes to the idea that Spider-Man is a criminal, making it easy for J. Jonah Jameson to trash the hero in "The Daily Bugle." In the end it is as much Peter Parker as his alter-ego that scores an initial, tentative victory over the Kingpin; plus Spider-Man's verbal battle with the Kingpin is a minor comic (as in comedic not as in book) gem.

But Bendis is interested in doing more than creating a more streamlined version of the story of Spider-Man. In the final issue of this collection he unveils a radical change in the whole secret identity part of the character's dynamic. It will be interesting to see how this plays out (especially since it kills one of the my all-time favorite scenes from the original "Amazing Spider-Man"), but I have to admit I appreciate the character's motivation for doing so. The Spider-Man story is enough of a soap opera without resorting to the more inane traditional elements of the genre. All in all, this is a first rate retelling of the tale, enjoyable both by those who are well versed in the character and those who come to this series in the wake of the blockbuster film.

The pencils of Mark Bagley and inks of Art Thibert create a unique artistic interpretation of Spider-Man (think Titian inked by Todd McFarlane) and Peter Parker (whose can match Mary Jane strand for strand for hair in the face). I am not sure if the credit goes to the writer or the artists, but bonus points for having the saved new and improved Electro from having to wear one of the worst costumes in the history of comic books.

After countless attempts at creating a new universe, or continuum, the folks at Marvel finally hit on the right approach: recast their franchise characters as younger and more in tune with the issues of the day. Add top-notch writers and artists and voila! we have a hit. Though the story arcs are so far quite familiar to those with any sense of Marvel's history, the fresh approach to characters and the nifty art contribute to an overall great reading experience.

I would recommend this compilation to anyone who can't get enough of the Marvel universe or those who would like to start their trip into said universe. In short, recommended for any Marvel fan!

This is only the second volume in the Ultimate Spiderman series, and so far, it rocks. The new characters in this graphic novel are the King Pin, Elektro, and the Enforcers. This novel has Parker's character develope even further, from a rash, naive boy, to a mature, young adult. Overall, vol. 2 brings in tons of action, and has a well developed plot which lasts till the final pages. It's a good graphic novel with well developed characters as well as awsome drawn pages. I recommend it to any who like Spiderman, or who've already read vol. 1 and aren't sure about vol. 2. By the way, the end is a surprize, at least I was definitely shocked by how it ended, and I bet you will be too.

"Learning Curve" is the second volume of Ultimate Spider-man. Ultimate Spider-man is Marvel's seperate brand of comics that, in a sense, are "new", seperated from 42 years of continuous storytelling. The idea is that any new reader would be hopeless trying to read modern comics since they can't first go back and read the 1000+ issues that proceeded it. So Ultimate Spider-man takes a familiar hero, Spider-man, and starts him from the beginning; a whole new story for readers to enjoy.

What is amazing about this series is that it has caught on not just with new readers, but with long-time comic fans. This is because not only does it have clean, accessible art, wholesome writing, and completely accessible and fun dialouge, but it features a "truer" version of Spider-man than the one in the regular comic. In the "Amazing Spider-man" comic, Peter Parker is married, has a job, nothing very interesting for comic readers. In Ultimate Spider-man, he is still 16, still in high school, still struggling to balance a girlfriend, classes, internship, all while putting in swingtime as the misunderstood webslinger.

This collection, number two in the series (I recommend getting number one first), features Spider-man's battle with the Kingpin. The story is chock full of intelligence, with things going on as they would in the real world. No comic book death traps, no silly villians. The final battle with the Kingpin is not only well-written, it is one of the funniest scenes I've ever seen in a comic book. And the final chapter features a great moment in the very real and heartfelt relationship between Peter and Mary Jane, a relationship that gets more real and more interesting with each succeeding chapter.

Buy this book, hell, buy the hardcover with volumes one and two if you can find it. It's worth reading, and it'll be worth taking off your shelf in years to come. Good for kids and adults.

This review refers to Ultimate Spider-Man vol. 2 Paperback edition, Learning Curve:

Bendis and Bagley proved they could do Spider-Man fans proud with their first volume, Power and Responsiblity. Now, Learning Curve grows and matures. This volume sees Peter gaining his job at the Bugle and battleing the Kingpin, who provides the plot for most of this book. It also conatins great chariterization moments for Parker, when he realizes that his being Spider-Man could potenitally harm the ones he loves.

Bendis's scripting is as delicious as ever, and in this edition he's grown into the chaacters. He's obviously more comfortable with the title than he was in the previous graphic. His sceen with Aunt May trying to talk to Peter about sex is worth buying the book for, alone.

Bagley's pencil work is still as fluid and flowing as before. It's a little rougher than I perfer in some places but it is still far ahead of most artists in the industry.

This is a great graphic for Spider-Man fans, young and old. Nothing in here should offend young readers, and it's enjoyable for all age levels. Highly recommended for young and old readers alike.

This tpb shows peters mission to find his uncles killer leads him to the kingpin and his electric thug electro( who has atendencey to use food puns... smoke you like a salmon etc.)
But it shows peter joining the bugle to take pictures and work on computers. this is a must have for ultimate fans.

This second collection of Ultimate Spider-Man is an example of what makes spider-Man cool; Peter has to use his wits as well as his skillz, his super-hero life screws up his public life, and he talks a mile a minute even as Electro tries to fry him. The last battle is excellant, and his handling of the Kingpin was top-notch. Arguably the best part is the last chapter, but I'll have to leave you guessing on it...don't want to spoil the surprise!

This volume only improves on NO.1. The characters' personalities just grow more smoothly and the story is a lot more creative.

Pros or Improvements:
*Villains are more interesting. We didn't get much of an origin, but I liked these better than the vague Green Goblin.
*More Peter Parker and Mary Jane. These two characters get a lot more personality and chemistry. Their love scene was eye-locking.
*Better plot. We have a serious problem and Spider-man uses intellect as well as strength to overcome the battle, but I won't spoil it.

Overall, this volume is better. I wan't an Elecktro origin, but I still might get it. If this volume had any effect on me, it has made me wan't to buy volume 3.

In volume two, Spider-Man continues to hone his skills as he battles Electro and the Kingpin. The story and writing are some of the best I ever read in comics. You cannot put these books down, they're that exciting and riveting. I really would have hope the illustrations are just as mesmerizing but they're too campy, slick, air-brushed looking art and is probably the only thing short of me giving these books a perfect rating. Gwen Stacey makes her introduction in this issue but she is no longer the 'good' girl.