Customer Reviews

Ultimate Spider-Man Vol. 11: Carnage

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Overall, "Ultimate Spider-Man" is my favorite Spider-Man comic book right now. I do a unit on Spider-Man for my Popular Culture class where my students have to read "The Essential Spider-Man, Volume 1" and a current issue. So after many years of not reading Spider-Man (the whole clone bit was too much for me), I am back reading all of the Spider-Man titles. Ultimate Spider-Man has restarted the story of Peter Parker from the beginning, making his younger and more modern. For example, Peter no longer sells photographs of Spider-Man, a wise move since every criminal in New York City would be after him to see what he knows, but instead he designs web pages (ha ha, get it? web pages!) for the "Daily Bugle."

In this new universe Peter Parker is no longer interested in Betty Brant, because she is a whole lot older (and clearly a college graduate now). Like the Spider-Man movies, Mary Jane Watson is there from the start as the girl next door. She also finds out that Peter Parker is Spider-Man early on in the game. Having MJ there from the start makes sense for the films, because you are not going to do that many of them (a Rocky number of Spider-Man films would be nice, but it will never make it to the level of the James Bond franchise). But with "Ultimate Spider-Man" it begs the question of where Gwen Stacy fits into this new version of the web-head. You can read these comics and know nothing about the Spider-Man mythos and enjoy them, but for those of us who have read most of the 500+ issues of "The Amazing Spider-Man" published to date it has been interesting to see how writer Brian Michael Bendis, penciler Mark Bagley, and inker Scott Hanna has altered familiar plot lines and characters. So I think veteran Spider-Man fans get to enjoy these stories more than newbies.

"Ultimate Spider-Man, Volume 11: Carnage" collects issues #60-65, which includes the five part "Carnage" story and its "Detention" epilogue, combines the creation of Carnage with the fate of Gwen Stacy. Already abandoned by her mother, when Captain Stacy dies Gwen moves in with Aunt May and Peter, where the troubled teenage tomboy finds a home. Gwen had recently discovered that Peter was Spider-Man and had come to terms with the fact that it was a thief, dressed as Spider-Man, who was responsible for her father's death. Meanwhile, when Spider-Man gets hurt in a fight he visits Curt Connor (a.k.a. the Lizard) for some doctoring. After Spider-Man leaves, Connor examines the web-head's blood and discovers that its DNA sequencing is amazing and might constitute a real breakthrough in genetics. Connor wants to run some experiments to see if this could lead to curing illness and fighting diseases. Peter gives his permission and two months late Carnage is born.

In the original Spider-Man comics, Carnage was created when the alien symbiote that bonded with Eddie Brock (a.k.a. Venom) left behind a "child" to bond with Brock's cellmate Cletus Kasady. But in this storyline Venom was created by the fathers of Peter Parker and Eddie Brock when they were looking for a biological cure for cancer, so there is a twist to Carnage's "identity," that makes for a nice payoff. But most of this story has to do with Carnage escaping Connor's laboratory and leaving a path of desiccated corpses as he hunts down Spider-Man. When the creature arrives at the Parker home the only one he finds there is Gwen.

There is a heart-rending scene where Aunt May has to make a heart rending phone call to leave a message with Gwen's mother with some idiot woman that only adds insult to injury. Then Peter confronts Connor over what has happened, at which point Carnage shows up and has to be dealt with as well. But can Peter do what has to be done and with the death of another person that he loves, can he go on being Spider-Man? It is in this context that Bendis et al. work in the "Spider-Man no more" element and make it resonate a lot more than before. The epilogue, "Detention," is the best issue in this collection as MJ finds out why Flash keeps making jokes about Gwen's death and Peter reveals what he really thinks about Flash and his friends. This comic book takes the idea that the characters are still in high school a lot more seriously than they did back in the Lee & Ditko glory years.

Unhappy endings are a major part of the Spider-Man mythos, but the story arc contained in "Carnage" is a real downer. Having Gwen's death set in high school (I think Peter, Mary Jane, and the rest are still only sophomores) actually made it worse, even if there was not a romance between Peter and Gwen in this universe. For what it is worth, the next two-part storyline in "Ultimate Spider-Man" is decidedly comic as Peter Parker wakes up in Wolverine's body and visa-versa, but you have to let the dust settle on this one.

Great story... I was kinda expecting Eddie Brock to pop up out of nowhere and be the one responsible for setting Carnage free.. but it kinda looks like this Ben Reilly guy did it. Oh well. Great story, I'm glad it actually had a pretty good ending unlike the flawed Venom storyline... and plus, Bendis did a pretty good job of not just having elements from ONE classic storyline, not TWO.. try FIVE:

1. Death of Gwen Stacy
2. The Clone Saga
3. Carnage
4. Lifetheft (remember this one? Where Spider-Man fought an evil duplicate of his father?) and...
5. Spider-Man No More

No small feat. All in all, a great job by Bendis and Bagley.

I'm sure this book is great just like all the others, but if you don't want it spoiled for you, do not read the review below this one. It completely ruins any surprises in the book. I've emailed Amazon and hopefully they'll take it down, but don't read further if you want to enjoy it as you read it.

I'm a long time Spider-Man fan. My first comic book was a Marvel Tales reprint of an older Spider-Man issue. I've read all the Essential Spider-Man volumes in print thus far. While I'm not a fan of Spider-Man joining the Avengers or any of that nonsense, I love the character and what he represents.

I liked Bendis run on Daredevil. I felt it was the closest to Miller's in tone, and Maleev's art was some of my favorite in any comic, superhero or otherwise.

I give that introduction to make it clear I'm not bashing Bendis. This volume was the reason I've quit reading Ultimate Spider-Man. The "Hollywood" story was a stretch, but most of the stories that preceded that were very solid. They 'felt' like a good Spider-Man yarn: a young teenager, part-time worker at the Daily Buge newspaper and bookworm at school, and a masked vigilante by night, constantly forced to maintain a balance between his separate worlds. His supporting cast consisted of his Aunt May, girlfriend Mary Jane Watson, and orphaned housemate Gwen Stacy. Each has a counterpart in the 'real' Marvel universe, and each has a history associated with that character.

Ultimate Gwen Stacy was a smart alek, not unlike Peter in his costume. She's fiercely independent, though that same brashness hides a vulnerable side. She was by far the most interesting cast member outside of Peter himself, since Mary had been reduced to a part-time damsel in distress and full-time worrier. Without a thought, the science experiment gone awry named Carnage killed Gwen as if Bendis had to match the fate of one universe's counterpart to the other.

Ignoring the fact that Ultimate Carnage was an experiment born from the "Venom" arc and has no real human identity like the serial killer Cletus Cassidy, and ignoring that the climactic battle between Carnage and Spider-Man lasts only a few pages and doesn't give the rage Peter must be feeling due justice, Gwen's death feels placed; it's not natural, and it ignores the multitude of stories that could have been told with Gwen alive. And in subsequent volumes, her death goes almost unaddressed until very recently.

The reason I consider this volume such a misfire - the main reason - is what I stated earlier: Gwen had potential, and for all of that potential to be squandered in such a mediocre Frankenstein-esque story... it's unfortunate. It's sad that Gwen had to be the victim for nothing other than cheap shock value, when she could've been so much more, when there (apparently) wasn't a publisher mandate to keep Peter unmarried or unattached.

Didnt really like this one too much. Sure, we all knew Gwen was going to die, it was Just a matter of when. Carnage, Much like Venom, was reduced to a much weaker version of his mainstream counterpart. Very Bad move. I do not care for whats implied with this "Ben Riely" charecter.. Come on Marvel , just say no to clones.

Ultimate spiderman volume 11 is one of the best volumes in the Ultimate Spiderman series. The story line continues from volume 7.

Peter Parker is in the battle of his life against a evil killing machine known as Carnage, created from his own blood!

I recommend this to any Marvel and Spiderman fan.

I can agree on some criticisms of the book. I felt the Gwen Stacy sequence went by too quickly, but the reactions from her peers and the reactions of Peter and May were pretty accurate. This is the first time I've seen Carnage. I was impressed by his visual performance, I understand that he has a lack of personality due to plot. I thought that Carnage was a real human being behind the carnage, but this retelling is quite different. He is a science experiment with faint human influence. I assumed that Carnage would be my favorite villain, but my opinions quickly changed. I felt Carnage was done the weakest out of the villains thus far, but with such an array of well done antagonists I really can't complain so much.

What I love about this book is the character development for Peter Parker. A huge tragedy is inflicted upon Peter and his struggle is the most entertaining out of this volume. I love the attitude at the end, where Spider-man is done being comical. He now threatens criminals to give up the horrible things they do to give meanings to their lives. I found this approach very admirable. I've always wanted Parker to step out of being so funny all the time.

Beware, you might not like how the volume flows with Carnage and Stacy, but I doubt that you'll end up disliking the book. I liked it for Peter Parker's story. It is probably my least favorite of the series, but I still wouldn't give up reading the comics. If I may put it simply there's more to dislike & like in this book, than to hate or love. It is a mediocre additino.

ultimate spider-man by bendis and bagley is one of the best series out there. not as much action and non-stop bad guy fighting, but a good mix of that and a lot of peter parker being a teenager with problems (girls, bullies, being grounded, etc.) along with his spidey life.
the series is great great great. only a few minor things that could be better:
1. i don't like how nick fury comes in and tells spider-man he's going to work his whole life for him and shield. the idea of peter being...trapped in a web? haha...well it isn't too cool. superheroes need to fight the good fight because they want to, not because shield will go and take away their superpowers (as fury has threatened) if they don't comply. plus the issues where the ultimates come in aren't that great, the whole series gets hijacked by them and not a lot of spidey. imo, the ultimates are easily the worst part of the ultimate universe. beyond ultimate spider-man and the ultimate fantastic four the ultimate universe isn't too great.
2. bendis needs to cut down on the tuchas talk. seriously if parker grew up in nyc today he'd more likely speak spanglish than yanglish.
3. geldoff.

Not only does Gwen dies in this book, it's just a horrific death. I mean really. Show some class. Not a good book. Bad.

i have a felling that the guy who took peters DNA is the one responsible for the clone in the clone saga, Also i think since kitty got mad at peter for talking to marry jane that she is the new ultimate spiderwomen and maybe a clone kidnapped MJ or maybe kitty did it and for all of you who dont have this book get it because Carnage is coming back in the clone saga.