Ultimate Spider-Man Vol. 8: Cats & Kings [Paperback]

Brian Michael Bendis (Author), Mark Bagley (Author), Marvel Comics (Author)

Book Description

Grade Level: 4 and up | Series: Ultimate Spider-Man

Sam Bullit is running for Mayor of New York City on an anti-Spider-Man campaign, and Daily Bugle Editor-in-Chief J. Jonah Jameson is backing him 100%. But who is pulling Bullit's strings? None other than the Kingpin of Crime!

Product Details

• Paperback: 184 pages
• Publisher: Marvel; 1st edition (January 6, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0785112502
• ISBN-13: 978-0785112501
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 0.4 x 10.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #433,224 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Spider-Man versus the Kingpin, the Black Cat AND Elektra, April 26, 2004

By 

Lawrance M. Bernabo (The Zenith City, Duluth, Minnesota) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Ultimate Spider-Man Vol. 8: Cats & Kings (Paperback)

"Ultimate Spider-Man: Cats & Kings" is the 8th collection of story arcs from "Ultimate Spider-Man," collecting issues #47-53 written by Michael Bendis with art by Mark Bagley and Art Thibert. In retelling the story of Spider-Man from the beginning with some significant twists we saw that Spider-Man's first significant victory as a super hero came when he broke into the Kingpin's tower and turned over copy of security camera footage of the Kingpin murdering one of his underlings to "The Daily Bugle." When the story broke the Kingpin was forced to flee the country to avoid arrest. Now, after getting the best lawyers money can buy, Wilton Fisk has been cleared of the crime and is ready to make his move.

The first three issues collected here comprise the first half of the story arc. In "Men of Influence" the Kingpin throws his support behind the mayoral candidacy of Sam Bullit, who is running on an anti-Spider-Man platform that has J. Jonah Jameson salivating. So when Peter asks JJJ while the "Bugle" is not going after a murderer like the Kingpin, the publisher fires him. Meanwhile, Mary Jane is worried that the list of people who know Spider-Man's true identity is getting longer. "Suspended," which has to do with what happens at school to Peter when the frustration of not being able to get the Kingpin gets to him, does a nice bit where we get to see a phone conversation between Aunt May and JJJ twice, once from the perspective of each. Then Ben Urish proves the Bullit is crazy and Jameson has to decide whether to print the story. "Hero" comes down to a pair of interesting conversations JJJ has with first Spider-Man and then Peter. For those who remember JJJ admitting he was jealous of Spider-Man back in the Lee & Ditko era, this issue rewrites the rules.

That would be the "Kings" part of the story arc, which then gives way to the "Cats." "The Black Cat" shows up and decides to steal a special artifact from the Kingpin's safe. Spider-Man crosses her path and learns the meaning of bad luck. Meanwhile, Peter and Mary Jane talk about their future, but any plans for happiness go out the window when her father finds her diary and a reference to MJ almost dying on a bridge. Boy, does she get grounded. Then Peter learns that Spider-Man has been implicated in the Black Cat's theft. So when the Black Cat wants to meet again, Peter is up for it in "Shadow Puppets" only to have his interlude interrupted for the greatest "Cat Fight" in history between the Black Cat and Elektra, the latter having been hired by the Kingpin to retrieve the artifact. The situation comes to an temporary ending in "Daughters."

One of the things that "Ultimate Spider-Man" takes advantage of in reinventing Spider-Man for the 21st century is that this time around the Kingpin is the underworld czar developed by Frank Miller in "Daredevil." Clearly he is going to have the same prominence in these comic books as well. Spider-Man ends up being a spectator a lot in these stories, but when the villains are a crooked politician and a couple of young women, it is hard for our hero to really go around fighting them in public. In many ways the strengths of "Cats & Kings" are the changes in the interpersonal relationships. Aunt Mary's final insult to JJJ is unforgettable as is the serious talk that the publisher has with Peter.

I keep thinking that every time one of these trade paperback collections comes out that I am going to see "Ultimate Spider-Man" start to take a dip, but Bagley, Bendis and Thibert always come up with enough strong moments to make the stories worth the reading. This is true whether you have been with Spider-Man from the beginning (I started with Medusa showing up in issue #62 and quickly worked backwards to get up to speed), or whether you are a relative new comer. I will insist that we old timers have the advantage because we can appreciate the changes and their values into making the Spider-Man story even more interesting the second time around.

Not surprisingly, Volume 9 in this trade paperback series is going to do a Doctor Octopus story arc, which is pretty much true of all the Spider-Man titles available right now, including a couple of special mini-series. But the added twist is that Spider-Man also has to deal with the fact that they are making a movie about him...and our young webhead is not seeing a single dime.

5.0 out of 5 stars We Asked for Cats, and We Received Lionesses, May 23, 2009

By 

Tyler S. "Super-Review" (Brentwood, CA United States) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Ultimate Spider-Man Vol. 8: Cats & Kings (Paperback)

Bendis's introduction to Black Cat and Elektra is more than I could ask for. Who knew that I could get a good catfight out of this chapter? Bendis writes these like a soap opera. There's always a teeth-clenching problem and by the end I'm dying to know what happens. Especially in this book. Prepare yourself for the best cliff-hanger yet, because it ends on a climatic note.

Mary Jane and Peter get more intense.

Black Cat and Elektra are beautiful and full of a cat-like fever.

The Kingpin's story is revitalized and is more readable than ever.

Keep reading! It gets better :)

4.0 out of 5 stars Spidey Meets Kingpin, September 21, 2008

By 

dasn0wman "dasn0wman" (Brooklyn, NY United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ultimate Spider-Man Vol. 8: Cats & Kings (Paperback)

But the nice treat here is Spidey meets Black Cat and the super tough villain, Elektra. Black Cat is really playful and is a great character to keep Spidey occupied since he broke up with MJ.