Spider-Jam: A Review of Ultimate Spider-Man #200

(writer) Brian Michael Bendis
(artists) David Marquez, Mark Bagley, Sara Pichelli, Mark Brooks, David LaFuente

In the three years that have passed since Marvel killed off the "ultimate" version of Peter Parker, a lot has happened to the world in which he used to live. Miles Morales has assumed the Spider-Man identity. The earth was almost destroyed by Galactus, and much death and destruction resulted.

In this issue, Peter's friends and loved ones meet up at May Parker's house to celebrate his life, while Miles, who never actually met Peter, has also been invited considering that he has chosen to carry on Peter's legacy. Writer Brian Michael Bendis and his artists take the opportunity of the 200th issue of Ultimate Spider-Man to truly and properly say goodbye to ultimate Peter Parker,

Each of the gathered characters asks the singular question: what would Peter have been like if he had lived to adulthood? The speculative answers which several members of Peter's supporting cast, and even Miles himself, give are visualized in lavish two-page spreads by the myriad guest artists whose work adorns this issue. Interestingly, and perhaps understandably enough, it's Miles' "vision" for Peter that is the least interesting, but illustrated as it is by Sara Pichelli, it still looks great.

Bendis has done this sort of thing --i.e. working with several artists on a single issue-- before, several times in fact, but perhaps most notably with the Avengers: Finale that Marvel published way back in 2004, where each of the Avengers (and Jarvis), in the wake of the death and destruction that resulted from the "Event" storyline titled "Avengers Disassembled" reminisced on what they thought the Avengers' greatest achievement was as a team.

This book is actually Bendis' best "jam session" yet, thanks to some very cohesive work from his artists.  David Marquez's art provides the glue that effectively holds everything together, and Justin Ponsor's palette of colors  really makes the work of each and every artist on the book pop. It doesn't have the disjointed feel that marred several of Bendis' previous "jam" works.

The writing feels more focused here, which says a lot considering how Bendis can often meander with his dialogue.  It really comes across as a heartfelt sendoff to a character that Bendis genuinely loved, but who, in view of developments in the "mainstream" Marvel universe, had really just become superfluous. As sendoffs go, they don't get much better than this.


8.5/10