Review: Ultimate Spider-Man Volume 1 - Power and Responsibility

After being bitten by a spider on a field trip, teenager Peter Parker develops superhuman abilities. Though he initially uses his newfound powers for personal gain, Peter is forced to re-examine his responsibility to others when his uncle is gunned down during a home invasion gone awry. Donning a blue and red webbed costume, he becomes the vigilante Spider-Man and vows to protect New York City from any ne’er do wells.

Ultimate Spider-Man Volume 1: Power and Responsibility collects Ultimate Spider-Man issues 1-7, written by Brian Michael Bendis and Mark Bagley.

When Brian Michael Bendis and Mark Bagley embarked on their now-legendary run on Ultimate Spider-Man, they ignited a new Marvel universe with a poignant and modern retelling of Spider-Man’s origins. Where Spider-Man’s debut occurred in a singular issue (1962’s Amazing Fantasy #15), here it is spread out over the course of seven issues. This gives the creative team and their cast the opportunity to develop organically, enabling readers to care for and invest in these characters. When Uncle Ben inevitably perishes, his loss is felt tremendously. In a similar vein, we get to see more of Peter Parker before he becomes Spider-Man. This helps us to better relate to him and it also gives us a starting point for marking his character growth as the events of this collection unfurl. Bendis and Bagley also notably reinvent Mary Jane Watson and Harry Osborn. The former is a frumpy brainiac while the latter is a dashingly handsome bad boy, which contrasts sharply against their canonical appearances in the primary Marvel universe. Harry’s family life is elaborated upon and he is a character we can feel sympathy for, so the alterations to his character aren’t tremendously outrageous. With Mary Jane, her growth is limited due to how she’s been pigeonholed into seeming too nice. Part of what made the character so compelling previously was that she was aloof and had an edge to her. When all of that is removed from the equation, the romantic tension with Peter isn’t as intense or as interesting. She’s just kind of blah.

The narrative for these first seven issues is strongly plotted. As alluded to previously, it takes pulls inspiration from Amazing Fantasy #15 and reimagines it for a contemporary audience. It also draws from the canon in general, adding in characters that weren’t initially part of that origin. The nerdy Peter Parker goes on a field trip to Oscorp, where he is bitten by a spider that is part of an experimental program spearheaded by Norman Osborn. Though the bite should have killed him, Peter makes a miraculous recovery – much to Osborn’s surprise. He then begins to develop superpowers, which prompt him to stand up to his bullies, join the basketball team and take up wrestling as a means of cashing in on his newfound abilities. After Peter fails to stop a theft, his Uncle Ben is murdered by the thief he let go and Peter thus vows to use his abilities only for the greater good. Now patrolling the streets as the vigilante Spider-Man, he encounters his very first villain in the form of a mutated Norman Osborn. This origin is carefully and patiently crafted, giving its characters room to breathe and for tension to build. It has a clear sense of direction due to its overarching nature, which is something Spider-Man’s original adventures lacked.

Power and Responsibility is to Spider-Man what Year One is to Batman. It is a timeless retelling of an iconic superhero’s origins that is both engaging and full of relatable characters. As a team, Bendis and Bagley creatively reinvent beloved characters and plot points in a manner that is fresh and exciting. As such, it’s really no surprise that Sam Raimi’s 2002 film adaptation is so similar. Ultimate Spider-Man would go on to become a seminal series for the wallcrawler and would serve as the starting point for the Ultimate Universe. While this line of books eventually went off the rails and its universe was destroyed during Secret Wars, Ultimate Spider-Man Volume 1: Power and Responsibility remains as an incredibly strong entry into this universe and continues to be a must-read for Spider-Man fans.

RATING: B+