Review: Ultimate Spider-Man Volume 5 - Public Scrutiny

When a thief begins masquerading as Spider-Man to commit his crimes, the real Spider-Man is declared public enemy number one. With the police determined to arrest him and a public that fears him, Spider-Man is determined to clear his name. Then, Peter’s relationship with Mary Jane hits the skids after Gwen moves in with him and Aunt May.

Ultimate Spider-Man Volume 5: Public Scrutiny collects Ultimate Spider-Man #28-32, written by Brian Michael Bendis and illustrated by Mark Bagley.

Much of the internal conflict within Spider-Man’s character is comprised of his feeling of duty to protect innocents from harm and the lack of trust the public seems to have for him. Bendis and Bagley explore this explicitly in this collection. The Ultimates have made their debut and have been embraced by the public, which feeds into Spider-Man’s insecurities. To make matters worse, a bank robber has started disguising himself as Spider-Man during his criminal escapades. As can be expected, the media and the public turn against him, leaving the police eager to stop Spider-Man for good. This creates a heightened tension within the narrative as it hinders Spider-Man’s ability to actually operate as a hero. It also affects Peter’s mental wellbeing. What is fascinating about this is that Bendis and Bagley are able to tell a tense story that pushes their lead hero to his limits without relying on a supervillain to do so.

As I’ve mentioned in previous reviews, Gwen Stacy is a standout character in Ultimate Spider-Man and this arc is no exception to that observation. There’s a sincerity and honesty to her that is lacking from most of the others in this comic. This means that Gwen’s character can be utilized to either lighten the mood or force others to react more transparently. My favourite scenes are those that are focused on Gwen, particularly the one in which Aunt May asks Gwen to stay with them on a permanent basis. It’s a touching moment that endears the reader to the characters and the event itself helps to open up new storytelling avenues, as well as to increase the strain on Peter and Mary Jane’s relationship. Gwen is easily the most sympathetic character of this book as a result of her familial situation.

Speaking of Gwen’s family, her father John Stacy is an individual who is intended to be important to this collection and whose demise is meant to provoke an emotional response from the readers. Unfortunately, this isn’t the case. Much like Gwen, he’s almost always fated to die in every incarnation he’s introduced in. However, his death must mean something. In the original continuity, George Stacy was a champion for Spider-Man and even deduced the wallcrawler’s identity. His character was given the room to grow and for readers to attach themselves to him. Bendis and Bagley didn’t give him enough panel time before they offed him, which denies Spider-Man the opportunity to have his own Commissioner Gordon for a bit and it changes John Stacy from a character to a plot device. They’d have done well to elaborate on John Stacy’s relationship with his daughter, fleshing out their dynamic more, and perhaps developing a romantic relationship with Aunt May. As is, his death here is only sad because the reader (hopefully) empathizes with Gwen. Otherwise, he might as well have been just some random officer.

Ultimate Spider-Man continues to be inconsistent in its quality for me. The stories themselves have potential and many of the characters are quite likeable as a result of the relationships that are cultivated by the creative team. This book is at its best during quieter moments where Bendis digs deep with his dialogue, revealing the plethora of insecurities that his characters are carrying around with them. I’m also continually impressed with his depiction of Aunt May, whose every appearance urges the reader to forget about her as the cumbersome geriatric damsel in distress and more as the multi-dimensional guardian whose empathy for others seems to know no end. Public Scrutiny gets major props for being able to tell a strong, character-focused narrative that’s light on action and heavy on the drama. Unfortunately, John Stacy’s death came too soon and it really hinders the storytelling potential there.

RATING: B-