ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #32

By: Arnold T. Blumberg
Date: Thursday, December 19, 2002

Bendis - what more can I say? The series that finally won me, the old Spider-phile, completely over in the last year, keeps going from strength to strength, and most recently has been focusing on a mysterious second Spider-Man who has been exploiting the costume to commit dastardly crimes. He even caused the death of Gwen Stacy's father, Capt. Stacy - nope, no tentacles, crumbling buildings, or wandering children in the path of debris here. But there is plenty of angst, a tearful blonde in need of consolation, and her hateful declarations against the red-and-blue garbed hero who also happens to be a classmate of hers. What's more, she's now living in the Parker household! Mary isn't going to like this one bit...

The main set piece of this issue is the knock-down drag-out battle between Spider-Man and his look-alike. Actually, it's best described as a one-sided massacre. Peter finally gives in to the kind of rage he's been suppressing since day one, and the poor fellow in the spandex tights gets the brunt of it. Echoing an old story from the classic '60s era of Spider-Man, this doppelganger turns out to be...no one special, or as he puts it, "I'm just some guy." Sometimes, the worst acts are committed not in the name of any great cause or by any impressive person - sometimes things happen just because some guy does something, and that's all the meaning to be found here. But thanks to this "guy," Peter caught a glimpse of the rage within, the true potential of his power, and failed to prevent the death of Gwen's dad. It's not a good day.

And it's about to get a lot worse. Granted, having a hot blonde babe moving into your house has possibilities - although come on, Aunt May is there too - but now things may be coming to an end between Peter and Mary. Has she been able to put that horrible bridge incident aside? Can she deal with Gwen and Peter under the same roof? Has the "best friend who knows the superhero's secret" role finally gotten to be too much for her? Stay tuned, True Believers, and trust in the word of Bendis, for he knows all...