Reviewer: Kevin S. Mahoney
Story Title: Silver Sable: Part 2 I hope they realize how boring their issue titles are!
Written by: Brian Michael Bendis
Penciled by: Mark Bagley
Inked by: Scott Hanna
Colored by: Justin Ponsor
Lettered by: Chris Eliopoulos
Editor: Ralph Macchio
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Sometimes, the Ultimate imprint merely gives readers the events or characters they have already read once before, with either modern twists or settings that are more contemporary. Every once in a while though, the writers and artists of team Ultimate go far enough off the reservation to arrive in the unknown realm of the TNC or Totally New Concept. The reimagining of Eddie Brock and the no-longer-alien symbiote are proof enough that this is not always a cheerful destination. Still, sometimes the accuracy with which certain elements are recombined into a more interesting whole results in a sort of understated awe, a kind of “Why didn’t anyone think of that before?” moment. The budding romance between Kitty Pride of the Ultimate X-Men and Peter Parker is one of those brilliant things. Why no writer ever thought to put the two nerdiest heroes together (outside of the fact that Peter has aged much faster in continuity than Kitty and Spidey tends to make the X-team look like jerks anytime they cross paths) is unknown. The marvel that is the Ultimate reboot lets this incredibly natural and appropriate pairing progress.
The resulting emotional high puts Peter in a rare mood this issue. There is no angst, no web-swinging, no second guessing of self. He’s just having a gloriously upbeat day in High School, which is one huge breather for the formerly-puny Parker. His squeeze whisks him away at the end of his bully-free school day, and she’s impressed with his tale of putting the Ultimate Rhino out of commission despite being a hero herself.
Of course, this is Peter Parker. Nothing good ever lasts very long for him. His basement con-fab is interrupted by a phone call from his ex-girlfriend which makes the rest of their time together somewhat awkward. The reason his day was bully-free turns around and bites him in his adolescent ass, as the heat is on at school for at least the next few days. Readers of this issue as well as the premiere installment also know that the busty and yet heartless mercenary Silver Sable is out to capture him. Readers also learn that while the bully that makes Pete’s life miserable does get tasered this issue (in flashback), Thompson’s a hero by the last page. Thus, the downswing is imminent, if not clearly in evidence in this chapter of the Silver Sable arc. The last page cliffhanger does not bode well, even if it is completely bereft of the threat of violence to Peter’s person.
The art in this installment is a peer to all the others of the series, which means it’s excellent in an understatedly detailed way. The kids look like real kids. The settings have both a generic (Anytown, USA) and specific feel (the skyline shown in the Sable hideout sure looks real enough). The choreography, colors, and lettering all fit the mood of the tale. Special props to whoever came up with MJ’s orange internal monologue captions; they’re not scarlet (like her hair) but they fit her internal voice and overall character very well. This book is fun to read and fun to examine in a purely aesthetic way.
