Ultimate Comics Spider-Man (Vol. 2) #4

Background

Miles Morale is the new Spider-Man and Peter Parker is dead. Miles is getting used to his new powers and trying to be a costumed hero.

Story Details

The issue starts with Miles leaving school to go and try and use his new found to help others. He ends up witnessing Peter Parker's death, but don't intervening. Upon returning to school, he tells his best bud Ganke about what happened and how he felt like a coward and that he could of saved Peter.

Later, Ganke and Miles attend Peter's funeral. As Gwen moves through crowd Miles calls out to her and asks her why did Peter become Spider-Man. She briefly tells Miles about Peter's motivation, i.e. Uncle Ben's death and the 'with great power comes great responsibility' line. Gwen also shares that he wore a costume because 'he didn't anybody to know he was a hero'.

Back at boarding school, Miles is working on costume ideas, when Ganke arrives and gives Miles a store bought Spider-Man Halloween costume. Ganke convinces Miles to put it on and then they are interrupted by there room mate. Miles hides the costume by jumping under bed covers and ponders how Peter was able to do it.

Later that night, Miles heads out in the store bought costume to try out some heroing. He's jumping around rooftops when out of nowhere Spider-Woman kicks him in the face and asks him what he is doing... to be continued.

General Comments

Not a bad issue, but still a little repetitive. A few of the scenes are replays of Peter Parker's final moments and funeral, all of which have appeared before. It's told from a different perspective and I do like how Miles' story is linking in with Peter's, but it just feel a bit ripped off that so much space (most of the issue) is devoted to it. I feel like I've already bought and read this comic. I want the story to get moving, for something new and interesting to happen.

It seems the point is, Bendis is trying to come up with motivation for Miles to become Spidey and be a hero. An 'Uncle Ben' type moment. His plan is to link Miles' motivation into Peter's death and for him to find his motivation from Peter himself. It just doesn't seem as powerful as what motivated Peter. It's basically hero worship.

The final scene with Spider-Woman does seem to promise something more interesting next issue. I am interested to see how characters react to Miles as Spider-Man.

Overall Rating

Not a terrible issue, but I hope things get moving a bit more quickly in future issues.