Ultimate Comics Spider-Man (Vol. 2) #12

Background

Miles' Uncle Aaron has been manipulating him and trying to get Miles to help him out in his criminal endeavors. Miles has had enough and refuses to join him.

Story Details

Miles is supposed to have a secret meeting with Aaron, but instead stays in the shadows until Aaron leaves in frustration. As Aaron leaves, he reveals he has some new tech, vulture wings. Miles goes about his life, but the situation with his uncle looms large. Aaron ends up confronting Miles outside his house and only leaves when Miles promises to meet him later that night.

At the meeting later, things quickly go bad. When Miles makes his position clear, Aaron reacts by attacking Miles. Aaron has added more tech to his Prowler costume, included the Shocker's gauntlets. Miles turns the battle in his favor, damaging one of the gauntlets. The fight spills into the street. Aaron is reckless and endangers as bus load of people. As Miles is rescuing the people in the bus, Aaron continues to attack. Aaron is about to punch Miles when the damaged gauntlet explodes. The explosion sends Miles flying. When Miles gets up, he sees his uncle dying. Aaron's last words are, "You are just like me."

General Comments

This issue sort of feels like the end of Miles' extended 'origin' story. Surely the way things play out between Miles and his uncle are supposed to be pretty character defining. It is pretty much the polar opposite of Peter and Uncle Ben's relationship, with Miles hopefully finding inspiration in trying not to be like his uncle. I really feel sorry for Miles this issue, he is such a young kid, but has to deal with his uncle dying as a result of a fight they had.

The art this issue was excellent. It clearly conveyed all the action and the emotion on each character's face was expertly rendered.

Overall, this was an excellent, high stakes issue. I wasn't really expecting Aaron to be killed off, I thought he'd be around for a long while as a thorn in Miles' side, so I like the unexpected twist. It is a twist in more ways than one too, when you consider the way this contrasts to the Peter and Uncle Ben relationship.

Overall Rating

Great issue.