Ultimate Six #3

Background

Spidey's greatest foes, the Green Goblin, Kraven, Electro, the Sandman and Doctor Octopus have recently escaped from a high security SHIELD compund and they're now out to find him...

Story Details

All is quiet at the Triskelion (SHIELD's headquarters) until an officer brings a monitor to the attention of Nick Fury. Nick hits the alarm and calls in all the Ultimates. They quickly gather and head out to the SHIELD facility which housed the Green Goblin, Kraven, Electro, the Sandman and Doctor Octopus. Iron Man enters caustiously, not sure whether the villains are still around. All he finds is destruction and a barely alive Hank Pym.

Back at the Triskelion, they watch footage of the slaughter. They discuss how they're going to be able to get them back in custody. Its revealed that SHIELD can track them when they use their genetic enhancements. Nick runs down their options and comes to the realisation that all them have it in for Spidey.

Peter is at school when some SHIELD special agents interrupt his class to pick him up. Peter is taken to the Triskelion. Nick introduces Peter to the Ultimates as Spider-Man. Tony jokes "Did you go back in time to get him?" Nick tells him what has happened. Pete freaks out and wants to leave to protect Aunt May and MJ. Nick blows his top at Peter and tells him to stay.

At the Whitehouse a senior staffer gets a call from Norman Osborn. After hearing what Norman has to say he enters the President's Office and says "Mr. President... we have a serious situation with Nick Fury."

General Comments

This series jsut gets better. I'm glad they're publishing it on a faster schedule, because each issue leaves me wanting more.

Bendis still has the dialogue and drama down pat. The villains take a back seat this issue and its more of a focus on the heroes. Bendis handles the large cast well. The shots of what the Ultimates are doing in their down time at the start are great in establishing their characters. This issue also sees the the introduction (finally) of Spidey into the mix. This is done REALLY well. Peter comes across as the teenager he is. And you get a real sense of him being dropped into a situation that is out of his depth. This contrasts with the Ultimates who seem be taking things in stride. Spidey's introduction to the rest of the team is classic. Spidey's reaction to the news, especially when his sense of responsibility kicks in, is in character and believeable.

There's not much else to say, except that I missed the villains! The villains have been written so well so far, that when they didn't appear more than they did I was disappointed. Even though they don't appear directly, their presence is still felt. I'm sure they'll return next issue and maybe we'll get some action. The phonecall scene at the end was a totally unexpected direction and I can't wait for next issue.

Overall Rating

Maybe I'm wearing blinders, but to me this book is shaping up to be one of the best tales I've read in a long while.