Ultimate Six #4

Background

After being apprehended by Spider-Man, the Green Goblin, Dr. Octopus, Sandman, Electro and Kraven the Hunter were being held in a S.H.I.E.L.D. containment center. Now the worst has happened as all five have escaped. There are only two things on their minds: Revenge and Spider-Man.

Story Details

Our motley crew of escaped super-villains make themselves at home in one of Kingpin's summer homes as Norman Osborn makes intimidating phone calls to the White House. The President is not at all pleased when he learns that S.H.I.E.L.D. leader Nick Fury had illegally detained the aforementioned group, and is even less pleased to hear that Mr. Osborn himself is demanding his company, his son, the arrest of Sgt. Fury, and international amnesty for Sgt. Fury's thoroughly illegal and unconstitutional actions (which I do believe includes Oscorp being commissioned to develop a Super Soldier serum, but don't quote me on that) will be broadcast (via Kraven's production company) to the media.

Unfortunately, the Ultimates aren't aware that Osborn's claims weren't completely true, and they buy right into his distraction by storming Kraven's studio and ending up empty handed while Dr. Otto Octavius hacks into S.H.I.E.L.D's mainframe and takes down all their security.

The lights explode and broken glass rains down over the office and onto the head of Peter Parker (who had been asked to wait at S.H.I.E.L.D. H.Q. and eventually aid in bringing Osborn's team to justice). Up from the chaos rise Shocker and the Sandman, who briefly rough Parker up before making room for the Green Goblin. The Goblin raises his head, uttering a sinister "My boy..." Then, with a bolt of electricity, it looks like lights out for Peter Parker.

General Comments

Can I be honest with you guys for just a moment? I know I probably seem like a total heathen for saying this but, since its inception, I haven't been able to bring myself to care whatsoever about Marvel's Ultimate line. I understand their desire to achieve a new readership, but I could never help myself from feeling that the adjustments they made to the characters and the universe in the name of staying "fresh" were mostly forced and unnecessary. "Sinister Six" has, so far, allowed me to open my mind to the idea quite a bit more.

Bendis' writing is absolutely top notch. When he first began work on "Alias" a few years back, his understanding of the Marvel universe seemed a bit lacking to me. It was as though he would write his story based on whatever he wanted, and he'd enlist the help of a friend of his to tell him which existing characters could work in which parts. Maybe this wasn't the case, just the impression that I got. However, as he has watched (and helped) the Ultimate universe grow since its inception, he appears to have an absolutely flawless knowledge of its character's traits and motivations. This story in particular is incredibly interesting to read with it's well conceived plot, it's entertaining dialogue, and it's riveting action sequences (made all the more intense thanks to the hyper-realistic art team, each member of whom [right down to the colorist] add a depth to the comic I haven't seen in quite some time).

Overall Rating

4.5 Webs. Absolutely enthralling to no end. This isn't quite REQUIRED reading, but I don't think it's that far off.