Ultimate Spider-Man #97

Background

Having recently broken up with his girlfriend Mary Jane Watson, Peter started dating Kitty Pryde, member of the super-powered mutant team, the X-Men. Kitty - whose identity as the super hero Shadowcat is known to the world - tried to create as normal a relationship as circumstances would allow. Unfortunately, a televised team-up romantically linked Shadowcat and Spider-Man, meaning that, without revealing Peter's secret identity, Kitty couldn't also be dating Peter...

Moreover, the relationship has - understandably - put tremendous strain on Peter and MJ's friendship...

Story Details

Peter is having breakfast while on the phone with Kitty. She's upset, MJ helped Peter deal with that Morbius vampire stuff. Kitty starts to cry and then yells you're in love with her, that's why you broke up, to keep her away from getting hurt. And then aunt May gets home. So, they hang up.

Later, at school. Peter meets up with MJ. She persuades him to take a break. And so they go have a bite at the mall. MJ is trying to be friends again, Peter appreciates it. Mark Raxton says hi to MJ. It turns out she went on a date with him. The conversation comes to Kitty... Peter says she doesn't really know him. Then something bad is going on at the mall as large objects are flying around.

Peter quickly switches into his costume and comes to the rescue. He saves a kid and then sees it's the Scorpion. The Scorpion is a wee bit insecure, Spidey tries to talk him into surrendering. Then the police tell the both of them to freeze. The Scorpion attacks the police, Spidey fights the Scorpion and the police are all over everybody.

The Scorpion is saying odd things. About "Unveil yourself to the crowd!, he said that...". Spider-Man is confused. The fight goes on, Spidey and the Scorpion are in a different part of the mall. Spidey cracks the mask of the Scorpion. Underneath, we see the face of Peter Parker... Spider-Man freaks out.

MJ arrives home. Says hi to her mom and goes upstairs to write in her diary. Somebody sneaks up on her and covers her mouth. A little while later, her mom enters the room. MJ is nowhere to be seen.

General Comments

Well, what can I say? Again, clearly a jump on issue for a next story arc. And given the plot lines, it'll be a big one. The Kitty plot, the Scorpion with the face of Peter plot and the kidnapping of MJ plot. My guess is, the first one will get stored in the fridge until this arc is over and the other two are resolved.

I liked the Kitty - Peter - Mary Jane part. Finally, the word is out, Peter loves MJ. Although it was Kitty who had to say it. Unfortunately aunt May entered the room, it would have been nice to see Peter breaking up with Kitty right there. Oh well, it'll happen... and I hope it's soon.

Overall Rating

Yep, just 3.5 webs this time. The art wasn't as crispy as I'm used to in Ultimate Spider-Man. And the story is just the start of a new (long) arc. Can't give high scores just yet.