Ultimate Spider-Man #105

Background

Peter's life has completely fallen apart. Peter broke up with Mary Jane, fearing she would die because of his double life as Spider-Man. Eventually, Peter started dating Kitty Pryde of the world famous mutant team, the X-Men.

Meanwhile, Otto Octavius had been working with the United States government to create a super hero team to compete with Nick Fury's Ultimates. Instead, Octavius grew a series of monstrous clones of Peter Parker, all of whom escaped and made a complete disaster of Peter's life.

One of the clones was brainwashed into believing that he was Richard Parker - Peter's father - but his age accelerated and he died. By the time Octavius was defeated, the only clones to survive were one with a Scorpion tail grafted to his spinal cord and a Spider-Woman.

In the midst of the drama, Aunt May learned that Peter is Spider-Man - and she suffered a near-fatal heart attack. As if that weren't enough, one of the clones had used the Green Goblin's Oz formula to transform MJ into a Goblin- like monster - but she was saved by Reed Richards and Dr. Storm, of the Fantastic Four.

Peter, relieved that MJ was okay, declared his love for her... then learned that, in restoring MJ, Reed found a cure for Oz - the same chemical that passed through the mutated spider that gave Peter his powers. In short...

Peter Parker doesn't have to be Spider-Man anymore.

Story Details

The Baxter Building, MJ asks whether wants to be Spider-Man anymore. He wants to think about it and Johnny takes him to the hospital. Nick Fury arrives, he wants Peter.

Over Peter's house, the X-Men watches the damage from the previous battle, they also go to the hospital.

At the hospital, Sue is watching near Aunt May. Peter's there as well, he guesses his clone dad didn't make it. Sue took care of it. Sue leaves and Peter starts talking to May, who is asleep. His spider sense tingles, then Fury arrives. Fury explains why he was at his house, with the spider-slayer drones. He made them to stop Peter, in case he snapped. But he didn't and Fury admits he was wrong.

As Fury leaves, Peter asks him to say to Reed Richards he passes on the offer. Then Aunt May wakes up. Kitty and Jean are there as well, being shielded by Professor Xavier so other people won't see them. Kitty wants Xavier to make May forget what Peter told her. Xavier refuses. Aunt May says, that costume, it's a terrible costume. Peter cries. Then Aunt May hugs him. It seems Xavier was right, he didn't have to make Aunt May forget.

Back at Peter's house, Sharon Carter kinda explains to the people what happened and Spider-Man is to thank for his help. MJ is reunited with her mother.

Peter meets up with Jessica. They talk and Jessica decides to be Spider-Woman from now on. They hug and she leaves.

At the Triskelion, Fury has the Scorpion clone and the Gwen clone in a stasis tube. Get to work, he says.

Daytime, Peter stands in front of his heavily damaged home. MJ is there too. They talk, and finally, they kiss. Kitty watches, from a distance, shocked.

That evening, MJ is about to brush her teeth, her hand is shaking. In the mirror she sees the ugly Peter clone behind her. Scared, she turns around, it's the real Peter, who stays there. He comforts her, it's okay he says.

General Comments

I guess Peter is off the hook. Nick Fury promissed him he'd be his once he reached the age of 18 (way back in issue umpteen). But now he showed Fury he doesn't snap, Fury can finally trust him. Cool. Maybe this means Spider-Man will do some work for Fury, a team-up with these two would be really cool!

This book was advertised as the epilogue and in a way it is. Even more [than in the previous issue] plotlines are closed, but just as many plotlines as started. Where's Spider-Woman going? What's Fury doing to (or with) the clones? Is this the end of the Peter and Kitty relation? Does Aunt May recover? Is MJ really cured of the Oz formula?

Can't wait to see what's next. I haven't had this much FUN reading Ultimate Spider-Man in a long, long time! Thanks guys!

Overall Rating

Footnote

I really liked this issue, it closed several plotlines and showed a lot of new directions. I just hope the pace of the next issue will be as fast as this issue.