Ultimate Spider-Man Annual #2
	Writer: Brian Michael Bendis Penciller: Mark Brooks Inker: Jaime Mendoza with Mark Morales, Victor Olazaba and Mark Brooks Colorist: Laura Martin with Larry Molinar Letterer: VC's Cory Petit Asso. Editor: John Barber Editor: Ralph Macchio Published by: Marvel Comics
	Reviewed by: Bruce Logan

My first Marvel review for this week, and the way things are going…probably my only one for today. With my finally giving in and giving up on Ultimate Fantastic Four (thankfully limiting my Miller-exposure to only the Ultimates, and we all those how ‘on time releases’ those things are), and with my passing over on the Ultimate Clone Saga (I stopped after the first issue of the arc), is only Ultimate X-Men and now these  Annuals which are left to show for the Marvel side of my pull list. Oh, I have titles such as Spider-Man versus…sorry, Spider-Man loves Mary Jane (that versus shtick, that is the stuff of sweet sweet…sweet dreams for one Mr. Joe Q and that marriage hating mind o’ his), and Marvel Adventures (Spider-Man, The Avengers), but they are mild pulls and equally mild reads than anything else. Lastly, Astonishing X-Men, a title, which has thankfully enough not only passed on the whole jumping into the whole Civil War mud-pile, and but also continues to portray characters in keeping with their…well, with their character (even if Logan and Hank are currently…umm, different in that one).

Still, it wasn’t like I was jumping to get this annual, the reason being, in the main Ultimate Spider-Man series, Bendis has been a little more than boringly dismal with the recent stories. The last three, Morbius, Deadpool and Silver Sable…well, lets just say Ultimate Deadpool could be found dead in a pool, and I wouldn’t be concerned…okay, I’ll be happy. There, I said it.

Anyways, none of those doubts (about BMB on this title) held up or remain standing in light of this #2 of the Ultimate Spider-Man Annuals. Not, its not to say that its outstandingly great but it is greatly acceptable enough (made such in no so small part by Mark Brooks amazing pencil-work). Heck, good as he is, the other Mark…Bagley that is, the one who handles the main (USM) series, it pales in comparison to sheer visual experience here. At least for me it did. It had just the right mixture of a cartoony look and hard realism going for it, and it made the action scenes a hoot.

The main story, although not as ‘big’ as the one being told over in the main series, nevertheless serves one very important purpose, that of interconnecting and giving depth to the Ultimate Universe and that too without uselessly introducing new characters, coughultimateavengers2cough or using Mega Summer Events (Houses, Wars, Crisis-es etc). And even though the ‘Ultimate Marvel Team-Up’ was campy at best, that was the reason I liked it…liked it a lot better than what’s going on nowadays (minis like Ultimate X4, forced crossovers (USM-UXM) or even…well, whatever those Ult. War an Ult. Nightmare-Secret-Extinction things were)

Back to the story, starting with yet another appearances by our dear friend, the Dr. Light of the Ultimate Marvel Universe, the Shocker (Lets hope he didn’t have any mind-diddling done with him), we have not one but three UU (repeating Ultimate Universe gets tiring after the first half dozen times) big-boys…ahem, men, in the form of Ult. DareDevil, Punisher and Moon Knight. And with DD there (UU or any universe), can the ultimate (and by ultimate here I mean the adjective and not the universe) Fatass, the Kingpin be far behind. So, in a way, along with being a standalone story, this is also a sequel/closer to the ‘Warriors’ arc on USM.

Talking of closers, it also turns out to be one for Ult. Capt. De Wolfe…at least it looks that way. (Does she have a clone romping around too?) Starting with using Spidey as the (unknowing) lackey for her current squeeze the BIG man Kingpin himself, we end with ol’ Cappy De Wolfe getting herself de-hided.

Best guest appearance? Its very difficult to choose from amongst the three. Well, compared to the ‘older’ two, one is rather easy. Ult. Moon Knight comes at third. With his waking up and return to duty, he doesn’t do much hitting (as DD) or killing (as the P-Man, Punisher)…but still, the ending does portent more Ultimate stuff for him. Its kind of a tie between the other two.

And if I just had to choose one, that choice would be Ultimate Daredevil, if only because of his verbal and physical ‘flipping-off’ of that ‘Dumb $%#@!’ Spidey.

In closing, a special honorable mention to the a still alive in the UU, Frankin ‘Foggy’ Nelson, your friendly neighborhood lawyer. Its good to see the Fogman back, as also that whatever the Universe, some (good) things never change.

Conclusion: F*ck an ongoing (or even a second mini) to Ultimate Iron-Hole, get that Punisher guy a title of his own. At least he won’t just limit himself with just shorting out the brain of his traitorous girlfriend-nee-fiancée. Our man Frank will just exchange her Gold with Lead…even if he does pump it into her.

RATING: 8.5/10