About Heroes

This review was submitted by Spider-Ben
“Clone Saga Epilogue”
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Artist: Mark (Please Don’t Leave!) Bagley
Cover: Bagley and Richard Isanove

I love this book, I truly love this book. There is not a thing wrong with this title, and instead of getting old and dull as time goes by, the book only gets better. This issue picks up after the clone saga, and a lot of things are still lingering in the air.

Fortunately for Peter Parker (and readers of the book) we get some answers, but we also get some new questions as well. Peter realizes he has to check up on his Aunt May, and leaves MJ with the Fantastic Four. Nick Fury shows up with the Utltimates at the Baxter Building to arrest Peter. Ben Grimm tells Fury to go the hell away, and MJ steps in telling Fury that Peter has always looked up to him as a father. MJ tells him that Peter wants to join the Ultimates and become the world’s best super hero ever. (Guess what MJ? Peter already is the worlds, nay, the universes’ best super hero already!) Fury does not know what to say, and goes to find Peter.

Meanwhile, Kitty and the X-Men arrive at Peter’s house and Kitty is an emotional wreck. She realizes that she has to find Peter right away, and she and Jean rush to the hospital after learning Peter’s aunt had a heart attack. At the hospital, Peter checks in on his Aunt and tells her that after all the shit that has recently happened, nothing hurt him like when May told him he wasn’t her son. Nick Fury shows up, and he tells Peter he created the Spider-Slayers to take Peter down in case he snapped. Peter is totally pissed and outraged (and so was I!) after hearing that Fury thought he would be the next big super villain. But, before he can continue, he tells Peter he was wrong.

Fury admits Peter is a hell of a man and didn’t snap after all the shit he has been though, and Fury tells him that Peter is a very special individual. Peter is shocked and surprised to hear this, and realizes he really is a terrific person. Peter tells Fury to tell Reed Richards no thanks, but he wants to continue to be Spider-Man. Fury leaves, and May awakes still groggy from the heart attack. She tells Peter his costume sucks, and she realizes she is very proud of Peter. The two hug, all is forgiven.

Back at Forest Hills, MJ reunites with her mom. She tells her mom that Norman Osborn destroyed the Parker home and kidnapped her. Peter arrives and realizes he totally has no place to stay. Mrs. Watson tells Peter that he is always welcome at the Watson home, and they are relieved to hear May is alright at the hospital.

MJ tells Peter that he will just have to stay with her forever, and the two kiss again. Peter is finally happy one more after all the crap recently, and I’m even happier for Pete and MJ. But one person who isn’t happy is Kitty. She is furious at Xaiver for not erasing May Parker’s memories of the past 24 hours, claiming Peter wouldn’t want May to know. To make matters worse, Kitty just saw that kiss between Peter and MJ. Sorry Kitty, you were fun for awhile and Peter belongs with MJ and only MJ. Peter has one final task to do, say bye to Jessica.

The two meet up and Jessica states she is not ready to be around Fury, despite Peter saying Fury is OK with them. Jessica realizes she has to go and have her own life, and wishes Peter all the best. Peter tells Jessica she already started living her own life when she assumed the name and mantle of Jessica Drew, Spider-Woman. The two hug and Jessica swings off.
Peter realizes the two will probably meet up again one day. I sure hope so!
At the end, Peter is sleeping at MJ’s place. MJ goes to brush her teeth and has some kind of seizure twitch. Peter comes in to check on her, and she notices the reflection of Ultimate Kaine. She is scared to death, but Peter calms her down. The two hug, wondering what will happen next.

Thoughts/Comments:
Perfect, absolutely perfect. I love this book, it is my favorite comic book of all time. This issue was amazing. Bagley is the man (Please don’t leave Bags!
Or if you do, take over the artwork on regular marvel universe spider book!) and his work never lets up for a minute. Very glad Jessica is alright and going off to find her own destiny. It was gold when Fury told Peter he was something special, and realized Peter has the potential to be the greatest hero ever. The only gripe I had was with MJ’s seizure. I’m already pissed at Joe Quesada and JMS for fucking up the Peter/MJ marriage in the core spider-books. But leave Ultimate Pete and MJ alone. Seriously, I love ya Bendis. But if you kill off MJ, I’m going to start giving this book a B- or C every single month.

I want Peter and MJ together. I want them to be happy. I don’t want a sad, lonely, and single Peter. If I wanted that kind of depression and shit I would look at my own life. I want a comic with my hero to be happy, not alone and sad. So Bendis, I swear leave MJ alone. If not, these reviews are going to get a lot shorter and this book will fall in grading every single issue. It’s bad enough Stuart Immonen and his vomit inducing art is about to grace this book, but leave MJ alone or suffer my lowest grades ever. I’m dead serious about this folks. All in all though, this issue is another solid
A+! Bring on Ultimate Knights.