Writer Brian Michael Bendis
Artist David Lafuente
Colorist John Rauch
Letterer VC’s Cory Petit
Cover Dated December 2008
So I remember this issue being promoted as being about Peter and Mary Jane’s teen sex life. So I had to look up the original solicitation.
http://www.newsarama.com/482-marvel-comics-full-october-2008-solicitations.html
ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN ANNUAL #3
Written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
Penciled by DAVID LAFUENTE
Cover by MARK BROOKS & RICHARD ISANOVE
The relationship between Peter Parker and Mary Jane is one of the most iconic and popular romances in all of comics — and in this very special issue by series writer Brian Michael Bendis (SECRET INVASION), and red-hot artist David Lafuente [HELLCAT], that relationship delves into an area never before seen in any Spider-Man comic! Destined to be one of the most controversial issues of the year!
48 PGS./Rated A …$3.99
Maybe I just read too much into it or there was some interview I read that stated it. Well, skimming it, I didn’t see anything all that controversial.
So the Recap Page does a nice job of summarizing what has been going on, and it is a lot! – symbiotes, mercenaries, clones and Peter cheating on Kitty with Mary Jane and Kitty going to their school. Will Peter and Mary Jane have sex or will they very briefly talk about it?
Last Night. Mary Jane and Peter say they love each other. Mary Jane describes how deadly their lives and become and she poaches the subject that maybe they should do something. At school, they are very awkward with each other. If they are going to do it, they should hurry as Ultimatum is coming and Peter is only slightly going to survive it.
Kitty sees Mary Jane run from Peter. I love how sarcastic Kitty is about those two breaking up. Kitty suspects that Peter did something wrong, as that’s his move. He runs away, upset.
Spider-Man is swinging across the city and he’s thinking about how he’s the jerk in this situation, as he’s the guy. He joins a police chase. We learn that when a costume person joins a situation, the code is 616, so that’s pretty clever. He is able to get the criminal’s car to stop but it explodes, once it does.
Midtown High, Next Day. Mary Jane is in the newsroom with Jessica Jones. Jessica is recapping the heist, she also explains that since Spider-Man clearly goes to this school, any story involving him is a school news story. She also wants to figure out who is Spider-Man.
Lunch Break. Mary Jane sits with Peter, which surprises both him and Kitty & Kong. I believe those two are dating right now too. Peter and Mary Jane seem pretty hostile. She updates him about Jessica Jones coming for him. He wants to talk about the other night. Mary Jane wants to know about the car explosion, instead of talking about the night before.
Peter picks up the story where we last left off. The police are actually talking to him, not trying to arrest him and even trying to get him to help. At the police station, a lady in a Jessica Drew Spider-Woman costume is shouting “embrace change” a fun hint to Secret Invasion, also written by Bendis.
Spider-Man is viewing the bank heist footage. The police have started calling the criminal, Mysterio, who will be a big name in the upcoming volume. Mary Jane is going to solve the mystery of how Mysterio actually robs the place, after he’s done the getaway part.
Greenwich Village, That Night. Maggie, who works for the police department (and showed Spider-Man the video) is also working for Mysterio. He likes the name he’s been given. He wants to lie low now that there is some heat coming his way. Spider-Man crashes through the skylight and sees Ultimate Mysterio. He tires to punch Mysterio in the head but his fists go through it. Maggie tries to run away but her police friends are at the entrance.
Mysterio grabs Spider-Man by the neck, stating that he will be back when he is ready and fades away. With that, the building explodes.
Peter goes to Mary Jane, she was right that it was an inside job. I like Mary Jane asking him if he told the police it was her who figured it out. Like that wouldn’t take more explaining.
They finally get around to talk about “it.” They didn’t and are not going to. Mary Jane loves Peter, and she wants to go all the way, but not right now. She regrets bringing it up. Apparently Flash broke up with Liz over this, as they never had sex. Good for her!
Peter isn’t Flash, he has never brought up sex before. He would love to have sex with her but he’s not pushing it. She worries that he could die any time but he counters that anyone can die any day. He tells her that he wants to marry her and she would totally marry him.
I forget that these two are fifteen, so yeah, they can slow down. They make out, as that’s what they like to do. As the camera pulls back, we see that Mary Jane isn’t wearing pants!
Not a bad issue at all.
Shadow and Flame with Magik 