Writer Brian Michael Bendis
Artist Sara Pichelli
Colorist Justin Ponsor
Letterer Cory Petit
Cover Dated October 2012
I got this issue for the two Ultimate Shadowcat references.
This is the first crossover between the Proper Marvel Universe and the Ultimate Universe. Ultimate Mysterio, turns out, was really Mysterio using an avatar. This issue, is the downtime issue, where a bunch of fan service is done.
Queens, New York. Peter Parker is taking his mask off in front of Ultimate Aunt May and Gwen Stacy. He can’t believe how young both of them are. May slaps him and knocks him to the ground and Gwen starts stomping on him.
Miles is there, and those two know him, so he tries to quickly explain the situation. He’s from an alternate Earth, meanwhile, Peter is ashamed of his decision to come to Queens. He had only wanted to see where his counterpart lived. I don’t get why, of all of the alternate Earths and timelines, this one seems to effect him the most. Maybe, it is due to how much time he is spending here or how similar it is to his home. Aunt May faints, so some things never change.
The Triskelion — Headquarters of SHIELD. The US Sanctioned Task Force. Fury and Stark are chatting. Stark is mostly embarrassed, as he doesn’t know how Mysterio broke the barrier between worlds. Fury tries to be helpful, he agrees that they have to bring Parker back in. He still feels guilty for not doing enough to save his Peter.
Gwen calls Mary Jane, she wants her to know that an older Peter Parker is here.
Now, we get to the fun part of the issue. Aunt May wakes up and overhears a conversation as she goes upstairs. Gwen is explaining to Peter the plot of Ultimate Spider-Man 66 / 67, when Ultimate Spider-Man and Wolverine switched bodies. I own the second one of those issues, so I’ll review it one of these days.
Peter confirms that Gwen lives with Aunt May, she explains it is because her father is dead and her mother left. Gwen asks about her counterpart, and Peter evades the questions for the most part. Gwen wants to know if they dated, which he quietly explains that it is complicated. She mentions MJ and his ears perk up.
Peter states that his MJ is a model, which blows Gwen’s mind. She fancies herself much more the model type, as Ultimate Mary Jane is more of a bookworm sort. Gwen really wants to know where she is on Peter’s world. I get him not wanting to tell her that his Gwen cheated on him with his best friend’s father, who is also his second greatest enemy. Then she made out with Peter, went to Europe for four months, gave birth to full formed twins and came back, made out with Peter again and then his best friend’s father throws her off a bridge. In a lame attempt to save her, he breaks her neck with a webline. So yeah, I get that he doesn’t want to ruin the laughs that they are having.
Peter notices Aunt May and asks her how she is doing.
There is an ad for the Honda Civic, so go out and buy one. It has 41 MPG Highway, so that’s pretty good.
Gwen is super excited to try to explain what and where Peter is from, Peter tells Aunt May that he isn’t stuck here, or that he is, but it is only temporary. Miles wonders what Peter’s world Miles is up too. When this series was officially released, I read the first two or three issues and then maybe the fifth one. Hastings didn’t have any copies of four – so that’s why I had to buy this as a back issue. But the fifth issue ends with Peter, on his world, doing a Google search for “Miles Morales” and that is how the series ends. With his eyes going wide and we haven’t had any teases to it since. Since Miles may be coming to the Proper Marvel Universe, we may find out what that is.
Peter confirms he has an Aunt May and she raised him along with Uncle Ben. She wonders if he is alive there, and sadly, he is dead due to Peter’s inaction. Peter starts his “With Great Power” and she finishes “Comes Great Responsibility.” This confirms that he is her Peter.
They hug and that’s a nice moment. Aunt May appreciates having this opportunity to finally say goodbye to a Peter. Aunt May tells Peter that she knew he was Spider-Man before he died. Good thing, as he died on her front yard, that would have been awkward otherwise. Once he died, the world learned that Peter Parker was Spider-Man and he died a hero. Gwen mentions, Osborn, and Peter goes cold. Next, she mentions Kitty Pryde knowing him and that intrigues him, as it should.
Gwen tells him that his Ultimate version dated Kitty Pryde, of the X-Men. One would think think that he would go straight back to his world and date his version of Shadowcat. That is the right thing to do. Bendis could have done two more issues of just him telling them about his world and them doing the same with their world.
I like Gwen being shocked that Mary Jane is a supermodel as she fancies herself the better looking one.
Miles notices the SHIELD limousine.
Fury enters the Parker home, and Peter knows he has to go and hugs Aunt May. He also hugs Gwen, which must keep him awake at night.
Once outside, Fury tells Miles to go home. Peter rather Miles sticks near him and Fury concedes. Before Peter gets in the van, he sees Mary Jane. Why he feels so comfortable walking about in full costume but with his mask off, who is he, Tobey Maguire?
Peter takes a step towards her and she darts off. Once in the van, Miles wonders if Peter has a Nick Fury. Peter says his is white and Fury is sorry to hear that. Which is pretty funny.
Aunt May is proud of how she raised Peter and Gwen tells her that she is going to write a book. The van that the boys are in, flies off.
Peter meets Ultimate Tony and Tony quickly learns that he has an equal in the room. He tells Tony that his Stark quit drinking a while ago. Fury like the idea of a sober Stark. I like Peter telling Tony that Stark hired him, for a time.
Miles recognizes where Mysterio was broadcasting from. Tony is all types of confused by how a guy like Mysterio figured all of this out. I do like the idea of a Mysterio taking to YouTube and making his own videos, that makes sense.
I guess they are still seeking Ultimate Mysterio and Fury sends everybody to the location. The issue ends with who everybody is – Spider-Men, Thor and iron Man. So I guess only Thor was the only new addition.
Shadow and Flame with Magik 