Writer Brian Michael Bendis

Artist Chris Samnee

Colorist Justin Ponsor

Letterer VC’s Cory Petit

Cover Dated May 2011

Death of Spider-Man : Prelude

Before Bendis kills Peter Parker, he gives him one last nice day.  This is also our last revisit to Ultimate Spider-Man for some time.

Issue opens with Peter being fired from his fast food job.  Him being Spider-Man, meant that he couldn’t go to work for two days and he didn’t call in so he is fired.  He was off helping save the world with Iron Man.  Peter gets a call from Jameson, who wants to meet with him.

Spider-Man swings over to the Daily Bugle, he was hoping this was going to go away.  Jameson revealed recently, that he knows Peter is Spider-Man.  One benefit to his knowledge is that the Daily Bugle has been Pro-Spider-Man, as of late.  I like that the Daily Bugle is in the same building that it is from the Tobey Maguire Spider-Man movies, the Flatiron Building.

While waiting for Jameson, Peter has a chance to remember how much he loved working there.  Urich says hello and Jameson waves him into his office.

Peter slash Spider-Man saved Jameson’s life and he now wants to help Peter.  Peter tells him that there isn’t anything he has to do for him.

There is an ad for Uncanny X-Men 535 & 536, the Breakworld sequel brought to us by Kieron Gillen and the Dodsons.

Peter asks to have his old job back.  Jameson can’t believe that is his request, as he wasn’t paid anything for it.  Peter is trying to save for college.  Jameson wants to know why Peter wants to go to college, as from his point of view, Peter doesn’t need college.  Peter explains that being Spider-Man brings him no money.  Jameson is going to pay for Peter’s college.

There is an ad for Ultimate Avengers v New Ultimates 3, the issue wherein Punisher shoots Spider-Man, weakening him for his big fight with the Green Goblin, though it is a whole mess how the two stories interlock.  That’s my memory, at least.

Peter is shocked, as that wasn’t even what he was hinting at.  Jameson is rich, so he doesn’t mind.  Peter really can’t accept such a gift, he wants to pay his own way.  Jameson gives Peter his old job back but with a raise, he will also be starting a scholarship for Peter.  He hints that Peter may not be alive to go to college.  I like Peter setting out the parameters of the job he will need.  He needs a job where he can not show up for a couple days and have it be okay.  He wants absences to not be a reason to be fired over.

Jameson agrees, he also wants every exclusive on whatever Spider-Man does.

An explosion occurs and we get Ultimate Rocket Racer, with a buddy.  The Shroud calls them idiots.

Look how effective the Shroud takes these fools down!  That silly guy, Spider-Man shows up, even though there isn’t anything for him to do.

Well, he does web them up, so that is something.  Spider-Man starts calling the Shroud, Kitty, to which, I wish Kitty started calling him Peter – that would have shut him up.

Queens.  Peter and Kitty are catching up.  See Kitty’s shirt?  That Bendis really likes to try to sneak in Lockheed – first in Ultimate Spider-Man Annual 1 in the Danger Room when they went up against a giant purple dragon and now this appearance on her shirt.

Kitty refers to her current look as, goth, but those are some bright colors!  Peter takes credit that they beat the two villains, but he merely was on clean up duty.  He is right, that she is getting stronger.  She gets lots of opportunity to beat on some fools.

Peter makes a mistake of saying that he is glad she hasn’t turn bad or evil.  She is right in being insulted by the comment.  Peter tries to change the subject by asking about Kenny.

Kitty is surprised about Peter’s lack of knowing.  Kenny couldn’t take life on the run, and went home to his mommy and she moved them to Wisconsin.  Hello, Wisconsin!  There was a time when I wanted to name a daughter, Wisconsin and I’m not even that big of a fan of That 70’s Show.  I still think Nadia is a great name for a girl.

Kitty emphasizes that she isn’t okay, she is merely living.  Peter invites her to come inside for some dinner.  She agrees and asks him how his life is going.

I really like the idea of Peter forgetting that his birthday was today.  He has had quite the life since he was first bit by that Oz infected spider.

That is pretty messed up of Bendis to turn Peter 16, just to kill him in five more issues, right?

Bobby is super excited to see Kitty.

Mary Jane gets Peter alone and she is immediately jealous of Kitty, who is the better girlfriend but Peter is destined to end up with Mary Jane.

Mary Jane gives Peter the gift that Tony Stark gave him.  I like how Aunt May invited him to this party as well as the two year anniversary of Peter’s death, she has his address, might a well send the invitation.  The gift is pretty amazing, a pair of high tech webshooters.  Peter gets lost in thought and forgets Mary Jane is in the room.

Samnee draws Mary Jane more like how I imagine a 16 year old Proper Mary Jane would look like.

Peter tells Mary Jane he loves her.  Mary Jane really wants to hear Peter say he isn’t in Kitty, so jealous.  He is willing to earn Mary Jane back but all it takes is him wanting her to get her back.  That is pretty nice!

The issue ends with them kissing and Mary Jane calling him, Tiger, which she apparently likes to say nw.

How great is that final caption in the last panel, next issue : The Death of Spider-Man.  It doesn’t get more serious than that.

I like how Bendis gives Peter one last great day and returns Kitty to the title, though she really doesn’t come back as this is my last issue of Ultimate Spider-Man until issue 200.