"Ultimate Spider-Man" is more than a re-imagining of the Spider-Man saga from the very beginning. Informed by our knowledge of what happened in the first decades worth of issues of "The Amazing Spider-Man" writer Brian Michael Bendis has heightened the intensity by collpasing the time frame. Even though there is never really a self-contained story in the mix, things are moving very quickly and Bendis is constantly pouring on the problems for our favorite webhead and his teenage secret identity.

"Public Scrutiny" is the fifth trade paperback collection of "Ultimate Spider-Man" comics, this time around including issues #28-32. Previous collections have focused on story arcs involving particular super villains (last time around it was the new and evolved Green Goblin). But one of the strengths of "Public Scrutiny" is that Spider-Man never fights one super villain in the entire book (even though he certainly wants to). The other is that the main focus is on Peter Parker being Spider-Man, an issue that is addressed on multiple levels, from Peter being distracted at school to Mary (Jane) having a hard time handling being constantly worried about Peter getting hurt (not calling her Mary Jane is the biggest problem I have with these revisions). This latter point comes to a head after Spider-Man has a bad encounter with the police who are gunning for him because he has been robbing banks and killing police officers. Actually, it is somebody impersonating Spider-Man, which is just another part of the growing headache for our hero.

Bendis is taking pains to explore what it means to be a superhero when you are sixteen years old and in love with the girl next door, who is ticked off that Gwen Stacy has moved in with the Parkers. Meanwhile, the whole bit with Nick Fury and the rules of superheroes in the brave new Marvel universe continues to present intriguing possibilities for the future. Again, Bendis and artist Mark Bagley are taking there time with this one; 32 issues into "The Amazing Spider-Man" Peter Parker was a freshman at E.S.U., while here he is only a sophomore in high school. We can only imagine what he is going to go through before he reaches graduation day. "Public Scrutiny" is as good of a story arc as "Ultimate Spider-Man" has presented to date, even without the standard knock down, drag out fight with a super bad guy.

Note: Harry Osborne is back and is apparently applying for the role of Pacey in the "Dawson's Creek" parallel that is clearly at work here (Peter is Dawson, Mary is Joey, and Gwen is Jen). I swear, Bendis knows exactly what he is doing with this one. This trade paperback have just about gotten me up to speed on "Ultimate Spider-Man," which has proven to be an integral part of the Spider-Man renaissance.

This is a great story it is not as actoin packed as Vol 4 Legacy, but still a great story. Someone is dressed up as spider-man and commiting crimes. As if spidey's name wasnt already bad. It is the first time he gets shot and has the tragic death of Captain Stacy during a armored car chase. I will not reveal the culprit. It could be the cameleon or just some crazy kid you decide.

these ultimate spidermans just keep getting better and better. # 4 was awesome and this one definetly rocks. read this!!!

This book showcases 14-27 and has spideys battle with Doc Ock(my favorite villan,kraven the hunter(if your a fan of his beware). It shows a sneak peek of ultimate sandman.Then there is the return of the green goblin and a great fight that includes nick fury and a history of Osborn. when gobby throughs M.J over the bridge you think its Gwen stacy all over again. Buy this book.

Picking up where the first Ultimate Spiderman hardcover collection left off (the first book collected issues 1-13), this book collects the next thirteen issues of the mind blowing excitement that is Ultimate Spiderman.
Written by Brian Michael Bendis (Daredevil) with art by longtime Spiderman artist Mark Bagley, this collection is phenomenal. Ultimate Spiderman is the retelling of the Spiderman in a modern world. Brian Michael Bendis's writing is spectacular and captures the innocence and excitement as Peter Parker/Spiderman learns to use his abilities and deal with high school at the same time. Mark Bagley's art is, as always, gorgeous, smooth, and brings Spiderman to life in a way that makes you wish you could live in the streamlined world of a comic.
This excellent hardcover features two great Ultimate Spiderman stories: his first battle with Dr. Octopus and his second face off with the Green Goblin. Not to be missed by anyone who has ever enjoyed Spiderman!!

What a wonderful book! I have been looking for ways to increase the thinking skills of my students. This books incorporates beautifully Bloom's hiearchy of skills. Vocabulary, creating ideas and good writing all increase but in a very exciting and challenging way. The lessons really encourage the students to think. So many times we stop at the knowledge level of Bloom's Taxonomy, we stunt the creative writing and thinking process. Suppose the Wolf Were an Octopus can help to correct that problem. It was recommended to me and now I recommend it to you.

The action is picking up with this collection of issues 22-27 of the Ultimate Spiderman, and shows no signs of slowing down.

Things go from bad to worse for Peter Parker, who has just finished battling both Doc Octopus and Kraven the Hunter, only to find that Green Goblin is back from the dead.

Green Goblin's character is much improved from Ultimate Spiderman's first story arc. The grunting and growling is gone, replaced with the very sadistic persona of Norman Osborn. Of course, Osborn's first priority after coming back from the dead is to completely wreck Spiderman's life. Naturally.

Brian Michael Bendis' work on this title is really extraordinary, he has such a grasp and feeling for these characters. The talent Bendis shows for dialogue is really out of this world and adds such a natural feel to his stories. Time has made Bendis very familiar with these characters and it shows.

Over time, Mark Bagley has gone from the weak link of this title to an integral contributor. I just love his pencils in this one, but I think some of his success comes from Art Thibert, the inker. Something has changed about the art in this title. I'm not sure which of these guys is responsible, but I love it.

Ultimate Spiderman is top-notch, have no doubts about it. Bendis isn't doing anything that hasn't been done before, but you'll be hard pressed to find a better written superhero story written in this day and age.

"Legacy" collects issues #22-26 of "Ultimate Spider-Man" and continues the "re-imagining" of the character in the capable hands of writer Brian Michael Bendis. These trade paperbacks are thematic collections, which explains why the number of issues included each time varies. "Legacy" is about the new and evolved Green Golbin and the question of Peter Parker's secret identity. It is the latter that is becoming one of the defining features of "Ultimate Spider-Man."

The recreation of the Green Goblin in the mode of the Hulk makes sense to me; I always had a bit of a problem with the idea that insanity and a costume could allow the Goblin to slug it out toe-to-toe with Spidey (note the armor upgrade of the Goblin's costume in the blockbuster film version). But even more impressive is the way Bendis reworks the whole secret identity issue between the two; a lot of super villains have found out the secret identity of their arch enemy, which almost always involves an attempt to kill the superhero in question. However, the Goblin has a different plan, of sorts, for Peter. At the end of "Double Trouble," the Volume 3 collection, Spider-Man actually enjoyed a moment of glory. Of course it is all going to get dashed big time in this collection.

As is the case with the previous collections in this series, "Legacy" plays off of our knowledge of what happened in the first ten years or so of "The Amazing Spider-Man." The result is what might be the biggest shock he is ever going to throw our way and if you every think Bendis has gone too far this may well be the point. While your jaw is dropping at that point do not neglect to pay attention to the double look at a pivotal conversation between Spider-Man and the Green Golbin that Bendis creates; that was a nice little replay he threw into the mix.

Mark Bagley continues to provide the distinctive pencils for the series with Art Thibert's inks; hopefully this partnership with last longer than the original Stan Lee/Steve Ditko partnership. For those of us who have a comprehensive understanding of the Spider-Man mythos it is impossible for "Ultimate Spider-Man" to really stand on its own terms because we can also see the additions, deletions, and alterations. But if your familiarity of the good old days comes mainly from the movie, then I can certainly see where you could enjoy this all at face value.

At this point in the series Peter has told Mary Jane Watson that he is Spider-Man, but Norman Osborn knows the big secret, the Kingpin and Electro have seen Spider-Man unmasked, and Doctor Octopus is mumbling Peter Parker's name in his unconscious state. In "Legacy" we discover that somebody else knows the secret as well and that this has some rather significant implications for our hero when he turns eighteen (Peter is still about sixteen at this point). One thing you have to say for the story Bendis is spinning here is that he is always on the edge in terms of his re-imaginings. You might accuse him of going too far, but you cannot dismiss this series as a pedestrian reinterpretation of the Spider-Man saga. To date, I like it a lot.

The green gobin is back and he knows peters secret and he wants peter to kill for him and he is willing to destroy peters family to get it. This has one of the best fight s in the series.

I just can't believe how much I'm enjoying Ultimate Spiderman, and this collection is the best story arc yet.

Brian Michael Bendis flawlessly introduces two major villains from Spiderman's rogue gallery, Doc Octopus and Kraven the Hunter. There is such a quality to this work, such an attention to detail. Bendis is really building this series from the ground up, really breathing new life and fleshing out Peter Parker. And while Bendis respects the history of Spiderman, he by no means is hampered by it, and has no problem discarding details that make no sense.

Mark Bagley is definitely improving as this series progresses. I have been really quite impressed, it seems his storytelling is improving, and the action is very easy to follow. To me, Bagley has become a part of the book, an integral part of the experience.

This is a very intelligent Spider-title, and it only stands that it will get better and better, as has been the case so far.

Just when I thought the game plan of the "Ultimate Spider-Man" with regards to the love life of his alter-ego Peter Parker was to go directly to Mary Jane Watson, passing Betty Bryant and Gwen Stacy, when scribe Brian Michael Bendis drops the later into the action. This version of Gwen is big on the mascara and perfectly willing to pull a switchblade on a bully, both of which are completely valid reasons for Peter to have his eyes pop out of his head when he looks at her. Not even her police Captain father can reign in this blonde tornado.

At this point in the comic book the stage is merely being set for the impending love triangle, but I have to tell you that what is happening here is clearly a take off on "Dawson's Creek." Seriously. Peter is Dawson, Mary Jane is Joey, and Gwen is Jen (No, Flash is not Pacey; Kong is closer to being Pacey than Flash, but Peter Parker does not have a friend, which means Harry is not Pacey either). This should prove to be interesting, especially given that Mary Jane already know's Peter's big secret. But at this point the main problem is that Aunt May has an over inflated opinion about her nephew's love life. Yes, things might actually be worse for our hero this time around.

The title of "Double Trouble" has to do with the fact that in this collection of "Ultimate Spider-Man" #14-21, Spider-Man has not one but two villains after him (I was going to say two super villains, but that would not be the case). The new and improved bad guys this time around are Doctor Octopus, who has come out of his coma to discover his tentacles are fused to his skin, and Kraven the Hunter, who is now a reality television star from Down Under. Clearly, the more you know about the original Spider-Man comics and his various foes the more you will enjoy Bendis's refinements and provocative changes. At the end of this collection Spider-Man enjoys his biggest moment in the sun since the spider bit him, which quickly follows with a particularly low moment for Peter. Even when we think we know the rules of the game, Bendis continues to surprise us.

"Double Trouble" is the third trade paperback collection of "Ultimate Spider-Man" comics, which re-imagines the webhead as a younger Peter Parker trying to learn the ropes of being a superhero. But for those who read the first couple hundred issues of the original "Amazing Spider-Man" this is a hyper retelling of the tale. Forget all the ... superheroes Spidey had to fight with; this time around the focus is on the best and the baddest. The biggest difference between these first 21 issues of "Ultimate Spider-Man" and the original comic is that a single issue is no longer a complete story; it takes eight issues for the conflict between Spidey and Doc Ock to develop and be resolved. Consequently, we have the rather paradoxical fact that things are happening much faster for Spider-Man in this retelling of the tale while taking longer to develop. I continue to be impressed by this brilliant "re-imagining," which is drawn by Mark Bagley with inks by Art Thibert and Erik Benson.

this is spideys best villans first apperance Doc Ock and it shows spideys but being handed to him and becoming infamous. But kraven fans beware he isnt at his best. it even has a sneak peek of sandman. and this is a must have

Writer Brian Michael Bendis set out to reinvent and reinvigorate Marvel's hallowed Spider-Man franchise in this landmark series. Judging from the critical acclaim and market success it's had, I'd say he met his goal.

Spider-Man was originally created in 1963 and while his origin story is a comic book classic, let's just say some of the elements within the story have become somewhat dated. Bendis' rehash of Spidey's origin sets him in modern times, with the look of a modern 15-year-old, and the characters speaking in...you guessed it...modern dialogue.

Bendis has done a fine job of updating the character and doesn't give in to the temptation to pace the story too quickly. He takes his time, building up the characters and the story of how Peter Parker is bitten by a radioactive spider and subsequently given super powers.

Mark Bagley competently, though not spectacularly, illustrates the story. Bagley's artistic storytelling skills are excellent, but I think Marvel might have been better served had they gone with a less traditional artistic style on this book.

ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN: POWER AND RESPONSIBILITY is a great new beginning for Spider-Man and appeals to fans of all ages.

'Ultimate Spiderman' is the almost perfect retelling of Spidey for the 22nd century. I think this is a one of a kind story, because i'm pretty certain no other author has attempted such a project.

First off, let me start by saying Brian Bendis is a FANTASTIC writer, and he clearly donates some of his greatest talents to this comic-book. How? Well, the characters. Peter is somewhat nerdy, but not necessarily uncool, making him likeable. Uncle Ben is, as always, the kind uncle, but is also calm and cool, and definitely the epitome of strength and respect. Mary-Jane is definitey toned down, soft-spoken, and intelligent but hip. Flash Thompson is every bit the bully, and is complimented by new cronies.

Bendis also shows off his ability of unique storytelling by taking a slower, more relaxed approach to the spiderman legacy. New characters are intoduced slowly, and the story unfolds slowly, easily, and never misses a beat. And these reasons make Ultimate Spiderman a must buy.

'Power And Responsibility' tells the origin of Spiderman, and introduces Mary-Jane, Uncle Ben, Kong, Flash Thompson and Liz allen (breifly).

Hats off to Marvel for making comics accessible again. Ultimate Spider-Man is a great comic that anyone can read and relate to. It tells the story of a nerdy high school sophomore who suddenly finds himself in possession of fantastic powers. It's an old story, with a hero that will be familiar to almost anyone. After all, Spider-Man is one of the most recognizable characters in entertainment history.

But what's this "Ultimate" about? Spider-Man is a character who was created in the sixties, and since then he's been dragging forty years of continutity and backstory. Ultimate Spider-Man approaches the character from the ground up, with a contemporary voice and pop culture references that place the book squarely in the 21st century. This Peter Parker isn't married and successful yet; he's barely coming to grips with his powers. The origin is updated, the villains look different, and nothing about the hero's future is set.

Longtime Spider-Man fans may still be more comfortable with the original character that they've grown up with. (The "classic" Spider-Man is still thriving and his ongoing series is currently enjoying the excellent writing of Babylon 5 creator J. Michael Straczynski.) But for those who lost interest in comics years ago, or those who are approaching the medium for the first time, this book is absolutely perfect.

The writing, by comics wunderkind Brian Michael Bendis, is awesome. Dialogue is sharp and sparkling with very authentic voices. The art is attractive and expressive. The stories are easy to follow, even for a first time comics reader. It's a comic that anyone can enjoy, and one which I strongly recommend. I loved it, my girlfriend loved it, and I'm sure that you'll love it.

Being a 12-year-old Spidey fan, I know quite a bit about him. Not as much as those around when Peter Parker emerged from the brilliant mind of Stan Lee, mind you, but a fan nonetheless. I even had a Spiderman action figure and was an avid reader of Spiderman and the Fantastic Four/Spiderman team up. I was also a dedicated watcher of the remade version of the animated Spiderman (my parents still sing the older theme song). But, with the starting of elementary school, Spiderman kind of sank into the back of my mind.Then came 8th grade, and I rediscovered Spiderman in the local library. Of course, it was this book. And Behold! Spiderman lives 4-ever!!!! This has got to be THE BEST book about Spidey. And after all, it IS geared towards my generation. Now, thanks to this book, I am HOOKED on Ultimate Spidey!

I was skeptical of the Ultimate series at first, especially after John Byrne's horrific "Chapter One" retelling, but I picked up Ultimate Spidey #1 all the same.

Boy, was I ever wrong. Bendis spectacularly takes what Stan Lee wrote oh-so-long-ago and combines it with what we've come to expect from the comic industry today: pacing, character development, and real-world dialouge. For instance, spoilers I guess, but not really if you've had any foray into the Spidey books before: In the original story, Peter gets bitten by the spider, becomes a big-shot egoist, and has tragedy befall him. In one issue. Bendis stretches it over 5, mixing in a few other plot threads. Aside from the origin story, Bedis introduces the Green Goblin in issues 6 and 7, J. Jonah Jameson is there, exactly as he is in the original and movie, albeit younger. The remaining issues deal with Spidey taking on someone whom he cannot possibly defeat physically nor legally, as no one ever has: Wilson Fisk, or the mob boss the Kingpin and his thugs the Enforcers.

The characters have changed slightly with the updating into the new millenium, but 90% is for the better. Peter is a little more sure of himself and less terminally shy. MJ is entirely too cute for words, sweet and caring, but she does act like a real teen would, getting upset with Peter from time to time. Norman Osborne is a conniving businessman, as he should be. The one character I was wary about was Norman's counterpart, the Green Goblin. Bagely made it a more literal transformation, but it works, especially in the laters issues not collected here.

Bagely is, and always has been, one of my favorite artists, but he's made it difficult for himself to be forgotten after this. His take on Spidey is much like Ditko's original: lanky and gangly. He's taken Peter's inital "geek" look and add muscles to it that make him still look like an awkward teen, but also like an upshot superhero.

The extras in this are probably better than the one's that they'll put on the "Spider-Man" DVD. Bagely's original character designs and notes are here, along with the correspondance between writer Bendis and Marvel publishing president Bill Jemas. And the biggest treat of all, "Amazing Adult Fantasy #15" in its whole, reproduced better than ever, so you have the best of the old with the best of the new.

This is a deifinite must have for any comic fan, old or new, and anyone who remotely enjoyed the movie and DEFINATELY for those who were disappointed.

I loved this update of Spider-Man. I haven't read a Spidey comic in years - and when I picked this up I wasn't expecting a lot. But Bendis takes the old "origin" story and expands upon it. He slows it down a bit and lets the characters evolve more. The new Green Goblin isn't just a crackpot - he's a scary, menacing creature who also happens to know Spider-Man's identity. This is just great story-telling. And the second volume of this series was great, too. Issue 13 - which takes place entirely in Peter Parker's bedroom - is a classic. It's good to see Marvel experimenting with their characters and leaving a good writer/artist team free to create.

After countless attempts at creating a new universe, or continuum, the folks at Marvel finally hit on the right approach: recast their franchise characters as younger and more in tune with the issues of the day. Add top-notch writers and artists and voila! we have a hit. Though the story arcs are so far quite familiar to those with any sense of Marvel's history, the fresh approach to characters and the nifty art contribute to an overall great reading experience.

I would recommend this compilation to anyone who can't get enough of the Marvel universe or those who would like to start their trip into said universe. In short, recommended for any Marvel fan!

There are some noted examples of a writer coming in and revitalizing a comic book by tinkering with the fundamental nature of the character, as Alan Moore did with "The Swamp Thing" and Frank Miller accomplished with "Daredevil." But starting from scratch, as Marvel is attempting with "Ultimate Spider-Man" is a much rarer attempt (e.g., John Byrne starting over with Superman). However, writer Brian Michael Bendis is well aware of the high stakes game he is playing and through this second trade paperback collection of comic book stories ("Ultimate Spider-Man" issues 8-13) the results are quite admirable.

At first glance the obvious intent here is to condense the story of Spider-Man. In what we know consider Volume 1 of "The Amazing Spider-Man" Wilson Fisk, a.k.a. the Kingpin, does not show up until issue #50 (and really did not become the monolithic New York City crime boss until Miller worked the character into "Daredevil"). Here he catches Peter Parker's attention in issue #8 and it is Spider-Man's attempt to bring down the secretive crime lord that creates the story arc of this collection. This means that we get to avoid the Terrible Tinkerer and other abominations from the early years of Spider-Man under Stan Lee and Steve Ditko. On the Peter Parker side of the equation we pass Betty Bryant and Gwen Stacy and go immediately to Mary Jane Watson.

The theme of these stories is that Spider-Man, who is in point of fact almost sixteen years old, is in way over his head as a superhero. The Kingpin proves this by taking about a half dozen pages to defeat Spider-Man and toss his unconscious body out the window. Spider-Man's early attempts at crime fighter are so inept that he actually contributes to the idea that Spider-Man is a criminal, making it easy for J. Jonah Jameson to trash the hero in "The Daily Bugle." In the end it is as much Peter Parker as his alter-ego that scores an initial, tentative victory over the Kingpin; plus Spider-Man's verbal battle with the Kingpin is a minor comic (as in comedic not as in book) gem.

But Bendis is interested in doing more than creating a more streamlined version of the story of Spider-Man. In the final issue of this collection he unveils a radical change in the whole secret identity part of the character's dynamic. It will be interesting to see how this plays out (especially since it kills one of the my all-time favorite scenes from the original "Amazing Spider-Man"), but I have to admit I appreciate the character's motivation for doing so. The Spider-Man story is enough of a soap opera without resorting to the more inane traditional elements of the genre. All in all, this is a first rate retelling of the tale, enjoyable both by those who are well versed in the character and those who come to this series in the wake of the blockbuster film.

The pencils of Mark Bagley and inks of Art Thibert create a unique artistic interpretation of Spider-Man (think Titian inked by Todd McFarlane) and Peter Parker (whose can match Mary Jane strand for strand for hair in the face). I am not sure if the credit goes to the writer or the artists, but bonus points for having the saved new and improved Electro from having to wear one of the worst costumes in the history of comic books.

This tpb shows peters mission to find his uncles killer leads him to the kingpin and his electric thug electro( who has atendencey to use food puns... smoke you like a salmon etc.)
But it shows peter joining the bugle to take pictures and work on computers. this is a must have for ultimate fans.

I have had to purchase a second copy because the first one was so worn!! This book is an absolute must for elementary teachers! It takes 50 well-known children's stories such as Cinderella and Stone Soup and gives you questions for every level of Bloom's taxonomy. Super resource!

The "If the Wolf Were an Octopus" books are wonderful tools for involving students in answering questions from Bloom's taxonomy, including: Knowledge, Comprehension, Application, Analysis, Synthesis, and Evaluation. This particular book for Grades 5 to 6 lists questions for book titles for those (give or take) grade levels. However, the majority of my students will not have read most of these books: The Secret of Poplar Island, Taking Control, Kipton & Gruff, The Dragon Charmer, Harly Weaver and the Race Across America, For the Love of Gold, They Would Never be Friends, Make Me Disappear, Stray Cat, Ben and Me, etc. I was looking for the "Wolf/Octopus" book containing questions for nursery rhymes such as "Hansel and Gretel".