Bendis keeps the spider crawling through life as a teenage
superhero.

General Information

Title: Ultimate Spider-Man #43

Author: Brian Michael Bendis

Illustrator(s): Mark Bagley

Original Publication Date: July 2, 2003

Cover Price: $2.25 US, $3.75 Can

Premise

Some of the X-Men try to sort out the problems that Pete had
with
Geldoff last issue.

High Point

“I’m done. OK, now I’m done. OK, now.”

Low Point

The visible hearts. That kind of thing comes across as fairly
cartoony and childish; the expression on her face got that point
across well enough.

The Scores

Bendis always finds something new to do. The Kitty Pryde-Peter
Parker
angle seems like a beautiful fit to me, especially given the close
age
between the two of them. The cliffhanger’s not new, though. I
give
the originality 4 out of 6.

The artwork is as it has been lately; it’s seemed a bit
rushed since the title went to 18 annual issues instead of 12. I
give
it 4 out of 6.

The story is still unfolding, in a very interesting way.
What we thought we knew last month may not be the case, and
Peter’s
personal life may be collapsing in ways he’s not even aware of
yet.
I give it 4 out of 6.

Characterization is one of Bendis’ strong suits. For
once we
have a villain who isn’t out to amass personal fortune or destroy
the
world. This villain is far more believable than any we’ve seen in
the
past. I give it 5 out of 6.

The emotional response this produced included
laughing out
loud when I reached the High Point, and some discomfort at the
Ultimate X-Men’s ethical liberties. In short, I felt what Bendis
wanted me to feel, so that’s worth 5 out of 6.

The flow was smooth, except for the last action
sequence,
which was disjointed by the panel arrangements. I give it 4 out of
6.

Overall, it’s a continuation of a great comic. I give it
5
out of 6.

In total, Ultimate Spider-Man 43 receives 31 out of
42.