Back during Ultimatum, Ultimate Spider-Man was far superior to the actual event. While the gulf isn't quite as wide with Cataclysm, there's still a huge difference in quality between Cataclysm #1 and this issue. This issue packs in all key character moments that make readers care about the idea of an impending Ultimate meltdown in the first place. Read Full Review

Overall, Cataclysm: Ultimate Spider-Man #1 should be what puts these heroes to the test when standing against what very well may be their end. Between Cloak, Dagger, and Bombshell, they really got all the characterization they could have needed in this issue. It's all about progression for those like themselves and all for this moment which we hope isn't their last. The style of Dave Marquez again is very welcomed. His attention to details between the characters and the environment is on point. Then aside from that the coloring is clean with a lot of variation for depth. Read Full Review

It feels like a bit of a cheat that this is even a tie-in issue; if it weren't for the final page this issue wouldn't be related at all, but it does give us some good moments and sets things up nicely before the carnage inevitably ensues next issue. Read Full Review

CATACLYSM: ULTIMATE COMICS SPIDER-MAN #1 seems to be a very nice edition to the current Cataclysm story line. While the vast majority of the issue doesn't have much to do with what is actually going on in Cataclysm, it's a really fantastic wrap-up to the last volume of ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN. Seeing as how the last issue was a bit of a let down, this issue makes up for the recent problems in the main series. The transition between the last volume and this new story line is fantastic. New readers may have a bit of trouble jumping right into this story, but overall, this was a fantastic read. Read Full Review

Despite already having a point one issue for Cataclysm, Ultimate Comics Spiderman starts us off nicely into what we might be seeing from the Spidey side of things throughout the Ultimate universe. Read Full Review

With the first issue of this Cataclysm tie-in, Bendis proves that he fully intended to just keep writing Ultimate Spider-Man, regardless of whatever cosmic demigods decided to show up. That means this issue is even more bittersweet. Read Full Review

It's decent character stuff; just what we expect from Brian Michael Bendis, for better or worse. I was just hoping to watch Galactus try to eat planets. Yum, planets. Read Full Review

As a matter of fact, Bendis' hypnotically conversational interactions and Marquez's gorgeous artwork are enough to overshadow the complete lack of "Cataclysm" in this comic book, save for the final spread. Despite not really being a part of "Cataclysm," this comic is truly enjoyable as an investigative, introductory romp through the Ultimate Marvel Universe. Spider-Woman, Bombshell, Spider-Man and Cloak and Dagger all feature prominently, which stems from them all having recently shared an adventure. Bendis is giving readers just enough to draw out emotional investments, with Galactus on the horizon and the future of this universe under suspicion. Once the heroes introduced to readers in "Cataclysm: Ultimate Spider-Man" #1 get involved in the action, this series is going to transform from a "nice to read" comic to a "must-read comic," so maybe it's good that this issue is a relatively quiet chapter. Read Full Review

This book makes it feel like Marvel is subscribing to the lessons that the 90's comic market taught them, which is that #1's sell units and they don't have a problem telling us, as readers, little white lies on the cover to get us to buy books. This issue just feels like a epilogue to the regular series instead of the beginning of the end, like we were promised. It seems a bit like a feint on the part of Marvel to get people invested in the collapse of this universe, but it really just feels like marking time until the actual crumbling starts. Maybe that will be more interesting and actually deserve the title Cataclysm. Read Full Review