I am very confused by this whole story.

It's not bad. I think it's perfectly fine.

But this isn't 2003. Releasing this story 22 years later, while acting everything is the same as it was in 2003 is such an odd choice.

Why isn't this a black label book? Loeb clearly doesn't want to play with current continuity and wants to go to what it was back in early 2000s, why have him write this now?

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matt fraction save us!!!

Damascus steel isn't rare or only forged in a single region of the world. In fact, it's fairly simple and really only adds a special pattern to the metal and can maintain a sharper edge longer. Come on Loeb... A simple Google search would tell you that.
He writes Jason like every awful Red Hood fan, (which is most of them) leaning into the normal equivocating, vaguely authoritarian justifying rhetoric of, "I do what Batman WON'T and that means it's justified," when we've been through this a million times. I don't care if you're now establishing that Jason's brain is more fried than the Lazarus Pit could heal. If Bruce ever thought that for a second in the years since Jason became the Red Hood and reintegrated with the Batfamily, he would have helped him fix it. He HAS helped him fix it. Maybe read a comic that you didn't write Jeph!
Lee's work here still isn't his best but so far is the best in this arc so that's a positive. That being said, I'm not a fan of this new Riddler design. Why does he look like a SWAT officer? It does nothing to really distinguish him as the Riddler. Just a new appearance to sell a toy that no one will buy because everything is overpriced and cheaply made these days. Thank McFarlane for the low DC quality figures.
Tangent aside, this book feels a lot like those aforementioned figures. Poorly sculpted, cheaply made but thrown to the masses in hopes of a quick nostalgic snatch at your wallet. Nothing of lasting substance. If a Robin dies, it's going to be a symbolic death. Jason will cast off the Red Hood mantle, Damian will transition from his position back to Talia, nothing will happen to Dick. I want to be excited. I want to not dog on a book that means a lot to me as a fan but I want and expect better. Everything is derivative of what came before and original ideas in Big Two superhero comics are few and far between when these characters are pushing 100 years old but don't do this. Don't write a sequel 23 years later.
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Got to be honest, felt being whelmed. It's nice seeing Harry Osborn and Gwen Stacy get some love and shine, but at least make dont make the solicitors completely false. I get sometimes comic books has to lie to keep a plot twist or certain story beats secret so it won't get spoiled, but there's a limit to how much I can tolerate.

Oh gee, Spider-Man's not facing this one alone.... but he's only in the last two pages of this issue. Oh wow, Richard Parker is in the black suit..... well no not really. Again, this series isn't bad, but I expected more. It seems to me that Hickman is interested in building the world around Ultimate Peter Parker, but Earth 6160 Peter Parker is his own side-character. Again, maybe once Hickman completes this run like his Avengers run will I appreciate it more, but I was just.... fine with it. Didn't offend me, but didn't blow me away to the point where I thought Hickman was cooking some serious heat. Again, Hickman's a great writer, but this was a weak issue compared to others as of writing this.

Maybe next issue will prove me wrong more

Let Hickman cook. This a fantastic story. Spider-Man is gonna be in the next issue so the babies can enjoy it again.

Oh damn, it seems that the editorial team put the wrong synopsis and title to this book. I hope to read real USM issue one day, but Ultimate Green Goblin #17 is good enough until that.

Even if I am using a joking tone, I am serious and also getting more and more annoyed. This book just doesn't focus on the titular character. It feels like a B-book that is mostly about the side cast.

It's good. Don't get me wrong. It's good. I like the revelations, world building, character interactions and Messina's art is solid. But it's not Ultimate Spider-Man. If it was, it would focus more on the titular character for three months straight instead of just having him make a small cameo for two issues straight.

And did anyone catch Richard Parker in the BLACK SUIT? more

Is this really as bad as people are saying?
Or perhaps, the character is so popular that it is literally impossible to please everyone?

For the mean time, I'm enjoying this. It's not DC Absolute or Ultimate Spider-Man level but I don't feel it's bad as it's being made out to be.

I feel like people's reaction to everything these days is default negativity and expectations of perfection.

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I never read Deadpool and spodey so this is my first exposure to itsy bitsy and I quite like her as a villain. Sort of like a spider-harley Quinn type. A little psycho, a lil freaky. This redesign of hers is pretty awesome. Maybe she can get an action figure now.

Solid issue, the action scenes are really good. Pepe larraz art is hitting and exceeding every expectation. Sometimes he draws panels in sideways or upside down do you can turn the book and see from Peter's perspective. Its very cool.

Gotta say I never expected Norman being "good" for so long and their dynamic has reached a point where I enjoy seeing them talk. They've always had similarities eith their scientific minds so it's refreshing to have them tackle a problem together.

Kinda more interested in this stuff than whatever hellgate is but im open to see what Kelly comes up with. This run is 3/3 for me so far.
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I cannot stress enough that the art in this arc is phenomenal. There are some incredibly well composed pages in this issue that blow me away. The writing is solid too. The plot is coming together, I like how this all feels genuinely planned out unlike a lot of arcs under Lowe's tenure. There were subtle hints towards the reveal in this issue about what exactly was the cause of Rhino's poisoning in the previous issues, and if you picked up on them, it's so satisfying to have it confirmed. more

Damn I love this series.

I actually loved this. Like wth, this was a banger issue and this whole arc has been really good. Are we actually getting back?

I hope this sentiment ages well. I really do.

If you're not giving this issue a 10, you're:
- simply out of your mind
- unable to read
- drunk or intoxicated
- in possession of an incomplete copy
- not wearing your glasses
- recovering from a bad break up or recently fired
- not a true comic book fan

Gotta say, art was phenomenal. And I liked what Kelly's idea was for this and message was heartful So, I can confidently say that if the hack fraud who works for the Spidey office as the main editor doesn't quit by 1000, then I will. The sheer level of incompetence this storyline has showcased has been disrespectful and horrible to see.

Like, way to ruin a nice idea by Kelly. Like what the hell was this storyline. What a waste of time with no consequence

What was the point of Peter moping for three issues, cheating Shay or treating her horribly, breaking up with her and then getting back together. The only thing managed was to showcase what a joke that relationship is and how horribly Shay is been treated. At least show some character we saw from her in #55.

What was the point of that one-off between Peter and Felicia. It didn't change anything. Only lessened the relationship between them. Why where the rest of the X-Men here besides Juggernaut. This is the second team-up we see with them and Spidey and it means nothing. Why do they need to bring Cyclops and Magik here, if they don't interact with the main character at all. Don't they have trust that this will sell? Who is this for???

I like the idea of Cyttorak being the new casket. But what we have seen from this storyline, rules don't matter at all, so by the next time we see Cyttorak, Randy Robertson can be the new casket because why not.

And when the Fraud mentioned that it was Kelly's idea they started to work on, I got the idea how it went down. Kelly wanted to do a story where he showcased Peter's love for life and how it can affect even immortal gods like Cyttorak and motivate them to do good by seeing the beauty of life. It's a beautiful idea and Kelly does his best here to showcase it. The rest of this arc pretty much ruins it by disastrous editing, since there is no clear vision how to make it last for 12 issues.

And they even didn't get the name right for this. If all other mistakes and choices weren't enough, they can't even name the storyline correctly. 8 DEATHS OF SPIDER-MAN!!! WHERE HE FACES 8 SCIONS OF CYTTORAK. BUT ACTUALLY IT'S ONLY 5. HE ALSO DIES ONLY 5 TIMES. TWO OF THE SCIONS AREN'T EVEN SEEN, JUST KILLED OFF-SCREEN. more

This issue is mostly setting up what happened between MJ and Venom and its actually kinds clever. Al Ewing has been writing venom now for a minute and his characterization of his struggle between good and evil always us a fun think to watch play out. Here its led to a new Venom host in Mary Jane, and I think she's actually doing s pretty nice job as the latest venom.

Not much else going on for this issue but the next one looks exciting. more

Dylan remains a fiend.

I dig this. It still works for me and makes sense for me.

I liked this! The run still continues to be very solid and I remain interested what happens next! I've missed ASM being consistently good....

As a standalone issue, this is amazing.

As a 16th issue of USM, it's frustrating.

Once again, we get more focus on side characters who aren't related to Peter. This book is basically Ultimate Harry Osborn at this point.

Don't get me wrong. I love everything in this. From writing, to art to making it all make sense.

But I'm so annoyed, because Peter, MJ or their family doesn't get the same focus. And because this series is so deadset on having each issue cover a month, having an issue have an exciting ending doesn't matter. Last issue we had Ben and JJJ facing Kingpin. This issue, they are barely mentioned.

And since Peter doesn't learn this stuff with the reader (like the solicits say he does), he doesn't feel like a main character. It feels like Hickman wants to write about his cast, not about him. more

This is what we call a great issue two. I have zero complaints. Art is amazing, plot moves ahead while everything feels natural.

I am still a bit wary of this run because of the editorial. But I am getting excited what we see next.

Keep on cooking Kelly!

Let's start with the obvious.

The art is amazing. Just so beautiful. Welcome to ASM Pepe Laraz, I hope you are staying for a long time.

As for stories? Kelly did good. This is so much better than #61 was and I think it is because it feels like there is a direction here. We are actually going somewhere and not just waiting for plot to happen. That is great and Kelly uses his time here well. I have seen comparisons to Big Time and it certainly feels like that.

First backup is great. I love that Kelly continues to work on Norman's redemption. And it won't be easy.

Second one is... I do not like it. I hope this isn't a random magical hell-related bad guy that has zero connection to Spider-Man like Cyttorak or The Blight, or a friend turned demon like Kindred (that is actually a demonic AI controlling cloned bodies made from DNA of your nemesis and your former love with memories from your friend). Because neither of them worked. Kindred especially was bad.

And that brings me to my biggest problem here. I am not excited for this run. I have been this down before, and I don't want to be burned for the third time. And it's all because of the editor.

Lowe seems like a nice guy. I have nothing against him personally and he seems cool in his responses on letter pages. But his work output has been mediocre or terrible for the past decade, with some standouts. If two last runs of ASM suffered because of poor editing and somehow opposite mistakes, I think that tells something.

From the getgo, Kelly seemed like a safe pic. And that he is. This is a solid introduction. But for me, not an exciting one because editorial stays the same. more