Cataclysm: Ultimate Comics Spider-man #1-3 Review

 

MILES MORALES learned the meaning of having great responsibility and put his costume back on after mourning the tragic death of his mother

Now he stands to lose his entire world as a cosmic threat descends on earth

Can SPIDER-MAN and his friends, CLOAK & DAGGER and SPIDER-WOMAN make a difference in the face of apocalypse?

Story– On the SHIELD Hellicarier Spiderwoman recounts recent events to Captain America and the Ultimates. Below the clouds Miles Morales snoozes in class. Elsewhere Bombshell is getting hell from her parole officer about using her powers violating the terms of her parole. She snaps at him because she used her powers for good this time. Later on Miles Morales in his Spider-man garb saves some people and gets a hug from the Police who are glad he has finally returned. Elsewhere Cloak takes Dagger to her parent’s home. She breaks down when she realizes they have left.  Cloak teleports them back to a nearby rooftop where they witness the arrival of Galactus in the city and SHIELD forces racing to intercept.

Cover– Miles Morales, Cloak and Dagger flee as Galactus imposing frame towers above them.

Emotion– The flashbacks  really helped to paint the picture of Bombshell’s past

 

 

 

The young heroes of the ULTIMATE UNIVERSE gather together to save New York from the terror of GALACTUS!!!

War time romance blooms!

A NEW hero debuts!

Story– A flashback to two years ago when New York was flooded by Magneto and his brotherhood, we find out what Dagger was up to at the time. In the present Cloak and Dagger teleport right onto Galctus’s face and start attacking. They realize they are way out of their league and instead turn their attention to evacuating the city. Miles does the same thing and quickly tries to locate his dad. His father refuses to take his help as Spider-man so he removes his mask.

Cover-This one has an all white cover with a cut out in the shape of Galactus head showing Miles Morales, Cloak and Dagger primed and ready for the attack.

This issue’s big unmasking was a treat.

 

 

The question everyone has been asking: Will Miles Morales survive CATACLYSM???

Story– With Galactus in the center of New York all hell breaks loose. Miles dad has an emotional outburst upon realizing his son is Spider-man. Before they can hash things out a plane crashes on their street. Miles helps the survivors and tells his dad to remain in the apartment until he returns. Once he swings off his father breaks down and cries. At the crash site Spider-woman, Cloak, Dagger and Bombshell show up to aid things. J Jonah Jameson is also rescued. Miles returns to his house to find his father gone. Before he can process what has happened the Ultimates contact him for aid.

 

Overall

This series  had gorgeous art from start to finish. Stunning Splash pages and characterization popping off every single page. The most powerful scenes from issue #1 were Bombshells memory as a child criminal with her mom and Dagger’s realization that her parents had just packed up and left her behind. In issue #2 the ending was the best part as Miles stands without his mask in-front of his father. The finale issue had allot of powerful moments. The confrontation between father and son and the shocked realization his dad experiences pulls at your heart springs in a way only if you’ve been here from Ultimate Comics Spider-man #1 you will truly get it. Other notable happenings was J Jonah Jameson trying to talk to Miles and then saying “When this is all over I’m going to change your life”. It’s spine tingling and tear jerking when you realize Jameson after Peter Parker died regretted everything he put Parker through. It’s the same reason he refused to disclose the Miles identity back when Venom came onto the scene (See Ultimate Comics Spider-man #16.1, Ultimate Comics Spider-man #19, Ultimate Comics Spider-man #20,  Ultimate Comics Spider-man #21 and eventually killed his mom (Ultimate Comics Spider-man #22).

This series manages to ease us into the Cataclysm crossover without being jarring or feeling as forced as the tragic and average United we Stand (Which ran through Ultimate Comics Spider-man #15, #16-18) which happened earlier in this run. Brian Michael Bendis delivers simply divine Characterization wrapped in great art and deep-seated emotion. I give the entire thing a 5/5