Ultimate Spider-Man #105: Clone Saga Epilogue
Before Peter and MJ can get too hot and heavy in their reunion, guess who shows up?
None other than Nick Fury and crew. It’s interesting Fury feels he needs to bring Wasp, Iron Man AND Captain America to the party. I’m more than a little confused as to why Cap and Iron Man seem so “chummy” with one another and why Nick Fury can suddenly walk on air.
Peter has made his exit (stage right) to go check in on his aunt, which is where we’ll see Fury show up next, but in the meantime, you may remember a little group of mutants called the X-Men, one of whom Peter was dating. Kitty got the whole group together to see if they could help. The trail of course leads them to the very hospital Aunt May is recovering.
Re-enter Nick Fury. He’s smart enough to tell Cap and Iron Man to wait outside the curtain partition so he can have a private discussion with Peter. Again, another odd choice considering I’ve never been to a hospital where a simple cloth curtain is able to keep any conversation private. Must be an Ultimate Universe thing.
Anyway, Nick explains the only reason he made the Spider-slayers to begin with was in case Peter flipped his wig and turned into a super villain. Got to admit it, but Nick has a point. Any normal person would probably break under all the pressures Peter has been under these last couple of years. But to his credit, Peter has been one heck of a hero, and Nick Fury recognizes that.
Can I get a collective “Awwwww…”?
Nick leaves as May wakes up, and it is only then we find out Kitty and Jean Grey have been lurking outside the partition in invisible mode listening in on everything. Via a telepathic connection with Professor X, Kitty begs the Prof to wipe Aunt May’s mind so she forgets her nephew is Spider-Man.
Xavier refuses spouting something about free will and people dealing with the consequences of their actions. Kitty doesn’t like that at all and promptly stomps off. I’m not a reader of the Ultimate X-Men, so I don’t know if there is any further fallout from that spat.
Dang if this isn’t a weepy teary issue. I’m really glad May is accepting of her nephew and is willing to support him. Had she been the freaky old lady she was moments before her heart attack, I could see the series taking a much darker tone.
Peter then takes off to see if he can find Jessica. Jessica has decided to move somewhere far away and continue her life as Jessica Drew. There is some really good dialogue here as Peter and Jessica step on each other’s lines and finish each other’s sentences, in a way only two people who really understand each other can. As Jessica uses her organic web shooters to fly off into the night, I get a strong feeling we haven’t seen the last of Ultimate Spider-Woman.
Would I buy an Ultimate Spider-Woman title? Yeah, I think I would, at least for the first 12 issues and more if the story is as strong as USM has been since its beginning.
Two more plot points to wrap up this issue. Both Clone-Gwen-Stacey and Clone-Scorpion-Peter have been recovered by S.H.I.E.L.D. and on Nick Fury’s orders it looks like the agency is going to experiment with its own super soldier clone program.
That can’t be good.
Finally the issue, and the Clone Saga, ends with Peter and MJ hooking up in broad daylight to share some serious public displays of affection. The problem with making out in the middle of a crowd is you never know who could be watching.
So one of two things are going to happen here; either Kitty Pride is going to go all Fatal Attraction, or these three are going to learn the meaning behind Ménage a Trois – that is providing they are enrolled in French 101 or subscribe to Cinemax. In either case, things are going to get a bit messy for someone.
As I said earlier, this is one of those Awwww issues where tears well up in the eyes of those reading. Not me of course, in this case I am referring to my wife… Another solid issue resolving all the plot points set up set up throughout the series. I give Ultimate Spider-Man #105 another 4 out of 5 Stars.
I’ve been reading Ultimate Spider-Man since issue #1, and except for the very first arc, I think The Clone Saga is the best tale to come out of USM. If you didn’t buy these issues when they were originally available I highly suggest you buy the collected trade when it comes out. The art, story, and major turning point for Spider-Man earn this arc a well earned 4.5 out of 5 Stars.
Parting Shot
IMAGE REMOVED BY MARVEL
5 Comments
Thanks very much for reviewing…you guys are the best. Seeing ‘Richard’ grow old, seeing the Demogoblin (that’s what bendis calls it, but it’s not canon) slug Thing, seeing Nick Fury walk on air…all magic.
And, I love Kitty’s shocked expression. Very Beautiful.
Oh, and…
Funnily enough, Ultimate X-Men creates a continuity Error; they recently suffered the death of Prof Xavier at the hands of Cable. In the next Issue (79, I believe) the Mansion is abandoned, and Kitty is packing her bags…and saying she wants to be with Peter. I’ve already thought of two Explanations:
1) Kitty is in denial and is trying to get him back;
2) The Clone Saga is somehow set in-between Xavier dying and the Mansion being abandoned, and Xavier is just a delusion in Kitty’s Mind during the Hospital scene.
I’m going to have to go with #1 – Kitty is in denial. And if you really liked the few images we’ve posted, go out and buy the trade when it is available, you’ll enjoy the story even more!
Tell your friends! :D
Cheers
Stephen
Alas, I live in britain and have now ay of getting anywhere near a Marvel Comic until the TPB’s get out. I’m hopign this one comes out soon…and also Spider-Man: Reign. From what I’ve seen, that series rocks.
No, wait, it’s neither 1 nor 2 – turns out she’s attending Midtown High now. She’s probably going to make MJ & Pete’s life a living hell…
It’s also probably a homage to the limited series ‘MekaniX’.