Ultimate Spider-Man: Double Trouble

Synopsis: This was originally printed as Ultimate Spider-man #14-21.

Otto Octavius finally wakes up in S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters to find that he’s more or less blind and that his nervous system been fused with his mechanical arms. Meanwhile, Peter and his classmates get a new assignment—they are to give themselves secret identities and pretend to be super beings. While discussing the assignment outside of class, Peter and the others meet a new student with some interesting ideas—Gwen Stacy. Back at S.H.I.E.L.D. Octavius is none too pleased with his current condition and kills most of the technicians. Later that night, while Kong is thinking, he comes to the conclusion that Peter is Spider-man. Octavius goes to his former apartment and kills the current occupant. Next day at school, Kong tells his theory to Flash, and they decide to check it out by kicking Peter in the butt. Peter lets it happen, but Gwen pulls a knife on Kong and tells him to apologize. Gwen gets taken to the principal’s office. As it turns out, Gwen’s father is the police Captain investigating the murder at Octavius’s former apartment, where Ben Urich is attempting to get more information out of him. Speaking to J. Jonah Jameson later, Urich tells him about Octavius and his escape from S.H.I.E.L.D, and his desire to get more information on the story.

Octavius breaks into Justin Hammer’s office—he blames Hammer for what’s happened to him, since he was working covertly for Hammer when the accident took place. Meanwhile, a reality TV star from Australia calling himself Kraven the Hunter announces his plans to come to New York to hunt the most deadly prey of all. Gwen and her father have a discussion about the knife incident in his office, when he receives a visit from two S.H.I.E.L.D. agents who tell him about Octavius. They catch Spider-man eavesdropping and chase him away. Kraven arrives in New York and announces that his prey is Spider-man, and that he plans to kill him.

We find out that the Spider-man hunt is an excuse for Kraven to save his flagging ratings. Gwen returns to class, and apologizes to Kong for pulling the knife, then demands that Kong apologize to Peter. Afterwards, Liz complains about the superhero assignment, and informs the teacher that the assignment will be brought up at the next PTA meeting. Hammer rides in his limousine and speaks to a doctor in his employ, whose secret task is to create superhumans—however, he isn’t having much luck. Hammer rides out to the pier to announce his newest project, an energy dome for New York city. However, he’s interrupted by Octavius, who has taken over the facility. Spider-man goes out to confront Octavius, and is completely thrashed by him. The police attempt to apprehend Spider-man when S.H.I.E.L.D. shows up. While they are arguing about jurisdiction, Spider-man escapes. Later, Hammer blames the attack partially on Spider-man. When Mary Jane leaves, Peter has to hide his injuries from Aunt May. Next day in school, Kraven is coming to visit, attempting to get a read on Spider-man. Hammer goes to his office and finds Spider-man there waiting for him. He attempts to buy Spider-man off, but Spider-man tells him to shove it. After Spider-man leaves, Hammer gets a call from Dr. Skrtic—however, it’s actually Octavius, who has just killed Skrtic. Octavius tells Hammer to meet him face to face at Hammer Industries, and Hammer heads out to do so, while being tailed by Spider-man. Hammer wants to keep things quiet, but Octavius has attracted a large amount of media attention.

Kraven and crew head out to Hammer Industries. Octavius calls Hammer out of his limo, then picks the car up with his arms. Spider-man attacks him, and the fight is on—and this time, it’s also on television. Octavius beats Spider-man back momentarily and turns to finish off Hammer, who’s dying of a heart attack. Spider-man returns to the attack, and decisively beats off Octavius. At this point, Kraven comes out to fight an exhausted Spider-man. Spider-man turns to pull the people out of the wreckage of the limo, but Kraven won’t back down, so Spider-man knocks him out with one punch. The TV cameras catch Spider-man saving a girl from the limo, and then they catch Spider-man himself for an interview. After Spider-man leaves, S.H.I.E.L.D. shows up and takes Octavius away. Peter returns home to find a very angry Aunt May waiting for him—it’s 3AM at this point. May grounds him. Later we see Octavius in S.H.I.E.L.D. captivity, where he figures out that Spider-man is Peter Parker.

Good Stuff: Of the various Ultimate Spider-Man trades that I’ve read, this is easily my favorite so far. It’s a great story—Spider-man gets to not only be the hero, but also get the credit for doing so. There’s also some very good character interaction betwixt the various characters, and Octavius definitely shows up as a major threat.

You also have excellent secondary bad guys in Hammer and Kraven, and I like the way Bendis retooled Kraven for the 21st century. Of course, the dialogue is top notch, and the situations have a nice feel to them.

Not so Good Stuff: Hmm. No real complaints here. Just a very solid story.

I give this book 9/10.