Ultimate Spider-Man is usually a pretty difficult title to discuss in terms of a single issue.  It’s one of the best “wait for the trade” books out there.  Way back when the series first began, I wasn’t familiar with Brian Michael Bendis’ decompressed style.  Although it might be preferrable collected, I simply never wanted to wait for the best Spider-book on the stands once it got rolling.  Even if those hardcovers are mighty nice looking (gotta believe there’s an omnibus in the works too), I have to grab the newest monthly installment.

With #127, Bendis continues the symbiote arc that returns to a long standing loose thread, Eddie Brock/Venom.  USM’s original introduction of Venom provided a much improved origin doing away with the convoluted regular Marvel universe take.  It ended with Brock in the wind, which is what happened again at the conclusion of the USM video game worked on by Bendis with a promised tie-in to the comic.  Eddie continued the fugitive act one more time in #126, but he’s right back in Peter Parker’s life this month without the long wondering.  This is all in time for the reappearance of Carnage who still appears in the form of Gwen Stacy.  It’s two symbiotes vying to replace the two goblins Bendis just cleared away previously as the worst headache in Peter’s life.

Stuart Immonen impresses with widescreen shots such as Spider-Man’s swing around the Baxter Building and improves his characters’ facial expressions with every issue.  His work is something to look forward to every time.

This particular issue has quite a lot of playing around with panel layouts from page to page that I enjoyed.  Some epic-length inner monologuing by Peter in costume and out conveys the kid still struggling with the crazies that’ve come calling.  Plus, we’re reminded that while it’s been 127 issues for readers, this superhero life is simply flying at Peter faster than he can react.

Don’t take Ultimate Spider-Man for granted as it quietly retools the mythos of an icon.  A long, quality run by one writer and two top artists that only requires reading one book a month to follow is a pleasure to read.  Amazing Spider-Man seems forever struggling to find its footing as USM has become the definitive title for the character.