Ultimate Spider-Man, Volume 19: Death of a Goblin

Ultimate Spider-Man (Collected Editions)

by Brian Michael Bendis (Writer), Stuart Immonen (Illustrator), Mark Bagley (Illustrator)

Peter and his Aunt May have perhaps the most important conversation of Peter's life. It's a gut-wrenching, emotional roller coaster you'll never forget. And Spider-Man is on the call when there is a huge explosion in the side of the Triskelion - the side housing superhuman criminals. From the acrid smoke emerges a man seething with vengeance - a man who wants Peter Parker dead! That man is Norman Osborn, the Green Goblin! And for the web-spinner, things are about to get out of control! The artistic baton is passed from longtime penciler Mark Bagley to stunning new ongoing artist Stuart Immonen, of Ultimate X-Men and Ultimate Fantastic Four fame!

Collecting: Ultimate Spider-Man 112-117

Genres: Comics, Marvel, Graphic Novels, Spider Man, Comic Book, Superheroes, Graphic Novels Comics

144 pages, Paperback

First published February 6, 2008

About the author

A comic book writer and erstwhile artist. He has won critical acclaim (including five Eisner Awards) and is one of the most successful writers working in mainstream comics. For over eight years Bendis’s books have consistently sat in the top five best sellers on the nationwide comic and graphic novel sales charts.

Though he started as a writer and artist of independent noir fiction series, he shot to stardom as a writer of Marvel Comics' superhero books, particularly Ultimate Spider-Man.

Bendis first entered the comic world with the "Jinx" line of crime comics in 1995. This line has spawned the graphic novels Goldfish, Fire, Jinx, Torso (with Marc Andreyko), and Total Sell Out. Bendis is writing the film version of Jinx for Universal Pictures with Oscar-winner Charlize Theron attached to star and produce.

Bendis’s other projects include the Harvey, Eisner, and Eagle Award-nominated Powers (with Michael Avon Oeming) originally from Image Comics, now published by Marvel's new creator-owned imprint Icon Comics, and the Hollywood tell-all Fortune and Glory from Oni Press, both of which received an "A" from Entertainment Weekly.

Bendis is one of the premiere architects of Marvel's "Ultimate" line: comics specifically created for the new generation of comic readers. He has written every issue of Ultimate Spider-Man since its best-selling launch, and has also written for Ultimate Fantastic Four and Ultimate X-Men, as well as every issue of Ultimate Marvel Team-Up, Ultimate Origin and Ultimate Six.

Brian is currently helming a renaissance for Marvel’s AVENGERS franchise by writing both New Avengers and Mighty Avengers along with the successful ‘event’ projects House Of M, Secret War, and this summer’s Secret Invasion.

He has also previously done work on Daredevil, Alias, and The Pulse.

Reviews

[Subham · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a wild one omg!

So we basically see what Norman has been upto and how he breaks out of the prison and what that does to Peter and the battle he takes to him and then Carol Danvers, the new top comes and how that messes up things and well Kitty also comes into rescue and its SHIELD vs Pete in one hand and then the usual stuff happens but the main thing vs Green Goblin vs Spider-man with Harry in between and what that results in.. its one the darkest things ever and just shows why Norman is one of the most dangerous villains ever and what it does to Peter..

Its dark for sure and challenges our characters unlike anyone and I love the way Bendis doesn't hold back and shows the threat of Norman and elevates it to a hundred and Immonen continues to hit it out of the park with his art, he is such a perfect follow upto Bagley I love it! One of those epic Spidey vs GG fights that will make you love them or fear GG!

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this version of Kitty Pryde!

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great volume of USM. Stuart Immonen didn’t miss a beat taking over the art duties from Mark Bagley (I actually much prefer Stuart’s work). The only negative on this one is that the title totally gives away the ending...

[Nicky · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my favourite volume for a while, I think, except for the interesting stuff with Aunt May in the last volume. This had emotional significance: the resolution between Kitty Pryde and Peter; the resolution of the Green Goblin stories. It's weird to see Carol Danvers in this role, but otherwise this volume worked pretty well.

The last couple of pages are amazing -- Peter taking a stand as himself, for something he believes in, eulogising a friend. That made it a great volume, for me.

[Frédéric · Rating 4 out of 5]

At last a decent arc.
Well, the whole plot is in the title ennit?
Well done, well paced, intense action not overstuffed with booooring dialogues and soap-ish drama. It took 19 goddamn volumes to get there...

And there’s another reason this is the arc I’ve been waiting for so long because, and that’s the cherry on top, Mark Bagley is nowhere to be seen. Not a single page! And who do we get instead?
The amazing STUART IMMONEN (Tears of joy runing down cheeks).

[Braulio Valenzuela · Rating 2 out of 5]

Terminé de leerlo hace 3 días y no me acuerdo de nada.

[Matthew Ward · Rating 4 out of 5]

The title of this volume is a bit misleading in certain ways. Regardless, I’m excited to see what the implications of the events in this one have for the rest of this story. Great art, action, and relationship work throughout this volume.

[Jacob Levy · Rating 3 out of 5]

New art style but same writing quality

[Mikey Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

this new art style really sucks. solid story though.

[Logan Harrington · Rating 5 out of 5]

10/10:
Absolutely one of my favorite collections in this entire run! While the art has shifted a bit with a new penciler, it’s still beautiful and the transition isn’t too different. The story itself is incredibly and really allows Harry Osborn (Hobgoblin) to shine!

I appreciate the newfound dynamics with Peter, MJ, Kitty, and Kenny as it introduces fun situations between each of the characters! I hope to see more of these interactions as I come closer to the end of this run!

[Shane Stanis · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Ultimate Year #19

Read for an epic Green Goblin tale

[Wing Kee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow...

World: Immonen is brilliant, his line work, his motion, his framing, his characters designs, fantastic. This is a gorgeous book and this first arc was him putting himself ok the map of Spidey fans. The world building is absolutely wonderful, once again playing with long established pieces and also building further the story of Peter and his little slice of the MUU. Just experience the story, it's pretty amazing.

Story: So yeah I cried, it's that powerful. The framing, the pacing, the plot is so good. This is what this medium is about using the illustrations to support the tale and the tone, man this was good. I won't say anything else but this was amazing.

Characters: The characters this arc are wonderful. They act like they should and they feel consequences from the events of the book. The quiet moments are great, the large moments are astounding. It works cause we care about the characters because they've been developed for 100+ issues so well. I really like this version of Osborn, maybe even more than 616 cause he's just so operatic and grand. I can't say anymore. Just read it.

Just read it.

Onward to the next book!

[J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this volume, despite some rather obvious pacing issues. The interplay between Peter and Kitty in this volume is excellent, and I really liked Norman Osborn's surprisingly ingenious evil plan, upon breaking out of prison. The only problem is that the last issue really needed to be two issues--everything ends in a flurry of violence, and a lot of the impact is lost. I must assume that there was some scheduling reason that this storyline had to end quickly? It certainly needed exactly one more issue.

[Joe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just what Spider-Man should be about.
Great reactions from Mary Jane..seeing Osborn again.
Great work with Carol Danvers and S.H.I.E.L.D..
Fun name dropping with other known Marvel characters.
just a good read.

[Sesana · Rating 3 out of 5]

To me, this was too much of a rehash of the Ultimate Sinister Six miniseries. Osborn gets out, wants to embarrass Nick Fury, wants to destroy Peter. We've done this before. Good things: Peter and Kitty interacting, which was as awkward as it should have been, and poor Harry.

[Jeff Raymond · Rating 4 out of 5]

I do like me some Spider-Man. I’m still along and nearly caught up, and it’s worth my time and I like it. So there.

[Henry Blackwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this trade and I always love Goblin and Spidey stories. But boy do I hate the shit out of Carol Danvers. Even in this universe she sucks. Reading this run has confirmed for me that Danny Rand and Carol Danvers are two of my least favourite characters in the marvel universe.

Like this whole trade was her being a fucking idiot and making the mess 10 times bigger than it should’ve been and killing Harry in the process. Like let’s really break down how much Carol Danvers fucked up in this trade: first of all she was a dick and goaded one of the most dangerous villains in the Triskelion instead of listening to him and actually seeing what’s up. Second, she inexplicably kidnapped Peter and used him as bait even though he’s beaten Goblin before by himself??? Thirdly, she used Harry as bait (and this was after she was so incompetent that she lost Goblin on the street outside of trump tower even though she had 50 shield agents looking at him?) which inevitably gets him killed?

Like, she fucked it so so so so so badly. I don’t know if that’s necessarily bad writing of the character because I’ve never liked Carol’s character or her dumb arrogant persona and this trade really confirmed my hate. Because in the movie she’s like this too, arrogant and 1 dimensional. That doesn’t mean I don’t like strong women. It just means I don’t like idiot characters who fuck everything up and still think they’re right after it. Danvers learnt fucking nothing from all of her blunders in this trade and it doesn’t seem like her character ever does. So I’m not sure if it’s bad writing because I feel like Bendis is writing what I know her character to be. Just because you’re strong or are the leader of something doesn’t give depth to your character. I don’t think it’s Bendis fault, I think it’s the fault of her character to begin with. Now that’s not to say that everything Fury has done throughout the Ultimate universe has made me happy, but he’s usually had redemption after he’s done something stupid and controlling.

I guess this review has been highjacked by me spitting venom about Carol Danvers but I can’t stand her.

[Jack Herbert Christal Gattanella · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, the title didn't lie so my Spoiler mark may be redundant.

But at any rate, this is exciting Popcorn Movie stuff from Bendis et al. I probably do prefer the previous consistent artist on Ultimate Spider-Man, not to put to put down Immonen too greatly, it's just personal preference (he is *good* but at the same time it feels a bit more samey to other comics from the time of this Marvel ilk). And I'm not sure that there is much to Captain Danvers as the "New Nick Fury" (is he really away or did something happen to him in a different Ultimates title, I have no clue), and is largely a smirking or command barking hard-ass under Bendis's story.

But when it does come back around to the heart of things with Osborn(s) it does work, every scene with Norman showing off what a ruthless yet highly motivated psycho he is, especially by the end. And the tragedy makes it noteworrhy despite the fact that Harry hadn't been in the comics in what feels like a while - those final couple of pages actually tie the beginning with the baby assignment well: how do you take responsibility for someone that can be thrown into such chaos?

[Greg Callahan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This would be such a good volume if the writing wasn't so bleh. I love Bendis, but I can't stand how so much of the plot is mundane and silly. Like, S.H.I.E.L.D kidnapping Spiderman for bait. I know Fury's not there, but S.H.I.E.L.D knows they can work with Spiderman, so why kidnap him? Especially if, after wasting his web shooters and dumping a bunch of exposition, they just free him, give him a weapon, and try to work with him. Just dumb and unnecessary. Then there's Oz's plan. I know he's crazy, but there really wasn't much there. It doesn't feel climactic or exciting, just empty and rehashed.

Then there's the departure of Bagley. The artwork is fine, but what a shakeup. Takes some getting used to.

[Rick Ray · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mark Bagley leaves Ultimate Spider-Man and is replaced by Stuart Immonen, who chooses to establish his own aesthetic early on. The change may be deterring for some, but I quite liked what Immonen does with a lot of the design choices. It's not better or worse, just different.

This volume features the return of the Green Goblin, though the title is a bit of a giveaway as to what could happen. The subversion comes instead from the fact that there are two Goblins that Spidey has contended against in the past, with the plot keeping which the fate of both Norman and Harry obfuscated until the very end. It's a creative bit of writing on Bendis' part, and the story unfolds in a riveting sort of way.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank god Bagley is gone tbh. I get the Bendis/Bagley team is "iconic," but I've always seen that as in spite of Bagley, not because of him. Immonen still ages up his teen girls a bit, but at least they, you know, look distinguishable from each other?

I also feel like Bendis falls back on Osborn a bit too much as a safety net. But at least he uses this one to explore Harry, Carol Danvers, and Kitty Pryde some more, the latter of which is one of the best creative decisions to make a Spider-Man character in this universe rather than X-Men character.

[Alfred Leroux · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally a good adaptation of Green Goblin!!! I loved Norman in this one, his motivations were better, he felt more imposing and he was a lot more relatable. Other than that I really liked Kitty, and while at first it was a bit weird, Immonen’s artwork instantly hit me as soon as Spidey walked in the frame. I might like his work more than Bagley’s🤷‍♂️. And this is also some of, if not the best action we’ve gotten in the run. But anyway I liked this a lot, wish it was a tad bit longer, but still. And that ending, showing Harry as the one who inspired Peter first…*chef’s kiss

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked the story, not so much a fan of the change of artist, nowhere near as good (IMO.)

Of his three(?) tangles with Spidey in the ultimate line up this is the best. He's smart, dangerous and unflinching which is what you expect from the Goblin. The ending.... Didn't expect that!

Kitty is back as well which was nice and they have seemingly stepped her away from the random bunny booking edge they placed her on so she is a real and enjoyable character again.

Good stuff.

[Justin Biondo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one was so close to being perfect in every way. I do love the new art by Stuart Immonen, he had some insane shoes to fill and he does it well. For the title of the arc I thought it was a tad misleading given how it took to the last second to get the other goblin to show up. If we had more time with said Goblin before the death, it would’ve been perfect for me. Regardless this is still an incredible series and as always I’m excited for what’s next

[Rix · Rating 3 out of 5]

This wasn't too bad. The story is, I would say, the best we've seen all run. I do wish that Peter would actually take some psychological damage from the things he goes through the way the women in his life do though, and I'm very bored of the writer being so unable to think of anything interesting for MJ and May to do that they get shunted out of everything 'for protection'.

[Shannon Appelcline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Death of a Goblin (112-117). The return of Norman Osbourne as USM's biggest foe. This story has some real heft too and even if it runs just a bit too long, the ending makes it worthwhile. We also get some great use of Kitty, post-Peter, and she continues to be one of the highlights of this comic in its later days. [3.5/5]

[Deshawn Vasquez · Rating 4 out of 5]

This probably would have had more impact if it didn't feel so similar to Ultimate Six, but keeping the focus on Norman and Immonen being a more consistent artist helps to keep the focus where it needs to be.

[Marloges · Rating 4 out of 5]

Glad that the new artwork looks great too. I liked the previous one more and I really have to get used to Peters new look but it still looks pleasing. Story itself was pretty good, it never really gets bad when the Osbornes are involved.

[Tim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good story, but super disappointed that they’ve change artists midway through the series. I loved the original artwork, and this is good, but it feels like a weak substitute to what was in the earlier books.

[roberto ortiz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bendis en su mejor momento contando historias entretenidas del joven Peter Parker del universo Ultimate junto con el salto al estrellato de Stuart Immonen que hace que sea un deleite visual.
El imparable poder del Duende, Kitty Pryde, MJ, la tía May. Imposible aburrirse. Se le de una.