Rating:  -
You guys remember the classic MARVEL TEAM-UP series, right? Which had Spidey bumping into other characters in the Marvel Universe? Well, this is the Ultimate reincarnation of that title. ULTIMATE MARVEL TEAM-UP - Ultimate Collection is a trade which reprints the entire 16 issue run, as well as ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN SUPER SPECIAL. In it, the 16-year-old Ultimate version of Spider-Man encounters other characters in the Ultimate Universe, most of whom make their debut in this series and most of whom are more experienced than Peter Parker in the cowl & cape gig.
The stories are all by Brian Michael Bendis, one of the busiest writers in comic books. And, mostly, the stories are good, although there are inconsistencies which crop up. Certainly, Bendis's ear for funny dialogue comes thru intact. But each story arc gets its own artist, and therein lies the main flaw. I guess it's true that, as important as the writer is to the comic book, it's still very much a visually driven medium, thereby making the artist just as key and, plenty of times, even more key than the writer. What we get in this collection is a mishmash of artwork that is sometimes terrific and sometimes very shaky. And, yep, my enjoyment of each story depended in large part on the quality of the illustration. Artists Bill Sienkiewicz, Terry Moore, and Rick Mays turn in great stuff, and I love John Totleben's interpretation of Spidey. Sadly, Ted McKeever, Jim Mahfood and Mike Allred put a damper on the wallcrawler's respective team-ups with Dr. Strange, the FF, and Iron Man.
The inaugural issue co-stars probably the next most popular Marvel character (after Spidey), as the webhead lends a helping hand to a Wolverine being hunted by Sabertooth and shifty government agents. Spidey gets a first-hand exposure to the anti-mutant hysteria sweeping the nation, to the extent that he begins to wonder if he actually is a mutant. Matt Wagner, who created, wrote and drew MAGE and GRENDEL, provides serviceable artwork, but has been better. Word to the wise, the best Ultimate Spidey/Wolverine team-up took place in the Ultimate Spider-Man monthly title, where Peter and Logan unwittingly switch bodies.
The best story arc in this collection? That would be the terrific 3-parter starring Punisher and Daredevil (issues #6-8), with Spidey relegated to a supporting role. A violent, noirish crime thriller, with the last two parts being narrated from Daredevil's point of view, these gritty vigilantes (and Spidey) are brought to vivid life by Bill Sienkiewicz's fabulous stylish artwork. Not too far behind is Peter Parker and his school chums' encounter with the X-Men in the mall. No costumes, no fights. No villains. Just some frank and discerning dialogue going on, about what it's like to be a mutant. Another story arc I dig is Spidey's run-in with Shang Chi, son of Fu Manchu and Master of the Martial Arts. See what happens when Spidey offers to pay Shang Chi for kung fu lessons. Loved the cover with Shang Chi in a classic Bruce Lee pose.
Unlike the mainstream Marvel Universe (sometimes referred to as Earth-616), the Ultimate Universe is still fairly new, having launched with the publication of ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN. So, plenty of the characters here, while being revamped versions of superheroes from the mainstream Marvel universe, appear for the first time in ULTIMATE MARVEL TEAM-UP. The re-imagined and inexperienced Doctor Strange, for example, turns out to be the second mystical Dr. Strange and the son of Clea. It's an interesting tale, but is severely undermined by Ted McKeever's weird, cartoony, near abstract visuals.
ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN SUPER SPECIAL is pretty much the coda to the series. It features quick glimpses of Blade and Elektra, as well as a horde of other guest stars. In this one, Peter has second thoughts about continuing his crimefighting career and seeks out other superheroes for advice. This issue showcases an all-star cast of artists. Unfortunately, this only serves as a microcosm of this anthology, as the art varies from excellent to cringe-worthy.
For the quibblers, there's some stuff here which might not be canon to the Ultimate Universe. Off the top of my head: Ultimate Iron Man's red and gold armor is too reminiscent of that of the Earth-616 Iron Man. And I could've sworn the Ultimate Hulk was gray, not green. But the most glaring continuity glitch is probably the introduction of the Fantastic Four, who resemble the Earth-616 FF, rather than the much younger Fantastic Four who would get their own Ultimate title.
So, that's it. Basically, ULTIMATE MARVEL TEAM-UP is/was a decent series. And if you can get past the sometimes spotty artwork, then it's more than decent. If you like Brian Michael Bendis's storytelling, then I'm sure you're already checking out his ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN series, which is the best Spidey monthly going on currently. There's a reason it's the flagship title of the Ultimate Universe. And, hey, in that series, Spidey is still running into other superheroes.
Rating:  -
This is a fun collection of the full run of Brian Michael Bendis' version of the Spidey spin-off book, "Marvel Team Up." Like its 1970s predecessor, this version of MTU often keeps things on the lighter side, with Spidey teaming up with various Marvel heros, often with anticlimactic or mildly embarrassing results. If you enjoy Bendis' work on "Ultimate Spider-Man," then you really should pick this up as well -- it dovetails nicely with the story arcs on that more conventional series.
Some readers may be put off by the artwork in some issues. Each story arc is illustrated by a different artist, and some of the artists, such as Alex Maleev, et al, get pretty "out there" on their stories. Still, I enjoyed the whole book and found it fun and entertaining. If you're looking for a nice, light read, this book is definitely recommended. (ReadThatAgain book reviews)
Rating: -
Every story in this collection was penned by Brian Michael Bendis, but you'd never know that unless you read the credits--the storytelling styles vary wildly, based upon the characters and artist that Bendis is working with. The best story here is a three-parter introducing the Ultimate Punisher, illustrated by the legendary Bill Sienkiewicz. A few other usually solid artists turn in less-than-inspiring work. There's some quippy dialogue (overdone in an annoyingly self-referential Fantastic Four story), but if you're looking for an introduction to Marvel's Ultimate Universe, pick up Mark Miller's The Ultimates.
Rating:  -
While some of the stories are amusing, the style is highly varied and in some cases extremely annoying. There is little consistency between the collected comics, and the only theme is that most of them portray spider-man as a whining kid. There are better collections to spend your money on.
Rating:  -
This book was an incredible read. If you are a fan of Ultimate Spider-Man and Bendis, then this book is a MUST buy!
Bendis does sooo much to flesh out the Ultimate world in these 17 issues. It's his Spider-Man on adventures not told in Ultimate Spider-Man.
Spider-Man meets Wolverine, fights Hulk, confronts Daredevil and Punisher simultaneously, meets Iron Man, Dr. Strange, a hilarious encounter with the Fantastic Four, his first encounter with the Lizard and Man Thing, a scary encounter with Blade, a bizarre meeting with the X-Men, his relationship with Mary Jane reaches new levels, and so much more.
These comics are so well written and often hilarious and inciteful. They effect Ultimate Spider-Man and stories even crossover several times. Definitely a fun read and great book!
UPDATE: Bendis announced that the new "Ultimate Origin" was first touched upon in "Ultimate Team-Up #3" when Spider-Man battles the Hulk.
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