Ultimate Spider-Man, Volume 8: Cats and Kings Book

Not the best volume so far, but still mostly fun. I think the highlight has to be the entire J. Jonah Jameson subplot. I'm hardly a Spider-Man expert, but I think that might be the most thoughtful conversation I've ever seen a writer give Jonah, who is normally written as a blustering yellow journalist with an inexplicable axe to grind. And I'm not saying that the Ultimate version is none of those things. After all, if you took those characteristics away, you wouldn't have J. Jonah Jameson anymore. But there is some surprising depth here. Nice work, especially when it would be ever so much easier to leave him as is.

This is the first Spiderman graphic novel (well, comic collection in one book) that I've read out of the three I own. Peter Parker of course goes around moping about something or other - moping IS as much a part of his identity as the superhero gig - but it didn't bother me because I expected it. Despite his angsty personality, I do like Peter Parker, especially his fun humor during battles.

This is a two parter that ties in together, all involving Kingpin in some way. The crime boss makes a worthy villain, with a short scene in the end showing a reason for his motivation. He doesn't delve into any cliche lines, and his sidekick helpers provided amusement when tangling with Spiderman. The girls aren't introduced until the second half; they don't play a large part. I'm especially curious about the cliffhanger with the main one. Mary Jane is having familial issues with her father, and Gwen is living in the Parker's house (a history I don't know or understand in this version.) Meanwhile, Aunt May is shown as the awesome stand-in parent who is protective and tough-as-nails. The chief is as anti-Spiderman as ever, but this story delivers a twist in him going too far. The story leaves off open-ended, but unfortunately I don't have the next volume.

Humor and quirk win, enhanced by colorful art and flashy moves. I especially like how Spiderman is done, almost like the mini action figure children version.