The Stop Button

I think this issue has to be one of Bendis’s greatest successes with the series so far. It’s Peter and Aunt May talking about him being Spider-Man–is Bendis the first writer to ever do this scene?–and it’s absolutely perfect.

He opens–with Mark Bagley pencilling his final issue–and goes through Peter and May talking about the origin and all the villains. Hennessy’s inks and Justin Ponsor’s colors make the whole thing seem very Americana. Ultimate Spider-Man as Norman Rockwell.

Then, when Stuart Immonen takes over for Peter telling May about his adventure of the day, Bendis has May asking all these questions about the logic of it. It becomes Peter (and Bendis) explaining the lack of reality in comic books. It’s a great move.

Bendis had to tell this one just right for the series to work (it’s been building 110 issues).

And he does.

CREDITS

The Talk; writer, Brian Michael Bendis; pencillers, Mark Bagley and Stuart Immonen; inker, Drew Hennessy; colorist, Justin Ponsor; letterer, Cory Petit; editors, John Barber, Bill Rosemann and Ralph Macchio; publisher, Marvel Comics.