Ultimate Spider-Man: Incursion has not been hitting as it potentially could have. This mini-series is a major part of setting up the return of the Maker. The countdown to the Maker’s return plays a big part in the story. But what this mini-series has lacked is a sense of urgency even though Miles is desperate to save his baby sister. There is just something that the story is lacking to hit on the note it wants to nail. Let’s see if things turn around with Ultimate Spider-Man: Incursion #4.
CREATIVE TEAM
Writers: Deniz Camp and Cody Ziglar
Artist: Jonas Scharf
Colorist: Erick Arciniega
Letterer: Cory Petit
ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN: INCURSION #4 SOLICITATION
“MILES MORALES IN THE EURASIAN REPUBLIC! Miles continues his quest for Billie, even though the Maker’s Council foils him at every step! What will happen when he runs into the Council’s most ruthless rulers — Magik, Colossus and Omega Red? And what is the Council REALLY after with the Maker’s card, anyway?!
Don’t miss the penultimate issue leading up to our climactic finale!” – Marvel Comics
HIGHLIGHTS OF ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN: INCURSION #4
Miles Morales & Mei Igarashi Chemistry Shines
What may be the biggest positive from Ultimate Spider-Man: Incursion is the chemistry between Miles Morales and Mei Igarashi. This continues the trend that some of the best chemistry Miles has is with characters from other universes. We saw this during Spider-Verse and initial Spider-Gwen crossovers. Deniz Camp and Cody Ziglar do a great job establishing the quick friendship that Miles and Mei have established. That friendship made the way they complement each other in their fight against Magik have some solid choreography.
Mental Impact of Traveling to Ultimate Universe
With each passing issue we are getting more insight on the impact of the real-time structure of the Ultimate Universe. You understand how with each month that passes Miles has grown desperate. It made bringing in Kwaku Anansi even more impactful. Anansi provided great insight into what Miles needs to do. He also reminded Miles that he is on his own when getting him and his sister back to Earth-616. Anansi may have intended to give Miles a boost but because of the time that’s passed it had this unintended mental health consequence.
WHAT DIDN’T WORK IN ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN: INCURSION #4
Story Pacing Problems Persists
The last three issues of Ultimate Spider-Man: Incursion have felt like they have been extremely staged. We spend most of the issue following Miles figuring out what to do and then fighting a member of the Maker’s Council. In the end he always loses out on saving his sister. It’s created a sense of predictability rather than being in the moment from page to page.
Magik & Council Look Weak Ahead of the Maker’s Return
Up until now every Ultimate Universe comic book has established that the Maker’s Council are incredibly powerful. Even when they individually take on heroes of the Ultimate Universe they are shown to be very strong. But here we see Miles’ Spider-Man and Maystorm in the first time they’ve fought as a duo defeat Magik. Not only do they defeat Magik but they do so without an injury or being hurt. It would be one thing if Magik left them heavily beaten and they just barely won by luck. Instead, Spider-Man and Maystorm can just move on after beating a mid-level boss.
The Ultimates Continue to Lack Credibility
Even though they do not appear in this issue again, the lack of the Ultimates presence continues to be felt. Let’s not even talk about how Spider-Man and Maystorm were able to defeat a member of the Maker’s Council the first time they fought them. Something the Ultimates haven’t done. But the fact that Camp has done everything to establish the Ultimates as the biggest obstacle for the Maker’s return. That credibility is being done away with how they aren’t being shown doing anything to help Miles or showing up to stop the Council.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Ultimate Spider-Man: Incursion #4 does nothing to fix the overall problems this series is having. The saving grace for the story is the chemistry Miles Morales and Mei Igarashi have built with each other. Without that this series would be a flop because of how predictable the story pacing has become.
Story Rating: 3 Night Girls out of 10
Art Rating: 5 Night Girls out of 10
Overall Rating: 4 Night Girls out of 10
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