It's so pretty!
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Apparently, Mark Bagley is proudest of the art in this volume - where he depicts Elektra and Black Cat in their 'ultimate' get-up. They all look very cool. Pity the plot lags a little, being divided into two - the first dealing with the Bullit campaign and the second with the Black Cat/Elektra confrontation.
Even so, there is a sense of unity between the two developments in terms of theme. The two storylines both feature the clash between the Kingpin and Spidey, and they detail Peter's growing frustration with the public reaction to his antics, which lead to him questioning what is right. In the very end of the volume we find out that the evil Kingpin has in fact been acting somewhat nobly in consern for someone else. We along with Spidey discover that things are not black and white. The clever writing rescues this volume from its 'running on autopilot' plot. It can stand proudly among the others in this impressive series.
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Pretty Good
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Ultimate Spider-Man Vol.8 returns to the higher stakes after the good Irresponsible, with the return of the Kingpin. Needless to say he's after the web-slinger, yet Peter Parker is just as determined to get him too.
Volume 8 showcases Brian Michael Bendis' usual wit and skill with dealing with the various characters, yet feels strangely disjointed. Unlike the previous volumes, Cats and Kings feels much more like two seperate stories, the first solely about the Kingpin and Peter whilst the second introducing the Ultimate Black Cat. This is where the artwork in the book prospers - one issue has no dialogue at all until around the halfway mark, yet it still develops the Black Cats character. Other good points in the book is the return of the Enforcers - here, in more of a comedy slot than their previous appearance, but no less welcome.
Overall Cats and Kings is a good read but is strangely lacking in the pace or feel of the previous novels. Fans of the original Spider-Man series will have plenty to pick up on here, and new fans will not be left disappointed.
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