Ultimate Spider-Man 2

Growing Pains
November 2000
Written by Brian Michael Bendis, Bill Jemas

The issue begins the next day after Peter finds he can now crawl on walls. While in class, he has an episode and breaks a desk. He now finds out that his muscles have grown drastically. During gym class, Peter notices Flash moving on Mary Jane, but it doesn't look like she is interested. When he tries to push it more, Peter ends up throwing a basketball at Flash. Mary Jane thanks Peter but now Flash wants to fight him after school. During the fight, which Peter wants no part of and dodges all of Flashes punches, Peter ends up breaking Flashes fist when trying to stop him. While Flashes buddy recounts the events that evening to Harry, his father overhears the conversation. He then tells Harry that he would like him and Peter to come by the labs the next day, to which Harry is grateful since he would like his dads approval.

Back at the Parker house, things are getting worse since the Thompson's are threatening to sue unless Flashes hospital bills get paid. The Parkers decide to pay it with a credit card and this will leave them maxed out. Peter listens from the next floor in emotional pain. That evening, Peter sneaks into an abandoned warehouse and lets loose with his new powers, noticing something wrong with his wrists. The next morning, Peter apologizes to May and Ben and is off to the Osbourne Industries, where he meets the brilliant Doctor Otto Octavius. Octavius stealthily gets a blood sample from Peter, who then runs out the emergency exit. Octavius then lets Norman know that Peter is perfectly health and free from an possible life threatening problems. Norman, relieved, tells his assistant that he would like to subject himself to the same exposure as Peter to see what could happen to him.

I liked this one more than the first issue. It was a darker than I expected it to be and I especially liked the scene where Peter was listen on the steps, hurt. I am still getting used to the art style, but I did like the pacing of this story compared to the first one. Looking forward to the next issue.

Score: 4 / 5

Titus - S1E07

Mom's Not Nuts
First Aired: Monday May 8, 2000

Titus' mom Juanita has just recently been released from the mental health care facility and came to Titus and Erin's home. While Dave, Tommy, Erin and Ken all believe her to be fine, Titus can't give up his suspicions so easily.

After arriving home, Erin and Titus are surprised to find Titus' mother cooking dinner. Titus' first reaction is to panic and call the police. As the episode unfolds, Titus holds on to his feelings about his mother. The rest of the gang does not and eventually, even Ken convinces Titus that everything is fine. After they had finished their meal, the gang appears to have been drugged. Juanita had done this so that she could attack Ken unabated. The episode ends with the closing monologue wrapping up that she was recaptured and sent back to the mental health care facility.

I think this was a very good episode, above average for the last couple in terms on continuing a good storyline. I remember hearing his stand-up not too long ago and finding out his mother was this crazy. She had eventual killed herself. That had a little bearing on my thoughts of the episode, but not by much. Again, I enjoyed the flashbacks, specifically the ones with Ken. I felt that the closing was also very touching and sad, the way he answers the phone and all. This was one of the best episodes so far, in my opinion.

Score: 9.4 / 10

Titus - S1E06

Red Asphalt
First Aired: Monday May 1, 2000

On the way to meet Ken in order to give him a car for his birthday, Titus gets into a highway race with someone. When he over indulges, however, the man chases the gang with a gun.

Titus begins the episode by narrating how he has learned to control and use his anger at will. One of the things we transforms it into is spite. So, for his fathers birthday, he has created a car for Ken. Now, Titus, Erin, Dave and Tommy are on their way to meet Ken for dinner. It is revealed that Tommy picked this place because he had sex with the waitress at one time. Titus is passed by a very fast car and his male ego is inflamed so that he must race back up to the guy. When he accomplishes this, the other driver becomes angered and tails the car. Eventually, the two cars pull over so that Dave and Titus can get out and confront the other driver. They quickly return to the car when they find out he has a gun. Once Dave reveals that his present to his dad is a cell phone, the group calls the cops. The cops get the guy and the gang get to the diner right as Ken is leaving. He comments on the crappy car and walks away with the waitress that Tommy was looking forward to seeing.

I like how, so far, none of the episodes have been in the same area. I am sure that that will have to change soon, since they will need a re-occurring motif, most likely Titus' home and the garage. While some of the main story was a bit lacking, I still enjoyed some of the comments, especially those directed at Tommy. The flashbacks were good as well, especially the one about everyone having guns. Overall, it was an average episode with its good and bad moments, but a good change of scenery then a typical sitcom.

Score: 7.9 / 10

Joan of Arcadia - S1E21

Vanity, Thy Name is Human
First Aired: Friday May 7, 2004

God tells Joan to take a make-up class that is really about make-up. Adam doesn't seem to be noticing her changes. Will busts a Russian teenage prostitution ring and Kevin sees his old girlfriend from right before the accident.

While at the supermarket, the kids encounter Beth, Kevin's girlfriend from around the time of the accident. He makes sure to act really cold towards her even though she is civil. The next morning at breakfast, Joan reveals the meeting and Kevin becomes further angry. Also, Helen had painted through the night, creating a piece that everyone expect for Will finds good. On the way to school, Joan meets up with God and He tells her to take a "make-up class", to which she says she hasn't missed any classes recently. In chemistry class, however, it is revealed by the teacher there is a cosmological class being given for extra credit. As this turns out to be the "make-up class", Joan joins, as does Friedman and Glynis.

Elsewhere, Helen's art gallery friend sees her painting and promises here a showing if she could produce more. Will busts up a prostitution ring involving Russian teenagers. When he comes home to tell Helen, she becomes angry that what he does is simplistic but he can't "get" her painting. The next day at school, Joan and Glynis are both turning heads for the way they look, though Adam and Luke both don't seem to really notice. Joan then comes to revelation that she doesn't need to preen herself and gives up on the make-up. Back at home, Beth visits Helen as she is trying to paint. Kevin arrives home and tells her to leave, but not before making some snide remarks.

Joan reveals to Kevin that had been coming to the hospital when he was injured, which he didn't know. When he confronts Beth about it, it turns out that he had dumped her the night of the accident, but didn't remember doing so. He apologizes for everything he had done because he didn't know that little fact. When Adam doesn't notice that Joan has gone rank and without make-up, she becomes frustrated that he is trying to hard to look like he is not trying. Later, he shows up to her house to explain that he is just as shallow as she is due to his recent movie collection. Will and Helen work out their storyline when Helen decides to torch the painting since it was too much not like her. Also, Luke and Glynis call it quits since Luke no longer likes the same girl he started out with.

Overall, this seems like more of a downer episode despite the resolutions at the end with Joan/Adam and Helen/Will. We are still left withe Kevin and Luke being at odds. I am sure this will work into the season finale somehow. I liked Joan's storyline, because I remember feeling/being the same way she was in school after the realization that looks don't matter (ie. I am not the best looking person, haha). I think I liked Kevin's storyline the best because I feel he is such a good dramatic actor, as much as he is a comedic one as well. I am also glad Luke and Glynis are done ... bring on Luke and Grace!

Score: 8.3 / 10

Picket Fences - S1E22

The Lullaby League
First Aired: Thursday May 6, 1993

A blues vocalist comes to town and has Zach Brock play on stage with her. In the process, she collapses and it is found that she has a serious health problem. Also, Maxine and Kenny deliver a baby, which is given to Maxine by the fugitive mother.

Being the last episode of the season, I was hoping for a bit more than what I got. There were two story lines with about equal screen time. The first one involved a pseudo-famous blues singer named Naomi (played by Della Reese), who suffers a heart attack during her performance with Zach Brock in front of the town. When Jill sees no other option, she puts a temporary transplant of a pig liver into the woman until they can find a suitable donor. After the woman finds out, she flips out and worries about her legacy should she die. She wants the liver out. The courts do not relent and Naomi is left at hating Jill for dishonoring her. By the end of the episode, she grudgingly decides to have a human liver transplant in Chicago.

The other storyline involved Maxine and Kenny chasing a speeding car and finding a woman in labor when it pulls over. Maxine has to deliver the baby before the paramedics show. The following day, the mother skips town after Kenny questions her because it turns out she is wanted by the government. She left sole custody to Maxine until a proper home can be found. In the process of caring for the baby, Maxine decides to adopt. However, the woman turns herself in and agrees to testify against her husband so that she may keep the baby in a half-way home. Needless to say that at the end of the episode, Maxine is heartbroken.

Like I mentioned, I was hoping for a bit more, since the last couple of episodes have been very charged in their acting and writing. While both of the storylines, mostly Maxine's, were interesting to start with, I felt they petered off a bit at the conclusion. Of particular note for me, when Judge Bone showed up to console Maxine, I was disappointed because it felt too sugary. I still can't wait for season two, because I hope it starts off better then this left off.

Score: 7.5 / 10

Titus - S1E05

Titus Integritous
First Aired: Monday April 17, 2000

Titus High Performance has just finished their latest creation for a internet mogul, but when he requests one last modification, Titus can't bring himself to do it because it would make the car look like crap.

This is the first episode that takes place wholly in the workplace of Titus High Performance and it was a good one at that. The episode begins with Titus, Dave and Tommy finishing up a hot rod with a millionaire internet mogul. When the guy shows up, he states that he would like a wing on the roof. Titus sees this as a blight on the car and argues with the group about adding it. Eventually, he decides that he wants to take apart the car, but becomes trapped underneath it when the jack breaks. While not seriously hurt, he is trapped and, at Ken Titus' suggestion, Tommy and Dave add the wing. Erin shows up and demands that Titus be relieved from the car, but it is already after they added the wing. Tommy states he wants his dream to come true to of having a successful business, but Titus doesn't want to do collision and other stuff. The mogul shows up, likes the roof, and cuts the guys a check. Tommy, in a turn of heart, changes his mind and refuses the check. However, Titus sees the check and ends up selling out anyway.

Like I mentioned, it was a great episode with good all around humor between the present and the flashbacks. There were a lot of good one liners as well as some shtick among the friends. I think any episode is good when Ken (Keach) has to interact with the others in the present. I am not sure if I liked the ending or not, since it seems little out of character for Titus to sell out.

Score: 8.6 / 10

Ultimate Spider-Man 1

Powerless
October 2000
Written by Brian Michael Bendis and Bill Jemas

I have decided to fully dive into the Marvel Ultimate Universe (also known as Earth-1610) after having read a little bit of a Ultimate Fantastic Four title. I then researched what was the first title and I found out it was good ole webhead himself; huzzah.

This first issue begins in Osbourne Industries where Norman Osbourne is hard at work with his genetic technicians. They are using various subjects, such as spiders, on the OZ project. As Norman hastily has to talk with his lawyer over the phone, his assistant fails to cap the container on the spider case and the arachnid escapes. Elsewhere, in Queens, readers are first introduced to nerd Peter Parker as he is reading a science book in a mall food court. As he tries to study, some rowdy teenagers pester him by throwning food. A sympathetic red-head (Mary Jane Watson) looks on with sadness. Before the other teens can stir up more trouble, Peter's uncle, Ben Parker, shows up and wrangles Mary Jane into a conversation with Peter and him.

The next day at his public school, Peter is further instigated by Flash and his big friend, but Harry Osbourne shows up and helps the guys to leave Peter alone. Peter and Harry are friends even though Harry is on the team with the other lugs. Later that evening, Ben and May Parker discuss the possibility that Peter may have S.A.D., but Peter just shrugs it off. Harry comes by so they can study and it is revealed Peters parents had died in a plane crash. When Peter trails off about an adhesive invention his father had worked on before dieing, Harry ends up leaving. Norman is too busy to be bothered with Harry when he tries to remind his father his class will be in the lab the next day. As the class is going through Osbourne Industries, Peter is bitten on the hand by the same spider shown at the beginning. Even though he has a seizure, he recovers after blacking out. Norman has a meeting to discuss what to do about Peter, decides to pay his hospital bill, and notes that we wants to keep an eye on the boy.

In school the next day, the heckling continues but as Flash's pal Kong is about to trip Peter, Peter reacts instinctively and flattens him onto the ground. Peter faints again and is taken to the hospital. He has blood taken, but the sample is replaced by one of Osbourne's men. As Norman examines the blood, he notices the toxins will kill Peter. He decides to send his goon Shaw to kill him before that happens to that no one finds out he will die because of his Industries. When Shaw tries to run down Peter with his car, Peter reacts for some reason (spider sense), and leaps over the car. When Shaw reports back in, Norman aborts the kill so that he may study the boy further. Peter begins to research and realize the spider has affected him somehow. After a confrontation with May and Ben, Peter wakes up in the middle of the night and tries to climb the wall. The issue ends with Peter hanging upside down from the ceiling.

I am not sure what I think of this issue. I know it is suppose to be a re-imagining of the comic, using some of the first movie as the basis mixed in with the original Amazing Fantasy comic as well. However, it felt like it was a bit of a struggle to get the story into the pages it did. Some of the plot points were done on one page, with the next going to a later time. While they have Pete playing the angsty teenager right now (at 15), the character I like the most so far is Mary Jane. She is the beautiful and smart person she is meant to be, but you can see how she is sort of infatuated with Peter as well. Anyway, I hope the story of the next issues flow a bit better than this one.

Score: 3 / 5