Story: Brian Michael Bendis
Artist: Mark Bagley

As we last left off, Teenage Peter Parker battled Norman Osborn as the Green Goblin derranged and demented in Mutant form. This Book "Learning Curve " starts with issue #8 and ends with #13.

We Find Peter getting his self together and getting a job to support himself and his beloved Precious Aunt May (who looks very young in the Ultimate universe. Peter gets the idea to work at the famous Bugle run by the guy we all love to hate, but can't stop loving the outspoken J. Jonah Jameson. Pete snags the job with a photo that melts Jonah's heart.

Make no mistake about it "Learning Curve " isn't about Pete's new job and Pete making money.. its about Spider Man and Peter Parker Collecting Revenge for his late Uncle Ben. Through the use of the internet Peter finds out through his Uncle's Killer and that his killer worked for a larger group of killers, and those larger group of killers work for the notorious Wilson Fisk aka THE KINGPIN.

The Webhead tussles with the Kingpin's Enforcer's; The Ox, Montana, and "Fancy " Dan Crenshaw. The fight isn't very long as our hero realizes he has bitten off more than he can chew, short story shorter Mr. Big makes an appearance tells our hero where he can find the Kingpin and the Cops show up wanting to blast off Spidey's Head.

Meanwhile Pete's Social life is really picking up! Mary Jane has got the hots for him... man oh man Parker don't blow it, that Mary Jane sure is a Fox... growl.

Spider Man books it to a Kingpin gathering where Mr. Big assured him the Kingpin would be at. BIG MISTAKE... Spider Man is beaten by Electro (whom has a more different look in the Ultimate Universe, a lot more realistic), and to top off the humiliation... His mask is taken off! TAKEN OFF! and he is thrown out the window...

A great scene in this book comes when Kingpin finds out that Mr. Big is planning on taking over his empire... in a gruesome mob way, The Kingpin places spidey's mask over Big's Head and Crushes it... FANTASTIC.. then the body is thrown in the River Mob-Style (gotta love that). The artist really makes this scene come alive... with the facial expression's of the witnesses to this event.

Aside from Being Depressed about the Unmasking event, Peter's social life is in hot water! Mary Jane refuses to be blown off.. She isn't going to take it, and just like redheads she throws her temper at Pete right at his locker. High School Drama? Oh hell yeah, Bendis Captures it.

But fear not true-believers Pete wins her over with a cute little note passing dity, that even makes me the author of this review shed a little tear of happiness.

Back to the Unmasking event... Where oh Where did Our Friendly Neighborhood Spider Man go wrong? Um... OH YEAH HE HAD HIS BRAIN TURNED OFF. So Peter turns it back on and remembered that there was a camera in the Kingpin's Filth Shack Mob Palace. Cameras equal INCRIMINATING EVIDENCE!

Spidey Swings into action and returns to the scene of the crime. In one of the best parts of this book, Spider Man punches a camera guy's head into a monitor! WOW what a scene! The Battle between Spider Man and the goon squad ensues.. Spidey beats down the Enforcers and looks to finish Electro the Lighting Throwing Freak. A good short fight well captured here by Bagley.

Next The Kingpin.

The confrontation: Mob King vs. Teen Superhero
Its suppose to be intense... but the hilarity and wise-crack nature of Spider Man really shines here.. when he hits the fat mob boss up with some "You're are so fat " jokes...

Spider Man: "You are so fat... that when you cut yourself shaving... Marshmallow fluff comes out. "

EXCELLENT. Then after two more "You are so Fat " jokes Kingpin's buttons fly off and you know IT'S GO TIME! This isn't much of a fight.. Spidey leaves The Kingpin helpless against a wall with his webbings serving as restraints. But you fail to see the plan as Spider Man escapes he escapes with crucial evidence pinning the murder of Mr. Big and various naughty things on the Kingpin.

The Final Chapter in this book is by far one of the most emotional events I have witnessed in comic books. Peter Parker decides to tell Mary Jane why he continues to blow her off.. and we all know the reason, but she doesn't. The team-up of Bendis and Bagley really shines through (and I've said that more than enough) here... with soap opera stills of both Mary Jane and Peter's emotions caught for all of you to witness.

Order yourself a copy now.

Cover Price US$14.95 Lotsofcomics Price TT$120.00