#David Messina

[geekysteven]

From a tweet by Mary Gillis

[nickfuryagentofsword]

Ultimate Spider-Man 5 (2024) by Jonathan Hickman & David Messina

Cover: Leonardo Romero (variant)

Ultimate Universe

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David Messina - Ultimate Spider-Man

[weathermanone]

Star Trek: Khan 1 (2013) by Mike Johnson, David Messina & Claudia Balboni

Cover: Paul Shipper

[womeninfictionandirl]

Ironheart by David Messina

[theelectronicstranger]

Ultimate Spider-Man #4 Discussion

          If you have not read this issue, then PLEASE look away. I am talking and spoiling a lot of this issue, so if you have not read it and you want to read it, then read it first. I think this issue is very much worth your time and money.

This is the exact issue I wanted when we started this series! I just love the fact that we get to delve more into these characters and what they’re about. This issue not only progresses the story of Peter figuring out how to be Spider-Man/how to be a superhero, but it also expands more on their characters. Specifically, MJ. I have been talking about how Mary Jane has taken the back seat in the last 2 issues. We got to see a lot of her in the first issue, but we haven’t really seen much of her until now. Ever since this title started, I have been wanting to know what she was about. This issue gave us what she did for work; showed us her dynamic with Peter; and showed us how she handles/carries herself in general.

          This issue gave us a lot of really great MJ and Peter interactions. The one I kept thinking about even though it was a small thing was MJ squeezing Peter’s hand when Peter was trying to be humble after Gwen’s compliment of him:

I know it’s a small thing but it’s just nice to see these two, MJ and Peter, interact like this in the comic because it builds up more of their relationship. It makes their relationship feel more real rather than just a fact in this universe. Another interaction I really liked was the one they had on their walk home:

Once again, it’s a small interaction between the two but it does give us a sense of how they are with one another, which I really like. Also, as a fan of these two as a couple for years, I’m really just really happy seeing them interact like a loving married couple. Also, I’m not sure if this is where Hickman is going with this, but I feel like MJ knows about Peter being Spider-Man. I feel like she’s just waiting for him to tell her. I feel like these last two pages of this issue is her kind of giving him a hint that she knows about it.

          I really like that we finally know what this MJ does. It shouldn’t be important, but I just wanted to see how different she could be from the other MJs we’ve seen before, and she is pretty different in this area as well. This Mary Jane started a PR Firm:

I like how she talks about how she eventually started her PR Firm. It makes her life feel more lived and I feel like there’s a natural progression from her being a Model to becoming the owner of her very own PR Firm. I feel like in this universe, we’re going to see a more active and outgoing MJ or at least I’m hoping that we will. She’s pretty much going to be involved in Uncle Ben and Jameson’s Paper, which will definitely be getting a lot of enemies, and she will also seem to be involved in this universe’s Gwen Stacy, who we find out is a very important businesswoman and somebody that might want to be against the Kingpin. Her being involved with these people will most likely mean that there is going to be a target on her back. I feel like everyone in Peter’s life right now, except maybe his children, are all going to be in danger or has a target on their back.

I love that we saw Gwen. I cannot believe that I didn’t think that Harry Osborn would be married to her. It was right there in front of me. It is so refreshing to see a version of Gwen Stacy that is mature and grown. I hope nothing bad happens to her but from the way she was talking with MJ it seems that she is setting herself up to be a target by some major players in this universe.  I love that she’s running Oscorp right now, which is probably why this universe’s Gwen is super intense because she has to run a whole company and a lot of people are having to look up to her.

Gwen’s Introduction:

I agreed a lot with what Gwen said in this issue about heroes existing for a reason that people might think that the existence of Spider-Man would mean that there is something wrong with it. I feel like they’re really hailing this Spider-Man as the Dawn of Superheroes in this universe. Like he’ll be the inspiration to the potential heroes of this universe to start questioning how this world works. Or at least he’ll be the reason why a lot of people might start questioning the status quo of this Universe. Although, the Ultimates title will probably touch a lot on this idea more. 

Gwen talking about the Masked Man/Spider-Man:

I also really like that Harry told Gwen everything. I felt like during this issue, Harry and Gwen have put massive targets on their backs because they’re both doing things that are going to upset the major players (Specifically, Kingpin) in this universe. Harry, as the Green Goblin, is attacking Kingpin directly. Meanwhile, Gwen is going to back The Paper, which is Uncle Ben and Jameson’s new newspaper company that will be going against Kingpin’s The Daily Bugle. I feel like these two are going to die at the end of the year. Specifically, Harry because he said the infamous line “with great power comes great responsibility” in this issue:

For the last few issues, I talked about how these two might have a Daredevil and Punisher type of relationship but now it feels like Harry is going to be Peter’s inspiration to keep going as Spider-Man. Yes, I’m saying this because he said the line, but I also feel that Hickman won’t just make him say this line for no reason.

Some Writing and Art Discussions About This Issue:

This is the first issue that Marco Checcheto isn’t doing by the way, but I think the art on this book is still so good that you won’t even notice that. Especially since Matthew Wilson is still the colorist on this issue so the look of this issue still kind of matches the last issues even though it’s not the same artist. Some people were being super nitpicky about David Messina’s art, so I kind of wanted to talk about his art a bit because it really worked for me in this issue. I really liked how he drew Gwen Stacy in this issue and how he drew Peter in this issue as well.

Also, there were a lot of people calling this issue “filler” and I couldn’t disagree more. This issue is not a filler. This issue not only progresses the story of Peter figuring out how to become Spider-Man but expands more on the characters of his supporting cast. Literally, this issue expands more on the personalities, motivations, and characters of Mary Jane, Harry, and Gwen. It’s moving the plot forward through the expansion and exploration of their character. I’m going to keep repeating myself until people get it. I feel like “filler” is one of those overused words that people just use without really thinking or knowing the meaning of it. When what they really mean is that they just do not like the issue, which is fine. In this case, most people are calling this issue filler, because it’s mostly an issue about people talking rather than Peter actively putting on the costume and actively trying to become Spider-Man. I understand why people might not like the issue because everyone is mostly talking. However, let’s not act like nothing pivotal or impactful happened in this issue; especially, since this issue: introduced us to Gwen Stacy, who we find out is now running Oscorp; connected Mary Jane more with the bigger plot of this title through her active connection to The Paper and soon with her connection to Gwen Stacy; revealed that Harry told Gwen everything, which means that she probably also knows that Peter is Spider-Man; and showcased this cast so we can get a better idea of who they are within this world. This issue pretty much intertwines a lot of the cast’s lives with one another.

Anyways, sorry for the long post and the mini rant towards the end. I’m really enjoying this book as you can probably tell. What do you think though? Do you like this issue? Do you have any theories on where this title is going? Do you think Harry and Gwen are going to die in this title? Thanks for reading once again. Have a good day!

[smashpages]

Out this week: Dark Droids: D-Squad #1 (Marvel, $5.99):

Marc Guggenheim, Salva Espín and David Messina enlist a group of droids to help R2D2 battle the Scourge, the virus spreading through the galaxy’s droid population as part of the Dark Droids crossover.

See what other comics and graphic novels arrive in stores this week

[comicbookclub]

Doc Ock Is Sporting Peter Parker's Old Haircut In 'Ultimate Spider-Man' Sneak Peek

Doctor Octopus aka Otto Octavius is revealed in a look at Ultimate Spider-Man #5 from Marvel Comics, and he's sporting Peter Parker's look.

Ultimate Spider-Man from Marvel Comics has been a certified hit. And while writer Jonathan Hickman has been busy remixing Peter Parker, Harry Osborn, and many more, some characters have been off the board, including Otto Octavius, aka Doctor Octopus. Well, thanks to a preview page from Marvel, we’ve got our first look at Ultimate Doc Ock — and he looks eerily like classic Peter Parker. The page…

[graphicpolicy]

Preview: Ultimate Spider-Man #4

Ultimate Spider-Man #4 preview. Peter Parker's secret life starts fraying the edges of his personal life! #comics #comicbooks

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David Messina - True Blood

[nickfuryagentofsword]

Ultimate Spider-man 5 (2024) by Jonathan Hickman & David Messina

Cover: Mateus Manhanini (variant)

Ultimate Universe

[ultrameganicolaokay]

The Rocketeer in the Den of Thieves #1 by Stephen Mooney and David Messina. Cover by Gabriel Rodriguez. Out in July.

"The Rocketeer is grounded! After Cliff and Betty's adventures in Europe - with Cliff losing the Great Race but saving the day - he and Betty return home with a busted jet pack and a fully repaired relationship! They're as happy as they've ever been… but paradise doesn't last long! An elite band of Nazis, foiled in the past by their attempts to construct their own jet packs, decide on a new tactic: kidnapping the only person who can enable them to create their very own fleet of Rocketeers… Cliff's beloved friend and mentor Peevy!"

[artverso]

David Messina - 3 Keys & Spawn 

[thebuhonerodazorrow]

Star Wars - The High Republic #8 (2023)

Chapter III: Dunes of blood

Marvel

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The Rocketeer: In the Den of Thieves #2, Stephen Mooney and David Messina

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The Rocketeer in the Den of Thieves #1, cover by David Messina