The Amazing Spider-Man #690 (Marvel Comics)

Writer - Dan Slott

Pencils - Guiseppe Camuncoli

Inks - Klaus Janson, Daniel Green & Giusepe Camuncoli

Colours - Frank D'Armata

Letterer - Chris Eliopoulous

With the Lizard riding high as the villain in the new Spidey movie it makes sense for him to make a comics reappearance. And you'll never guess what?! In the current arc rather predictively he has.

Now ol' Curt Conners is a character that has been part of Spidey's history for a very very long time but what's nice in this arc is that they've managed a new take on the character. The Lizard's brain is now trapped in Curt's body.

However... I'm not sure it's an idea that has worked as well in practice as it sounded at the ideas meeting.

I really can't say whether it's Camuncoli's art, which is very erratic in places, or Slott's script at fault here. There is nothing inherently wrong with the issue but the again there is very little to recommend about it either.

It really does feel like a filler issue. They wanted a 4 issue arc so padded it out a bit.

The arm removal scenes by the Lizard are also very confusing as to what the hell is going on.

You just don't know.

All told I'm going to give this a 3/5 for art and writing. It's about as middle of the road average as a comic can be and from Slott I've come to expect better.

Ultimate Comics The Ultimates #13 (Marvel Comics)

Writer - Sam Humphries

Penciler - Billy Tan

Inker - Terry Pallot

Colours - Matt Milla

Letterer - Clayton Cowles

Hmm... Where to start on this issue? When Marvel first launched the Ultimate Universe it was the more grounded real-world-esque version of the mainstream Marvel U and it has to be said that most of the current crop of Marvel movies owe far more to the ultimate universe than our trusty old 616.

Which brings us to this issue... Which really does sum up why I've fallen out with the Ultimate Universe. The stakes are now too high. Large chunks of Asia have been destroyed. Germany and most of Central Europe are gone. Washington DC is a crater. Texas become a country. They've just took it to a place where there is no coming back from.

I'm not adverse to a high body count in comics. I'm a long time Judge Dredd fan. But while a 100million body count works in Dredd it really doesn't work at all well in a mainstream superhero comic.

This issue see's Captain America returning and wondering just what exactly happened to America while his back was turned. While it's nice to see Marvel's big three of Cap, Thor and Iron Man together on a page this issue is just lacking that spark that made the Ultimate universe what it was in the first place.

That said I really do like Tan's art in this. It's not a great book but the art is very strong and solid.

I'll give it a 2/5 for the writing and a 4/5 for the art.