review by rick menten

the plot: Spider-Man is webslinging through night town. We get a hint that this has already happened "So... here's what happened". Spidey's attention gets lurked by someone who is running, and that someone is chased by a dark, unknown person, who starts shooting. Who is the person? It's Blade, the Vampire Hunter!

Spidey doesn't know him of course, and decides to interfere. As Blade chases the person further and shoots further, Spidey kicks Blade in his back and shoots some webbing at the guns, so that they can't be used anymore. As the person looks at his back, Blade is on the floor. Spidey begins to pack Blade into some webs. Blade tries to escape, but doesn't succeed in it very well. When Spidey's finished, he goes to check out the person, to see if he's all right.

The person turns him around, and changes into a vampire! The all-scared out Spider-Man tries to figure out what it is, and the vampire tries to fight Spidey and drink his blood. Blade has escaped his web-prison and puts a wood-stick into the vampire's back, killing him. Spidey watches the show, and then Blade turns his back again, this time to Spidey! His spider-sense goes off, but it's too late, as Blade stands right in front of Spidey, in a full rage! Blade holds the wood-stick too Spidey's face, and tells him that if Spidey interferes once more, he's gonna eat his hear for breakfast! Blade let Spidey be and runs away.

Next thing, we see Peter telling his story to MJ, who can't believe it. Peter is holding the wood-stick. MJ wishes that Peter didn't told her this, but is glad he did. Peter tells that he had got another strange encouter this week...

We see a woman running on a rooftop, in a red ninja outfit and she has got sais as weapons. (If you haven't guessed who it is, it's Elektra!) Elektra looks below and behind her back. Then, she throws her backpack on the roof-ground and prepares her guns for action. She gets a clean shot on a man, who's body is guarded by bodyguards. Then, all of a sudden, Elektra's attention gets drew by something else. What? Well, Spider-Man stands right in front of her, and he hast shooted some webs on her gun, so she can't use it anymore.

Elektra gets mad and fights Spidey with her sais, but Spidey's too fast. During the fight, Elektra accidently pushes her gun down below. Spidey tells Elektra he doesn't want to fight her, but Elektra goes on and tackles him in his shoulder, and then gives Spidey a kick in his neck. Spidey falls down, and as he wakes up, Elektra tries to put her sai into Spidey's face, but she changes her mind and jumps off the building!

As Spidey comes to his grip, he looks down and doesn't see Elektra anyware. At home, Peter and MJ are surfing the web, and Peter has found some info about "Elektra". He discovers that she is an assassin, and that the man she was trying to kill was a wanted terrorist. Spidey sees in his mistake and wounders if he should be Spider-Man any longer. MJ tries to convince Peter to think otherwise, and Peter decides to get some hints from a proffessional superhero.

Hell's Kitchen. Lawyer Matt Murdock's assistent Karen stares at the window and sees Spidey websling around the building. This lurkes Matt's attention as well, and he decides to put on his Daredevil costume and goes talking to Spidey. DD asks what wrong, and Spidey asks how DD became such a hero. DD asks how old Spidey is. First he says 26, but DD doesn't believe him. Then, Spidey confesses that he is 16 and then DD goes all angry. He tells Spidey that he is in over his head, and shoudln't be doing the heroing-thing. DD shouts more at Spidey, who decides to take off.

Next day in class, Peter gets a new assignment. His teacher tells her class to come forward and be a superhero. The students laugh about the task, but Peter gets all scared. As the class is over, Peter and MJ walk outside together, but Peter doesn't say a word and goes further without MJ, and goes standing agains a wall and cries?

In the evening, Spidey webslings through town and sees an interview about Captain America and the Ultimates. Everybody cheers, and the newsreporter tells that this is exactly what mankind need: a team of heroes on which they can count on.

Next day, at the Baxter Building, The Human Torch and Thing are playing a video game. The Torch has won, and Thing goes all mad. The intruder alarm goes off and Mr. Fantastic sees the captured Spider-Man. He orders his computer H.E.R.B.I.E. to give him some info, and finds out everything about Spidey, even his secret identity! Mr. Fantastic orders H.E.R.B.I.E. to release Peter, and so it does. Spidey gets scared by the Thing, and shoots some webbing at him. As Spidey gets his grip, he asks the FF if he can join them. Invisible Girl explains that they are only a family, and don't look to expand. And even if they wood, they wouldn't be able to pay Spidey, as they are nearly broke. Spider-Man apologizes for ruining the FF's afternoon and takes off.

The Human Torch follows Spidey, and asks if he's fine. Spidey confirmes, and Torch explaines that the FF are all in therapy, in the hope not to go crazy. Torch says that he hasn't got any friends no more, and tells Spidey that if he want's to do something, he can just swing by.

Next day, the assingment takes place. Kong images the Punisher, but gets an F, because the teacher doesn't believe that Frank Castle is a hero. Then, it's Peter's turn. Peter decides to tell about his father, as he is Peter's greatest hero. Peter explains that there are many world where the hero's can come from, but also that with great power, there also comes great responsibility. Peter also says there are many kinds of heroes, but they all want the same thing: protecting mankind. Peter says that if there are any words to define a hero, that it must be this great saying. Peter expalins that the man who told them to his departed uncle who told them to him, was his father.

The students all listen and doesn't say anything. The teacher asks if anyone has got an opinion, but everybody just want to let it sit for a minute...

THE END.

mental note: This special spin-off issue is in fact the last drawn for the Ultimate Team-Up series, as Bendis explains by himself.

the review: Great issue, well told, but this this is a bit expensive ($3.50). But the story's great. Too bad that the Ultimate Team-Up series has been cancelled, I really enjoyed them from the beginning untill the end. I still don't understand why Marvel has cancelled them...

***1/2 out of *****.

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