Ultimatum Spider-Man meats the Chameleon
Ever wonder what an Ultimate version of the classic Spider-Man villain the Chameleon would be like? Ultimate Spider-Man Chameleons answers that question. In this sequel to Brian Michael Bendis' Ultimate Spider-Man The New World According To Peter Parker, Spider-Man is captured and impersonated by the Chameleon after being captured at the Daily Bugle. Brian Michael Bendis does a wonderful job at writing a great story and a fun cast of characters, and this has good artwork to compliment the story.
Story
Ultimate Spider-man Chameleons is a misleading title because Chameleons is the second story arch in the book. The first arc is Crossroads, where you have Rick Jones becoming Nova. Spider-Man, Ice Man, and the Human Torch try to figure out what is going on with Rick as they teleport across the world. Eventually, the four manage to stop a Serpent Squad heist in Project PEGASUS. The beginning mostly serves as a set up for Ultimate Doom, a crossover event in the Ultimate Universe. Then we get an Ultimate Spider-Woman comic as she stops the Bombshell from robbing a bank and flirts with the Human Torch *eye roll.* Also, Spidey gets a haircut. Next, we see Kitty Pryde go, rogue, when the government finds out she's a Mutant and tries to arrest her. Spider-Man, Ice Man, and the Human Torch try to save her before she does something wrong. Finally, we get to the Chameleons arc when the Chameleon and his sister, Camellia, abduct Peter Parker and J. Jonah Jameson. The Chameleon abducts Peter Parker while impersonating Mr. Jameson, as Mary Jane shows Ben Urich a video of Kitty Pryde escaping Midtown High. The Chameleon impersonates Spider-man until Ice Man and the Human Torch find out, oh it's on the cover look. They try to save Peter and stop the Chameleons. I like how it stays focused it doesn't ignore the events of the previous issue like some comics. I think it should find a new title Chameleons isn't appropriate for this but then what are you going to call it.
Characters
Brian Michael Bendis does a masterful job of not only doing these characters justice but expanding on the versions of the characters he created in his first Ultimate Spider-Man run. Spider-Man is the wise-cracking nuisance to bad guys of hero, while still being a geek in school. There is also the side of him that bears the responsibility of his previous actions. We see this in the chapter where the Human Torch meats Spider-Woman, Spider-Man remembers that Spider-Woman was a clone created by Doctor Octopus and does everything he can to forget about her. However, her existence still bothers him. He also feels guilt after not doing enough to protect Kitty Pryde when the government tried to capture her and tries to atone for that decision. He also no longer works for the Daily Bugle, instead, he works at a burger joint with Ice Man. Human Torch and Ice Man are the same characters Marvel fans know and love. Both are hotheaded boys who have instant crushes on the first beautiful woman they see. In fact, Ice Man wants Spidey to hit him upon the beautiful heroines and villainesses he named after learning about the Human Torch's encounter with Spider-Woman. They both take their friendship with Spider-Man seriously and have a there for each other style bond. That's why they go out of their way to save Spider-Man after they learn he is captured by the Chameleon. The Chameleon in this is much like his mainstream counterpart, he pretends to benefit himself. However, this version of the character can shape-shift into whoever he wants to be instead of wearing facemasks of those he wants to impersonate. This take on the character makes more sense than his original counterpart because wearing a facemask should be enough for you to pass off as someone else. This version of the Chameleon also has a sister who has the same power he has. The Chameleon impersonates Mr. Jameson because he's wealthy and he could lure Peter into his trap. Then, impersonates Peter Parker because he suspects Peter is someone important since he was the only photographer to take pictures of Spider-man(when Peter worked at the Bugle). Then discovers Peter Parker is Spider-Man and pretends to be Spider-Man to commit crimes. Something every version of the Chameleon has done, in fact, the Chameleon impersonated Spider-man in his very first appearance. Now, this isn't the first time someone impersonated Spider-Man in the Ultimate Universe, in Ultimate Spider-Man: Public Scrutiny a thief dresses up as Spider-Man to carry out robberies until Spider-Man stops him. In Chameleons the Human Torch and Ice Man have to stop the Chameleon because Spider-Man is held captive by Camellia. The Chameleon does have a human side to him because he cares deeply about Camellia's well being and it is shown when the Human Torch, Ice Man, and Spider-Man stop him, and when he's held captive at SHIELD. Camellia is really just a female version of the Chameleon, not much to her character really. Kitty Pryde is shown to be good-natured at heart until the FBI tries to arrest her for being a mutant. Then she becomes very mistrusting of humanity and even starts to agree with Magneto. She also feels betrayed by Ice Man, the Human Torch, and particularly her ex-boyfriend Spider-Man after the FBI came to her school and they didn't do enough for her. Mary Jane and Gwen Stacey are pretty much the same characters Spider-Man fans know and love. The difference is that Spidey dated MJ before Gwen. Aunt May is Peter's loving aunt who always wants Peter to do what's right. She scolds Peter (Chameleon) when she finds out that he cheated on Gwen because cheating is wrong to her. Spider-Woman is a clone trying to live a superhero life and adopt her own life instead of being a Spider-Man clone. She adopts the identity of Jessica Drew to be her private identity. She also prefers to be left alone and it is shown when the Human Torch tries to hit on her, and she tries to get him to leave her alone. Rick Jones AKA Firestar doesn't want to be drawn into the superhero world because he doesn't understand what he's getting into but decides he likes being a superhero after he alongside Spider-Man, Ice Man, and the Human Torch fight the Serpent Squad and win. What I find neat and weird at the same time about this version of Nova. In the main Marvel Universe Nova is a member of a space law enforcement corps, sort of like Green Lantern. However, in the Ultimate Universe, the title of Nova is a title given to the chosen one of the Watchers, not a corps. Rick Jones in the main universe is the Hulk's best friend and he becomes A-Bomb, here he's Spider-Man's neighbor. The Serpent Squad and Bombshells are nothing more than glorified thugs. That being said Bendis does a great job with handling these characters.
Artwork
Ultimate Spider-Man Chameleons is illustrated by two artists. Takeshi Miyazawa does the artwork in Crossroads, and it's ok. Ever now and then the superhero costumes look a little baggy. I wasn't a fan of Miyazawa's spikey Ice Man look, it just looked weird, but I'll live. The rest of the graphic novel was drawn by David Lafuente, who illustrated The New World According to Peter Parker. His character designs suit the atmosphere of a Spider-Man story much better than Miyazawa. It has that coming of age feel along with a superhero story blend to it. It has an upbeat tone when it needs one and a dark tone when it's needed. The character designs suit the characters. Ice Man has the look I normally associate with Ice Man. Human Torch aside from his black hair looks like the Human Torch. Spider-Man looks great, and when he gets a hair cut he looks like Peter Parker. Spider-Woman has an all-red female version of Spider-Man's black suit which is honestly a very good look for her. It resembles Julia Carpenter's Spider-Woman look more than it does Jessica Drew's even though that's the name Bendis chose to give her. The Chameleons have blank faces which is a very neat idea for an original design for the iconic Marvel villain. Especially, when this version is a brother and sister duo. Typically, the Chameleon has a solid white face with features on it, but the blank faces help create the impression that they are identityless. All in all the artwork was good.
Ultimately, Ultimate Spider-Man Chameleons is a good read for fans of the webhead, and if your favorite Spider-Man villain is the Chameleon you should check this out. I was intrigued by the story and characters, and the artwork made Ultimate Spider-Man Chameleons all the more fun to read. I would definitely check this out if I were a Spider-Man fan.