Ultimate Spider-Man Incursion Issue 3 is published by Marvel Comics. Written by Deniz Camp and Cody Ziglar, with art by Jonas Scharf, colors by Edgar Delgado and letters by Cory Petit.
In Ultimate Spider-Man Incursion Issue 3, Miles travels to this world’s version of Japan, where he encounters two young mutants while searching for his baby sister. Some time has passed since the previous chapter, and Miles is no longer accompanied by the Ultimates or the Wakandans. He’s on his own, venturing into very much uncharted territory. This is Hi no Kuni, a version of Japan haunted by fear of mutants. The story takes a while to set up, letting Miles walk through the world and take it in.
You get a sense of the cultural issues and situation without throwing heaps of exposition. Then Miles is introduced to the Storm (known as Mei) and Nico Minoru of the Ultimates Universe, and there is the usual mix-up between the protagonists. The miscommunication in Ultimate Spider-Man Incursion Issue 3 has extra layers due to the natural language barrier.
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The pacing in Ultimate Spider-Man Incursion Issue 3 is fantastic, always progressing whilst giving time for the characters to talk and learn from each other. This is just a brief look at the world Peach Momoko has created in Ultimate X-Men, but there’s a great idea of the levels of conspiracy happening between the territories. The different books can feel so separate, which has allowed for interesting stories to be told in worlds that feel self-contained.
Through this crossover, the connective tissue is clearer. The action suddenly activates, plonking the heroes into a terrific action sequence. It had become slightly obvious what would happen by the end, but it’s still exciting to see who turns up to take the book into the next chapter.
There are many factors in Ultimate Spider-Man Incursion Issue 3 that set it apart from the first two issues. One is how distant the Japanese characters have felt from the others. Ziglar and Camp are taking on characters that aren’t their own, adopting passion projects from Momoko. But they both really understand and brilliantly write the two young mutants. The chemistry between the duo is funny and energetic, with Miles then added to the mix.
It’s mesmerizing that within this Universe, Spider-Man is the most experienced figure, because it changes how he acts. He’s still goofy and makes quips like any Spider-Man does. But he had to be mature and expedient, trying to get to his sister as quickly as possible. He’s also the survivor of a dead universe, the one that this alternate reality is based on. Camp and Ziglar really dig into that isolation that makes Miles unique.
The other part of Ultimate Spider-Man Incursion Issue 3 that stands out is the language barrier. The mutants and Miles can’t really understand each other, but they can just about figure out what each other is trying to do, and can work from there. One of the most memorable moments in the book is a quiet conversation between Spider-Man and Storm.
With the translation issues, they are mainly just venting, getting things off their chests that they can’t say to anyone else. It’s a touching piece of character development, with two parallel monologues that form a connection.
The artist has to remodel an entire comic. Scharf remains on this crossover, but he’s adapting Momoko’s very iconic and stylized work. The two main heroes of Uncanny X-Men that appear in Ultimate Spider-Man Incursion Issue 3 are brilliantly illustrated. They look like young kids instead of established heroes. Mei’s only recognizable as Storm because of the white hair and the lightning earrings, whilst Nico wields the Staff of One. Physically, Miles can leap around them, and that movement is fantastic.
The villains of Ultimate Spider-Man Incursion Issue 3, Silver Samurai and Viper, also look interesting and intriguing in this new art style. Miles doesn’t fit in, and that’s the point. It’s great to see his electric sword being used in this issue, especially when clashing with other sword users in Japan. But there are again times when he looks weird in the art style. His proportions are odd, with a bulky torso that can make him look lumpy. It can just look like there’s too much detail in a small space.
The colors are gorgeous. In the early pages of Ultimate Spider-Man Incursion Issue 3, the meeting between Miles, Mei (Storm) and Nico takes place in a beautiful forest. The green and blues are stunning, especially the racing and blending between the two in the background. Then the superpowers and the costume take over, with purple and yellow sparking around the trees. The effect of Miles’ invisibility is nicely done, especially with colors this pretty. The lettering is the standard for the whole Ultimate Universe, which is consistent and effective.
Ultimate Spider-Man Incursion Issue 3 is the most intriguing issue yet. That’s because Ultimate X-Men had always felt like the most individual and independent of the Ultimate series. The other books still have a superhero quality, merely jumping up the characters and locations. But Ultimate X-Men is an auteur project by Momoko, using her influences to adapt mutants into something resembling a Studio Ghibli story. So, to adapt it back again until superheroes are fascinating.
It’s those differences that make Ultimate Spider-Man Incursion Issue 3 work and feel satisfying. It is as if Miles is just popping in and dipping his toe into the world that Mei and Nico occupy, then leaving.
Ultimate Spider-Man Incursion Issue 3 is available where comics are sold.
Ultimate Spider-Man Incursion Issue 3
TL;DR
Ultimate Spider-Man Incursion Issue 3 is the most intriguing issue yet. It is as if Miles is just popping in and dipping his toe into the world that Mei and Nico occupy, then leaving.
