You know when I first got back into comics, I loved Brian Michael Bendis. He was like no other writer, when I picked up New Avengers or Ultimate Spider-Man I actually had fun reading it. Ultimate Spider-Man might be my favorite series as of this moment, because Bendis can write a teenager so well it's kinda creepy. But as of lately, I've been having problems with Bendis and his writing. For the most part it's been his normal Marvel stuff (mainly anything with SI) but his USM title has suffered as well. This arc with the symbiotes have been pretty bland and I am worried this title will start going into a slump again.

Then I pick this annual up, knowning with all of these complaints in my head.....This is my Pick of the Week hands down. My god, where the hell has Bendis been!? This issue is so good on so many levels:

1) Bendis made me love Mysterio again. I know it's only a brief glimse of this Ultimate version of him, but I love where we are going with that character. Plus the mystery was pretty good as well, I mean I had no idea this would've been Mysterio in the beginning. Plus I like it that the cops are finally getting off his back somewhat, it's starting to feel like the good old Spider-Man I used to love in the 616 continuity.

2) The art? Fantastic! I had my worries about Lafaunte when I first saw the previews. Don't get me wrong, the characters look great in this. Just like in that Hellcat series Lafaunte did, everything looks pretty in this. I mean the colors are great and the backgrounds are just beautiful. My only problem was the Spider-Man aspects cause I was uneasy with that one panel with Spider-Man chasing the car. But overall the Spider-Man stuff was my favorite parts of the book. Lafaunte knows how to draw the characters and the action felt nice and fluid. My only gripe is some of the faces of the characters. Your telling me that is Jessica Jones? Okay, I guess I'll have to believe you.

3) My heart melted with this....Seriously I need to see a doctor. Bendis is the master of teenage angst and romance. Every page with MJ and Peter talking was just golden across the annual. The stuff with them in the cafeteria (where long, narrow panels are fine with me on this) was sweet. The stuff with them talking in bed was sweet as well....and those last few pages...Oh my god I think I was crying. Especially that last page, so damn sweet it made me cry...

Overall this was just a perfect Annual. Nothing was really wrong with this and I'm so glad Bendis isnt totally dead in the water like I thought he was. I hope with the rest of his take on USM is just as great and maybe his stuff after Secret Invasion will be this good again. Oh and I forgot to mention my favorite part!!! Bendis is the master of making jokes on himself or knowning what the fans really hate. That panel with a girl dressed as Spider-Woman saying 'Embrace Change!' and the cops telling her she's nuts was the funniest thing this week. Totally respect a guy that can laugh at himself.

Soild Annual, go pick this up if you love sappy romance and great art and great action...Perfect book.