Ultimate Spider-Man: Hollywood, Part 1
Issue: #54
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Pencils: Mark Bagley
Inker: Art Thibert & Scott Hanna
Colors: J.D.Smith

Aunt May is off to visit her mother for a week in Florida. She tells Peter and Gwen to behave themselves, gives them money for expenses, and tells them both that she loves them. Then she’s in a cab and off to the airport. Gwen insists that Peter hand over her $150 and goes off to watch television. Peter muses about his life as Spider-Man over a bowl of cereal. Mary Jane is grounded for attempting to run away from home, but Peter promises himself that when she gets “ungrounded” he’s going to take her to dinner and a movie. He can’t remember the last time he went to a movie, especially a good movie.

At that moment, the television announcer begins talking about movie news. Filming for a Spider-Man movie will be starting in New York next week. Sam Raimi (who in real life has directed the actual Spider-Man 1 and 2 films) is named as director, and the announcer follows with an interview of Avi Arad (who really does produce films for Marvel), and then the announcement of Tobey Maguire in the movie’s lead role. Peter is so angry he pulls a door off the hinges. Gwen wonders if the movie will feature the part where Spider-Man killed her father.

In the Ryker’s Island penitentiary, Otto Octavius is given the unwelcome news that not only is there to be a Spider-Man movie, but that his ex-wife is serving as a consultant. The guard taunts Octavius for a while, then leaves a copy of the Daily Bugle behind and walks away. In Midtown High School, Kong is looking for someone to go into the city with him; he wants to audition for a part in the upcoming Spider-Man movie. MJ can’t go because she’s grounded. Peter claims he has to work.

At Ryker’s Island, Octavius is smiling at hearing something making a “thunk” sound. The sound is actually coming from a storage area in the Triskelion, where two technicians open a locker to see what’s making the noise. They are attacked by the harness and mechanical arms that had made Octavius “Dr. Octopus”. The arms then escape through a ventilation shaft.

Filming has started. The actor playing Spider-Man is in costume and climbing a wall, but has trouble seeing out of the mask’s eyes. The real Spider-Man shows up and begins griping about how much everyone sucks. (In the meantime, a camera operator has begun filming him.) Arad tells Spider-man that since he’s a public figure, they don’t need his permission to make a movie about him, but if he’ll take off the mask, they’ll cut him a deal. They’ve already got permission from Octavius’ ex-wife and Norman Osborn’s half-sister. Spider-man takes off, and the film crew breaks for lunch.

At Ryker’s Island, Octavius can hear the sounds of struggle as the mechanical arms fight the guards. He releases a group of prisoners and escapes in the confusion.

Submitted By: Seldes Katne