It has been a long time since I've read anything from the Ultimate Spider-Man series. More than 15 years, I think. But it remains in my memory as one of the best runs in Marvel Comics long and storied history, largely because of the consistently awesome writing of Brian Michael Bendis. That writing quality is immediately apparent in Ultimate Six, a book focusing on several key villains from the Spider-Man gallery.

In so many comic books, the villains are similarly vainglorious, referring to themselves in the third person and boasting (emptily) about their prowess and would-be accomplishments. When Bendis is at the helm, however, the villains sound like ... people. Bad people, certainly, but people. They talk like people talk. They have distinct personalities.

God, it's refreshing, particularly in a book like this, where so many villains share the pages. (I recently re-read the classic Avengers story Under Siege and, although I enjoyed the story, I noticed that a lot of the villains' dialogue bubbles could be switched among the characters without many readers noticing the difference.)

Despite this appearing in the Ultimate Spider-Man series, Ultimate Six isn't so much about Peter Parker. The reason is, although it's collected as part of the Ultimate Spider-Man reprint collection, the comics were first published individually as a seven-issue miniseries titled Ultimate Six, outside of the monthly run of the flagship series.

So yes, Peter appears in the book, but not for a good long while -- much of the book, particularly the first half, deals with Nick Fury, S.H.I.E.L.D., the Ultimates, and five genetically modified villains they have in custody and are studying for possible scientific advances: Norman "Green Goblin" Osborn, Dr. Otto "Doctor Octopus" Octavius, Flint "Sandman" Marko, Max "Electro" Dillon and Sergei "Kraven the Hunter" Kravinoff.

Bear in mind, these are the Ultimate versions of these villains, so there are differences from their mainstream counterparts; for instance, Osborn doesn't wear a Goblin mask, he becomes a literal goblin-like creature, while Kraven is a reality TV star whose attempt to cash in by hunting Spider-Man on film failed miserably.

In the book, the five bad guys orchestrate their escape from S.H.I.E.L.D. prison, leaving a high body count in their wake, and begin a plan to wreak vengeance on Nick Fury, the architect -- in their view -- of so much of their misery. Also, Osborn carries out his mission to bring Spider-Man -- whom he sees as a surrogate son, much more so than his actual son Harry -- into their fold. Spider-Man, in Osborn's twisted perspective, is the sixth member of their evil team.

Peter, needless to say, resists the idea. But when his Aunt May and his girlfriend Mary Jane are threatened, he realizes he might have to make some unpleasant compromises.

This book is every bit as good as I remember the series being, even after so many years. The action is gloriously well drawn by Trevor Hairsine, who fills in for the series' usual artist Mark Bagley. And the story is topnotch, with Bendis doing great work with dialogue and characterization.

I'm truly glad I gave myself an excuse to read these books again. Man, they're good.