| Ultimate Spider-Man | |
| Schedule: | Monthly |
| Format: | Ongoing |
| Ongoing: | Y |
| Superhero: | y |
| Publisher: | Marvel Comics |
| Startmo: | January |
| Startyr: | 2024 |
| Issues: | 8 |
| Main Char Team: | Peter Parker / Spider-Man |
| Writers: | Jonathan Hickman |
| Letterers: | Cory Petit |
| Colorists: | Matthew Wilson |
| Editors: | Wil Moss |
Ultimate Spider-Man is an ongoing comic book series about Spider-Man, part of the Ultimate Universe imprint. It began publication in January 2024. The series follows an older Peter Parker who becomes Spider-Man for the first time later in life, already a father of two children and married to Mary-Jane Watson, as opposed to his early/late teens like in the mainline. The series is part of the new Ultimate Universe timeline, which puts several Marvel characters in a radically altered sociopolitical status quo, including elements of alternate history.[1]
Set in the technocratic power bloc known as the North American Union, in the reshaped political status quo of Earth-6160 and following the "Ultimate Invasion" plotline, Peter Parker is a married man living in New York City with two children, whose Aunt May has recently died as one of the casualities of an false flag attack orchestrated by the Maker's Council on Stark Tower, with the media framing Tony Stark as a terrorist and as the culprit for the destruction. Later, on January, Stark sends out a "origin-machine", a silver orb containing a holographic message revealing to Peter the truth about his stolen life: That he was supposed to be bitten by a radioactive spider during his youth and become a superhero in his adolescence, but the Maker prevented it and averted his origin. Stark explains he retrieved said spider and offers him a chance to become a hero. Parker feels conflicted, initially concealing the revelation from his wife Mary Jane Watson, and his children, trying to keep a certain level of normality and have a regular day at work.
As he arrives in the Daily Bugle, he sees J. Jonah Jameson hurriedly calling his uncle, Ben Parker, about a meeting they have to attend later with the rest of the Bugle's management. It's shown Ben works as managing editor. Jonah briefly shows support to Ben and Peter regarding their loss, as they take a moment to talk about their grief during their leave as both, along with Mary Jane and Peter's children Richard and May, attend a memorial to the victims headed by local priest Matt Murdock. Harry Osborn also briefly speaks publicly about his loss, since his own parents Emily and Norman also perished in the attack. As Peter and Ben return to the Bugle, they are surprised by Jonah's sudden resignation as it turns out the newspaper is being subject to editorial restructuring following their investigative reports on the attack. Ben is offered Jonah's former role by the Bugle's proprietor, Wilson Fisk, but he resigns as well. Peter stays working at the Bugle as advised by Ben. While leaving the building later on, Fisk and his bodyguard Lester are attacked by a unknown green armored figure in a glider, who rapidly leaves after the attempted assassination. In The Bar With No Name, Jonah and Ben decide to start a independent newspaper to continue their reports. Peter arrives and Jonah leaves after a while. Peter vents to Ben about his perspective on the static nature of his life, and Ben advises him to take control over it and start trying to change it. Peter later talks to Mary Jane about his feelings regards those thoughts, as she supports him wanting such change as long as things doesn't change between them, not knowing about the true nature of what he means at first. He goes to his apartment's rooftop as he remembers when he first received the "origin-machine", as Stark refers to the spider in it as a "bio-organic catalyst" and also mentions a picotech stealth suit to conceal his identity, reflecting on his words about the conspiracy ruling the world and the lingering offer for him to have his stolen heroic life back, as he accepts it and tries on the suit for the first time. [2]
In February, Peter's exploits while operating using the black suit are already on the Daily Bugle's reports, with Richard doubtful of them while May finds them scary. Meanwhile, he still is adapting to the changes on his body and trying to understand them as well as his limitations. Ben and Jonah talk about another assassination attempt on Fisk by the green armored figure, as well as articles on the man in the black suit, considering the latter to be a distraction as the Bugle seems to be covering up the former's attacks. Peter encounters a thief trying to rob a bank, who tricks him after a conversation and electrocutes him with his gauntlets, stating his name as the Shocker. After the beating, Peter returns to the apartment and is discovered by May, who remains scared by the black suit and is comforted by him. He briefly explains about the spider and the origin of his powers as she agrees to keep it a secret from Richard and Mary Jane for a while, as he considers modifying the suit.
Later at his office, Fisk is visited by Henri Duggary, a member of the Maker's Council, head of the European Coallition and new ruler of the american East Coast. Duggary asks Fisk on what is the purpose of reporting on the man in the black suit, with Fisk confirming it's a distraction from the green armored vigilante. Duggary advises Fisk to use the resources given to him as he's still subordinate to the Council. At night, Peter tires fighting Shocker and has an upper hand initially before being tricked again, while the green armored figure sees the robber running away. Peter comes back feeling defeated and unsure of his capacities to carry on as a vigilante, but is encouraged to keep trying by a supportive drawing and some words from May, deciding to give it "one more day"[3]
In March, Mary Jane and Richard suspect something is off with Peter and May, but don't make much of it as they leave one morning. Peter takes the opportunity to try out new color schemes for the suit, settling on a red and blue combination with May's approval as they swing around the city for a while. Peter comes by Jonah and Ben's new building as they are starting making real efforts for their new business venture. Peter comments on the current situation at the Bugle and the armored vigilante, revealing he's being internally called the "Green Goblin" by the editorial staff, while higher-ups are indeed pushing articles on the man in the black suit to cover up the attacks on Fisk's properties. Ben and Jonah speculate on the nature of both vigilantes and conclude they still need to find out more about them. Keeping that in mind, Peter waits for days before being able to intercept the Goblin during an attack, fighting against a assassin in a black suit calling himself "Bullseye". He interferes and is able to knock him out. Peter and the Goblin talk briefly before he shuts down both of their suits, revealing his identity as Harry Osborn and meeting Peter for the first time, as both get to know each other and agree on talking about these current events.[4]
In April, Peter and Mary Jane head out to a diner meeting with Harry and his wife Gwen Stacy, in a amicable manner as both couples get to know each other, talking about their business ventures, as well as Jonah and Ben's efforts in creating a independent newspaper, generally bonding despite their class differences. Gwen privately offers Mary Jane a PR role in funding the venture entitled "The Paper". Meanwhile, Harry tells Peter that Gwen knows about him being the Goblin and supports him, emphasizing their role at fighting against the Maker's Council and their systemic rule over the world, advising him to tell Mary Jane and that "with great power comes great responsibility".[5]
In a flashback to months ago, Norman talks to Harry on his phone about him being late for an event, just before him, Emily and several others are killed during the attack on Stark Tower, as Harry gazes upon the blast. Weeks after that, Harry is given gradual control over Oscorp as he and Gwen become its sole inheritors with the Osborn family trust passing on to them. Harry is also called to a meeting with Wilson Fisk, the newly appointed Shadow Governor of the New York territory. Fisk appoints him to help take care of the Stark/Stane assets since the company has become a political matter in the Union with the fall of the Starks.
Later on, Harry, Gwen, and their associate Otto Octavius raid a hidden Stark repository containing archives, suit designs, relevant data, and Iron Man armors. Octavius utilizes Stark technology to create the Green Goblin suit as the three learn about the Maker's Council and their operations, including the attack on Stark Tower. Octavius also tells Harry about the "origin-machines" network, although they are initially puzzled and curious about their purpose. It's shown that after the Shocker's robbery, he was intercepted by the Green Goblin. He tells him about how he found his gauntlets in the apartment of an unnamed man who died of a heart attack as the case played Tony Stark's message. Later, he talks to Peter after their first meeting as he tells him about his findings regarding Council and its involvement in his father's death, as both pledge to cooperate in their operations against the group. In the present, Harry interrogates an unmasked Bullseye, revealing his identity as Lester. Lester still claims loyalty to Duggary and the Council, even stating he cut out his eye on the day Duggary's eye was wounded by Tony Stark to show his sympathy. They briefly debate about their moral alignments as Harry ponders if he can be considered a hero, or if he will become something else.[6]
In June, Peter's family is stunned when they find he has a black eye, as May accidentally reveals his secret. Peter tells them about a confrontation he and the Green Goblin had with Wilson Fisk at his building. Both break in at night and find him already expecting them. As the Goblin uses one of his bombs against Fisk, he and Peter are surprised to find his body apparently has been augmented, as his physical capacity withstands their attacks. Both quickly retreat as they decide to continue their efforts later. As Peter finishes his story, he apologizes to his family for keeping his secret for so long. They overall support him while asking him to be careful, as he asks for some time alone with Mary Jane. She states that among several feelings, she is mostly proud of him. Both realize he does not have a defined codename, as Mary Jane suggests "Spider-Man".[7]
Ultimate Spider-Man is the first ongoing series from the Ultimate Universe imprint, following the Ultimate Invasion miniseries that introduced it. Despite the similar name, it has no relation with the Ultimate Spider-Man comic that ran from 2000 to 2015. The former comic was a reinvention of the Spider-Man character as a teenager still attending school, in contrast with the older character from the main continuity. The new comic uses a similar angle, but makes Spider-Man older instead of younger, and also married and with two kids. Hickman said that he was inspired by the version of the character seen in the film .[8] Another significant departure is that Uncle Ben, a character that usually dies during Spider-Man's origin story, is alive in the new continuity.[9] Although Harry Osborn keeps the Green Goblin identity in the new continuity, he is reimagined as a superhero, closer to the classic portrayal of Iron Man.[10]
Ultimate Spider-Man #1 sold out three times in just two months.[11] If sales for the comics with the standard cover and alternate covers are taken separately, it got 8 places in the top 10 most sold comics.[12] User comments in social media praised the arts and plots, and compared it favourably to the main Spider-Man comics.[11] Those sales are higher than those of Ultimate Invasion and the Ultimate Universe one-shot published before it.[11] As of March 2024, Ultimate Spider-Man outsold the Spider-Man comics from the main continuity for three months in a row.[13]