The Ultimate Spider-Man has relaunched with Peter Parker on the path to his destiny. The Ultimate Invasion limited series by Jonathan Hickman and Bryan Hitch set up a new universe. The Maker, the Reed Richards of the Ultimates univese prevented the creation of superheroes. The Legion of Doom tried to stop the origin of the greatest heroes in “Secret Origins of the Super Friends” (1978). Tony Stark discovered this conspiracy. The Maker’s Council made up of well known figures from around the world attacked New York. They framed Stark for the attack. Peter Parker is unaware of all of these events. The cover for the first issue is by Marco Checchetto who also provides interior art of Spidey web-slinging in a wintry New York.
The title is written by Hickman with Checchetto’s artwork. The artist previously worked on the Daredevil 2022-2023 series. The comic opens with snow falling on Manhattan moving to a building and then the cinematic title card, “January”, which is characteristic of Hickman. We see the older Peter Parker, bearded with glasses remarking that he is getting older. As he puts on his shirt, we see a screen showing the snowfall, Jan 31-Feb 3, 2021, setting the year? In a series of closups, we have Peter getting ready, putting on his wedding ring, and then walking to see his family, son, Richard, with green sweater and younger daughter, May, with pigtails. Both with red hair and freckles. I really like the names of both kids, Richard, named after Peter’s father, and May, after Aunt May, and hints at Mayday Parker who became Spider-Girl in What If #105 (1998).
A very good domestic scene where Richard distracted with his book points out the bacon and coffee left for his father. This leads to the introduction of Mary Jane with long pony tail, sensible black shirt and green jeans, and a cup of coffee. Peter admits that he didn’t sleep. She knows that he is troubled about the day’s event. May is looking at a sphere, but Peter takes it away. He heads out to the office. It is snowing outside of the Daily Bugle. Peter arrives in his tan trenchcoat greeting Betty Brant when the familiar yell of J. Jonah Jameson is heard, “Parker!” He passes by Peter and continues yelling, nice touch. J. Jonah barges into the office of Ben Parker, on his door is Managing Editor. The older Ben Parker is in the purple suit comfortably sitting at his desk.
They have discussion over Jonah’s yelling, he brings up he yells because Ben is old, kinda funny. I like the rapport between them. It was never clear what was Uncle Ben’s occupation so I really like him as an editor. Of course it is great to have him back like Gwen Stacy. Jonah needs Ben at a meeting and then Peter shows up. His uncle is not happy that Peter showed up late. Jonah is more friendly to Peter and later gives him his tie. They discuss Ben who is very stubborn. On the street, Peter starts a conversation with his uncle. Ben doesn’t like Peter’s careful asking about him, he’s a straight to the point man, he brings up that Peter’s parents died when he was 15. Also, that his wife, May, tried to raise him, but it is hinted that she died. He misses all of them. These are all great character scenes.
We see a crowd gathering at a square. This is a memorial to all of the people who died in the attack. There is a closeup of May Parker’s name. There is also Norman Osborn. The speaker is Father Murdock, Matt Murdock, who is not Daredevil. I like this change since it seems to be in line with the early direction of Frank Miller. Similar to his mother, Maggie, who became a nun. We see Peter with all of his family listening and a closeup of Ben with a tear at the mention of the departed. Father Murdock brings up Norman Osbourne and brings up his son, Harry. He brings up when he was seven playing catch with his father. Harry then brings up the people they lost and then the attack. He can’t forgive what happened which we see from panels of Harry at the podium and then in closeups. I like the snow and the grey clouds.
Afterwards, we see Ben and Harry meet as Peter talks about his uncle interviewing Norman Osbourne. Ben had never gotten to know Norman and Mary Jane mentions what is known like his ownership of Oscorp Industries. He tells the family that he has to go. At the Daily Bugle, everyone’s attention is turned to a board meeting, Peter is surprised next to Ben. Jonah is angry at the meeting and leave it saying that he quits! The rest of the staff tries to pretend to go back to business. Jonah eyes Ben before he passes him. Then, Ben enters the board meeting, and talks with Robbie Robertson. In the 616 Marvel Universe, Robbie was an editor, friend to Jonah, and supportive of Peter. Robbie explains that there is going to be editorial changes with the investigation of the attack.
Robbie mentions that they are moving away from the coverage with the ownership, he turns, and we see a shadow on the table. We see a worm’s eye perspective looking up at the owner, Wilson Fisk, the Kingpin! He offers Ben to run the paper if he will follow the board’s direction. Everyone in the room turns quietly to look at Ben Parker. Closeup, he smiles, and walks out to join Jonah at the elevator! They both grin as Ben asks what are they going to do next and the elevator door closes. At night, on the street, the eye-patched henchman opens the door for Fisk and then the car explodes! We see in a large panel, an armored Green Goblin on his glider. Kingpin’s gunmen step forward, the bodyguard looks up, and sees the helmet of this Green Goblin! A great intro of one of Spidey’s greatest villains. It must be Harry Osbourne, but how does Kingpin play into his parents’ deaths?
At the Bar with No Name, Ben and Jonah take a corner table to discuss the plan for a new paper. Nice layout of the bar with patrons, jukebox, and ads. Ben brings up what else they can do besides journalism, Jonah says nothing else, but Ben adds he had another job in the past. Jonah says he was in the news buisness for thirty years. Ben says their job is to tell the truth. This makes Jonah burst out laughing that fills the bar! Jonah says “there’s no truth in the news and no news in the truth”, wise words. Instead, Jonah says that they promise not to lie. Peter enters and Jonah offers a job for him, but no plans for payment. Jonah leaves and Peter asks Ben how he could give up his life at the Daily Bugle. Ben says with his wife dead, Peter grown up with a family, he didn’t want to live a life of compromise. Peter doesn’t want to give up everything with his family. He says that he feels that something is wrong with himself, Peter feels his destiny calling. Ben says he can’t go through life half-asleep, he should wake up. It is time for Peter Parker to become Spider-Man! Ultimate Spider-Man #1 gives us an older Peter Parker as a family man who becomes the Spider-Man we need.
Five Webs out of Five!
#UltimateSpiderMan, #MarcoChecchetto, #PeterParker, #RichardParker, #MayParker, #MaryJaneParker, #JJonahJameson, #BenParker, #FatherMurdock, #RobbieRobertson, #WilsonFisk, #GreenGoblin
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