Ultimate Spider-Man

AmbrosioMonk

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Ultimate Spider-man is a comic that debuted recently by writer Johnathan Hickman. It's a different take on the character. In this comic, a time travelling villain prevented Peter Parker from getting bitten by a radioactive spider as a teenager. Peter grew up, married Mary Jane, had a couple of kids, and still worked as a photographer. He always felt like something was missing in his life. He finds out what happened and is given the chance to get bitten by that spider and get the powers that were always meant for him. However, he's still a 35 year old father of two.

He's meant to be a superhero, and he's trying, but he's not good at it at all.

I want to talk about this book because it is so nice to have a comic book that is written for adults. I'm not meaning that in terms of levels of violence or sexuality. It is well paced and the characters are fully flushed out. They do things you would expect someone to do in these situations. They have adult, rational conversations about the crazy things that go on in the stories.

Example: His identity gets discovered by someone that he doesn't know or he has reasons to mistrust him.

Typical comic book: *Insert fight scene here.*

Ultimate Spider-man: "Hey man, let's go get a beer and try to figure this out."

The absolute highlight of this book for me are Ben and Jonah. Spoiler: Uncle Ben is alive in this. They are an absolute joy to read.

Has anyone else been reading this book, and if so, what are your thoughts?
 
I've read it, and also enjoy it! I love Jonah's opinions on Spider-Man, and how very real they feel. I also love how Aunt May and Uncle Ben got to see Peter grow up and become successful. It is such a DELIGHT!

I have a feeling that, a few years down the road, they're going to splice Adult Peter and his family into the main Marvel universe, which will be a nice change of pace. I think that Marvel doesn't know how to write young parents, but parents with younger kids feels like something they finally get.
 
I've read it, and also enjoy it! I love Jonah's opinions on Spider-Man, and how very real they feel. I also love how Aunt May and Uncle Ben got to see Peter grow up and become successful. It is such a DELIGHT!

I have a feeling that, a few years down the road, they're going to splice Adult Peter and his family into the main Marvel universe, which will be a nice change of pace. I think that Marvel doesn't know how to write young parents, but parents with younger kids feels like something they finally get.
It is an interesting twist in the new Ultimate comics that Ben is still alive and May passed away. I totally get what you're saying about young parents in comics. They have had characters have kids, but outside of the Fantastic Four, they haven't really explored what it's like for heroes with a newborn at home.
 
What's the best way to enter this series? Is there a collection/compendium?
They are only one issue 12 currently, and they have released a trade of the first six issues. Hickman reintroduced the Ultimate Universe with the "Ultimate Invasion" series which is also available in trade but you can get into the Spider-man book without reading it. It is really good though.
 
Thanks. I first ready Spidey back in 1981 or so and have loved the new Miles Morales development. The world you mention sounds interesting
 
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