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You know, it’s funny how fast things can change.
For awhile last year, all we heard when it came to Peter Parker was if he should be retired as Spider-Man and let Miles be the only Spider-Man in comics and even live action.
While I enjoyed the Spider-Man run from Zeb Wells, I know many did not and that’s OK.
Don’t Call it a Comeback
But Jonathan Hickman and Dan Slott have brought us back into what I think is a Spider-Man renaissance.
With Slott penning Superior Spider-Man and Hickman taking Ultimate Spider-Man to new heights, it’s a great time to be a Spidey fan. One of the best times I can recall in years.
At the end of Ultimate #1, we saw how Tony Stark sent Peter a message about the hero he should have been if not for the interference of the Maker.
It’s been 20 years since Spider-Man was supposed to have been bitten by a radioactive spider and we get to see a Peter who never got his powers, but always felt something was missing.
Tony also sent back said radioactive spider to give Peter the choice of becoming America’s favorite wall crawler or not. He chose the way of the hero.
In Superior #2, we see Peter get used to his new abilities while running into the Shocker twice and failing to stop the villain both times. It kind of reminds me of how absolutely worked Peter got at the hands of Vulture in the Amazing Spider-Man #2.
The parallels are there and it’s amazing to see a modern, fun, unique take.
But this series is a truly a rebirth the same as the Ultimate run almost 20 years ago from Marvel.
It’s fresh, funny, the art is dynamic and you are hooked immediately.
Also, the family dynamic with Peter and MJ’s kids May and Richard is one that brings a tear to my eye as a new father.
His daughter May is the heart of this series, as her impact on Peter is so profound and enchanting.
I think we all got the hint at the end of #2 that May will have another HUGE impact, this time on Peter’s suit, as he began in all black, not yet having discovered the symbolic power the blue and red brings to Spider-Man.
An Unlikely Bond
Another aspect of this series I love is the best friend relationship and partnership we see with Uncle Ben and J. Jonah Jameson.
Aunt May died 20 years back in a catastrophic event the world blames Stark for as he did all he could to stop the Maker from erasing superheroes from this version of the Marvel Universe.
Ben is left alive, grieving, and is actually a news man, working alongside Jameson at the Bugle.
That abruptly ended, so the duo is off to start their own, modern venture together.
Jameson is almost a god-father tip figure to Peter and it’s such a refreshing take on the character everyone loves to hate.
Who’s the New Goblin??
Creeping around in the background of this young series is a new Green Goblin.
He’s stoic, going after the Kingpin and has yet to be unmasked.
If you’ve read the original Spidey run, you know both the Green Goblin and Hobgoblin has long arcs before they were finally revealed.
My guess is this will be similar, but why go after the Kingpin?
I have some ideas. Harry Osborn lost his father in the Stark incident as well and I wonder if this version of the Goblin is more of an anti-hero much like the Punisher.
If it is Harry behind the mask, maybe his goal is to rid the streets of crime and crime lords.
Maybe he’s not the raving lunatic we’ve grown to know the Goblin usually is. Maybe not, we’ll see.
Final Thoughts – 10/10
OK, I know, I got to stop dishing out 10’s for Spider-Man comics, but hot damn, what a book! What a series!
If you are looking for an alternative Spider-Man story that not only stands on it’s own, but shines, Ultimate Spider-Man is a must for your pull list.
