Ultimate Spider-Man #14 – Evading The Hunter

Hello there! Padawan J here, the resident Star Wars expert from the ODPH! And this week I’m going to be reviewing the 14th issue of Ultimate Spider-Man from Jonathan Hickman & Marvel Comics!

Things are getting extremely dangerous for Peter Parker and his friends/family. Peter’s wife Mary Jane learned that Peter AND Harry went missing on Christmas Day! Oh, and did I mention they’re being hunted by Kraven the Hunter? It’s only going to get crazier from here! Let’s jump into it!

Ultimate Spider-Man #14 by Jonathan Hickman (writer), Marco Checchetto (artist), Matthew Wilson (color artist), VC’s Cory Petit (letterer), Marco Checchetto & Matthew Wilson (cover artists) is an amazing issue that brings in a familiar sense of pain, while also ratcheting up the stakes for everyone involved.

I have to be honest at the start here, Spider-Man fans are doing VERY good lately! Between the comics, video games, the new animated series things are incredible if you’re a Spider-Man fan. And the latest issue of Ultimate Spider-Man continues that trend.

The starts out with a flash forward, and we find out that it’s now February and Peter and Harry are still missing. We get a brief look at Peter’s son Richard who’s taken up the mantle in his father’s absence. He’s confronted by Felicia Hardy in a case of mistaken identity.

After that, the the story turns to Peter & Harry who are trying to survive on the edge of the Savage Lands! As if that isn’t bad enough, Peter keeps repeating the same chilling phrase in his head that “he knows about MJ and the kids.” Just as they’re about to escape to freedom they’re pinned down by Kraven, and that leads to a spectacular game of cat and mouse. The battle between Peter/Harry & Kraven is phenomenal stuff and feels like a classic fight with a classic villain. But what follows the battle is something I did not expect to see AT ALL.

SPOILERS AHEAD

In a moment of absolute brilliance, after refusing to kill Kraven because “I’m not like him. We’re not him” he’s the shot at by Kraven using a simple revolver pistol. But the confusing thing is Peter’s spidersense never went off. And that’s because Kraven never intended to shoot Peter, because he was aiming for Harry. And Kraven didn’t miss his target, hitting Harry in his forehead killing him.

Holy cow! I did NOT see this coming at all. I thought all the signs were pointing to Harry turning on Peter and going full Goblin and becoming Peter’s sworn enemy. I did NOT have him getting killed on my bingo card. It’s a wild twist to throw in. Of course this all could be rectified somehow using magic or the mystic arts. But I get the feeling this one is going to stay “permanent” for a while.

END OF SPOILERS

The artwork this issue is as impeccable as ever. The work done by Marco Checchetto & Matthew Wilson is simply impeccable. Of particular note is the sequence on the Savage Land. You really get a sense of desperation and how dire things seems from the artwork.

FINAL POINT: Jonathan Hickman pens the biggest issue of the series thus far. It’s one that will have serious implications going forward and is a turning point, and a tone shift for the entire series. Together with the phenomenal artwork from Marco Checchetto & Matthew Wilson make for an issue you do NOT want to miss. If this series isn’t already in your pull list, you’re going to want to pick this issue up ASAP!

Overall Grade: 10/10

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