Ultimate Spider-Man #24 – What’s Missing Isn’t What Matters

The battle is here. Spider-Man and his family are ready. As Richard and Felicia work behind the scenes, Peter squares up for the ultimate battle against Mr. Negative and Kingpin. When everything is falling apart around you, how do you hold it together? Family, love, and a little luck. The truth is revealed, and Peter finds out that what he was missing might not have been what mattered all along.

Creative Team

Writer: Jonathan Hickman
Artist: Marco Checchetto
Artist: David Messina
Color Artist: Matthew Wilson
Letterer: VC’s Corey Petit
Cover Artist: Marco Checchetto
Cover Colorist: Matthew Wilson

Writing

This is not a spoiler as much as it is a disclaimer. If you are a dad, Jonathan Hickman is probably going to wreck your emotions with this issue of Ultimate Spider-Man. It’s been a long time since a comic brought me to tears but I’ve gotta be real with you, this one just hit all the right spots.

I’ve been fortunate enough to read the last issues of the other Ultimate comics that are ending but this is easily the best so far, and it’s not even close. Hickman really has been at the top of his game during this run of Ultimate Spider-Man, and this may be the best issue he has written. There’s action and drama and then there’s the family moments that have made Ultimate Spider-Man so different from everything that has come before it.

I think the last time I was this genuinely sad to see a run coming to an end not knowing when or if I would see the creative team again was when Jed MacKay’s run on Doctor Strange ended. Hickman, Checchetto, and Wilson crafted a beautiful farewell to the story.

Art

What do I even put here? What can I say about the work that Marco Checchetto has done on Ultimate Spider-Man that either hasn’t been said or would do justice to the work that’s been done?

This issue is more of the same great work from the entire visual team. It’s clean lines, easy flowing lettering, and beautiful colors. The team manages to nail a range of art from buildings to close-up facial portraits to family art.

The visual team brought such clarity and beauty to the words that Hickman put on paper. Matthew Wilson is absolutely delightful with colors on this issue. It’s not just that Wilson chose the right colors, but the right shades. Without reading the words, the colors conveyed the tone.

Final Thoughts

Hickman and Checchetto reminded everyone the reason that Spider-Man was the keystone arc of the entire Ultimate universe. This is not to subtract from any of the other amazing teams that have worked on this iteration of the Ultimate universe, but Ultimate Spider-Man from beginning to end is one of the most unique, satisfying, and ultimately gratifying stories of Spider-Man that Marvel has released in a generation. I genuinely want more from this team and feel sad that it’s over

Overall Grade: 10/10 (Honestly I’d give it an 11/10 if I could)

Until next time, may your pulls be magical and your multiverse remain stable.

Check out my other reviews HERE! and let me know what you thought about Ultimate Spider-Man in the comments below.