After the events of issue #1, Ultimate Spider-Man #2 sees Peter Parker suited up and trying to make New York City a safer place (once he gets the hang of web-slinging). For fans of the web-head, what Jonathan Hickman, Marco Checchetto, Matthew Wilson, and Cory Petit are doing here isn’t just great—it’s amazing, spectacular, sensational, and even superior.
(See what I did there?)
If you’re part of the minority that felt last issue was too light on the action, have no fear: this issue sees Spidey taking to the rooftops and crossing paths with his first supervillain. The action is electric and dynamic; Checchetto and Wilson make sure of that. Somehow—even though we’ve seen it countless times over six decades—this team is able to make Spider-Man spinning webs and swinging through the city feel new and exciting.
Everyone is having fun working on this title, and you can feel it radiating off the pages. Hickman’s dialogue is quippy, and Checchetto not only fills this issue with big action, but a few visual gags that will make you laugh out loud (mostly featuring Peter taking a beating, usually thanks to his own inexperience). Wilson’s use of vibrant colors amid an otherwise drab color palette makes for an engaging visual treat, and Petit’s masterful lettering guides you through these panels in a way that makes you feel like you’re swinging alongside our hero. Ultimate Spider-Man #2 is a perfect example of a creative team just having a blast and firing on all cylinders.
Now the quipping and superhero action may feel familiar and comfortable, but don’t be fooled: Hickman, Checchetto, and company are lulling you into a false sense of security. What’s really fun and exciting about this universe is how unfamiliar it is.
At the heart of this new Ultimate Spider-Man is the exploration of what it means to become a superhero at 35 instead of 15. What is it like getting superpowers with a fully developed prefrontal cortex? What drives this Peter Parker who was given his powers and didn’t learn the whole “great power/great responsibility” lesson the hard way? How do you balance being a superhero vigilante with having a wife and two kids? As familiar as this book feels at times, these are all fairly original concepts to the character, and that Ultimate Spider-Man is taking the time to unpack all of these ideas and more is the real reason to keep reading.
Also, the partnership of J. Jonah Jameson and Ben Parker is a stroke of genius; their friendship stole the show in the first issue, and it continues to be a standout feature of this title.
Just like the original run did over 20 years ago, Ultimate Spider-Man breathes fresh air into one of the world’s most recognizable characters while covering readers with a blanket of familiar comfort at the same time. The next issue can’t get here soon enough.
