Writer Jonathan Hickman and artist Marco Checchetto's bold new take on Ultimate Spider-Man is shaping up to be full of surprises and when it launches next January, it will star a very different Peter Parker. He'll be an older, wiser web-slinger who balances his superhero duties with his responsibilities as a husband and a father. That's right, Spider-Man is a married man!
"Meet Peter Parker and Mary Jane Watson - Mr. & Mrs. Parker," reads the official description for the series. "They’re one of pop culture’s most iconic couples, and now readers will see them stronger than ever in the Ultimate Universe."
That's a development which has already led to an increase in excitement for the relaunched title and we now have the cover for Ultimate Spider-Man #2. With that comes confirmation the new Ultimate Universe will include a wildly different, yet suitably sinister, version of Peter's greatest foe, the Green Goblin.
Marvel Comics hasn't shared many details, but the cover below was accompanied by a brief blurb that reads, "On sale in February, the issue introduces the new Ultimate Universe’s Green Goblin as the most surprising Spider-Man story of the 21st century continues!"
When the original Ultimate Universe debuted, it too introduced a reimagining of the Green Goblin. That Norman Osborn transformed into a demonic Hulk-like creature who could throw flames from his hands. Years later, he killed Peter Parker, ushering in a new era of storytelling revolving around Miles Morales.
As for this Goblin, we have no real idea what to expect. Hickman's Ultimate Universe is vastly different from what's come before so we can't even say for sure whether that's Norman beneath the helmet.
Either way, this Goblin is more in line with the version from Sam Raimi's 2002 Spider-Man movie than either the classic Marvel Universe or Earth-1610's monstrous take on the villain.
The cover also showcases the older Peter, though we still don't know whether he's bitten by that spider as a teenager (making him a veteran superhero) or if he gains his spectacular abilities as an adult and is forced to figure out how to balance being a family man with newly discovered superpowers.
Check out this first look at Ultimate Spider-Man #2 below and stay tuned for updates as we have them.
ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #1
Written by JONATHAN HICKMAN
Art and Cover by MARCO CHECCHETTO
On Sale 1/10
ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #2
Written by JONATHAN HICKMAN
Art and Cover by MARCO CHECCHETTO
On Sale 2/21