10 Most Rereadable Stories from Marvel’s Ultimate Spider-Man, Ranked

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The Ultimate Universe has been a hugely popular and well-received alternate reality within Marvel Comics, with titles like The Ultimates, Ultimate X-Men, and especially Ultimate Spider-Man gaining a lot of attention. However, Marvel is planning to end the Ultimate Universe entirely soon.

It looks like Jonathan Hickman’s Ultimate Spider-Man comic series will end with issue #24. After that, readers who want to continue enjoying the story will need to revisit older issues. Luckily, Ultimate Spider-Man is full of fantastic scenes that are well worth rereading!

Ben Parker and J. Jonah Jameson’s Journalistic Battle With The Kingpin Is The Heart and Soul of The Book

While many viewers tuned in to Ultimate Spider-Man for the superhero action, the friendship and partnership between Ben Parker and J. Jonah Jameson turned out to be a surprisingly captivating part of the show. Unlike the traditional Spider-Man stories, these two are close friends who run a news organization called “The Paper,” and they team up to investigate the criminal underworld and uncover global conspiracies.

The bravery of Ben and Jonah – their efforts to expose the terrible truths they uncover, even when it puts them at risk – is the heart of Jonathan Hickman’s vision for Ultimate Spider-Man. It’s likely this aspect of the story will be what readers remember most when the series concludes.

Peter Parker Finally Getting His Iconic Costume Is A Wondrous Moment

The Ultimate Universe is known for its stories of unlikely heroes battling against impossible challenges, and for taking familiar concepts and twisting them into something completely new. It’s a complex and often frightening world, but one constant remains the same as the main Marvel Universe: Peter Parker.

Peter Parker received a high-tech suit from Tony Stark that can change its appearance based on the wearer’s thoughts. He had trouble deciding on a crime-fighting look, but with his daughter May’s help, he finally chose the classic Spider-Man costume. This choice brought a sense of optimism to a troubled world.

Wesley’s Betrayal of The Mysterio Council Is A Shocking Moment of Violence

Okay, so in this version of Spider-Man – the Ultimate Universe – Mysterio is way different than what I was used to. Forget just some guy with cool illusions! This Mysterio isn’t a single person at all. It’s actually a whole group of people, like a council, who all share the Mysterio persona and take turns being under that classic fishbowl helmet. It’s not just tricks and effects; they’re legitimately magical, which is a huge twist!

Mister Negative, a member of the Kingpin’s Sinister Six, discovers the identities of several Mysterios and views the city council as a threat. He compels James Wesley, Wilson Fisk’s aide, to smuggle a bomb into a council meeting, resulting in a devastating explosion that seemingly wipes out the entire group. This act of shocking violence immediately creates a compelling and suspenseful mystery at the heart of the story.

Peter and His Family Having To Run For Their Lives Felt Genuinely Terrifying

The most exciting part of the new Ultimate Universe is its unpredictability – truly, anything can happen. With the universe heading towards a definite end, it feels like no character is secure, and that’s especially clear after Peter Parker narrowly escaped Kraven the Hunter.

Peter Parker, along with Harry Osborn, is captured and tormented by Kraven the Hunter in the Savage Land, but Peter manages a narrow escape. Because Kraven already knows his secret identity, Peter has to take his family and go into hiding. They leave New York City for a secluded desert location, a surprising direction for a Spider-Man story, and one that’s characteristic of Ultimate Spider-Man.

Mister Negative’s Origin Story Is One Of The Book’s Most Harrowing

Issue #21 of Ultimate Spider-Man focuses on Martin Li, also known as Mister Negative. While he’s recently become a more prominent character, Mister Negative used to be a supporting figure in the Ultimate Spider-Man universe. This issue delves into his backstory and reveals how he became the villain he is.

Mister Negative’s backstory is one of the most compelling side stories in Ultimate Spider-Man. It explores a disturbing relationship with his sister, a difficult childhood, and the frightening moment he realizes his own power. This origin story is daring, different from the main Spider-Man story, and truly unsettling, which makes his later actions feel much more personal and impactful.

The Reveal of Venom Is A Show-Stopping Moment of Ferocity

Unlike the traditional Venom story where Peter Parker bonds with an alien symbiote, the Ultimate Universe offers a more intimate origin. In this version, the high-tech suit originally created for Peter to fight crime is eventually worn by his son, Richard, and things initially appear to be going smoothly.

Fans expected the black suit – which had its own intelligence and kept referring to “we” – to eventually be revealed as a form of Venom, and it didn’t take long. When Richard Parker, wearing the high-tech suit, was attacked by Kingpin and his crew, things looked hopeless. But the suit took control, demonstrating its full power and confirming it was a version of Venom very similar to the one most people know. It was a powerful scene, and will likely be important later in the story.

Harry Osborn’s Seeming Death Is A Jaw-Dropping Cliffhanger

The Ultimate Universe is quite different from the main Marvel Universe, and this affected its characters, including Harry Osborn, who was also a hero known as the Green Goblin and an ally of Spider-Man. When Spider-Man and Green Goblin are captured by Kraven the Hunter, they come up with a plan to break free.

After a difficult journey through the Savage Land, and with Harry Osborn lacking any powers, it appeared Kraven the Hunter had defeated the heroes and fatally shot Harry in the head. Although it was later revealed Harry wasn’t actually dead, the scene remains one of the most surprising moments in the entire story.

Mysterio’s Secret Origin Is The Series’ Best

Similar to how the show reimagined Mister Negative, Mysterio’s story and personality were significantly altered, and this is one of the strengths of the Ultimate Spider-Man series. While many fans guessed Gwen Stacy, Harry Osborn’s wife, was connected to Mysterio, the show finally confirmed it in Ultimate Spider-Man #16.

Issue #16 of Ultimate Spider-Man is a standout, largely because it expertly builds the backstory of Mysterio’s group and finally reveals which characters have been operating as Mysterio all along. It’s a perfect example of how exciting alternate universe stories can be when readers are genuinely kept guessing.

Kraven’s Capture of Peter and Harry Is A Shock Every Time It’s Read

A really interesting thing about Ultimate Spider-Man, and the whole Ultimate Universe, is that the story unfolds at the same pace as real life. Each month that passes for readers is also a month within the comic’s world, so significant events can occur between issues.

Readers were shocked to discover that between issues #11 and #12, both Spider-Man and the Green Goblin had been unmasked, kidnapped, and held captive. This was a huge twist in the story, and it set the stage for some of the most thrilling developments in the entire series.

Embracing His Destiny As A Hero Kicked Off The Series In A Perfect Way

In the Ultimate Universe, the Maker has robbed Marvel’s heroes of their potential futures. Peter Parker, now an adult, senses that his life isn’t quite complete, feeling like he’s missed out on something important.

After Iron Lad gives Peter the spider that was meant to transform him into a hero long ago, Peter is faced with a difficult choice: accept his fate and confront new, dangerous challenges, or go back to his peaceful but unsatisfying life, forever wondering what could have been. His decision at the end of Ultimate Spider-Man #1 launches what many consider to be one of the best Spider-Man comic book storylines of recent times.

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2025-11-25 03:13