Peter Parker Faces His First Villain In ‘Ultimate Spider-Man’ #2 Preview
by Tony Thornley
Ultimate Spider-Man was one of the freshest new takes on Marvel heroes in a very long time. Now the story of a universe trying to right itself after the malicious meddling of an alternate Reed Richard continues in the first look at the series’ second issue.
Jonathan Hickman and Marco Checchetto’s new take on Spider-Man gives us a Peter Parker who’s starting to be unsatisfied with his life, when a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity knocks on his door. The debut issue ended with Peter taking the offer. The second issue will see Peter’s new life really begin.
We really enjoyed the debut issue, though it largely was set-up and promise It did deliver a few surprises, such as Peter’s family and the reveal of a living Ben Parker as not just a major player in Peter’s life but also the larger Marvel universe as a talented journalist. This issue will start to see the promises Hickman’s story made deliver (or not). In the new promo from Marvel, Peter starts to test his limits against the Shocker while this universe’s Green Goblin makes his first moves.
“My love for this character is no secret to anyone,” Checchetto shared. “As soon as I received Jonathan Hickman’s plot of the series, I was immediately fascinated with how he managed to create something truly fresh and new, while keeping the spirit and essence of the web-slinger intact. I really loved the dialogue and got chills drawing these scenes. We have the opportunity and privilege to create our version of Spider-Man, and for me, to create the entire design of the series.”
“Throughout our run, expect changes and both classic and new versions of characters,” he continued. “One of the first you’ll meet is Shocker. He’s at the beginning of his career, so I wanted to create something different. Shocker wears a bomb squad suit to protect himself from the powers of his gloves, but still maintains some details of his classic costume. I had a lot of fun, and I believe it helps convey that we are at the dawn of a new storytelling universe. I would also like to talk about the origin of the Green Goblin’s design, but I think it’s more exciting to let you discover it by reading the fantastic story created by Jonathan!”
Check out the issue’s covers, as well as design sheets and unlettered interior pages, and watch for Ultimate Spider-Man #2 on shelves February 21, 2024.
