NYCC 2025: Drawing My Spider-Man — Discussing The Ultimate Wall Crawler With Marco Checchetto

If artist Marco Checchetto‘s work on Daredevil didn’t make him an oft-cited name in comic book circles, his work on the new incarnation of Ultimate Spider-Man certainly has. The first issue of that title — initially released earlier this year — has now gone into its seventh printing, just in time for New York Comic Con. That exclusive foil cover, with artwork based on Checchetto’s sold-out first printing drawing, has a small run of 2,000 copies. In an exclusive interview with Comicon.com, the Italian artist discussed how he got this Ultimate assignment and what iconic Marvel characters he wants to take on next.

Tom Smithyman: In your wildest dreams, did you ever think you’d get to a seventh printing of Ultimate Spider-Man #1?

Marco Checchetto: No, absolutely not. I knew it would go well, it’s written by Jonathan Hickman after all, and as for the art I was coming off the beautiful Daredevil run with Chip Zdarsky, which also featured Spider-Man. Jonathan and I had also already worked together on a small story on Spider-Man #1000. The conditions for a good start were all there, but I would never have thought we would make it to a seventh reprint.

Smithyman: Thinking back to last year, what was your reaction to being offered to draw Spidey?

Checchetto: It all started at an Italian comic con, Lucca Comics. I was having lunch with [Marvel Comics Editor-In-Chief] C.B. Cebulski, and between one chat and another I simply asked C.B.: “In a few months I’ll finish my run on Daredevil. Do you already have any idea what you’ll give me next?”

And C.B. replied like this: “Marco, the point is that you should tell us what you want to do!” And my response was: “Well, in that case, you know what I want to do!”

Everyone at Marvel knows about my obsession for Spidey.

A month after the end of the run on Daredevil, I was contacted by Rickey Purdin who proposed Ultimate Spider-Man to me. I spent about 10 minutes staring at the email before calling my wife to ask her if I had understood correctly.

Marvel wasn’t just asking me to do a run on the character, they were asking me to create, together with Jonathan, a new universe. I would draw “my” Spider-Man.

Smithyman: You make it sound so easy! Most artists put their fingerprints on Spider-Man. What makes your version different from those that have gone before?

Checchetto: The first thing I told to my editors and Jonathan was that to create something new, but we had to start with the classic. My Spidey has a classic and realistic tone, but at the same time modern. Or at least, that’s my intention!

Smithyman: A Spider-Man book is about more than just Peter Parker. You’ve also had the opportunity to recreate the looks for other classic characters, including Mary Jane Watson, J. Jonah Jameson and even the Green Goblin. Besides Spidey, which character redesign has been your favorite?

Checchetto: Some characters have remained unchanged or returned to their first version, like J.J. Jameson. Others have had small changes, like Mary Jane, Harry and Gwen. Peter has a haircut a little longer like in the stories of the 1980s/90s and has a beard, wanted by Jonathan and the editors. Spidey basically has a new symbol that has a very specific history, and I wanted him to have smaller eyes and more realistic webs.

Goblin aside, because he wears an armor constrained by script needs, the most fun part was rethinking the villains where I had complete freedom to create new versions of the various characters.

Smithyman: Jonathan Hickman has blown away comic book readers for years. What is it like to work with him? What is the collaboration like between the two of you?

Checchetto: Jonathan is one of the best comic book writers at the moment. The scripts are very detailed and meticulous. The dialogue is beautiful, and that has helped my work a lot by allowing me to make the characters act in the best way. As for the storytelling, he trusts me blindly, and it is a beautiful demonstration of esteem.

Smithyman: You’ve had the opportunity to draw some of the most iconic Marvel characters. Which hero or villain that haven’t you drawn professionally would you love to take on next?

Checchetto: I’d like to do something on Wolverine, Thor or Ghost Rider.

Smithyman: C.B., I hope you are reading this! OK, last question. The Ultimate Universe is about taking known characters and updating them for today. If you could go back and tell your own story with a modern twist, how would you frame it?

Checchetto: Are you talking about Spider-Man? Right now, I really like everything Jonathan is doing. But if you’re talking in general and if I had the opportunity, I would love to do an Ultimate version of Ghost Rider.

If you are talking about my life, hahahahahah, it already achieved an Ultimate status!

Smithyman: It certainly has! Congratulations on the success of Spidey, and I hope you have a stellar NYCC!