Ultimate Spider-Man (2024) #1-5 review: what Spider-Man stories should strive to be

Let's start by addressing the elephant in the room and acknowledging I'm a little bit late for this party. The first issue of the new Ultimate Spider-Man run was published back on January 10, 2024. Yet here I am, eight months later, doing a review of issues 1 through 5. It has taken quite a bit of time, I know. However, it's never too late to discuss amazing superhero stories which is exactly what we have here.

We all know Spider-Man. He's one of the most popular comic book characters ever since 1962. As such, there has been no shortage of stories featuring the friendly neighborhood hero over the years. Just look at the Amazing Spider-Man comic book run; it has over 900 issues and counting. Over time, it has become a daunting task for writers and creators to do something new with Peter Parker - something worth telling - that isn't as controversial as him getting all of Norman Osborn's sins or erasing his marriage with M.J. to save Aunt May.

However, as much as fans enjoy when Peter is in his high-school years - being bullied, and having trouble with his job at the Daily Bugle - we've already seen that before too many times. So how do you surprise readers while respecting the "Spider-Man essence"? Well, look no further than Ultimate Spider-Man (2024) for a perfect answer (though the original 2000 run was pretty awesome too if we're being honest).

An amazing Spider-Man story without the usual Spider-Man elements

From the get-go, all the "common" elements that constitute Spider-Man stories were thrown out of the window. For example, Peter was never bitten by a radioactive spider during his teenage years, Uncle Ben never died at the hands of a common burglar, Aunt May is out of the picture, J. Jonah Jameson isn't an embittered man, Gwen Stacy is married to Harry Osborn, and so on. That's part of the magic here; it's very engaging to see how everything would've played out if Spider-Man never entered the picture. Not initially, at least.

However, even with all those twists and turns, this is one of the most Spider-Man-like stories we've gotten in recent times. There's no denying it; Ultimate Spider-Man (2024) just feels like home. Huge props have to be given to Jonathan Hickman for fully modernizing the character while still understanding what makes him great. Besides, most formula changes come in favor of the story. For once, I'm very happy to see Peter's family fully support him in whatever he decides to do (even if, by the end of issue number 5, M.J. still doesn't know his husband is a full-on superhero).

A human story first and foremost

The best moments in the first five issues of Ultimate Spider-Man (2024) won't come from big swinging sequences or Spidey's fight against Shocker or Bullseye. Instead, they will come from watching J. Jonah Jameson and Uncle Ben share a beer or witnessing how Peter's daughter reacts after she learns her dad is a superhero. The truth is the opening moments in this new saga present a human story first and a superhero epic second.

Sure, the bigger Marvel universe comes into play with characters such as Iron Man, The Green Goblin, Reed Richards, and The Kingpin having a huge role in the story (both directly or indirectly). But while it's interesting to read the exposition of why The Maker prevented the creation of superheroes on Earth-6160, that's not what will take over your heart. Instead, what achieves this task is watching May Parker - Peter's daughter - tell her dad his new black and scary suit needs a change of colors, resulting in the iconic red and blue costume we all know and love.

The heart of Ultimate Spider-Man resides in its human interactions. Knowing there's a little bit of May in Spider-Man's origin story makes this version of the character more special (besides, there's a little bit of M.J. too - but we're getting ahead of ourselves). However, that comes at the cost of big action set pieces and frenetic heroic moments. Sure, there are a few of those here and there, but let's take issue #4 as an example. In it, Peter and Mary Jane have dinner with Harry Osborn and Gwen Stacy from the very beginning until the end with no other plot taking the spotlight. It's a great read by all means, but one where Spider-Man is noticeably absent.

A perfect starting point

Granted, we're witnessing the origin of this version of the friendly neighborhood hero and with that comes a slower pace. It's inevitable. For reference, Peter's first big fight in the 2000 Ultimate Spider-Man run didn't come until issue #6 against the Green Goblin. So it's normal for a lot of Spider-Man stories to play out this way. Personally, I love the tone and pace of the first five issues, but I see why they could come out as "slow" for new readers.

Speaking of which, Ultimate Spider-Man (2024) is a perfect entry point for anyone who's looking to get into comic books. While knowledge of the greater Marvel universe is certainly helpful when it comes to The Maker, his true identity, and his overarching plan - it isn't strictly necessary. So if you're a fan of the web-slinger and looking for a place to start, then this series should be on top of your list.

Verdict: a must-read for superhero fans

Overall, the first five issues of Ultimate Spider-Man (2024) aren't just good; they're fantastic. Jonathan Hickman's human story coupled with Marco Checchetto's breath-taking artwork make for one of the best Spidey comic books in recent memory. Sure, the pacing could come as a little bit slow in some instances. Besides, issues #4 and #5 see artist David Messina take over the spot with illustrations that aren't as detailed as those of Checchetto (even if they're still good). But leaving those minor nitpicks aside, it seems Marvel caught lightning in a bottle once again with an Ultimate Spider-Man run.

So what's next? Well, I'm glad you asked. We'll review issues 6, 7, and 8 of Ultimate Spider-Man (2024) individually in the lead-up to the release of issue #9 later this month. From that point onwards, we'll review every new entry on a release basis. So be sure to stick around with Whatever A Spider Can for everything Spider-Man-related!