Ultimate Spider-Man #10 review: the truth comes to light

Since the first issue of Ultimate Spider-Man (2024) hit shelves, the iconic duo of Uncle Ben and J. Jonah Jameson quickly became a fan favorite. The former is usually out of the picture in most Spider-Man stories, and the latter is normally pictured as a bitter man who tries to convince the whole city that Spider-Man is a menace. However, none of that remains true in Jonathan Hickman's run, as both characters are alive and well, and want to report on the stories that the Daily Bugle would never allow.

Fortunately, Ultimate Spider-Man (2024) #10 completely gives them the spotlight and lets us see why they're some of the most important characters in this series. And even if it wouldn't appear so at first glance, their work could prove even more dangerous than Spider-Man's. After all, the wall-crawler can defend himself and those he loves. But Uncle Ben and J. Jonah? Yeah, they're "heroes" for sure, but without any powers to defend themselves.

The Kingpin of crime shall fall

Wilson Fisk has been at the front and center of Ultimate Spider-Man (2024). He was the main antagonist of the series' first arc and brought together the Sinister Six to take down the friendly neighborhood hero and the Green Goblin. Furthermore, he controls New York City from the shadows courtesy of the Maker's Council. Right out of the gate, it's easy to see that the Kingpin has a lot of power in this series, and yet he's the one who Uncle Ben and J. Joah are going after.

Ultimate Spider-Man (2024) #10 tells the story of how the duo of journalists discover the truth behind their universe, and why the Kingpin is in such a powerful position. However, at no moment do they crumble under pressure, even when going face-to-face against the supervillain's layer and Harry Osborn. Their goal is clear; to tell the story of what happened behind the attack that everyone believes was Tony Stark's fault.

It's a pretty interesting storyline since it's usually Peter who audiences see do the investigative work. However, the way Uncle Ben and J. Jonah bounce off each other never fails to put a smile on my face. Even in the most dire of situations they manage to find a way to get the upper ground and make a joke or two along the way, just like Spider-Man. Their chemistry feels natural, and their work will surely have huge ramifications in the future.

It'll be interesting to see the consequences of their actions. Surely, The Kingpin of crime will go after them and everyone they love - which means Peter Parker, Mary Jane, May Parker, and Richard Parker are all in danger. Furthermore, they now know Harry Osborn is The Green Goblin, and Harry knows Peter is Spider-Man. So when the Goblin inevitably turns into a bad guy, will he tell them who the wall-crawler really is before going after them? Are the seeds being planted for J. Jonah Jameson to hate Spider-Man at some point in the future, as he usually does in other stories? The possibilities are as endless as they're exciting. The only problem is having to wait another whole month to see where the story goes and not being able to binge-read it at once.

A mystery that has already been solved

My only true problem with Ultimate Spider-Man (2024) #10 is how everything that Uncle Ben and J. Jonah Jameson discovered was information readers knew beforehand. That means we're just watching the duo of journalists play catch-up. It's a good read nonetheless, but it could've been better if we hadn't known Oscorp bought Stane/Stark Industries. That way, it's through their investigation that readers learn how Harry got the Goblin suit, and why he's so keen on taking down the Kingpin.

Unfortunately, Ben and Jonah's efforts to uncover the truth didn't push the story forward. Granted, thanks to this issue there will be interesting ramifications down the line. But that extra layer of learning something new with the characters - even just one small detail - was missing, without a doubt.

Verdict: a great team-up that sets up greater things to come

Overall, Ultimate Spider-Man (2024) #10 is another great read thanks to both of its stars. Uncle Ben and J. Jonah Jameson's chemistry is nothing short of delightful, and the dialogs between them never fail to entertain. We hope we can see them as the main characters of many more issues to come in the series. The only downside here is their investigative work just doubles down on information readers already knew beforehand. Had we learned something new along with the duo of journalists, then the issue would've reached greater heights.

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