Ultimate Spider-Man (2024) #13 Review: Something Savage Is On The Horizon

Ultimate Spider-Man (2024) #13 was unusually surrounded by secrecy before its release. While readers usually get a few pages of preview to get them excited about what's to come, this time we had only one — which, oddly enough, only made us want to read the whole thing even more. However, there's a good reason the Marvel team wanted to keep things under wraps: The latest issue in Jonathan Hickman's saga has no shortage of twists, homages, and exhilarating moments from the get-go. So to keep in line with Marvel's wishes, I have to warn you: There will be spoilers ahead in this review. And in case you want a short, spoiler-free roundup, then, yes, Ultimate Spider-Man (2024) #13 keeps the series' almost flawless record going. But now, let's dive into how it accomplishes that.

Where is Peter Parker?

Ultimate Spider-Man (2024) as a whole introduced us to some key and very important characters in the form of May and Richard Parker — Peter and MJ's kids. The former has had the chance to steal the spotlight on multiple occasions given that she was the first to discover her dad has superpowers, kept the secret for a few issues, and eventually helped him design his super suit. Richard, on the other hand, has mostly remained silent in the background — which is odd because Peter's family is very important in the series. May chose the color palette of Spider-Man's costume, Mary Jane came up with his superhero title, Uncle Ben warned him about the potential consequences of being a hero, and Richard... well, he hadn't had an iconic moment to his name until now, and the wait was definitely worth it.

Ultimate Spider-Man (2024) #13 kicks things off with two very shocking revelations: First and foremost, there would appear to be a symbiote suit freely roaming around the streets of New York. Second: Peter Parker isn't the one wearing it, but his son Richard — and I have to say: I absolutely love the idea. Keeping his father's legacy alive even when he's missing is a brilliant way to keep Richard actively involved in the story, and it's also a nice callback to Kraven's Last Hunt where someone else pretended to be Spider-Man while Peter Parker was buried six feet underground. It's only unfortunate that Richard's first attempt at stopping a robbery happened off-pages, as it would've been amazing to see that unfold. But aside from that? It's such an interesting concept and I can't wait to see where it goes next, especially now that Black Cat officially entered the picture.

Speaking about Kraven, the supervillain takes the spotlight in Ultimate Spider-Man (2024) #13, and just by this issue alone you can already tell this iteration of the character truly has all the pieces that make him great in other adaptations. He wants a challenge. He wants a hunt where he has no advantage over his victims. He could easily let the Kingpin know he was the one to capture Peter and Harry and get all the recognition for himself. However that's not what he's after, but rather a worthy opponent. Hopefully, his fight against Peter and Harry is nothing short of memorable.

It's also worth highlighting that, while some would argue Ultimate Spider-Man (2024) has been a bit of a slow-burner, this issue immediately picks the pace up and presents readers with a dire situation that could have long-term consequences considering the Sinister Six now know the secret identities of Spider-Man and the Green Goblin. Speaking of the supervillain group, it's a very nice touch that they don't trust each other. Why would they? They were chosen by the Kingpin to control different sections of the city, meaning they would have every right to be rivals from the get-go. And either Mysterio has true superpowers, or many people are taking over the mantle and that's why he's everywhere all the time. Either way, I'm excited to know more about this iteration of the master of illusions.

Verdict: Yet another amazing issue

At this point, it doesn't come as a surprise that Ultimate Spider-Man (2024) has another hit in its hands. Issue #13 ups the pace, gives us a few nods towards other iconic Spider-Man stories, and leaves us wanting more. My one and only nitpick is we didn't get to see how Richard attempted to stop a crime while covering for his father. But aside from that? I love that the Sinister Six don't trust each other, I love that Kraven the Hunter has the traits you'd expect from the character, and I love the difficult situation Peter and Harry found themselves in. I can't wait to see where the story goes next, and hopefully, the wait doesn't feel that long.

Ultimate Spider-Man (2024) #14 will be released on Feb. 26, 2025.