Ultimate Spider-Man reveals something's seriously wrong with Peter Parker

Ultimate Spider-Man (2024) has been the ultimate Christmas gift from Marvel. While the mainline series refuses to let its titular character have one win in the form of a lasting marriage, that mistake has been finally fixed in Jonathan Hickman's run. This new version of Peter is a grown man with two kids, a wife, and even a living uncle (yeah, it feels weird). All the way through, USM has presented a human story first, and a superhero epic second. That has allowed for plenty of touching and wholesome moments that have won over fans' hearts. However, things were never going to stay too good for so long.

Ultimate Spider-Man (2024) #12 is the latest issue in the series and it's set during the Hollydays (which is fitting given that it was released in December). It's a calm yet beautiful number that sees Mary Jane fix her relationship with her sister, J. Jonah Jameson get closer to Peter's son Richard Parker, and Uncle Ben sort of get a date. It all seems fine except for one little detail: Peter is awfully quiet. Now, that might not seem like a huge deal at first sight, but this is the Spider-Man we're talking about; the same superhero who can't stop making quips and puns even when in the most dire of situations. So it's awfully suspicious he's not talkative in "the most wonderful time of the year".

Things take a dark turn once Mary Jane receives a call from Gwen, who hasn't seen his spouse, Harry Osborn, in three days. So when M.J. asks Peter if he knows anything about Harry's whereabouts, a horrifying truth is finally revealed.

Something dark is impersonating Peter

Let's go back in time to the first issue of Ultimate Spider-Man (2024). In it, readers discover Iron Man sent Peter a package that included the spider that was supposed to give him superpowers in his teenage years along with a Picothech suit designed to fight crime. We later learn that the same costume is so technologically advanced not even the bright minds of Otto Octavius and Tony Stark can't completely understand it (as Tony's father created it). The suit is capable of camouflaging itself, changing colors and patterns, and even replicating the psyche of other people — which is a huge red flag.

Peter asks the suit to imitate him, and we see how the superhero appears to talk to himself while swinging across New York's skyline and saving the day. Naturally, we all assumed Jonathan Hickman was setting up the pieces for a Venom storyline. You know, one where Peter ditches the suit that grew attached to him, and then it finds a new host suitable for replicating the superhero's powers. However, I never expected the payoff to that setup to come so soon and to be so... different.

Turns out, Kraven the Hunter kidnapped the real Peter Parker along with Harry Osborn, and the version of "Peter" who's with M.J. and the rest of the family for the holidays is just the Pichotech suit impersonating him. It's a truly shocking plot twist that makes us rethink everything we thought we knew about the suit. Why did it suddenly decide to "turn evil"? After all, Doctor Octopus and Tony Stark were very clear about how advanced it is, meaning the Sinister Six (or anybody else) wouldn't have been able to hack it. Besides, it's worth remembering the suit practically begged Peter to remain in his home as an "advanced" defense system. Was it trying to infiltrate his home from the beginning?

We have to ask ourselves if the suit has been conspiring with the Sinister Six, and now it's covering for Kraven's mischievous plans. Does de suit have its own agenda? Or perhaps it's just trying to keep the Parker Watson family at ease during a difficult time? Well, one thing's for certain: issue #13 can't come quick enough to give us some much-needed answers. But for the time being, it looks like — for whatever reason — the suit decided to turn evil. And if that's the case, then Peter's family is in real danger.

Ultimate Spider-Man (2024) #13 will be released on Jan. 22, 2025.