Spider-Man and his family are on the run after the events of Ultimate Spider-Man #14, but don’t tell MJ that. She’s calling it a vacation. Ever the optimist and a major reason why fans love Ultimate Spider-Man. The vacation takes them to the Grand Canyon, and given the cover of Ultimate Spider-Man #15, there’s a sandy villain that suits the location.
Ultimate Spider-Man #15 opens in March, one month since the last issue. Peter Parker just woke up and is taking a stroll from his family’s camper. Ever the hero, he’s aware not helping others with his powers means people are suffering, but MJ reminds him with a smile it’s his job right now to keep his family safe.
Two new things in this issue will probably excite fans. One is Richard and Peter teaming up, and the other is Sandman. Customary of Ultimate titles, Sandman has a different origin, and it’s satisfying to get that origin in a single issue. It’s a fairly simple origin, but getting it in one story is still nice.
The team-up involves fighting Sandman, and David Messina’s pencils always look sharp and dramatic, especially the costumes of both Spider-Men. Truthfully, it’s more of a one-sided battle, but Richard’s picotech suit gets some further play.
Love that black suit.
Credit: Marvel
The scene stealer in this issue is Richard’s texting with Black Cat. There was chemistry between the two in the last issue, and it’s an area writer Jonathan Hickman will explore going forward.
This issue also closes with a check-in with Uncle Ben, which is particularly enlightening since we haven’t seen him or Jameson in a few issues. It’s in this scene we see Hickman turning the screws on the more significant threat of The Maker and a tease that Uncle Ben may be a major factor in public opinion of the despot.
Outside of these elements, there’s a faint hint at what Gwen is up to, which honestly feels scarier than some might assume. Her boyfriend, Harry Osborn, is presumably dead, and she’s got the keys to a lot of tech and money. Surely, this won’t end with her seeking revenge on Spider-Man, right? It’s undoubtedly an element in Spidey comics we’ve seen before!
Ultimate Spider-Man #15 keeps the narrative moving with a mix of thrilling action and engaging character moments. While the Sandman fight could have had more back-and-forth, and some subplots are only briefly touched on, the issue excels in teasing future developments—especially Richard’s evolving role, Black Cat’s growing presence, and Uncle Ben’s possible influence on The Maker’s plans. A solid entry that continues to build on the series’ strength.
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