We just learned Ultimate Spider-Man is ending, but don’t forget we’ve been given one of the best Spider-Man runs ever. Sometimes great things are best when they go out on top. There’s no danger of the series dropping after reading Ultimate Spider-Man #19, which further drops nods to the 616 universe while showing Kingpin may be far more outmatched than any of us could have anticipated.
Ultimate Spider-Man #19 opens in July, with Richard Parker and Black Cat on a roof, talking for the first time since the cliffhanger of the last issue. It’s sort of the calm before the storm, primarily due to Richard seemingly dead to rights in a room with supervillains last issue, but in a quietly spoken line by Black Cat, clearly something awful happened. As she puts it, “Or because of what you did?” A hard thing to believe since he’s a bright-eyed teen who wouldn’t hurt anyone.
The story then cuts to where we left off and fully delivers a moment that will shock and awe readers. Once again, the Ultimate Universe reminds us that nothing is off the table and creators aren’t holding back to fill issues. Big reveals need to happen largely because a month takes place between every issue. Time is moving as fast as our own, and the reveal of what Richard’s suit becomes is a showstopper. This changes everything.
Kingpin’s crew seems weaker than ever.
Credit: Marvel
Much of the rest of the issue is the fallout of how Richard got away and what being Spider-Man is doing to his family. Part of that involves watching Kingpin and his cronies swallow their pride as they try to discuss their next move, while Richard’s late return puts pressure on MJ and Peter.
The latter element will certainly worry readers of their bond, but once again, writer Jonathan Hickman treats them like fully fleshed-out adults. In a bit more realism, MJ makes good points about how Peter has put this family through a lot. It’s an honest take, one that’s usually ignored in superhero comics to keep the action up. It also culminates in a cliffhanger that should really ramp up MJ’s role in Spider-Man’s life.
Save for the Richard escape scene, much of this issue is characters talking. We do get to see characters in their suits, but artist Marco Checchetto keeps delivering on character acting. The showstopper scene with Richard is stunning and highly detailed, with fans of Venom needing to see this issue to believe it.
Ultimate Spider-Man #19 proves why this series is already an all-time great, delivering seismic twists, heartfelt drama, and art that refuses to pull punches, even as the series heads into its final stretch.
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