Ultimate Spider-Man #22 is only the third-to-last issue of the series, which means a lot has to happen quickly. Aided by this is a three-month time jump, which leaves plenty of room for Jonathan Hickman and Marco Chechetto to keep readers guessing. That’s an extra three-month jump for the usual one, and it’s a surprise that leads to many revelations.
Ultimate Spider-Man #22 feels like the beginning of the end in many ways. It’s setting up the final push, while also dropping a few fun nods for superfans. Case in point, the first nod is to Superior Spider-Man, as we see a black costumed Spider-Man pick up some takeout and give the cashier guff. Soon, he’s headed into the Savage Land under New York, and thwipping his way to a finely made house. Removing the mask, we see it’s Doc Ock, and he’s practically family to Mary Jane and the kids. A shocker, to be sure.
From there, the story checks in on Peter, Jameson, Uncle Ben, and the state of MJ and Peter’s marriage (Spoilers: it’s going great). With only 20 or so pages, we also get a fun fight with Spider-Man and Green Goblin punching out Bullseye goons. Chechetto does a fantastic job with the fight scene, making for dynamic and exciting fight moves in only three pages, but they maximize the space.
What a trek.
Credit: Marvel
Possibly the biggest check-in is with Green Goblin, who appears to have a secret. I won’t spoil it, but it’s a big reason why this issue feels like half of it is set up, more than delivering satisfying arcs within the issue itself. There’s also a big setup with Richard Parker, but I won’t get into that, either. Know that Black Cat is still in play.
As with previous issues, the time jump leaves you wondering what we missed. It’s a neat way to create constant forward momentum, but at this point, it’s a bit of a cheat that forces the reader to come to grips with missed development. I use the word cheat, because it inherently creates interest and gaps for the reader to fill in with their own imagination, but when done for so long, it feels like we’ve been robbed of some story.
Ultimate Spider-Man #22 sets the stage for the series’s final act with strong momentum, sharp character work, and a few surprising twists that deepen the mythos. Hickman and Chechetto continue to deliver world-class storytelling, even if the constant time jumps risk shortchanging the quieter beats. As the end approaches, it’s clear the creative team is steering toward an ambitious, emotional conclusion – one that feels both inevitable and unpredictable.
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