Ultimate Spider-Man #16 promises the origin of Mysterio, which is a big deal given that they were there when Harry Osborn was shot dead. Many have presumed Harry can’t be dead — so much has been devoted to developing him! — but at the start of today’s issue, we see the headstone of the character. Surely he’s dead! Death is always final in comics, right?
To say Ultimate Spider-Man #16 rewrites everything we know about this version of Gwen Stacy would be an understatement. She’s the lead on the issue with flashbacks to when she was a child, and what she was thinking and doing in previous issues. In a sense, this issue resets what we know and how we might move forward. Since the moment she was introduced, she’s always had a bit of a different edge to her, and now we know why.
Spoilers ahead for Ultimate Spider-Man #16!
It’s hard to discuss this issue without spoiling the big reveal since it’s the main focus of the entire issue. Here goes: Gwen Stacy is Mysterio, or even more specifically, part of a Mysterio cabal, as it’s not a single “villain” but a group of Mysterio types with magical abilities. It turns out Gwen was born into this Mysterio cabal, which has ramifications for marrying Harry, and her involvement when Kraven kidnapped Peter and Harry a few issues ago.
In the style of Rashomon, we get to see Gwen’s point of view from nearly the start of the series. Not only does this issue recontextualize Gwen as a hero (or maybe villain, given an act Gwen does here) in her own right, but it shows Harry and Gwen truly are a power couple. She’s no longer simply “the girlfriend” as she’s typically seen in classic Spider-Man 616 comics, but a woman with a past, goals, and a secret power.
Given Gwen’s new role it suits Harry to be married to a classic villain.
Credit: Marvel
It’s also interesting to think of Mysterio not as a villain but as a kind of Illuminati organization with bigger goals than robbing a bank. In a revealing scene, the Mysterios get information, which reveals something about the larger universe. It’s info we already knew, but the fact that Gwen knows and uses it to influence the narrative of this series, and likely the direction of the larger fight against The Maker, is quite exciting. This series has largely allowed The Ultimates to do the bigger universe reveals, but this issue has a doozy to think about. As we push ever closer to The Maker returning, this issue does a lot to circle the wagons for this specific series’ characters, and even kick off an origin for a supervillain.
Marco Checchetto delivers yet another stunning issue. From the gloomy and atmospheric cemetery scene, masterfully colored by Matthew Wilson, to the cool translucent Mysterio effects, there’s much to consider. Sure, there’s no Spider-Man, but Checchetto puts you right there with Gwen for a bottle episode as she navigates a complicated secret life.
Ultimate Spider-Man #16 is a bold, brilliantly executed chapter that reshapes Gwen Stacy’s role in the Ultimate Universe, delivering a game-changing twist that feels both shocking and earned. Even with Spider-Man largely absent, the powerful character work, layered storytelling, and stunning visuals by Marco Checchetto make this one of the series’ most important and satisfying issues yet.
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