Merge:Ultimate Spider-Man

Ultimate Spider-Man is a superhero comic book series published by Marvel Comics. The series is a modernized re-imagining of Marvel's long-running Spider-Man comic book franchise. Ultimate Spider-Man is set outside the Marvel Universe continuity, in the Ultimate Marvel Universe, which it introduced.

The protagonist of Ultimate Spider-Man is Peter Parker, a teenager who lives in Queens, New York. He is bitten by a genetically altered spider and inherits its powers, including enhanced strength, agility and reflexes. When a burglar that Peter refuses to stop kills his uncle, he feels guilty and dedicates his life to fighting crime as the costumed vigilante Spider-Man. Peter tries to balance school, a job, a girlfriend, his family life with his widowed aunt, and his activities as Spider-Man. As opposed to the mainstream Spider-Man concept, Ultimate Spider-Man strongly focuses on genetic engineering as plot devices and largely bypasses supernatural elements such as radiation, magic, aliens, and space opera.

Ultimate Spider-Man first saw print in 2000 under veteran Spider-Man artist Mark Bagley and writer Brian Michael Bendis, who expanded the original 11-page origin story into a 180-page story arc. This duo has been collaborating to this day. Upon completion of issue #103, the two will break the record for the longest continuous collaboration between a writer and an artist on one title, a record previously held by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby for Fantastic Four. As of Issue #110, however, Mark Bagley will be leaving the book.

Beginning
Ultimate Spider-Man was the first series to be published in the Ultimate Marvel line. Publisher Bill Jemas wanted to reinvent the Marvel Universe because he felt that, with over 40 years of backstory, it had become inaccessible to new readers, and he wanted to start with a reinvented Spider-Man. Initially, Marvel Editor-in-Chief Joe Quesada was skeptical because 1998's Spider-Man: Chapter One, a previous attempt at re-envisioning Spider-Man's early adventures, failed both critically and commercially. Marvel writer David Mack suggested indie writer Brian Michael Bendis, whom Jemas and Quesada chose to write the new series. Marvel approached veteran Spider-Man artist Mark Bagley, who initially was not interested in joining the project and turned it down several times before signing.

In the first storyline, "Power and Responsibility" (Ultimate Spider-Man #1-7), Bendis presents a revamped version of the Spider-Man origin story first printed in Amazing Fantasy #15. Fifteen-year-old Peter Parker is less lonely than in the original story, but he is bullied. Orphaned as a child, Peter is raised by hipper, more assertive versions of Aunt May and Uncle Ben. Peter is a pupil at Midtown High School, a classmate of Mary Jane Watson, Liz Allen and Harry Osborn. Harry protects Peter against bullies Flash Thompson and new character Kenny "Kong" McFarlane. Harry's father Norman Osborn owns the laboratory where Peter is bitten, and in trying to duplicate the drug's effects becomes Spider-Man's villain.

The original Amazing Fantasy #15 story is only 11 pages long, but Bendis retells it as a 180-page, seven-part story arc in which Peter Parker becomes Spider-Man only after issue #5. Bagley was at first wary of Bendis' notoriously slow pace in advancing plot, describing it as a "real shock" at first. Previously, Jemas intended the comic to feature single-issue stories only, but Bendis chose his own way.

"Power and Responsibility" was greeted with enthusiasm from fans and critics, sold well, and gave Ultimate Marvel a boost in credibility. After the release of Ultimate Spider-Man, Quesada and Jemas broadened the Ultimate Marvel line with Ultimate X-Men, The Ultimates and Ultimate Fantastic Four. Ultimate Spider-Man #1 was voted the "ninth-greatest Marvel Comic of All Time" in 2001 by readers of Wizard: The Guide to Comics. In addition to critical success, Ultimate Spider-Man grew to outsell the flagship Spider-Man title, Amazing Spider-Man.

Establishing the series
Following "Power and Responsibility" is "Learning Curve" (Ultimate Spider-Man #8-13), in which Spider-Man fights the Kingpin and his henchmen, the Enforcers and Electro. Bendis describes issue #13, in which Peter tells Mary Jane his secret identity, as his favorite issue because it shows the trust the Ultimate Marvel office had in him. In the "Double Trouble" storyline (Ultimate Spider-Man #14-21), Peter meets J. Jonah Jameson and gains employment as a web designer, rather than as a photographer, for The Daily Bugle; fights Doctor Octopus, Justin Hammer and Kraven The Hunter; and meets a tough, street smart Gwen Stacy. In "Legacy" (Ultimate Spider-Man #22-27), Peter fights the the monstrous, mutated Norman Osborn again, assisted by Nick Fury. Reception and sales stayed strong, helped by the fact that Bendis and Bagley quickly found chemistry and liked working with each other.

In "Public Scrutiny" (Ultimate Spider-Man #28-32), a Spider-Man copycat killer terrorizes the public, and Gwen's father is killed, retelling his death from Amazing Spider-Man #90 (1970). Bendis, disliking the mainstream Venom and its extraterrestrial origin, completely reinvents the character in "Venom" (Ultimate Spider-Man #33-39). Peter meets Eddie Brock, a bright but irresponsible student who owns an experimental Venom balm that Eddie's and Peter's fathers invented while working on a cure for cancer.

In "Irresponsible" (Ultimate Spider-Man #40-45), Spider-Man meets the X-Men and fights the first original Ultimate Spider-Man villain, a mutant pyrokinetic named Geldoff. "Cats & Kings" (Ultimate Spider-Man #47-53) features two stories. The first reimagines a plotline from Amazing Spider-Man #91 (1970), about a corrupt politician named Sam Bullit; the second features Elektra and Black Cat. Bagley considers his artistic work on the depictions of the two women as among the finest he has done on this series. Ultimate Spider-Man #46 is a prelude to Ultimate Six, a limited series about the Ultimate version of the Sinister Six and a crossover with The Ultimates.

The continuing series
The "Hollywood" (Ultimate Spider-Man #54-59) storyline is a parody of the then-upcoming movie Spider-Man 2. In the story, an unauthorized film is in production about Spider-Man with Doctor Octopus as the main villain. The film's male lead Tobey Maguire, Bruce Campbell, director Sam Raimi and Marvel-movie head Avi Arad appear in cameo roles.

In "Carnage" (Ultimate Spider-Man #60-65), Bendis reinvents the Carnage character, writing him as a vampiric monster derived from a blood sample from Peter Parker. Carnage murders Gwen Stacy, and Peter blames himself for it. Bendis states that killing Gwen brought him a lot of hostile fan reactions, even surpassing the animosity when he killed off Hawkeye in Avengers Disassembled .The story also introduces the NYPD Captain Jean DeWolff.

"Superstars" (Ultimate Spider-Man #66-71) depicts Peter meeting Doctor Strange, Johnny Storm and Wolverine. In "Hobgoblin" (Ultimate Spider-Man #72-78), Peter fights Harry Osborn, who becomes the Hobgoblin.

"Warriors" (Ultimate Spider-Man #79-85) features a gang war in which Hammerhead, Iron Fist, Shang-Chi and Moon Knight are embroiled. Ultimate Spider-Man Annual #1 (October 2005) introduces a romance between Peter Parker and Kitty Pryde of the X-Men.

"Silver Sable" (Ultimate Spider-Man #86-90) introduces the female mercenary of the same name. This arc ties in to another Spider-Man product, the Ultimate Spider-Man video game that came out at that time (see below). "Deadpool" (Ultimate Spider-Man #91-94) features Deadpool and his Reavers, and "Morbius" (Ultimate Spider-Man #95-96) features Morbius and Blade. Miles Warren appears as Aunt May's love interest. Morbius also shows up along the way.

"Clone Saga" is a reference to a controversial mainstream Spider-Man story arc. A mysterious Spider-Woman and two duplicates of Peter Parker (one in a Scorpion costume) appear and Gwen Stacy re-appears as if she had not died. After Peter confesses to Aunt May that he is Spider-Man, she tells him to leave but is unsurprised when Peter bumps into his father on the way out the door, who explains that he was not in the plane when it crashed and that he went underground all this time. He tries to explain his role in Gwen's In Ultimate Spider-Man Annual #2 Peter battles the Kangaroo, the Punisher, Moon Knight and Daredevil. The Kingpin returns and Captain Jean DeWolff is shot down by the Punisher. Also featured is a team-up between Daredevil and Moonknight.

Commercial success
Ultimate Spider-Man quickly established itself as a hit comic. The following table shows the development of comic sales in comparison with the mainstream title, Amazing Spider-Man.

Peter Parker / Spider-Man
Fifteen-year-old Peter Parker is a shy, intelligent high school student who lives in Forest Hills, Queens, New York City, with his Uncle Ben and Aunt May Parker. On a science field trip to Osborn Industries, a genetically altered spider bites Peter. Instead of dying as expected, Peter inherits the spider's abilities including increased strength, agility, reflexes, the ability to cling to walls, and a precognitive "spider sense" that warns him of danger. During a fight at his school, Peter accidentally breaks a boy's hand. He earns money to pay off the resulting medical bill by wrestling professionally in a costume the promoters provide. A burglar Peter refuses to stop later kills Peter's Uncle Ben and Peter, wracked with guilt, modifies his wrestling costume and dedicates his life to fight crime. Peter tries to balance school, a job, a girlfriend, his aunt May and his life as Spider-Man, which proves to be difficult.

For detailed plot synopses, see Ultimate Spider-Man (story arcs).

Supporting cast

 * May Parker is a pillar of strength for Peter. She is an independent woman in her 50s who works as a secretary. She regularly sees a therapist to deal with her feelings after Ben's death. May hates Spider-Man because she believes he has no regard for innocent bystanders and hides his face behind a mask. In issue #99, she learned Peter's secret identity.
 * Ben Parker is a gentle, intelligent man who tells Peter that power comes with responsibility. He is killed by a burglar in the series' first story arc.
 * Mary Jane Watson is Peter's best friend and next-door neighbor. She is the first person Peter tells about his being Spider-Man, and she sews Peter's spare costumes. Although Peter and Mary Jane love each other, Peter's life as Spider-Man is a burden on their relationship.
 * Harry Osborn is the troubled son of Norman Osborn. He witnesses the accident that turns his father into the Green Goblin. His father brainwashes him into repressing memories. Disturbed by witnessing his father's "death", he begins to "see things", turns into an orange monster, and is defeated by Spider-Man. As the Hobgoblin, his powers are similar to the Green Goblin's, but he appears to be perpetually on fire.
 * Peter works at the Daily Bugle newspaper as a web designer. His boss is J. Jonah Jameson, the editor-in-chief who hates Spider-Man and runs a smear campaign against him, which stems from the death of his son John. His most important employees are his right-hand man Robbie Robertson and Ben Urich, the Bugle's star reporter whose articles helped take down the Kingpin. Betty Brant is one of the secretaries.
 * Gwen Stacy is streetwise girl who befriends Peter and Mary Jane. Her father is NYPD Captain John Stacy, who has romantic feelings for Aunt May. He is killed by a criminal in a Spider-Man suit, and she blames the real Spider-Man for his death. Aunt May opens her and Peter's home to Gwen after Gwen's mother refuses to take her. While living with the Parkers, Gwen is killed by Carnage, which instills Peter with even more guilt. In Ultimate Spider-Man #98, Gwen Stacy appears again mysteriously, alive and well. And in Ultimate Spider-Man #100 she was revealed to be the new Carnage.
 * At Midtown High School, Peter often meets Liz Allen, Mary Jane's best friend, Fred "Flash" Thompson, a bully who torments Peter, and his best friend Kenny "Kong" McFarlane, who joins Flash in picking on Peter, but is a big fan of Spider-Man.
 * Kitty Pryde is a member of the X-Men who dates Peter after he breaks up with Mary Jane. Kitty wears a green and yellow masked costume so that she can fight alongside Peter as Spider-Man.
 * The Black Cat, Felicia Hardy, she blames her father's death on the Kingpin. Taking revenge, she steals a priceless artifact that he was going to use on his comatose wife. Hardy is interested in Spider-Man romantically, but when she sees that he is a pimply 15-year-old boy, she vomits on his costume.
 * Nick Fury, the tough, powerful and connected head of S.H.I.E.L.D., wants Peter to join The Ultimates when he is an adult. In issue# 27, he tells Peter that he becomes property of S.H.I.E.L.D. when he turns 18 whether he likes it or not.
 * Dr. Curt Conners is a professor at Empire State University who sponsors Eddie Brock's Venom project. He tries to re-grow the arm he lost in the Vietnam War with lizard DNA, and he accidentally becomes the Lizard. Using a sample of Peter's blood, he inadvertently creates Carnage.
 * Jeanne de Wolfe is a captain in NYPD. She offers support and comfort to Peter whenever the strain of being a crimefighter becomes too much for him. She is secretly working for the Kingpin. She is killed by the Punisher in Ultimate Spider-Man Annual #2.
 * Richard Parker Peter's long-thought dead father. Part of the team that helped to create the Venom suit, along with Edward Brock Sr. He had problems with how the suit was going to be used and didn't get on the plane Peter had always heard his parents died in, because he didn't want involvement in the project anymore. Since that time he had been working as an underground scientist to combat Nick Fury if and when he'd one day get out of control. After Gwen Stacy returned to the Parker's old house, he reappeared to try to clear everything up.

Villains

 * Green Goblin, Norman Osborn, is the unscrupulous CEO of Oscorp. He develops an experimental drug called "OZ". After witnessing Peter's spider bite and seeing the resulting effects that OZ has on him, Osborn injects OZ into his body. He is changed into an insane, powerful monster
 * The Shocker A common criminal named Herman who wears devices that shoot electricity on his hands. He has no fighting skills and is nothing more than an annoyance to Spider-Man, who he has fought against on at least five separate occasions.
 * The Kingpin Wilson Fisk is the head of New York corporate crime. Fisk's wife is in a coma.
 * The Enforcers are a group of henchmen that includes "Mr. Big" Frederick Foswell, lasso-wielding "Montana" Bale, strongman Bruno "Ox" Sanchez and gunslinger "Fancy Dan" Rubinstein.
 * Electro, one of the Kingpin's hitmen, gained his powers from genetic tampering.
 * Doctor Octopus, Dr. Otto Octavius, is one of Osborn's scientists and an industrial spy. The four cybernetic arms he uses to manipulate hazardous matter were permanently melded to his flesh in the explosion that turns Osborn into the Green Goblin.
 * Kraven The Hunter, Sergei Kravinoff, is the host of an action reality show. He wants to kill Spider-Man to boost his ratings. After his defeat, he tampers with his DNA to become a gruesome wolf-like monster.
 * Venom, Eddie Brock, Jr., is a university student who was Peter's childhood friend. He is the son of Peter's father's long-time collaborator on an experimental power-increasing symbiote named Venom. Eddie comes into contact with Venom and becomes a super-strong monster.
 * Carnage is a vampiric organism created when Dr. Curt Conners experiments on his own blood, Peter's blood and some of the material from the Venom creation. Needing to feed on others constantly to repair his damaged DNA, he kills Gwen Stacy. In Ultimate Spider-Man #100, an over-worked Gwen Stacy transforms into Carnage.
 * Spider-Carnage was the result of Adrian Toomes and the employees of Bolivar Trask injecting a strange drug into Peter that caused remaining Venom particles to grow and take over him. The Spider-Carnage suit was absorbed by Venom, who then gains full control over his suit.
 * Hammerhead A rival gang boss to the Kingpin. While he was lying low from the law Hammerhead tried to take his territory, leading to a super powered gangwar.
 * Silver Sable is a mercenary who leads a group called the Wild Pack. Sable had a troubled childhood, ignored by her father and abused by her alcoholic mother. Her father hunted Nazis, and she forgave him at his deathbed and decided to follow in his footsteps.
 * Vulture is a disgruntled former S.H.I.E.L.D agent, who is been hired to the head of a corporation.
 * Deadpool is a mercenary employed by the mutant-hating island nation of Genosha to hunt and kill the X-Men. He abducts and fights Spider-Man as a bonus.
 * Scorpion: A crazed Scorpion appears to be a clone of Peter, sharing 94.4% of Peter's DNA.
 * Spider-Woman: In issue #98, whilst investigating Mary-Jane Watson's disappearance, Spider-Man encounters a mysterious masked woman who knocks him unconscious. The character is able to shoot webbing out of her finger tips. During a panel discussion at the New York Comic-Con, writer Brian Michael Bendis mentioned that the Ultimate version of Spider-Woman would make an appearance during the "Ultimate Clone Saga", which is scheduled to run in Ultimate Spider-Man #97 - 104.

The not-so-secret identity
In Ultimate Spider-Man, quite a few people know that Peter Parker is Spider-Man, in contrast to the regular Marvel comics, in which only a few people know before Peter goes public.

The people who know Peter's secret include Norman Osborn, Mary Jane Watson , Doctor Octopus, Dr. Curt Conners, Dr. Strange, Nick Fury and high-level S.H.I.E.L.D. agents, the Ultimates , Electro , Sandman , Kraven the Hunter , Harry Osborn, Gwen Stacy , Eddie Brock, Jr., The X-Men, The Fantastic Four , May Parker , Richard Parker, Henry Gyrich and others in the CIA.

People who have seen Spider-Man unmasked but do not know his name include Kingpin, Black Cat , the Enforcers, Morbius , Silver Sable and her Wild Pack , and Donald Roxxon.

Video game

 * Main article: Ultimate Spider-Man (video game)

Released September 23, 2005, the Ultimate Spider-Man video game focuses on the return of Venom three months after his fight with Spider-Man. The striking thing about this game is that it is canonical: The video game contains elements which affect the future Ultimate Spider-Man comics, such as the R.H.I.N.O. being a man in a giant robot suit (as depicted in the Ultimate Spider-Man Annual) and Spider-Man calling the Shocker by his first name.

Marvel references and cameos

 * ''Main article: Ultimate Spider-Man: Marvel references and cameos