Read our review of Ultimate Spider-Man #3 from Marvel Comics, written by Jonathan Hickman with art by Marco Checchetto.
We reviewed the book on the Stack podcast. But in the interest of highlighting more about the title, here’s a summary of the conversation with our thoughts. And if you prefer the longer audio version, that’s below as well!
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Ultimate Spider-Man #3 Review:
In the third issue of this hit series, Spider-Man is trading in his black threads for a more pleasing costume… And coming into conflict with both Bullseye and Green Goblin.
Kicking things off, host Alex Zalben said, “I was iffy about the first issue, but I like this more and more every issue and I like the way this issue in particular was paced out. A lot of this is down to how Hickman is scripting out the thing, but the way that Checchetto is laying out the panels, there is so much cinematic tension.”
Zalben called out two moments in the issue for having that sense of tension. the first is when Ben Parker and J. Jonah Jameson are planning their newspaper and Peter happens to stop by, and the “camera” slowly pushes in on his face. And at the end, when Harry Osborn forces the costume off Peter, reveals both their faces, and asks if Peter wants to get a drink… “I knot this is the worst compliment for a comic book, but this feels like watching a movie while you’re reading it,” added Zalben.
“It’s core Spider-Man mythology, remixed in a way that is working,” added Justin Tyler. “The art’s fantastic. I love the characterization… The family element is really cool.”
While Tyler took issue with how “juiced up” Bullseye is in the issue, Zalben did note he’s a fan of the new Ultimate costume in the issue. And Pete LePage was happy that in this new, Ultimate universe, everyone is friends, from Jameson and Ben Parker, to Peter and Harry.
“I love this Ultimate world,” LePage said. “It doesn’t always have to be these giant battles… Let’s get a drink.”
Ultimate Spider-Man #3 Official Synopsis:
PETER PARKER’S NEW LIFE GETS EVEN MORE COMPLICATED… Spider-Man sizes up the new hero Green Goblin! As they team up to fight a new super villain, secrets about the corporations running North America are revealed… And you’ll never guess who discovers Spider-Man’s secret identity!
