Ultimate Spider-Man #15 makes a detour from the primary Sinister Six story so that the Parker family gets the opportunity to get on the same page while furthering the Kingpin plot. Hickmans script pays close attention to its depictions of equalizing the interpersonal relations for the family, whether it be Peter and MJs late-night chat, Richards text flirting with Black Cat, or even the Spider-Man team-up. Messinas artwork strikes the right balance of fluid action, assured conversations, and overwhelming threats. When layered with Wilsons coloring, which offers interesting spins on the typical hues in the palette, the pages find a new sense of beauty in the desert and terror back in the city. Read Full Review

The issue won't have you on the edge of your seat like previous issues have. But it's still a great read nonetheless. It ratchets up the tension surrounding Peter & his family from every front. The fuse is lit on the powder keg, and the keg keeps getting bigger. And I cannot wait to see the inevitable explosion that happens. This is an issue you're definitely going to want to pick up this week! Read Full Review

Ultimate Spider-Man #15 keeps the narrative moving with a mix of thrilling action and engaging character moments. While the Sandman fight could have had more back-and-forth and some subplots are only briefly touched on, the issue excels in teasing future developmentsespecially Richard's evolving role, Black Cat's growing presence, and Uncle Ben's possible influence on The Maker's plans. A solid entry that continues to build on the series' strength. Read Full Review

Ultimate Spider-Man #15 is a strong character focus chapter. This was very much needed after the game-changing experience Peter Parker went through against Kraven the Hunter. The family vacation angle Peter's dynamic with MJ and his son, who is now also operating as the second Spider-Man, have a lot of great development. The ending with how Wilson Fisk factors back into the story is sure to drive what we will see happen in the future of this series. It's a future with plenty of intriguing angles to be explored from various characters' perspectives. Read Full Review

Messina delivers some great art in the issue. I loved the camera angles on many of the scenes and the interactions between characters looked amazing. Read Full Review

Ultimate Spider-Man #15 is a perfectly serviceable issue with gorgeous art, the introduction of another Ultimate version of a classic Spidey villain, and very little progress on anything else. Jonathan Hiackman's script excels in the individual character moments, but the plot progress leaves a lot to be desired, and the supervillain introduction/fight feels like it was thrown in at the last minute. As a plus, David Messina's art is a strong fill-in for the main artist, Marco Checchetto. Read Full Review

Plot
Peter, MJ, Richard Parker, and May are on "vacation" in a trailer in the middle of a desert, aiming to stay as far away from attack as possible after Kraven's attack and Harry's death.

This group of trailers features many people escaping the system, conspiracy theorists, and people living in paranoia.

Richard and Peter have a conversation about being Spider-Man, and Peter asks the artificial intelligence in Richard's suit to look after him. The two go to an abandoned military base where rumors of a monster are rife.

There, they confront the Sandman, who tries to destroy a tower that emits a wave that causes his sand body to splinter. Richard destroys the tower, and Sandman regains his human body and thanks them. He explains that he's been living this anguish for three years, thanks to the A.I.M. scientists.

Peter and Richard make a good team, of course. Peter has superpowers, and Richard relies on his suit. Richard is beginning to develop a closer relationship with Black Cat/Felicia Hardy.

Peter calls his Uncle Ben from a burner phone to check on the situation with the Kingpin, who is currently in his office threatening them.

The future of Peter and his family is still in danger because of the Kingpin, so this new phase of the runaways is a real test of family harmony.

Art
It's very organic, with some textures that seem to have an Asian influence, and it's very shiny.

Summary
Peter and Richard team up against the Sandman, while the entire Parker family lives in hiding from the Kingpin. more

Excellence continues.

Definitely a step back from the prior issue with the new level set.

My least favorite issue so far, but still a pretty good one. I feel like that's, kind of, a testament to how good the previous fourteen issues have been. That said, Messina does a solid job filling in for Marco Checchetto. As for the story, I understand criticisms towards the real-time structure, and I agree with them to a certain degree. However, it doesn't really bother me as much as it does others, luckily.

Time jumps are getting more jarring.

What happened to MJs face?

I liked most of it, but I agree with others that it passed over a lot of missing pieces since last issue.

This issue really shows the cracks in this series. I understand that Hickman views each issue like a month has passed in real time, and that's fine. But the problem is that the pacing in this issue is kind of whack, and for once I can see how Gabe Hernandez gave this a lower score. Last issue we see Peter Parker and Mary Jane run away. But then this issue they're just chilling on a vacation. And I realize something.

A lot of things happen OFF-SCREEN. For example from Issue 12 we see the symbiotic resembling Peter Parker in the last pages. But in issue 13, Peter's son is wearing the symbiote. Again, it is inferred that the symbiote must have revealed its identity, and Mary Jane lets her own teenage son go out and fight crime while risking his life. But at least have it SHOWN to us.

This brings me back to this issue. Peter somehow knows that his son and the symbiote are working together. But it's OFF-SCREEN. Most of the important plot points or strong character moments that we can be attached to aren't shown, and are just told. And I literally forgot about Ben Parker and J Jonah Jameson. I forgot that they were writing a piece for Wilson Fisk in Issue 10, and they were celebrating in Issue 12.

Overall, I understand that Jonathan Hickman is a long-form story-writer. He likes to plan out seeds and do slow-burn. In the moment, the books may be boring, but when read from start to finish after Hickman finishes his saga, it ages like fine wine. And I have no doubt that Hickman will put out a strong spider-man series, probably the definitive Adult Spider-Man series of all time. But his run is not perfect, and just because it is vastly superior amazing and spectacular compared to the main Spider-Man series, doesn't mean it's perfect. And I have to point this out. There are a couple of genuine constructive criticism, like how Mary Jane doesn't feel like a real person, and I do wish we have more time spent on Peter's kids. The art is okay, the fight was decent.

But kudos to Hickman for making it this far for me to give this issue a 7/10. That's a pretty tall feat more

I was not a fan of this as much as I was the previous issues.

Every issue focusing on one month is really hurting this book. Because we miss crucial moments between the main cast of this book and it makes it seem like nothing important happens between the issues.

MJ is just fine with Peter being gone for over a month, tortured and having his identity revealed, which causes them to go on a run for over a month. And that her son is doing the same? Okay, if the point is she pucts on an act, I expect to see something else too. Like this is just perfect wife again and not a real character. Why can't we see the talks between these issues, where we see how characters actually feel about stuff that happens? Why do we need to spent 1/2 of an issue to Sandman, who isn't important character on this book and doesn't seem to be for the next 3 issues. Instead of just... Peter and how he feels that his son is risking his life to do the same that Peter himself did and that causes them to go on a run.

It's a fine singular issue. But overall, I can't be invested on the main cast, if the book isn't either.

Thankfully something happens with Ben and Jonah. But the last time we saw the Ben Reilly story beat was on #10, which is 5 months ago in the book's timeline. So, what happened during that 5 month period for the Paper? more

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daspidaboy - Mar 27, 2025

I just realize that Peter Parker learned about his son with the symbiote off-screen. I also realize that between Issue 12 and 13, the symbiote bonded with Richard Parker and that's off-screen. I get the monthly flash-forwards are to coincide with a future event in the new Ultimate Universe, but at least show flashbacks so we are SHOWN important character moments so we can be attached to them

Afre - Mar 28, 2025

Exactly. It's hard to care, when we don't see any of those moments

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Art: 3/5
Story: 3/5
Total: 6/10

Why the hell is this site still including reviews by Gabe Hernandez?

The guy literally gives EVERY single comic a low score. He single handidly is bringing down the averages of several great series on this site. His reviews read like rage bait in order to drive up hits on his page.

The guy is a hack, and this site loses credibility by including his reviews.

PS This issue is a 10.

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• sawright20

motorik - Mar 31, 2025

The guy is a ball of negative energy.

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