REVIEW: ‘Ultimate Spider-Man’ Issue #3

Ultimate Spider-Man #3 is published by Marvel Comics, written by Jonathan Hickman, art by Marco Checchetto, colors by Matthew Wilson and letters by Cory Petit. Spider-Man finds himself caught in the crossfire between Green Goblin and Bullseye.

This issue escalates the drama and the superheroes of the new Ultimate Universe. The series has had a leisurely pace for a while, building up the world and the pillars that must be established before they can be brought down. The familial and political structures work brilliantly, giving Hickman options and variety to bounce his ideas off. Spider-Man can go from looking after his children to visiting Uncle Ben and Jonah’s new business venture, then to a more action-packed part of the book.

And yet, whilst all these elements exist in the main Marvel Universe, each avenue explored in Ultimate Spider-Man #3 features parts that would be impossible in the regular comic. That brings the surprises to the book. Bullseye has been part of the series since the first issue, but throwing him into that first meeting between goblin and spider disrupts the natural order of things. It changes the outcome entirely and leads to a complete shift in the dynamic.

The characters and dialogue between them are fantastic. Peter has support in this book by a magnificent supporting cast. The issue’s young and old figures add something of immense value. Having his daughter, May, know about his secret identity is adorable and charming while providing enormous amounts of peril to the plot. The moments where she is helping craft Spider-Man as an identity are warm and beautiful. Likewise, the friendship between Uncle Ben and Jonah is decades long, and that comes across brilliantly.

Green Goblin’s personality is very unexpected during his proper introduction to the comic. The depth within him is an excellent sign for further character development. As for Bullseye, he is a personal favourite. Whereas Spider-Man and Green Goblin are new to any form of super heroics, the assassin seems to have experience. Bouncing between the three shows a terrific approach to the fight scene.

The art is glorious. The etching of the longest fight scene in the series so far is perfect. All three involved parties in the confrontation have a complete face covering. Yet we can still identify emotions through body language and the dialogue. The new designs are stunning and extensive. When Green Goblin moves, it is noisy, coughing out smoke from the glider.

In contrast, Bullseye and Spider-Man are pure grace and athleticism. The time spent with May is also outstanding. A brief montage shows several different costume possibilities, allowing Checchetto to experiment briefly. It’s a lot of fun, and the detail is exceptional. May looks tiny and has some unique costumes of her own that give her more personality.

The issue pits three different sets of colors  against one another. Those colors are awesome, grounded within the naturalised art style but vibrant and fantastical enough. Spider-Man is red, Green Goblin is, well, green and purple, and Bullseye is all blue. This very distinctly sets the trio apart. The montage of suits also switches up the color palette drastically within the same page. The lettering has become very similar to what the X-Men titles used after Hickman’s work on that side of the Marvel Universe, and it is easy to read.

Ultimate Spider-Man #3 gives the series energy and exuberance. Many parts of the book don’t feel like a Hickman comic, which is refreshing. While always meticulously detailed and well-written, previous ventures could feel too scientific and universe-altering to get down to character specifics. In contrast, Ultimate Spider-Man has a singular focus, which has led to spectacular development. The book has a playful attitude and a sense of fun fused with the danger and drama. At every turn, a twist shakes up assumptions that Spider-Man fans can start to craft, telling completely new stories with familiar characters.

Ultimate Spider-Man #3 is available where comics are sold.