Ultimate Spider-Man #8 may turn off readers looking for bombastic spectacle or knock-down, drag-out action but is a godsend for those interested in rich character work, clear thought in long-term plotting, and verbal tit-for-tats. Read Full Review

No one is doing world-building better than Jonathan Hickman and Marco Checchetto on Ultimate Spider-Man. Read Full Review

It's taking characters we've known for so long, and not presenting them in a way that we've seen before. This issue along with the whole series should be at the top of everyone's must read list. It's still early in the series, so it won't take long for you to catch up if you haven't started yet. Read Full Review

Checchetto delivers beautifully detailed and emotionally exciting art throughout the issue. I really like the interpretations of the characters in this world and how some are more physically menacing. Read Full Review

A slower issue on some scale, Ultimate Spider-Man #8 continues to flesh out new takes on villains, nuanced differences on classic characters, and a decidedly adult fresh look at Spider-Man. Read Full Review

Jonathan Hickman, Marco Checchetto, and Matthew Wilson's reimagining of Peter Parker's Spider-Man continues to be one of my favorite comics of 2024. Read Full Review

Ultimate Spider-Man #8 does a great job with interpersonal relationships but lacks the conflict to drive the plot. Read Full Review

One disappointing scene and two really fun scenes make for another excellent issue of Ultimate Spider-Man, though sometimes I worry that the comic focuses too much on the big picture. Read Full Review

Final Thoughts Another good issue, this book gives me hope for the Ultimate line. A great story is developing, Harry Osborn is slowly but surely coming apart, and our team of villains has come together. Peter is in a lot of danger, and he doesnt know it yet. Pick this up! Read Full Review

Ultimate Spider-Man #8 marks the next in an increasingly disappointing series as Peter Parker spends the day at a birthday party while the Kingpin makes plans. If the goal was to get Earth-6160's heroes ready for the Maker's return, he's taking the slowest, least urgent road possible to get there. At $5 dollars per issue, Marvel can't afford to continue to waste the readers' time and money on a premium series that's treading water. Read Full Review

I'm not even a big Spiderman fan, but this Ultimate run has been one of if not THE best thing in comics for eight months running now. The writing is sharp and natural, the art is impeccable, and the plot is fresh despite being a retelling. Extremely enjoyable book, and the most I've enjoyed a Spiderman book in longer than I can remember.

This is comic perfection! The plot threads that Hickman is setting up, the little moments he gives to every character, Checchetto’s masterful art—just spectacular.

The best current Marvel comic, bar none.

Every character is pretty much perfect. I was always wary of Hickman touching Spider-Man because I wasn't sure what he'd do with it. Not in a bad way but he moves things along in ways people don't generally appreciate until this story has reached it's end but here, he's got it down. How he packs so much heart and soul into a single page of dialogue between Jonah and Richard, two characters we've really not gone too in depth on in this series so far and tells you so much about them as individuals speaks volumes about his talent and care for this book.

This was definitely a crescendo on the series. What a great issue. I am so excited!

Plot
Peter and MJ celebrate Richard and May's birthday, who are celebrating in the same month, JJ Jameson and Ben are invited, who offers Peter the opportunity to be the new editor of his newspaper that is about to come out in a month, Peter Tuda. The name of this newspaper has not yet been revealed.

Weeks before, Peter and Harry asked Tony Strak many questions about his suits and technology, Tony makes Harry look ridiculous. The most shocking revelation is that Peter Parker was the first on The Maker's list to prevent him from becoming Spider-man at all costs, his existence is key to the era of heroes. The return of The Maker is in just over a year.

Kingpin assembles a team of exemplary people, all criminal leaders from the different territories that Kingpin controls. Mr Negative/Mr Li, Black Cat/Walter Hardy, Kraven, Mysterio and Mole Man, leaving Kingpin as the Sixth Member of this lethal team. The new character designs are bold, but the Mole Man one is mind-blowing.

This new arc continues with mystery and suspense, although this installment did not have any action sequences, the dialogues continue to prepare us for a lot of drama.

Art
It is loaded with cool details that explode in your face supported by subtle and well-placed textures, which gives a raw and powerful tone to this story that shakes and gives a realistic twist to Spider-man.
It is organic and dynamic.

Summary
Peter and Harry have a briefing with Tony Stark with powerful revelations, while Kingpin prepares a team to hunt down and eliminate Spider-man and Green Goblin. more

Still the best Spider-Man book on the market

Definitely my favorite issue so far. I love the worldbuilding with Kingpin's lieutenants, the new twist on the symbiote, and the overtly shippable Ben/Jonah relationship. And of course the beautiful art!

Another really good issue that does an especially nice job of world-building towards the end. I was super intrigued by Kingpin's Sinister Six, and I'm really looking forward to seeing them more in this run. Tony's meeting with Peter and Harry was definitely a highlight for this issue, as well.

It's not a masterpiece, but it's one of the most fun time that I have had with spidey in a long time. Great issue!

Another enjoyable issue. But I am a bit miffed at the lack of Spidey action I remember getting in every issue I used to buy of the old series. I mean we are 8 issues in and he's still accomplished pretty much nothing as a crime fighter. Has he even caught so much as a litterbug yet? By Amazing #8 he'd taken down a ton of crooks, not to mention he beat the Vulture TWICE. So far in his most major battle here he got his ass kicked. I can understand Hickman's desire to show a Spider-Man whose start is even shakier than the original's was, not to mention much more difficult to adapt to, but come on. We're nearly a year in and not much has been accomplished but him getting a costume and name. Let's pick up the pace a bit here, huh?
On the upside this issue did give us a little more insight into young Richard. It seems he's got some of the same social insecurities his father had. It's also interesting seeing his relationship with Jonah, who seems to see promise in the lad. He may eventually become a mentor to the kid. That would be an interesting way to show his development. It's also interesting seeing how much more mellow Jonah is here. I guess having Ben for a best friend has had quite an impact. A clever new concept when you consider neither of them ever got to even meet in the regular Universe.
Though he's been overdoing it on the slice of life stuff I will give Hickman credit for at least giving the readers what they want, which is why this book is killing Amazing, which, thanks to Wells is now selling primarily to completionist collectors. It's also why it hasn't lost steam like Ultimate Black Panther, which is rapidly declining and Ultimate X-Men, which is really just a girls' fantasy manga.
I'm also expecting this book to outlive any of DC's Absolute copycat books. They're reshaping their heroes into what they want, not the readers. The polar opposite of Ultimate Spider-Man. That's why they'll likely fail while this will continue to succeed.
I also expect the action to build up a bit soon with Kingpin's new team of villains gunning for Spider-Man. It is tough to fit Uncle Ben and Jonah's business venture, the Parkers and web swinging into 22 pages, but if Hickman can find a way he's got the book that will define his career pinned down. #9 should be good, providing Hickman doesn't give us another 90% slice of life story and the bad guys not striking till the last 2 or 3 pages.
Ultimate Spider-Man is all I get by Marvel anymore. I think they're making a mistake by expanding this universe too fast, but aside from this Iron Man's appearances, which I hope remain limited, it doesn't impact this book too much. It's still worth getting, especially if you only get one Marvel book. more

Art: 4/5
Story: 3.5/5
Total: 7.5/10

It's well written. Has some good parts. Art is great. It just didn't feel very exciting to read. Very straightforward with some set up.

This has turned into a slice of life book. I'm out. No action, no need for Iron Man even to be there. His prescence accomplished absolutely nothing. The rest of the book is about the family. Up until the end where we find out they are race swapping Blck Cat for no reson. This is a drop for me. I've given it enough chances.

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the dark knight of the moon - Aug 26, 2024 (edited)

did you actually read the issue, or you’re just biased?

fzanca - Aug 26, 2024

I've read all 8 issues and reviewed all of them on my channel. Biased against what? I don't understand your question. This has simply turned into a slice-of-life comic featuring the Parker family with an occasional action scene thrown in every few issues. I also think that Hickman race-swapping Black Cat in the upcoming issue is extremely racist. Since the character has black in it's name, the character has to be black?

DDJamesB - Aug 28, 2024

I can get the criticism of the story, but you are reaching hard with that Black Cat stuff.

Comics Code Authorities - Sep 16, 2024

I've also found it lacking in the action Spider-Man is so known for. But I've actually got hopes this arc will eventually provide some at last. Let's just hope I'm not wrong.

Hex - Nov 27, 2024

Making a character who is historically white, a person of color is not racist. Being upset that they changed their race for no reason is. It doesn't change the story in any way whatsoever. This is an entirely different universe. There is no established "color" for Black Cat. They are simply colored in a darker shade. Don't hide behind the "Black Cat moniker has to make them black," attempt at deflection. There is no reason to be upset unless you have a problem with said skin color.

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