It’s hard not to feel frustrated, even a little heartbroken, at the news that Ultimate Spider-Man is ending after just 24 issues. Jonathan Hickman and Marco Checchetto’s reinvention of Marvel’s most beloved hero has been one of the best, boldest, and most emotionally satisfying takes on Peter Parker in years.
It finally gave readers something they’ve wanted for almost two decades, a Spider-Man who’s grown up, married, and is a father, balancing his family life with his heroic responsibilities. And now, before this refreshing version of the Webslinger has even hit its stride, Marvel is pulling the plug.
Marvel’s Ultimate Spider-Man Showed Growth, Family And Hope
When Ultimate Spider-Man #1 debuted in January 2024, readers immediately recognized that Hickman and Checchetto were doing something special. Set in an alternate universe, one where The Maker had altered reality to prevent superheroes from ever existing, this version of Peter Parker never got bitten by a radioactive spider as a teenager. Instead, years later, Tony Stark discovers the truth about this tampered world and gives Peter the chance to become Spider-Man.
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However, this time he is a grown man with a family. From the very beginning, the series felt like a love letter to longtime fans who had watched Marvel repeatedly hit the reset button on Peter Parker’s life. After One More Day erased his marriage to Mary Jane Watson, Spider-Man was stuck in a perpetual cycle of loss, guilt, and immaturity. He was a man who could never seem to move forward. Hickman’s Ultimate Spider-Man broke that cycle.
Here, Peter is not just a hero; he’s a husband, a father, and a man who’s already lived a full life. His relationship with Mary Jane feels grounded and loving. Their two children, Richard and May, aren’t just background details but key emotional anchors. It’s a side of Spider-Man that fans have long been desperate to see and one that Marvel has repeatedly denied in the main timeline. Moreover, the storytelling has been nothing short of brilliant, which is exactly why it’s so painful to see it end so soon.
Why Ending Ultimate Spider-Man Feels Like A Missed Opportunity
Marvel has announced that the entire Ultimate Universe, including Ultimate Spider-Man, will conclude with the Ultimate Endgame crossover event at the end of 2025. On paper, that sounds exciting. A grand finale. A massive event. However, it also feels like a farewell that’s arriving far too early. This series has been quietly redefining what Spider-Man can be, without the baggage of constant reboots or forced nostalgia.
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It’s shown that Peter Parker’s story doesn’t have to end when he grows up. Seeing him lead a small, personal team of allies (including a still-living Uncle Ben, a reformed Otto Octavius, and even his son as a new version of Venom) has been one of the most original reinterpretations of the Spider-Man mythos in years. The storylines have balanced family drama, superhero politics, and the thrill of discovery. It’s everything that makes the best Spider-Man runs sing.
So, ending it now feels like cutting short a symphony mid-melody. Maybe Hickman always intended this to be a limited, two-year story. If that’s true, it’s an impressive creative vision, but still, it stings. Because Ultimate Spider-Man wasn’t just another Marvel reboot. It was proof that fans still crave evolution. That Peter Parker doesn’t have to stay young, lonely, and struggling to be relatable. For a brief moment, Marvel gave readers the Spider-Man they’d been waiting for.
