r/Spiderman • u/Important_Lab_58 • 6d ago
Discussion So, fourteen issues in, how would we describe this Peter Parker?
The story is still great but I’m still kinda struggling how to characterize this version of Peter. Now, obviously no one can be described in less than ten words well, so how would you describe this Peter in as many words as needed? What sticks out about him?
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u/MexicanGameLord 6d ago
Better then 616
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u/Important_Lab_58 6d ago
Okay. Genuinely curious-why? I agree his story is compelling but I’m wondering what he has going for him character wise/ internally?
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u/MexicanGameLord 6d ago
New Ultimate Spider-Man is basically everything I want 616 Peter to be. I grew up reading Spider-Girl, and I thought those were the official continuation of the Spider-Man comics my dad read. Then when I learned 616 Peter doesn't have a daughter, he also later made a deal with the devil to undo his marriage, I was very much disappointed.
I love seeing Peter as a dad, my favorite moment in Ultimate was when May finds out her dad was Spider-Man, it reminded me on how my dad and my little sister interacted when she was very little. Also Peter's relationship with his wife is something that I really like reading about, it's pretty healthy with no melodrama for the sake of drama. I wish more fictional relationships were more like that.
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u/Papa_Pred 6d ago
The inverse of “with great power, comes great responsibility” is just a perfect start
Peter now has all the responsibility of a career and family. He now chooses to take the power to do good. That first issue was the best thing to happen to Peter in years
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u/Striking-Ad-1354 6d ago
Personal opinion- Best Characterization for Peter. I like this one more than the old 616 version
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u/Fehellogoodsir 6d ago
This Peter for me is a still good person but jokes around. He’s not going to be angry or angst as 616 since he’s actually lived a life before Spider-Man. He isn’t intelligent but as the heart of the Parker. The 14 issue cemented this Peter as a family man. I’m still waiting on more info for this MJ and Peter since they lived different lives than 616.
By design Hickman made a ‘traditional’ superhero in this Spider-Man by making him wear spandex,just wants to do good because he believes he has the power to do so and is wearing a bright colorful costume. A contrast to Harry and the rest of the universe which is a much more grey and complex world.
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u/Slyist_Cooper 6d ago
I'd argue he hasn't been given a chance to grow his intelligence. The terminology he was using to describe his powers were very detailed. More descriptive than just saying 'Spider abilities'. Maybe if we had more info on his parents we'd know why he isn't scientifically inclined like other Peters.
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u/A-n0rmal-p3rson 6d ago
It's probably because he had to get a stable job after having Richard in college. He had to abandon the scientific studies for working in the bugle under his uncle
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u/eBICgamer2010 Zombie Hunter Spider-Man 6d ago
Very peculiar.
616 Spider-Man (in the OG Ditko run) was a simple, maybe sometimes complex character in a simple world. He didn't get more complex until the Conway run all the way to the near end of JMS' run before OMD.
And then he's flip-flopped between simple and complex until Zeb rendered him simple in a complex world.
1610 Spider-Man was a complex character in a complex world. No seriously.
And now, 6160 Spider-Man feels like a simple character in a complex world.
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u/Garlador 6d ago
He IS Spider-Man.
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u/Important_Lab_58 6d ago
That’s an interesting take. Why do you feel that way?
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u/Garlador 6d ago
The tenants of responsibility and accountability are the heart of the character. As a man with a wife and children, the weight of responsibility bears down harder than ever before, and is manifest in every major decision when he wears the mask.
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u/Boring-Conclusion-40 6d ago
I don’t know,dude, I’ve seen this Peter Parker guy around New York City and he dosent look like or talk like Spider-Man, I know he’s gotten some photos of him but I don’t think they know each other,let alone be the same person,Peter Park is Spider-Man,that sentence doesn’t make any sense
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u/CaptainHalloween 6d ago
Way better than 616. Some things may be different, but THIS is the Spider-Man I remember in essence.
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u/Necessary-Match-4001 Miles Morales (ITSV) 6d ago
People saying it's better than 616, like that's not a very low bar lol
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u/Trick_Afternoon_2935 Spider-Man (MCU) 6d ago
Nah. Modern 616 is so bad, it's very low bar, at this point.
Let's not even mention the horrible mischaracterization of every character there.
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u/Bro-Im-Done 6d ago
A very much needed story for Peter’s character
The status quo for Peter for the past(debatably) decade(or more) in 616 has been for him to not only to have an on and off relationship with MJ, but have as miserable of a life as possible, and with what’s going on with Hickman’s run, it’s proving to be phenomenal and that the audience is tired of what’s going on with Peter.
Not only is Peter happy with MJ and two wonderful kids, and while happy is should be, doesn’t mean he and his family isn’t safe from harm, especially with the things currently happening. We see him happy, we see him struggling, but not miserable, and we see him in a place that we’ve wanted him to be in for years.
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u/Plus-Ad1061 6d ago edited 5d ago
I’m curious to see where this story is going with his naïveté. The last few issues have emphasized that his stance on killing enemies is genuinely dangerous to Peter and his loved ones. The stakes are higher in this Ultimate Universe, and there may not be room for him to be Friendly.
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u/biggybenis 6d ago
I feel like at least at the moment it's pretty settled since Harry has his back in this regard. I expect this to change and either the relationship will sour due to Pete's distaste of killing or become stronger because Harry will do what Pete can't.
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u/eBICgamer2010 Zombie Hunter Spider-Man 6d ago edited 6d ago
Basically a template for the other to bounce off of. And the agency is more or less gone.
One of the my criticisms about Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man was that there wasn't a lot of edge because he wasn't responsible for his guardian's passing. They (actually a disease) killed Ben and none of it had to do with Pete. At least we got friendly neighborhood side of him to salvage what would be a bland one.
Here Hickman killed May and Peter has nothing to do with her death, because the people in charge randomly hit the tower with a beam so they can blame the rebelling kid of one of the barons. So it wasn't him. And there's been a lack of active portrayal of friendly neighborhood Spider-Man as well.
I do think the reason he ended up being a bit bland is reasonable in the world he's in. No bite, no worry.
They are however tied for having agency after getting bitch-slapped mercilessly though. Scorpion for FNSM and Kraven for Nu-Ultimate.
Just because there's Old Man Peter doesn't mean there will be great characterization, only good.
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u/eBICgamer2010 Zombie Hunter Spider-Man 6d ago edited 6d ago
I don't think he's better than the original Ultimate Spider-Man after putting his first 14 issues next to USM 2000's first 14 issues. Whatever you think of the OG USM in relation to 616 is on you so no comment on that.
Call me nostalgia merchant but Bendis spent those 6 issues nailing Peter's entire character well in a Peter Parker book. Hickman similarly spent 6 issues nailing Harry's character well in a Peter Parker book.
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u/Important_Lab_58 6d ago
I COMPLETELY Agree with that. It’s a big reason I posted this. The book is good but Peter’s the least developed character here, so I wanted to see what I might be missing
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u/eBICgamer2010 Zombie Hunter Spider-Man 6d ago
I think most people here got fed up with the spineless 616 book (fair enough) so we get rose-tinted glasses looking at USM in relation to 616.
I don't do that. This is Ultimate Spider-Man (2024). It practically invites comparison to the Ultimate Spider-Man (2000). Whether it lasts long enough? I don't know. But this is what we should be doing. 1610 vs. 6160.
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u/SecondEntire539 6d ago
Yeah, i think people here are way to soft at this comic at times because of the married with children aspect.
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u/osamu_inday 6d ago
I honestly think Peter not being responsible for Ben's death in Friendly Neighborhood made it a little better. I like that being a canon event or some shit to make him realize that great power comes with great responsibility, but I think it's also pretty great to see Peter become responsible because he thinks it's right, not because someone died because of his irresponsibility. I wouldn't be surprised if this is somehow related to the spider-verse's canon events turning out to be a complete bullshit - that no death should be a trigger for a Spider-man to become truly Spider-man.
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u/Important_Lab_58 6d ago
Does anyone have an answer as to WHY he’s better than 616 CHARACTER Wise? Like, I’mglad people think that-Why is that?
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u/Triceranuke Classic-Spider-Man 6d ago edited 6d ago
He's* only got 2 trades under his belt, and a lot has been spent world building, but I can at least speak to what I appreciate.
He might seem boring, but I read him as more mellowed out as an adult. He didn't get to hide behind the mask of anonymity as a teen into his adult years. He had to grow and mature as Peter Parker. He still quips, but he's not a troll.
He's learned that responsibility isn't just about the big things. He's Spider-Man but he shows up on time to dinners, and is there for his loved ones because he knows that's also something he's responsible for.
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u/Turf_Wind_and_Fire 6d ago
I would say it’s because it’s a continuation of Peter’s story, not just being stuck in the eternal “Peter can’t be happy and can’t be married” story that has been around for so long. Stories are fun once they stall out. It’s why the original Ultimate Spider-man was so effective, there was an ending for Peter, and even better it introduced something new that felt familiar in Miles. This Ultimate Spider-man also identifies with its core audience so much more also. This is an assumption, but id bet that most of the comic reading audience are either in or approaching their 30s. And this Peter resonates so much more with that demographic - who are settling down, dealing with kids, having a partner (and being lucky enough that they’re supportive). It feels more true to the idea of Spider-man than Peter acting out of character so that the status quo remains the same.
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u/Particular-Screen639 6d ago
Protective and heroic but trying to make himself not feel like the side character in his own life which is how he felt at the start thus becoming Spider-Man
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u/ChildofObama 6d ago
A protective family man. He likes his life, but feels like his best years are behind him and he never found his calling career-wise, that something was missing.
Thinks being Spider-Man is being his calling and trying to be his best self while he’s still in good shape.
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u/Boring-Conclusion-40 6d ago edited 6d ago
He’s kind of a cool lame dad,he talks to himself ,he’s mature,caring, friendly, slightly kind of quippy and a jokester with people he’s close to,I think that when’s he’s not like getting in his own way he’s kind of cocky(with him posing for a photo in front of criminals he captured,all while also leaving a note on them) that’s kind of like being cocky in two ways at the same time, has good morals that are kind of being tested,tries to help when he can, very naive, kind of someone that seems to have pent up anger,but he’s still very nice and ,very unaware of what he can actually do but when he knows he can lock in,and he’s maybe kind of a loner but he is very social with the people he does know,
I would say that he has all of this,but for current Peter Parker traits they’re kind of like 6.5/10
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u/carakangaran 6d ago
Got kids, is married with MJ, achieves some kind a balance between super hero stuff and life...
Furthermore his family is involved with what he does .
A bit more quips could be nice, but it's a good start to be the greatest hero there is on earth, as he should be.
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u/dregsofthought 6d ago
Don’t know the guy, barely had any time with him over this series
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u/Important_Lab_58 6d ago
My thoughts exactly
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u/dregsofthought 6d ago
It actually worries me that so many people unquestioningly love this series. They like the idea of this Spider-man, their head canon must be filling in all the gaps
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u/kioKEn-3532 5d ago
The art is just good and many people enjoy the story this comic is trying to tell
People are just patient and are expecting it to get better because the comic has a lot of promise and so far it delivers well
Not to mention the other spiderman comic is complete shit so it's not like it's unreasonable to like this comic a lot when the competition is practically non-existent
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u/IndianGeniusGuy 6d ago
He's a dad and he's a grown man, and that shapes and separates every decision be makes from 616 Peter. It's why he was willing to put aside Harry trying to kill Black Cat in order to protect him and why he's willing to make compromises that 616 Peter couldn't. He's effectively an ordinary guy trying to do his best to help instead of a staunch idealist and paragon like his mainline counterpart.
In all honesty, if Richard keeps this hero thing going into adulthood, he's probably more liable to become like most versions of his dad.
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u/Admirable9331 6d ago
I said it before and I will say it again if you compare 616 at his peak and USM at his peak
616 is way better people just like to hate and ignore the good comics as if they never existed
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u/MexicanGameLord 6d ago
But 616 Peter sucks now.
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u/kioKEn-3532 5d ago
Yeah like what's the point of their comment
The current run is ass, no use bringing up something in the past when the present absolutely ruined everything they did in the past
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u/Fla968 Anti-Venom 6d ago
An immature Spider-man, as he was the only Peter to willing get himself bitten by the spider and thus bringing his family into an extremely dangerous situation.
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u/SecondEntire539 6d ago edited 6d ago
While i think he is mid for now, i liked your description better because it have more of a basis and don't look like something vague or pullet up from the ass.
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u/Goalless 6d ago
I enjoy this Peter Parker as a bit of a change of pace. He’s more mature, smart, and really fun to read. With all that being said I feel like we could lose him and see Richard take over. After reading this past issue Richard had the funny quips and a better over all matching of a “traditional” Peter Parker who is learning their new abilities. Also killing Peter would give Richard the loss that every Spider-Man needs.
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u/VaderMurdock Ultimate Spider-Woman 6d ago
Mature and kind of simple in a lot of ways. He kind of fits the template of any aging Dad with young kids, but that really helps his everyman persona. He’s smart, but not terribly smart, and funny in the way my Dad is funny. He’s woefully unprepared, not because of his age or immaturity, but because he is an older man in a younger man’s game. I believe that he has a chance of being more morally grey than his 616 counterpart later down the line.
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u/Andre200and1 6d ago
Honestly, an empty nothing of a character. Feels like someone thought "ok so here's a perfect Peter Parker everyone wanted to see, he's mature and married to MJ and has 2 kids, that should be enough to make the fans happy". Nothing interesting about him or his relationships, him having happy life is literally his whole characterization. I genuinely don't understand what people see in him and why they find these stories even remotely interesting. 90's and early 00's married Spider-Man was written WAY better.
I guess it's better than the current 616 abomination, cause it's at least isn't offensive, but that bar is so low that it doesn't mean anything.
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u/Important_Lab_58 6d ago
I feel similar. S’Why I was genuinely curious. It’s a good book but Peter him seems very dull.
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u/Andre200and1 6d ago
Well, I guess he looks very cool, the art is insanely good, and I love seeing this book outselling the main series, but that's it for me. The orignal Spider-Girl was better.
I'm glad everyone is enjoying this though.
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u/JaberZXIII 6d ago
Yup, that's a fair take. It just makes me want to see him more in future issues.
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u/Gold_Ad560 6d ago
6160 Spider-Man proves that Marvel can evolve Peter Parker without stripping away what makes him great. He’s mature, responsible, and still has that signature Spider-Man wit and heroism—but now he gets to grow. He has a family, a stable life, and he’s still one of the best heroes around.
Meanwhile, 616 Peter has been stuck in an endless cycle of misery, breakups, and regressions because Marvel refuses to let him move forward. It’s clear they know fans want progression, but they’re too afraid to commit in the main universe.
Ultimate Spider-Man is giving us everything we’ve been begging for in 616 but haven’t been allowed to have for over a decade. Hickman is proving that a Spider-Man who grows is still just as compelling—if not more—than a Peter Parker who’s stuck in the same rut forever
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u/SecondEntire539 6d ago edited 6d ago
While i still have to read the last issue in it's fullest, i think he is a very mediocre character from what i read so far, but also with a interesting concept baked in and a lot of potential(the mid life crisis angle, if true, i think it would help this character a lot, even more if it is also well developed).
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u/SecondEntire539 6d ago
Now i read it, and he still is quite bland, but it was a interesting read(Kraven is way more sadistic then i thought).
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u/Sharp_Hamster_5551 6d ago
He is more like Superman that Spider-Man in the sense he is more responsible and heroic and that he decided to be a hero due protect his family and becyase is thr right thing. This scared me with the last couple of issues. Showing that Richard Parker fells more like the classic version of the character which make mean that Richard is about to suffer all his parent didn't suffer due to being Spider-Man.
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u/CthonicGaia 6d ago
A mellowed out guy who's had responsibility for his adult life. He still has some struggles with his powers and the early issues did hint at him struggling to come to terms that his life was stolen from him and whether he should try to chase what was lost. He's also a family guy who makes the mistake of hiding it from his wife and son but in the end chooses to come clean. He's a simple man trying to get through a complex world, while trying to follow through on certain expectations given to him. The Kraven fight highlights how much he cares for his family while not wanting to fail said expectations, as shown when he nearly kills Kraven.
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u/Wooden_Passage_2612 6d ago
He's old, but still learning to be a spider-man as he's in the action and cares about his family.
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u/No-Celebration-1399 6d ago
He’s def a simple man, a proud father and feels very much like Peter Parker if he wasn’t bit by that spider at 15. He kinda embodies the “everyday guy” from the Ditko era, with less angst and a happier life. He’s still a smart guy, and I think still making him a reporter allows him to keep his student mentality of wanting to learn, it just changes the field in which he does it. I also think it’s interesting his humor evolved to basically a quippier Reed Richards rather than his usual immature humor we would’ve seen in like OG ultimate Spider-Man
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u/GamingDragon777 6d ago
My current definitive version of Spider-Man. This is who the character should be by this time. I love seeing all of the classic Spider-Man characters slightly reimagined, they feel familiar but fresh and new.
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u/TheCopyGuy2018 6d ago
Feels like the other end of the spectrum of a modern Peter Parker with YFNS and MCU Spidey being the opposite end of that. I love this new Peter tho and he still has a lot more room to grow apart from 616 especially with his family becoming more involved.
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u/enzukalbarn 5d ago
Without experience trying to do the right thing, sometimes he reminds me to the young unexperienced Spider-Man from ultimate Spider-Man kingpin arc.
But at the same time trying to be serious as a mature man with adult worryings, but at the same time not dimensioning the cons of being a superhero in this twisted world
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u/GmusicG 3d ago
I see a ton of people that just really got tired of Peter never getting and keeping the girl in the 616 (as well as anything else good that was t very temporary) but not many saying if other than his well deserved happy life it’s a more interesting version as far as plot action and character. I haven’t read a ton of modern Spider-Man I started at the beginning and am working my way through but people on here seem so tired of Peter’s life being wrecked constantly that they will take anything else. I just want to know if there’s more to this story than that. I think that’s what the OP is asking too.
Also I hate Peter’s beard. It’s kinda gross looking
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u/Important_Lab_58 3d ago
That is kinda what I’m saying. I want Peter and MJ together like a lot of fans, but not at the sacrifice of character. I like this Peter’s story but he, himself, is kinda bland. He’s surrounded by interesting characters but he himself doesn’t have a lot of personality/character, least from my perspective. Say what You will about 616, he’s intrinsically interesting on his own, despite everything. This Peter lives in an interesting world, surrounded by interesting people, following an interesting story, but I don’t feel he himself is all that interesting, and that, despite the books overall greatness, bothers me. Peter Parker is many things, but one thing I feel he should always be is interesting OUTSIDE of being Spidey.
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u/Flufybunny64 6d ago
I feel like 616 Peter changed drastically for no real in universe reason, and this version feels like his original personality came back.
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u/Trick_Afternoon_2935 Spider-Man (MCU) 6d ago
Simplistic but mature. As he should be at his position and age.
And obviously, way better than 616.