Ultimate Spider-Man #23: God Save the King

Like many readers, the announcement of Ultimate Spider-Man’s untimely conclusion landed with a sting for me, even with my own dislike of the book’s recent direction. Still, there was hope that it would shake off its pacing issues and pull its many plot threads together into something cohesive, especially after several chapters that left Peter Parker feeling like background noise in his own series. Despite its unevenness, the run has always had compelling thematic ideas that kept me reading, and this month’s penultimate issue blends those ideas with a narrative focus on Spider-Man as the book’s central figurehead.

What’s most impressive is how effectively this issue establishes the stakes for the finale, especially given how tangled the larger narrative has become. While the overarching Maker/Mysterio plot still plays a key role here, the issue smartly narrows its focus to Peter’s confrontation with Wilson Fisk. The pacing is sharp, the plotting is confident, and the entire issue displays a tactfulness in its assembly that the series has sorely missed in its latter half. Whether this cohesion was always part of the plan or simply a late-course correction, the renewed emphasis on family, character-driven triumph, and the subtle advancement of the supporting cast’s arcs is exactly what the book has needed. It’s gratifying to see the run’s potential finally realized—though doing so right before the finish line is equal parts exciting and bittersweet.

Peter himself is written better here than he has been since the end of the first arc. For the first time in a while, he truly feels like the center of the narrative, with Harry stepping into the background in a way that enhances both characters rather than diminishing either. A brutal, emotionally charged fight scene underscores how far this Spider-Man has evolved not only as a hero, but as a person and father, while Harry’s selfish descent continues to be written with raw intensity that made him an unexpectedly engaging protagonist. Presenting all of this with such a blockbuster sensibility makes the issue feel bigger and bolder than any chapter leading up to it had allowed us to expect.

A major factor in this issue’s success is the art team that has shepherded the title since day one. Marco Checchetto and David Messina have grown with each issue, and their work here reads like a well-earned victory lap. From the striking character designs to the impeccable panel pacing, the visuals elevate every emotional beat and action sequence. The nightmarish rendition of Mysterio is a particular standout. It is an imaginative, almost grotesque departure from the grounded tone the series initially embraced, yet somehow still perfectly aligned with the book’s evolving aesthetic.

If this issue is any indication, Ultimate Spider-Man is gearing up for a finale that could deliver on the promise this series has been chasing from the start. It’s a shame the book found this level of clarity so late, but its newfound focus makes the coming conclusion a more compelling prospect than it had any right being.