Spider-Man (Ultimate Universe character)

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Spider-Man is the name of two superheroes appearing in Marvel Comics imprint Ultimate Universe in the fictional setting of Earth-6160, and is a re-imagining of the original Spider-Man. In this universe, Peter Parker was never bitten by a radioactive spider as a teenager due to the Maker interfering with history, and continued on living life as a normal man. He married Mary Jane Watson, had two children with her and works at the Daily Bugle.^[1]

Underneath it all, the 35-year-old Peter felt that something was missing all his life, learning what that was when a message from Tony Stark reveals the secret, dark history of his world; Peter was meant to be a superhero, one of many that the Maker prevented from existing in his bid to rule the world. Invigorated by this sense of purpose, Peter accepts Tony's gift of truth and allows himself to be bitten by the radioactive spider.^[2] As the initial protagonist of Ultimate Spider-Man (2024), Peter serves as Spider-Man for a year alongside fellow superhero Harry Osborn / Green Goblin before being kidnapped by Kraven the Hunter and held captive for months, over which time Peter's 15-year-old son Richard Parker becomes a new Spider-Man, operating his father's pitotech suit (run by an A.I. Peter, Pico Parker) and bonding with the 16-year-old Felicia Hardy.

The characters have received a positive critical reception.

The Earth-6160 Peter Parker was created by writer Jonathan Hickman and Bryan Hitch, and first appeared in Ultimate Invasion #1 (June 2023), Hickman stating that the character was inspired by Peter Parker from the Spider-Verse film series,^[3] while Richard Parker II was created by Hickman and Marco Checchetto, first appearing in Ultimate Spider-Man #1 (January 2024) and becoming the second Earth-6160 Spider-Man in Ultimate Spider-Man #13 (January 2025).

Peter Parker was the son of Richard and Mary Parker. He grew up with them until the age of fifteen, when they died, and Peter was taken in by his Uncle Ben and Aunt May. In a version of the world where history followed its intended course, Peter would have been bitten by a radioactive spider while attending a science exhibition for Dr. Schwinner's Isotope Genome Accelerator, eventually becoming the super hero Spider-Man. However, Maker interferes, disguises himself as a bystander, and swats the spider away.^[4]

In the twenty years since, Peter met and married Mary Jane Watson, becoming a father to their son Richard and daughter May. He worked as a reporter for the Manhattan tabloid Daily Bugle, working under Ben and J. Jonah Jameson. However, Peter grew up with the nagging feeling that there was something wrong with his life, and yearned for a way to change it.^[5] The first disruption to Peter's life occurred when Tony Stark set out to rectify the Maker's influence in the world. In retaliation, the Maker's Council hijacked a Stark Industries laser and fired it at Manhattan. This causes mass destruction and kills May, with the council pinning the blame on Stark.^[6]

As part of his efforts to set the course of history right, Stark also retrieved the radioactive spider, kept in stasis by the Maker, and delivered it to Peter alongside a pre-recorded message. Stark explained its purpose and offered Peter the chance to help set things right, as well as a picotech suit for him to wear and conceal his identity. Peter ruminated on his decision until, with Ben and Mary Jane's encouragement, he opted to reclaim his destiny and let the spider bite him.^[5] A month into his fledgling vigilante career, Peter still struggled to learn the ropes of his new powers and to capture bigger criminals like the Shocker. In his civilian identity, Peter captured photographs of his masked self for the Daily Bugle, unaware that the newspaper's owner, corrupt businessman Wilson Fisk, was using him as a cover to draw attention away from another new vigilante who had began to personally target him, the Green Goblin. Peter also accidentally exposed his identity to his daughter May, who spurred him on when Peter was second-guessing his new path in life. At May's suggestion, Peter redesigns his suit to feature a red and blue color scheme. Later, Peter visited his Uncle Ben and Jonah's recently acquired building, which would serve as the headquarters for their developing journalism business. Whilst there, he discovered their spying operations on Fisk and his organization. Motivated by this, he decided to assist them through his vigilante persona. He conducted a stakeout at a Fisk Construction site over several days, hoping to uncover any suspicious activity.^[7]

Just before giving up, he witnessed a fight between the Green Goblin, who was recently named by the media, and Bullseye, an assassin employed by Fisk. Assisting the Green Goblin, Peter appeared to be at a significant disadvantage against the assassin until the Goblin diverted his attention, allowing him to swiftly incapacitate him. After the threat had been neutralized, the two vigilantes conversed, resulting in Peter's suit being synchronized with the Goblin's armor, causing it to deactivate. Having discovered Peter Parker behind the mask, the Green Goblin revealed himself to be Harry Osborn and invited Peter for a drink. Peter agreed.^[8]

Later at A Bar With No Name, the two talked and learned more about each other, discussing the true nature of the world, its secret rulers, and Tony Stark's mission to change it. By April, Peter and Harry's friendship advanced to the point where they planned a double date with their respective partners at the Torre restaurant, Peter having seized the opportunity to spend time with Mary Jane without having to deal with their children. At the aforementioned establishment, Peter was formally introduced to Harry's wife, Gwen Stacy. The four then engaged in a discussion about their personal lives and recent events, including the appearance of the web-swinging masked vigilante. However, when both Gwen and Mary Jane proceeded to the restroom, Harry and Peter discussed Peter's secret identity and the unnecessary discretion in his matrimony. Furthermore, they discussed their respective roles in the impending conflict between those who seek to liberate the world and those who seek to control it. Harry gave Peter advice on the subject of power and responsibility.^[9]

Later in June, after several days of surveillance at Fisk Tower, both Peter and the Goblin were ready to break in and eliminate the Kingpin when he appeared at the building, despite Peter's reluctance to break the law. After leaping through the glass ceiling, the duo came face to face with Fisk, who was not surprised by their arrival as he controlled every camera in Manhattan, allowing him to monitor their surveillance. A battle ensued in which the duo was completely outmatched by Fisk's enhancements, and the two ran away defeated. The next day, over dinner, Peter tried to explain his black eye as an unfortunate accident at the Daily Bugle, until his daughter May anxiously revealed the truth, prompting him to explain everything about his secret identity. After telling Richard and May to go to bed, Peter and Mary Jane had a private discussion about everything, with him showing off the suit and wondering about a code name. MJ would call him Spider-Man, and then Peter would swing her around town.^[10]

A month later in July, Peter met with Harry Osborn and Oscorp lead scientist Otto Octavius, who studied both their suits. Octavius took a piece of Peter's suit and discovered how the two's suits were linked and not only that their suits had built in A.I. systems, Peter unwittingly chose an A.I. of himself (Pico Parker) while Harry chose one based on his father Norman Osborn. They are later visited by Iron Lad,^[11]

After a visit from Iron Lad who mentioned that Spider-Man was on Maker's list of superheroes to remove, he learns that he was deserving of the Picotech suit. Three weeks later, on his daughter May's birthday, Peter was about to leave when MJ asked him to pick up a birthday cake with Ben. Suddenly, his AI suggested that he tell his kids it wished them 'Happy Birthday,' surprising Peter as he realized the AI could talk. Deciding to address this later, he bought the cake and went to the bakery with Jonah and Ben. There, Ben and Jonah shared their plans to launch a company called The Paper in a month. Afterward, they all celebrated May's birthday together, Richard growing wary of his father's actions.^[12]

In September, Peter became a photographer for "Paper" and went with Harry to see Otto Octavius, who wanted to give Peter a new suit. Peter asked for a moment to think about it, and decided to consult with his AI and take a look at the new suit before deciding. After looking the new suit, Peter said that he just likes himself the way he is. Peter also decided to do as his AI suggested and have the AI stay at home to protect his family while Peter wore a spandex suit instead. Later, while Peter was talking to Harry they were suddenly attacked by the Black Cat, and Harry's suit became malfunctioning. After a fight, Peter managed to subdue Black Cat and tied him up in web, Black Cat broken free of the web and tried to ambush Peter, but Harry's suit turned back on and he blasted Black Cat away, causing him to fall to the bottom of the building. Black Cat survived the fall and Peter told Harry to call for an ambulance. In light of this, they briefly argued about they are supposed to behave as heroes.^[13]

In November, Peter saw the Inner Demons rob a bank and took down all the robbers. Peter was confronted by the Demons' leader, Mister Negative. Peter told him that what happened was an unintentional accident, and Negative used his powers to manipulate the hostages into attacking Peter. Later, Peter managed to escape and made it home then and met up with Ben at Memorial Park. While talking to his uncle, Ben reveals that he figured out Peter's and Harry's secret identities. Peter asked if Jonah knows he's Spider-Man, and was told that Jonah does not know yet, but will soon.^[14]

On December 19, Peter and Harry are kidnapped by Kraven the Hunter. During the first six days that Peter is gone, Peter's A.I. impersonates him, attending the family Christmas party, before revealing Peter to have been kidnapped.^[15] Over the following two months, the 15-year-old Richard Parker decides to succeed his father as Spider-Man with the help of the A.I., wearing the pico tech suit himself and being confronted by the second Black Cat, 16-year-old Felicia Hardy. Meanwhile, with approval from Mole Man, Kraven the Hunter plans to hunt Peter and Harry in Subterranea which is also implied to contain the parts of the Savage Land that Roxxon Energy Corporation didn't lay waste to. After Mysterio sees the captives where she and Mole Man are told of Peter's and Harry's identities by Kraven the Hunter, Peter Parker and Harry Osborn are dropped into Subterranea where their bomb collars come off and they start by dodging the Velociraptors, and Harry is supposedly killed.^[16]

Richard Parker is the son of Peter Parker and Mary Jane Watson and the older brother of May Parker. He was present when his father woke up in the morning for bacon and coffee.

Later that day, he joined the rest of his family, including his great Uncle Ben, at the memorial service for the terrorist attack on New York City that resulted in the death of his Aunt May. Later that night, his father told him to read one more chapter of A Tale of Two Cities and then go to sleep.

When a mysterious Spider-Man started appearing in the news and Richard's sister May became scared of his appearance Richard claimed he wasn't real. The two siblings got into a heated discussion about it which their father Peter tried to help, at first Peter told May that since she'd never believed Richard before to not do so now. When May brought up she was scared of the Spider-Man character Peter switched and told May to believe Richard referring to him as "smart".

The next night Richard was seen by Peter in a picture of his family eating food with his sister May scowling in annoyance at him.

A month later, Richard and MJ suspect Peter and May of hiding something from them but both deny it. Despite their suspicions they go to the store but warn the two not to do anything they wouldn't do not knowing Peter is Spider-Man and that May is aware of this.

While being babysat while Peter and MJ are dinner with Harry and Gwen, Richard notes that May doesn't seem to like J. Jonah Jameson to Ben. Ben retorts that a lot of people don't due to their line of work, Ben asks for Richard's opinion and Richard admits he believes their line of work to be cool and brave.

Sometime later when Peter comes back from a battle with the Kingpin and looks beat up the family panics. Peter tries to brush it off as him having tripped on the sidewalk but May traumatized and worried for Peter's safety breaks the news and reveals the truth of Peter's identity. Richard and the others take a moment to get their bearings but ultimately decide they are okay with this.

Over a month later, it is Richard and May's birthday party (Richard is 15 now), they just so happen to share the same day and month despite different years. At the birthday party, Richard talks to Jonah and discovers he wrote a book full of life advice and Jonah gives him a copy.

Following Peter being abducted by Kraven the Hunter, Richard began wearing his father's Picotech Suit and secretly operating as a black-suited Spider-Man.

Just like the Earth-616 Spider-Man, after getting bitten by the radioactive spider, the Earth-6160 Peter Parker's DNA was mutated, granting him spider-like traits and abilities. Spider-Man's exposure to the mutated spider venom allows him to adhere to surfaces. Peter describes this as being "sticky". Spider-Man possesses a spider's proportional strength, being able to lift a school bus and break the Shocker's ribs with ease. Spider-Man can run and move at speeds that are beyond the physical limits of a normal human. Spider-Man's body is physically tougher and more resistant to some types of injury than the body of a normal human. His body is more resistant to impact forces than anything else. He can withstand great impacts, such as falling from a height of several stories after being struck by the Shocker and getting himself brutally slammed into the ground by the Kingpin. Spider-Man's agility, balance, and bodily coordination are all enhanced to levels that are far beyond the natural physical limits of a normal human. Peter recognizes that his reaction times and understanding of spatial awareness are off the charts. After being exposed to the mutated spider venom, Peter's metabolism was enhanced, increasing his appetite, needing to eat 10,000 calories a day, as well as a decreased need for sleep. Peter appears to have a sort of spider-sense, though it is not as well developed as his counterparts. Meanwhile, Peter's son Richard Parker has no natural superpowers or spider-sense, relying solely on his father's old picotech suit while bing mentored by his father's A.I. copy "Pico Parker".

The characters have been widely praised by critics and fans, viewing Peter as "the perfect family man version of the hero", everything that Marvel could not do with the main universe Spider-Man, and Richard as a fitting successor.^{[citation needed]}