Writer: Jonathan Hickman
Artist: Marco Checchetto
Colorist: Erick Arcineaga
Letterer: Cory Petit
Cover Artist: Marco Checchetto (cover A)
Cover Price: $4.99
Release Date: June 25, 2025
Recap
In the previous issue of Ultimate Spider-Man, Peter and the Parker family were hiding out in Utah. Meanwhile, Harry (Green Goblin) and Gwen (one of the Mysterios) declared war on Kingpin and the Sinister Six by destroying a secret bomb-making factory run by Mr. Negative.
Plot Summary
Harry Osborn flys to Utah to pick up Peter Parker for a mission back in New York. Peter is delighted to see Harry alive and well after Mysterio faked Harry’s death during their encounter with Kraven. Ben and Jonah accompanied Harry and are going to stay with MJ and the kids. We hear that young Richard is not happy that he can’t go with his Dad and Harry. More on that later.
Elsewhere, the council of Mysterios have come together and are discussing the attack by Gwen and Harry on Mister Negative. Mysterio Wesley–yes, that Wesley–is angry with Gwen for starting this war against Kingpin and the Sinister Six. Gwen replies that she was sick of all their talk and lack of action, so she took the lead. This version of Gwen is a real doer! Mysterios Quentin Blake and Joseph Robertson are concerned about the Mole Man as well as Kingpin. Then we discover the identity of the fifth Mysterio as Quentin asks for her opinion. Maybe I missed something in a previous issue, but I didn’t know who it was. She calls Gwen “sister” though. EDIT: I’ve just received a clarification telling me it’s Vanessa Fisk. So both Wesley and Vanessa are Mysterios. No way!
We shift scenes to Spider-Man and Green Goblin on patrol in New York. They have some time to kill before they meet up with Gwen. Yes folks, we actually get some Peter Parker Spidey action in this issue! Hallelujah! And it looks fantastic penned by artist Marco Checchetto. There’s a gorgeous double-page spread showing Spidey and Goblin in full beating-up-the-bad-guys action. They make a brief stop in Peter’s apartment and the place is a mess. Suddenly, someone charges at them brandishing a baseball bat. It’s Otto Octavius. He has been installing some security measures and decided to move in while Peter was away. He’s even wearing Peter’s slippers! Harry promises Peter he will find Otto a new place and they leave to go meet Gwen.
Meanwhile back in Utah, MJ discovers a note from her son Richard. He has snuck off to New York to meet up with Black Cat Felicia Hardy. She’d sent him a text saying she was in trouble but as you can probably guess it’s a trap! Richard is wearing the black Venom suit as he climbs in through the window to Felicia’s apartment. But she’s not alone. The Kingpin and members of the Sinister Six are there with her and seem delighted to see Richard. Kingpin wants Richard to give him Spider-Man and that’s where the issue ends.
Sharp Points!
Yes! Spider-Man is back in New York fighting some classic Spidey villains alongside Green Goblin Harry Osborn. The art by Marco Checchetto is excellent throughout the issue and we end on a twisty cliffhanger that leaves you hungry for more.
Dull Points!
This is not a criticism, just a question: can this council of Mysterios really be trusted considering two of them have extremely close ties to Kingpin?
Final Thoughts
Ultimate Spider-Man #18 is a banger of an issue and one of the best in a while. Hickman and team progress the story well and don’t forget to give us some much-needed Spidey action, however brief it may seem. The issue ends on a heck of a cliffhanger with betrayal playing a major part. I fear for the future of one of the Parker family!
8.5/10
About the reviewer: Wakizashi Gray has a YouTube channel where he reviews comics. It has the rather bizarre name of Wakizashi’s Teahouse. He also keeps a WordPress blog called Wakizashi Teahouse Blog.
Here’s my video review if you’d like to see more of the interior art:
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