Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Ultimate Spider-Man #11!Sam Raimi’sSpider-Mantrilogy is easily one of the most iconic installments of the character’s mythos, as it stands as the definitiveSpider-Manlive-action adaptation for many Marvel Comics fans. It’s so beloved, in fact, thatmany people are calling for aSpider-Man 4, andTobey Maguire’s inclusion inSpider-Man: No Way Homewas arguably the best part of the movie. Unfortunately, Sam Raimi’sSpider-Manmay have run its course, and fans may not get any more of that universe. At least, not directly, as Marvel just proved Sam Raimi’sSpider-Mantrilogy lives on in an all-new form.
InUltimate Spider-Man#11 by Jonathan Hickman and David Messina, Spider-Man is going on patrol without his usual partner, the Green Goblin. In the Ultimate Universe,Spider-Man and the Green Goblin aren’t enemies, but rather heroic alliesand best friends. However, in this issue, the Green Goblin is nowhere to be found. But, that doesn’t stop Spider-Man from swinging into action when he sees a bank robbery in progress. Unfortunately, as he quickly learns, Spider-Man definitely should have waited for some backup before swinging into this particular situation.
The bank robbery was a ruse put on by Mr. Negative, who is one ofthe Sinister Six tasked by the Kingpin to take down both Spider-Man and the Green Goblin. In that effort, Mr. Negative staged a bank robbery to lure the heroes into a trap. While he hoped for both, Mr. Negative made due with just Spider-Man, ordering his minions to beat the hero to a bloody pulp. Spider-Man got away, but he certainly suffered some injuries, including a damaged mask Sam RaimiSpider-Manfans would find familiar.
Ultimate Spider-Man’s Torn Mask Mirrors Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man Trilogy
Ultimate Green Goblin’s Design is Also Reminiscent of the Raimi Trilogy
After getting beaten up by Mr. Negative’s gang, Spider-Man swings back home to lick his wounds. When he gets there, readers see the extent of the damage he suffered, including and especially in regard to his mask. One of the eyes of his mask is fully torn off, revealing the side of his head and a bit of his hair. The other side is busted just enough to see his eye, while the larger white eye of his mask is still more-or-less intact. Peter’s mouth was also exposed, as that part of his mask was torn off as well.
In other words, the damage Spider-Man’s mask took is identical to what fans saw multiple times in Sam Raimi’sSpider-Mantrilogy, all the way down to the last detail. They’re not similar, they’re identical, meaning this creative choice in Ultimate Spider-Man is more than likely a direct nod to Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man - and this isn’t the first time the Ultimate Universe has honored the legacy of Raimi’sSpider-Mantrilogy.
Upon his debut, it was immediately obvious that theGreen Goblin’s suit was reminiscent of that worn by Norman Osborn in Sam Raimi’sSpider-Man. The tech-heavy full-body armor and helmet design is incredibly similar to the original live-action Goblin suit. One can’t help but think that this, too, was a deliberate nod to Sam Raimi’sSpider-Mantrilogy, especially since it’s completely different from other comic book versions of the Green Goblin, making the similarities with the live-action version all that more pronounced.
Ultimate Spider-Man Has the Perfect Chance to ‘Copy’ the Raimi Trilogy Another Way
Could Marvel Be Teasing a Multiversal Crossover?
It seems (in more ways than one)Ultimate Spider-Manis something of a spiritual successor to Sam Raimi’sSpider-Man. It features anolder version of Peter Parker who’s married to Mary Jane, the Green Goblin wears a tech-based armored suit, and Spider-Man’s mask rips apart the same way after he gets into a fight. The similarities are undeniable whether they’re deliberate or not, and those similarities don’t have to stop there.
The unofficial ‘Spider-Man 4’ came in the form of the MCU’sSpider-Man: No Way Home, as it allowed Tobey Maguire’s Peter Parker to return for one final adventure, giving fans a peek into what’s become of his life since the events ofSpider-Man 3. And this was only made possible by Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man traveling through the multiverse into the MCU to be something of a mentor to his younger variant. Could Marvel Comics do the same thing withUltimate Spider-Man?
How cool would it be if - at some later point - Ultimate Spider-Man traveled through the multiverse to Earth-616 and fought alongside the main continuity’s Peter Parker just like inSpider-Man: No Way Home? Earth-616’s Peter is much younger than his Ultimate Universe counterpart, after all, which is a dynamic that would be yet another parallel betweenUltimate Spider-Manand Sam Raimi’sSpider-Man- one that would be absolutely amazing to see.
After 61 Years, Marvel Finally Turns One Iconic Spider-Man Character Into A True Marvel Hero
Marvel Comics just turned 1 iconic Spider-Man character (who used to be a borderline villain) into a legitimate hero 61 years after his introduction.
Regardless of whether Ultimate Spider-Man goes on any multiversal adventures with a younger version of himself from across the Spider-Verse, the similarities between Ultimate Spider-Man and Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man are already striking enough as is. And with this latest addition of Spider-Man’s damaged mask, it’s fair to say that Marvel Comics just proved Sam Raimi’sSpider-Mantrilogy effectively lives on in an all-new form.
Ultimate Spider-Man #11by Marvel Comics is available now.
Spider-Man
Spider-Man is the name given to several individuals who have employed a spider-moniker throughout Marvel Comics. Typically gaining their powers through a bite from a radioactive spider, the different Spider-Man heroes employ super-strength, agility, and intellect while utilizing webbing to swing and tangle up their foes. The most notable of these Spider-Men is Peter Parker, who remains one of the most popular superheroes throughout the world.
