Fans dissecting new cover art for Ultimate Spider-Man #2 think it gives away a major change to Spider-Man’s web-shooters.
The new Ultimate Spider-Man comic has already proven to be a runaway hit for Marvel Comics. The book, which is swinging towards a second printing after a sell-out debut issue, has already given fans a fresh new take on Spider-Man as an older hero with a family.
That debut issue sets up a new Green Goblin (even if follow-up cover art already spoiled his identity) and the exciting dynamic between Peter and a still-living Ben Parker. It also establishes how Spidey gets his new powers, thanks to help from a time-displaced Tony Stark.
Now, one fan thinks they’ve picked up on a significant change the book is making to Spider-Man’s most iconic ability and how it integrates into his powers.
Fans think new Ultimate Spider-Man has organic web-shooters
In a post shared to the Spider-Man subreddit, user imnotyoufr revealed they believed the new Spider-Man might actually have organic web shooters instead of mechanical ones.
The conclusion is drawn from key art that appears on an Ultimate Spider-Man #2 variant cover, which shows Peter in the process of being affected by the spider bite.
“To be clear, it’s not necessarily confirmed he has organic webbing at the time of writing this post, it just seems that way because of the sketch work, but that could just be the artist drawing out the spider bite to look more intense, though i’d be willing to bet it’s his body mutating to form organic spinnerets in his forearms,” imnotyoufr added to the post.
Redditors far and wide came out to spread their opinion on the change, with many being receptive to the potential update.
“Idk how people would expect this peter to make his own web shooting when hes always worked at the bugle for his professional job instead of being some scientist,” one user added.
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“I always thought it was so weird he couldn’t make web on his own. Like isn’t that the number one thing a spider is known for.” another said.
“I like the idea that he’ll have organic webbing but he makes webshooters that function kind of like a nozzle on a hose so that he can shoot different types of webs for different situations” another added, finding a happy middle ground.
Spider-Man’s mechanical vs organic web-shooters explained
The organic vs. mechanical web shooter debate is one that has its ties to 2002’s Spider-Man film. In the movie, Peter develops organic web-shooters from a spider’s bite instead of building his own. The belief was the audience wouldn’t believe a high school student could build the devices.
Though the web-shooters are a holdover from a James Cameron script, they’re akin to what the Symbiote suit or Spider-Man 2099 had in the comics.
With the Raimi films being so well received, the decision was made to have Peter get organic web-shooters in the comics. When Spider-Man dies and is reborn in 2005’s The Other, he gets a handful of new powers, including the organic web shooters.
Peter reverted back to mechanical web-shooters after the history rewrite in Brand New Day, with no explanation for what happened in-universe to have him lose or never receive the organic ones. Films have taken a similar approach, with both Andrew Garfield’s Amazing Spider-Man and Tom Holland’s MCU Spider-Man having mechanical web-shooters.
Ultimate Spider-Man #2 hits stands February 21, 2024.
