First Read: Ultimate Spider-Man

Liz Allen must choose between joining the X-Men or Magneto, and Peter and Kitty present on their time as pretend parents

Ultimate Spider-Man #120 & 121

Issue coverage begins at 11:47

In these change-of-pace issues following Harry's death, the kids get a rare chance to enjoy themselves--- until someone's powers manifest for the first time.

Ultimate Spider-Man #117 & 119

Issue coverage begins at 12:52

In this episode, a goblin dies. Zach and John also talk Dr. Who, The Boys, and Justin Timberlake.

Ultimate Spider-Man #116 & 117

Issue coverage begins at 29:27

No matter who's running it, SHIELD is the reason we can't have nice things.

Ultimate Spider-Man #114 & 115

Issue coverage begins at 16:40

SHIELD hath no Fury... just a woman scorned. Peter & Kitty get paired up together for an awkward class project. Zach explains his latest concert injury.

Ultimate Spider-Man #112 & 113

Issue coverage begins at 30:47

We finish up the 2015 5-issue miniseries "Amazing Spider-Man: Renew Your Vows"

Issue coverage begins at 20:44

We look at the first two issues of the 2015 Secret Wars tie-in miniseries "Spider-Man: Renew Your Vows".

We also read leaked lines straight from the script of the upcoming Ryan Reynolds & Hugh Jackman film "Deadpool & Wolverine". WARNING: INCLUDES SPOILERS!

Issue coverage begins at 16:30

We look at Mark Bagley's final issues as the regular penciler for Ultimate Spider-Man. The Ultimate Knights arc concludes, and Peter finally has a much-needed conversation with Aunt May.

Ultimate Spider-Man # 110 & 111

Issue coverage begins at 8:34

Perhaps entrusting an important task to "Mark Steven Little-Girl Moon Grant Spector Ronin Knight" was unwise...

Plus, we discuss the Drake & Kendrick Lamar beef and John shares his thoughts on X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014).

Ultimate Spider-Man 108 & 109

Issue coverage begins at 13:37

Midtown High gets a new student & Peter teams up with Daredevil, Dr Strange, Moon Knight, Iron Fist, and Shang Chi to take down the Kingpin.

We probably break the record for Ayn Rand mentions in a Spider-Man podcast episode. We also discuss naming kids after presidents and what the X-Men represent.

Ultimate Spider-Man # 106 & 107

Issue coverage begins at 13:07

Three cheers for Zach recovering the audio that failed in the last episode! Here's that back half of it we promised you. In the second ever Ultimate Spider-Man Annual Issue, Spidey & friends take down the overconfident mobster The Kangaroo!

Ultimate Spider-Man Annual #2

Issue coverage begins basically immediately

We cover the epilogue of the Clone Saga in this partial episode. Due to technical difficulties, Ultimate Spider-Man Annual #2 will be covered in a separate episode.

"We go through episodes too, like Attack of the Clones" -- Talib Kweli

Ultimate Spider-Man # 105

Issue coverage begins at 19:10

"It wasn't the arms, Peter..."

Ultimate Spider-Man 103 & 104

Issue coverage begins at 17:20

In which the answers to "what is going on?" start to slowly trickle out.

Ultimate Spider-Man 101 & 102

Issue coverage begins at 17:00

"Hey Brian, we love your drafts so far for the Clone Saga, but it's still not quite complicated enough. What if you had Peter's dead father show up right as everything else is happening?"

Ultimate Spider-Man 99 & 100

Issue coverage begins at 12:35

The clone saga kicks off in a big way!

Ultimate Spider-Man 97 & 98

Issue coverage begins at 9:13

We're back from our brief hiatus- and finally talking about the most popular comic of 2024 so far- Ultimate Spider-Man #1 by Jonathan Hickman & Marco Checchetto. We also discuss Lexington Comic & Toy Convention. Stay in your seats for a post-credits scene you won't see coming!

In our last episode before the two week break, we discuss and rank all 10 Spider-Man films of the 21st century (plus Spider-Man: The Animated Series)!

Spider-Man

Spider-Man 2

Spider-Man 3

The Amazing Spider-Man

TASM 2

Homecoming

Far From Home

Into the Spider-Verse

No Way Home

Across the Spider-Verse

Morbius. 'Nuff said.

Ultimate Spider-Man 95 & 96

Issue coverage begins at 12:54

Spidey and the X-Men continue their battle on Krakoa with Deadpool and his reavers. Zach and John discuss Super Bowl LVIII, Usher, Jared Leto, Madame Web, The Deadpool 3 & X-Men '97 trailers, and The Fantastic Four casting announcement.

Ultimate Spider-Man 93 & 94

Issue coverage begins at 19:15

Spider-Man, Kitty Pryde, and the rest of the X-Men are kidnapped and taken to the island of Krakoa to be hunted for sport. Think "The Hunger Games" meets "The Most Dangerous Game".

Ultimate Spider-Man 91 & 92

Issue coverage begins at 15:56

In this double-sized episode, we conclude the Silver Sable arc in Ultimate Spider-Man and discuss the recent Doctor Who special episodes that featured the return of David Tennant.

Ultimate Spider-Man #90

Issue coverage begins at 18:25

Doctor Who coverage begins at 55:45

Silver Sable finally delivers Peter to Mr. Roxxon, but then probably wishes she hadn't.

Ultimate Spider-Man 88 & 89

Issue coverage begins at 18:56

A gang of mercenaries mess with the wrong Midtown High student

Ultimate Spider-Man 86 & 87

Issue coverage begins at 14:40

In the first ever Ultimate Spider-Man Annual, Peter goes on a date with the X-Men's Kitty Pryde

Ultimate Spider-Man Annual #1

Issue coverage begins at 15:43

Someone switches sides. Someone enters a coma. Someone is a double agent. Someone dies. Someone realizes they've been rizzing up a child. Listen to find out more!

Ultimate Spider-Man 84 & 85

Issue coverage begins at 15:57

In this special episode that kicks off the second year of the pod, we laugh twice as much, bleep twice as much, and get sidetracked twice as much as usual.

In which we continue the Warriors arc & Black Cat steals every scene she's in.

Ultimate Spider-Man 82 & 83

Issue coverage begins at 6:45

"Twas the day before Christmas and all through the house, not a creature was stirring except for Zach's mouse. This bonus & the main episode were edited with care, in hopes that the webheads would listen and share"

Happy holidays everyone! In this bonus episode we watch an episode of the Ultimate Spider-Man cartoon and we discuss all things Christmas.

Spider-Man, Moon Knight, Shang Chi, Iron Fist, Black Cat & Electra all get wrapped up in the power struggle between Kingpin and Hamerhead.

Ultimate Spider-Man 80 & 81

Issue coverage begins at 11:26

Mary Jane copes with being dumped. Hammerhead makes a move on the Kingpin's turf. We learn that TiVo is a hot commodity on the black market.

Ultimate Spider-Man 78 & 79

Issue coverage begins at 14:05

Spider-Man fights the Hobgoblin. What else did you possibly want out of this episode?

Ultimate Spider-Man 76 & 77

Issue coverage begins at 12:10

The boys commemorate Thanksgiving 2023 and discuss some not-very-Ultimate comics

Marvel Super Hero Adventures: Captain Marvel- Mealtime Mayhem #1 & Spider-Gwen #14

Issue coverage begins at 16:30

We learn more about what's been going on with Harry, and his presence causes friction between Peter and MJ

Ultimate Spider-Man 74 & 75

Issue coverage begins at 6:33

Harry Osborn returns to Midtown High, and Peter wonders if he can be trusted.

Ultimate Spider-Man 72 & 73

Issue coverage begins at 11:14

Peter must join forces with Doctor Strange to defeat Nightmare

Ultimate Spider-Man 70 & 71

Issue coverage begins at 10:14

A new student arrives at Midtown High... and he's none other than the Fantastic Four's Johnny Storm!

Ultimate Spider-Man 68 & 69

Issue coverage begins at 12:54

We take a week off from the Ultimate Universe to take a look at the 2022 one-shot "Mary Jane & Black Cat: Beyond"

Mary Jane & Black Cat: Beyond #1

Issue coverage begins at 7:33

Spider-Man and Wolverine pull a Freaky Friday

Ultimate Spider-Man 66 & 67

Issue coverage begins at 10:15

Peter defeats the Carnage entity & the kids get a Breakfast Club style detention.

Ultimate Spider-Man 64 & 65

Issue coverage begins at 19:22

We say goodbye to a beloved character.

Ultimate Spider-Man 62 & 63

Issue coverage begins at 9:19

Marvel Comics' Peter Parker (originally created by Stan Lee & Steve Ditko) begins working closer with Doctor Curt Connors, The Lizard. Jonathan Hickman will be writing a reboot of Ultimate Spider-Man in 2024, the same year as the US Presidential Election. Taylor Swift is dating Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs. Search Engine Optimization, do your thing.

Ultimate Spider-Man 60 & 61

Issue coverage begins at 12:12

Peter finally learns where the plane was headed, we see the resolution of last week's cliffhanger with Gwen, and Bendis treats us to multiple John Hughes movie references.

Ultimate Spider-Man 58 & 59

Issue coverage begins at 10:04

Doc Ock reaches some new lows-- even for him. Meanwhile, Gwen Stacy starts to suspect something strange is happening within the Parker house.

Ultimate Spider-Man # 56 & 57

Issue coverage begins at 7:00

A Spider-Man movie starring Tobey Maguire?? It may be more likely than you think...

Ultimate Spider-Man #54 & 55

Issue coverage begins at 9:38

Peter learns more about the mysterious Black Cat

Ultimate Spider-Man #51-53

Issue coverage begins at 6:00

Spider-Man encounters a mysterious cat burglar. Jonah gets targeted by Kingpin's enforcers, and Mary Jane's father finds something he wasn't supposed to see.

Ultimate Spider-Man # 49 & 50

Issue coverage begins at 5:00

Peter is disillusioned by the Kingpin's sudden re-emergence and the apathy that adults around him respond to it with. Meanwhile, an aspiring politician has his sights set on Spider-Man

Ultimate Spider-Man # 47 & 48

Issue coverage begins at 11:27

Spider-Man, The Ultimates, and the Sinister Five square off in a climactic battle on the White House lawn & we mourn the loss of an unsung hero as we conclude the Ultimate Six event.

Ultimate Six 6 & 7

Issue coverage begins at 16:30

Norman Osborne begins revealing his master plan to the other escaped villains. Step one? Kidnap Peter Parker.

Ultimate Six 4 & 5

Issue coverage begins at 3:31

Various Ultimate Spider-Man villains escape SHIELD custody, setting the stage for the Ultimate Six event

Ultimate Six #1-3

Issue coverage begins at 14:03

Aunt May goes to therapy and shares her thoughts on Spider-Man. Sharon Carter recounts a flashback story about the time she and Spider-Man took down the Sandman.

Ultimate Spider-Man #45 & 46

Issue coverage begins at 14:36

Welcome to the X-Men, Geldoff. Hope you survive the experience.

Ultimate Spider-Man #43 & 44

Issue coverage begins at 15:53

While Spider-Man is forced to deal with an impulsive mutant from a rival school, Peter Parker just wants to make out with Mary Jane.

Ultimate Spider-Man #41 & 42

Issue coverage begins at 17:00

Honestly, the boys get real off track in this one. It's alot of fun. Also some stuff happens to Peter Parker or whatever.

Ultimate Spider-Man #39 & 40

Issue coverage begins at 18:58

Peter enters his sadboi era, and we finally see Spider-Man fight Venom

Ultimate Spider-Man #37 & 38

Issue coverage begins at 8:47

We took a break from our regular coverage to discuss the latest Spider-Man film and its' breakout star, HOBIE BROWN, SPIDER-PUNK!

Peter's new look comes with new power (and responsibility). Eddie Brock is a piece of work.

Ultimate Spider-Man #35 & 36

Issue coverage begins at 8:35

In which we conclude our coverage of The Ultimates and discuss Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 3

Ultimates 12 & 13

Issue coverage begins at 9:13

Peter reconnects with an old friend and learns more about his father's work

Ultimate Spider-Man #33 & 34

Issue coverage begins at 8:35

Janet Pym does a Die Hard while the Chitauri enter the final phase of their plans for Earth

Ultimates 10 & 11

Issue coverage begins at 11:53

Peter, Gwen, and Mary Jane all have a pretty crummy day

Ultimate Spider-Man #31 & 32

Issue coverage begins at 15:27

Captain America gives Giant Man the beatdown he deserves, and Nick Fury informs the team of an alien enemy who hides in plain sight.

Ultimates #8 & 9

Issue coverage begins at 12:33

Spider-Man robs a bank, and Peter Parker is pretty upset when he hears about it. Mary Jane doesn't deserve any of this nonsense.

Ultimate Spider-Man 29-30

Issue coverage begins at 13:27

We cover the most upsetting Ultimates issue, but try to balance it out with discussions on AI, Hot Rod, football, and Elon Musk's woes.

TW: Domestic Abuse

Ultimates #6 & #7

Issue coverage begins at 17:07

As Batman once said "Somedays you just can't get rid of a bomb". Peter learns that in the spirit of this lesson, somedays you just can't skip school. Meanwhile, the Daily Bugle staff workshops a story and Spider-Man goes on the record about cancel culture.

Ultimate Spider-Man #28 & Ultimate Spider-Man 1/2

Issue coverage begins at 8:45

In our second episode covering The Ultimates, we figure out what Thor's deal is, the team fights a rampaging Hulk, and we talk about two separate instances of pants being stolen (which isn't a lot but it's weird that it happened twice).

The Ultimates 4 & 5

Issue coverage begins at 6:35

Peter Parker recounts untold stories of experiences he's had with various Marvel superheroes while he struggles to decide who his hero is.

Ultimate Spider-Man Super Special #1

Issue coverage begins at 14:10

In 1945, Captain America takes on a deadly mission with America's future at stake. Meanwhile in the 21st century, Nick Fury begins assembling a team of extraordinary people.

The Ultimates, Issues 1-3

Issue coverage begins at 8:16

Spidey faces off against the Green Goblin with Mary Jane Watson's life at stake. The circles are explained.

Ultimate Spider-Man issues 25-27

Issue coverage begins at 7:40

Peter Parker is given an ultimatum when Norman and Harry Osborn return to the city.

Ultimate Spider-Man issues 22-24

Issue coverage begins at 7:20

Spider-Man teams up with Shang-Chi and we discuss our final thoughts about the Ultimate Team-Up series

Ultimate Marvel Team-Up issues #15-16

Issue coverage begins at 14:50

Spidey comes face to face with the Master of the Mystic Arts (or at least his son who's learning them) as well as Natasha Romanov, the famed Black Widow.

Ultimate Marvel Team Up #13-15

Issue coverage begins at 6:37

In these Team-Up issues, Peter Parker encounters the Fantastic Four, the Lizard, Man-Thing, and the X-Men

Ultimate Marvel Team Up Issues 9-11

Issue coverage begins at 12:49

Spider-Man has a climactic face-off with Doctor Octopus and Kraven the Hunter

Ultimate Spider-Man issues 19-21

Issue coverage begins at 8:10

Spider-Man and Daredevil are forced to intervene when the Punisher escapes prison and goes on a revenge-fueled killing spree.

Ultimate Marvel Team-Up #6-8

Issue coverage begins at 5:23

In the spirit of the upcoming Super Bowl Sunday, we talk football (more than usual) and look at a story where Spider-Man saved the universe by playing a pickup football game.

Web of Spider-Man #34

Peter battles Doctor Octopus for the first time, and a new foe arrives in New York intent on "hunting" Spider-Man

Ultimate Spider-Man issues 16-18

Issue coverage begins at 7:14

Peter shares a secret that changes everything, Midtown High gets a new student, and the threat of Doc Ock looms large.

Ultimate Spider-Man issues 13-15

Issue coverage begins at 9:03

While Spider-Man takes on organized crime, his double-life causes conflict for Peter Parker.

Ultimate Spider-Man issues 9-12

Issue coverage begins at 9:47

Peter's early adventures continue-- including his first encounter with the Green Goblin!

Ultimate Spider-Man issues 6-8

Issue coverage begins at 4:26

Our introduction to the larger Ultimate Universe. "When we team up, team up, we always seem to bring this place to the ground"

Ultimate Marvel Team-Up issues 1-5

Issue coverage begins at 6:21

The beginning of our coverage on the Ultimate Spider-Man series. A great place to start.

Ultimate Spider-Man issues 1-5

Issue coverage begins at 3:41

A raw, unedited prelude episode examining three versions of the Spider-Man origin story.