by Kevin Gaussoin, Editor-in-Chief
Jonathan Hickman and Marco Checchetto are doing it again! Last month in Ultimate Spider-Man #12 they gave us a holiday issue with the impression everything was fine. Month 12 meant a Christmas party at the Parkers’! The family’s all here, JJJ included. We learn of some drama with MJ’s sister and Jonah wants to date MJ’s globe trotting mother. All is delightfully normal until we realize that Peter hasn’t said a thing all night. Our cliffhanger is revealed when Gwen finally gets MJ to answer the phone. Gwen frantically relates that she hasn’t seen Harry in 6 days! MJ goes to ask Peter and when she touches him, the telltale Venomesque swirly texture of Peter’s nanotech suit is seen. MJ demands to know where her husband is and the black-eyed Peter suit responds, “Merry Christmas.”
The epilogue reveals Peter and Harry chained up at the mercy of Kraven the Hunter.
So what do we have this issue?
Official Description:
KRAVEN’S MOST DANGEROUS GAME!
The Sinister Six are all hunting Spider-Man and the Green Goblin for their ringleader, Kingpin-and this time, Kraven has the upper hand in Jonathan Hickman & Marco Checchetto’s love letter to “Kraven’s Last Hunt”!
Ultimate Spider-Man issue 13 opens with what may end up being Ultimate Kid Venom web-swinging around New York. Richard Parker is making use of Peter’s nanotechnology suit and talking to the embedded AI.
It’s important to note that Ultimate Marvel Universe comics are supposed to be set a month apart, but I think more accurately they may just each take place in separate calendar months. This issue nonchalantly points out that it begins on “The 31st of the month.” By the time we get to the end of the issue we can see that “Kid Venom” confronted by Black Cat may easily carry over to next issue because even though we don’t see any clocks or watches in the background, it just has to be 11:59.
Actually the bulk of the issue deals with the setup for Kraven hunting Peter and Harry in the subterranean Savage Land. Players of Ark will certainly appreciate the fear involved as Peter has a fistfight with a velociraptor. Once again, I think that scene also ends deep into 11:59pm, cause clearly they have to start the next issue a second later as February begins.
Okay real quick: Hickman is one of the best comic writers today, possibly of all time. The suspense in this issue is amazing, and the art is spectacular. Chicchetto kills it with angles, close-ups, wide shots, and page flow, whether it’s talking heads or fighting for life. It seems weird to say this about a Spider-Man book, but the blood rivulets and splattered fluids are particularly realistic and somehow raise the stakes even more. That may be thanks to colorist Matthew Wilson.
I am really looking forward to Ultimate Spider-Man issue 14 next month. This is one of my top reads every time.
Rating: 
ComicsOnline gives Ultimate Spider-Man #13 (2024) 5 out of 5 heart-pounding Dino-punching scenes!
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