Peter Parker’s Son Is Officially Marvel’s New Spider-Man, Redefining the Iconic Black Suit

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Marvel officially has a new Spider-Man, as Peter Parker’s son Richard Parker officially receives the codename, along with a new version of the Wall-Crawler’s iconic black suit. When Marvel’s Ultimate Universe officially launched in 2023, no-one expected Richard Parker to inherit his father’s mantle. While fans were ready for some twists and turns to come out of Peter Parker’s new status quo as a family man, his superhero career is already plunging his children into unprecedented levels of danger.

In solicit information for Ultimate Spider-Man #17, Marvel announces that the Ultimate Universe’s Sinister Six – Kingpin, Mister Negative, Kraven the Hunter, the Mole Man, the Black Cat and Mysterio – will go up against “the two Spider-Men.” This announcement means that not only will Richard Parker face his father’s most powerful enemies yet, but that Marvel is officially giving him the Spidey codename.

In recent issues of Ultimate Spider-Man, Richard has begun using his father’s hi-tech suit to search for Peter, who has been kidnapped by Kraven the Hunter. While fans had speculated that Richard was heading for a dark fate as this new continuity’s Venom, few imagined he’d be sharing the Spider-Man mantle with his dad.

Richard Parker Is the New Spider-Man

Richard’s Powers Come from the Disturbing Black Costume

In Ultimate Universe continuity, Peter Parker’s origin story was altered by the time-traveling villain known as the Maker. The spider that was meant to give him powers was stolen, only to be returned later in life by Tony Stark’s resistance movement. Alongside his spider-powers, Peter was also given a cutting-edge picotech suit which enhances his abilities. Recently, Peter chose to use his own personality as a foundation for the suit’s advanced AI. Now, with Peter missing, Richard is on a mission to rescue him, advised and trained by the suit’s imperfect echo of Peter Parker’s consciousness.

Whatever Happens Next, Ultimate Canon Officially Has Two Spider-Men

A black suit with a mind of its own isn’t a new phenomenon in Spider-Man lore. In Marvel’s mainstream canon, Peter first gained his black suit as part of the Secret Wars event, only to later learn it was an alien being known as a symbiote which was amplifying his rage and violence. Spider-Man quickly ditched the black suit, which went on to become the supervillain known as Venom. As the creepy fake Peter has been tutoring Richard in Ultimate Spider-Man, fans have speculated that they’re watching the birth of Ultimate Venom – this time through technological means.

However, if Richard is going to become Venom, then he at least gets to be Spider-Man first. Currently, Richard is living through an echo of Peter Parker’s mainstream origin – a teenager granted unexpected power, on a mission of heroism motivated by the loss of his father figure. In fact, it’s possible that the long term plan is to kill off Peter and have Richard become the true Ultimate Spider-Man. The Ultimate Universe has a lot of latitude to alter the story fans know, meaning almost anything can happen next. Thankfully, Peter’s return means that even if tragedy is on the cards, the two Spider-Men will get a chance to unite as a team.

The Meaning of Spider-Man’s Black Suit Just Changed

Richard Parker’s Unique Design Could Predict Marvel’s Plans for the Hero

While Venom was the original black suit, the costume has gained new meaning since Peter and the symbiote parted company. Spider-Man has returned to the black suit in times of trauma and especially when he finds himself in opposition to the law – for example, after he sided against Iron Man in Civil War. It’s notable that the Ultimate Universe is turning the black suit into a whole other Spider-Man, with Peter’s original in blue and red and Richard in black and white (distinct from Miles Morales, whose traditional suit is black and red.)

It’s an easy way to communicate the two different Spider-Men, and could indicate that Marvel has long term plans to have both the superpowered Peter and the tech-assisted Richard continue as different Spider-Men in the Ultimate Universe. Of course, the story so far has been heavily foreshadowing the creepy potential of the picotech suit, so it’s possible Richard’s Spider-Man is headed for a fall. Whatever happens, Marvel’s Ultimate Universe is succeeding in telling stories that fans can’t find anywhere else, as Peter Parker’s son becomes the new black-suited Spider-Man.

“}]] Can advanced tech replace Peter’s superpowers?  Read More