Cover: Marco Checchetto

Ultimate Spider-Man #5

Jul 2024 · Marvel · 4.99 USD

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“May”

About this Issue

Ultimate Spider-Man #5 (2024) marks the first appearance of Otto Octavius in the new Earth-6160 Ultimate Universe, introducing a reimagined version of one of Spider-Man's most consequential antagonists as a young Oscorp technician rather than a middle-aged scientist — a deliberate generational inversion that resets the entire dynamic between Peter Parker and his classic nemesis. The issue also functions as the origin chapter for this universe's Green Goblin, delivering the full backstory of how Harry Osborn — already established in earlier issues as a masked vigilante — acquired Tony Stark's hidden cache of tech and chose to become a hero-or-something-else, giving the series its second lead a complete and self-contained arc within the first story. As the penultimate chapter of the debut arc of Marvel's relaunched Ultimate line, it crystallizes Hickman's structural conceit of using alternating focus issues to build an ensemble rather than a straightforward solo title. The issue is also a concrete demonstration of how the 2024 Ultimate Universe distinguishes itself from its predecessor: familiar Spider-Man mythology is present but every character is placed at a different life stage, with radically altered relationships and loyalties.

writer Jonathan Hickman · artist, inker David Messina · colorist Matthew Wilson · letterer VC's Cory Petit · letterer VC's Joe Sabino · cover Marco Checchetto

ComicBooks.com Value

Our Model is In Beta

Raw (NM) $7

CGC 9.8 · 319 in census $53*

CGC 9.6 · 32 in census $29

CGC 9.4 · 15 in census $25*

CGC 9.2 · 5 in census $21*

CGC 9.0 · 1 in census $20*

* estimate — limited direct-sales data at this grade

Our model’s value — refined as new sales data arrives · CGC census counts shown where available

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History

The series was conceived by Jonathan Hickman as the flagship launch title of Marvel's second Ultimate Universe line, following the Ultimate Invasion miniseries, with Marco Checchetto as the primary series artist. Issue #5, released May 29, 2024, brought in guest penciler David Messina — the first artistic substitution on the monthly book — a scheduling change that drew some reader comment, as Checchetto had handled the opening four issues. The cover was provided by regular series cover artist Marco Checchetto, with a Leonardo Romero variant also available. Editor Wilson Moss oversaw the issue, with colors by Matthew Wilson and lettering by VC's Cory Petit and Joe Sabino.

Trivia · 7 facts

First appearance of Otto Octavius (Earth-6160): Octavius debuts here as a young Oscorp/Stark-Stane scientist working for Harry Osborn and Gwen Stacy, depicted as pre-accident and without his signature mechanical arms — a deliberate age inversion from his mainstream counterpart.
Full origin of the Ultimate Universe Green Goblin: The issue reveals in flashback how Harry Osborn discovered Tony Stark's hidden armory, acquired the vibro-shock gauntlets (originally intended for Herman Schultz), and partnered with the freshly introduced Otto Octavius to build the Goblin armor from Stark/Stane designs.
The Shocker of Earth-6160 is confirmed to be an opportunist who stumbled upon Stark's gauntlets — not Herman Schultz, who appears separately in the character index — though forum discussion noted the exact identity of the man who originally received the gauntlets remained deliberately ambiguous in this issue.
Harry Osborn defeats the Shocker (who had twice bested Peter Parker/Spider-Man in earlier issues), establishing that the Green Goblin is, at this point in the story, a more capable fighter than the still-inexperienced Spider-Man.
The issue contains a key scene in which Peter Parker and Harry Osborn, having drinks together, reveal their respective secret identities and shared goals, agreeing to work as partners — the in-universe foundation of their superhero alliance.
Bullseye (designated 'Lester' in the character index) appears in the present-day framing sequence; Harry has captured him and removed his exoskeleton suit, with Bullseye warning that 'the people he works for' will still come for Harry — further establishing Kingpin/Wilson Fisk's enforcement hierarchy.
The series is set in Earth-6160, the new Ultimate Universe established after Ultimate Invasion, in which Peter Parker became Spider-Man as a middle-aged married father — a direct structural contrast to both the original Ultimate Spider-Man (Brian Michael Bendis, 2000) and the mainline 616 continuity.