Warning! This post contains SPOILERS for Ultimate Spider-Man #9The newest issue of Marvel ComicsUltimate Spider-Manhas made a subtle jab at the MCU and its penchant for overdesigning its costumes. A trend prominently seen in the MCU (but isn’t necessarily exclusive to it), new live-action superhero costumes can often feel far too busy and over-complicated in their design. To that end, a new costume revealed inMarvel’s new Ultimate Universefeels like it’s very much giving the MCU the side-eye.
InUltimate Spider-Man #9by Jonathan Hickmam and Marco Chechetto, Peter Parker and Harry Osborn are contending with the recent reveal that both their suits can be taken over by Tony Stark’s Iron Man. Thanks to Oscorp’s Otto Octavius,all Harry’s Green Goblin suit needs is a simple updateto keep Stark out. However, Spider-Man’s advanced picotech suit is tougher to solve, and such motivated Otto to create an entirely brand-new suit for Spider-Man:
Clearly,Otto’s creation is the Ultimate universe’s version of the Iron Spider suit, and the new armor comes with all the bells and whistles one would expect. It also features new design elements compared to the original 616 version, complete with extra armor plating and lots of black line piping that’s often become the norm with live-action MCU suits.
Why Ultimate Spider-Man Turns Down The New Iron Spider-Suit
This new armor created by Octavius prompts a surprising response from Peter Parker, who ultimately turns down the suit in favor of a more traditional and simpler spandex suit (with some Kevlar mixed in).Confirming that the suit is too much, even Otto concedes that the armor may be too overdesigned. It’s not hard to see where Spider-Man is coming from, as well as the likely intentional dig at the MCU.
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In the MCU’s 616,the Iron Spider suit worn by Tom Holland’s Peter Parkeris similarly overdesigned in its visual style. This is especially true when compared to the original and far simpler suit Tony Stark made for Peter Parker in the comics during the firstCivil Warevent.However, the Iron Spider suit is just one of many MCU suits that have fallen prey to this common trend.
Overdesigned MCU Costumes Are A Frequent Problem
Sometimes…Less Is More
Beyond the Iron Spider suit,some of the worst examples of overdesigned MCU costumesare found when heroes get new suits for their sequels, resulting in already overdesigned styles getting even more lines, colors, and textures, essentially doubling down on what was already unnecessary (see Thor’s blue-and-yellow armor inLove and Thunder). Likewise, sometimes a suit that was perfect like Kamala Kahn’s inMs. Marvelgets lost in the dust and is replaced by an “upgrade” once their next appearance comes along (The Marvels). At any rate,it is humorous to see this issue get addressed on the page with Ultimate Spider-Man’s rejection of his new armor.
Ultimate Spider-Man #9is on sale now from Marvel Comics
Ultimate Spider-Man (2024)
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