The Death of Spider-Man arc, as it happened in Ultimate Comics Spider-Man, is over now with this week’s unnecessarily polybagged issue #160 (I read it on the iPad). If you haven’t read it yet, you may want to stop now as this feature will be spoilerific. You can’t discuss the story, without discussing the story. Marvel announced this event in November and as with every major comic book event, the mainstream media has already reported on the outcome just as the final issue was released.

The big two (that’s Marvel and DC in case you aren’t in the know) have a long tradition of killing off characters only to bring them back sometime later usually with a big to do. Most recently Marvel did this with Captain America and DC most famously did it with Superman and with The Flash and Green Lantern. It would be interesting to see one of these companies take a tentpole character and truly kill him off, never to bring him back, but of course neither of the companies can really afford to do that.

Keep reading for a SPOILER-fill discussion…

The Death of Spider-Man begins in the issues of Ultimate Comics Spider-Man and Ultimate Avengers vs. New Ultimates in February.

Marvel is really touting this story as a major game changer for the Ultimate Marvel Universe. Having Spider-Man dead will certainly cause some changes, but will we have this same old story as we’ve had so many times before when heroes die? You know the story: wannabe heroes come out of the woodwork to try and fill the shoes of the fallen hero often even taking his identity. If that’s what the fallout of Spidey’s death, well, that’ll just be boring.

At any rate Marvel has released an image of the variant cover art for issue 157 of Ultimate Comics Spider-Man set for release in April. This is the final issue of the story arc. This variant art was done by Ed McGuiness, who’s currently back on the Hulk series. Check out the cover art below and share your thoughts.

Marvel has sent us a bevy of exciting preview art from their upcoming Death of Spider-Man event set in the Ultimate Universe.

Marvel wants to make sure everyone understands this is an Ultimate book so there are no rules governing Spidey and what happens to him. Just because writers can do whatever they want doesn’t guarantee good, but it does promise different and that’s a start considering what’s happening in Amazing Spider-Man. The creative team behind this event is solid so there’s reason to give it a shot.

Here’s some preview art from Ultimate Avengers Vs. New Ultimates # by Leinil Yu and Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #153 by Ed McGuinness to wet your whistle!

Ultimate Spider-Man fans rejoice, your dream team is back. Brian Michael Bendis and Mark Bagley are reuniting for an 8-issue story arc for the groundbreaking 150th issue. The team worked on the series for almost 10 years when they went there separate ways. Bagley went to work on various DC projects while Bendis has worked on major Marvel events and on the Avengers titles.

Not only will the story be in Ultimate Spider-Man but it will crossover into Ultimate Avengers VS New Ultimates. Marvel has not revealed many details about the story and how Spidey will be laid to rest, but it will be a major blow to the Ultimate Universe and all of its characters. One of the major players in the story will be Mysterio, who has been shaking things up with killing the Kingpin.

By Culturesmash

Marvel Entertainment just loves killing off its heroes, and bringing them back, and killing them again. Brian Michael Bendis, Mark Millar, Leinil Yu, and Mark Bagley are crafting The Death of Spider-Man, a new event spanning Ultimate Spider-Man and Ultimate Avengers vs. New Ultimates series. This new story has been previously announced, but today Marvel added that the entire story will be made available day and date digitally on the iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch with the print copies. This is following in the success of their day and date release of the new Ultimate Comics Thor series.

The story will appear in Ultimate Comics Spider-Man 153 & 154 and Ultimate Avengers vs. New Ultimates starting in February. Marvel is keen to remind us that there are no rules in the Ultimate Universe, so these writers can do whatever they want with the characters.