Ultimate Spider-Man (2024-) #20

Ultimate Spider-Man (2024) (Single Issues) ##20

by Jonathan Hickman, David Messina (Artist), Marco Checchetto (Cover Art)

MY DINNER WITH HARRY! Harry Osborn lives! Peter and Mary Jane have another fateful dinner with Harry and Gwen…

Genres: Comics, Marvel, Spider Man, Comic Book, Graphic Novels Comics, Superheroes

30 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 27, 2025

About the author

Jonathan Hickman is an American comic book writer and artist. He is known for creating the Image Comics series The Nightly News, The Manhattan Projects and East of West, as well as working on Marvel Comics' Fantastic Four, FF, and S.H.I.E.L.D. titles. In 2012, Hickman ended his run on the Fantastic Four titles to write The Avengers and The New Avengers, as part the "Marvel NOW!" relaunch. In 2013, Hickman wrote a six-part miniseries, Infinity, plus Avengers tie-ins for Marvel Comics. In 2015, he wrote the crossover event Secret Wars. - Wikipedia

Reviews

[Machiavelli · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book continues to be one of the more frustrating series I’m reading—not because it’s terrible, but because it just can’t seem to find its balance. Taken by itself, this issue is okay. It leans into character work and I liked the attention on Mary Jane, especially since it calls back to issue #4 (which I really enjoyed). The problem is that at issue #20, and with the finish line not too far off, this feels less like forward momentum and more like we are stalled.

The biggest sticking point for me is still Peter. He’s supposed to be the center of the story, but he barely feels like it. Twenty issues in, I don’t have a clear sense of how he’s grown, what his powers really look like now, or how any of this has truly affected him. Without that focus, it’s tough to stay emotionally invested.

Kingpin as the looming villain also hasn’t delivered much—he’s been hanging around in the background while characters like Kraven have made a bigger splash in a fraction of the space. On top of that, the month-to-month jumps in the timeline really break the flow; we’re constantly told about things happening instead of actually seeing them play out.

So yeah, it’s not a bad issue on its own. There are moments that work and it does end in a way that grabs attention. But in the bigger picture, it’s disappointing, and I’m not convinced we’re heading toward a conclusion that will pay off all this waiting.

[Craig Schorling · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love when a comic book can pull of the dialogue and not need action, explosions, end of the world fights, and super villains to be engaging. This issue was exactly that. Just dialogue and story. Hickman nailed it. Uncle Ben's "I thought you didn't want to talk about it" was fantastic and the punch heard round the world was fabulous. A great pause and build up for what's to come.

[Macqueron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Une vraie leçon en termes de développement des personnages. Voilà un numéro sans une once d’action, juste des personnages aux prises à leurs propres interrogations: ce qu’on peut perdre dans une guerre, les mensonges qu’on est prêts à accepter, apprendre de ses erreurs, etc. La seule frustration est que, chaque numéro devant représenter un mois, on peine à croire qu’il ne se passe aucun événement notable par ailleurs. Un excellent numéro dans une série qui ne trouve pas son rythme

[grimbamreads · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5


mj got that dawg in her

[Jason Holtzman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m torn — on its own this is a very well done issue. It’s tense, Gwen is scary, MJ’s decision is surprising, and all of this is conveyed through brilliantly paced art and dialogue.

However, in the wider context of the series, these past two issues have felt slow. Not much has moved forward, and we all know the book is about to end.

[Emiliano · Rating 4 out of 5]

Still a nice read but probably my least favorite issue

This probably had the least going on but honestly that’s fine I just felt like there was something missing to make this another banger issue. It’s cool to see everyone interact doing normal stuff for the time being before shit hits the fan as we near the end of this amazing series

[Oliver · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was so excited for this series when it first started, and I loved the first few issues - but the more it goes on the more I realise nothing actually happens and I don’t really know any of the characters properly. The biggest culprit of this is Peter, who feels like he’s barely ever in his own book. On its own this issue is pretty good, but it just doesn’t really add much

[Seth Daub · Rating 3 out of 5]

decent little issue. this one is strikingly similar to issue 4 though when peter, harry, mj and gwen went out for dinner, i mean almost directly comparable.

i do think one of the strengths of this run are the more intimate character moments, so i wasn’t too disappointed with this. i suppose i was looking for more of a bit of a frantic atmosphere, since the story is coming to a close very soon.

i thought the dinner scene was fine. not much of importance was discussed and it was a little slow, but i appreciated the cliffhanger ending.

6/10

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25
A good issue. Not one of the better ones in this run, but some good moments.

I love the point of view battle between MJ and Gwen and that you can see both sides. But you also see how terrible Gwen is. As a person. It was well done. Not an over the top mwahaha villain.

Some interesting things with the Ben and Ben discusion, too.

Nitpick with Marvel: Hickman demonstrates without a doubt how you can mature Spider-Man AND still have an immature, teenage Spider-Man.

I'm gonna miss this book when it ends.

[Raymond Paquette · Rating 5 out of 5]

There was nary a spider in sight, and talking heads dominated the story, but the tension built into MJ’s punch, knocking Gwen out. I’m excited to see where the story goes in the next chapter, and love the fact that there isn’t much action.

[Ushnav Shroff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful and elaborate - the stakes are rising.

[Kien Pham · Rating 3 out of 5]

lol stunt of that woman, MJ

[James DeSantis · Rating 3 out of 5]

A solid issue, MJ about that business. But overall it feels more like a stop issue then full blown move forward. But that's okay, it'll read great in trade form.

[zachariah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hickman really gets it

[Alex Fyffe · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[RubiGiráldez RubiGiráldez · Rating 3 out of 5]

MJ tiene algo que decir (además de preguntar por qué no sale en la portada).

[josh · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5*

[Emmanuel Jamir · Rating 4 out of 5]

thank you, mary jane

[Mikey Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Peter, MJ, Harry, and Gwen have a truth filled dinner. MJ tries to explain the Gwen is wrong and will get everyone killed in this fight.

[Juliano Stefani · Rating 5 out of 5]

MJ is getting answers and facing Gwen in a unexpected way.

[vk chompooming · Rating 5 out of 5]

Man, Johnathan Hickman knows how to build a story!