Marvel's new Ultimate Spider-Man series reimagines a middle-aged Peter Parker who is married with children and has yet to become the iconic superhero due to alterations in his past by The Maker. With a non-traditional storyline and older protagonist, the relaunch aims to connect with a contemporary audience while still holding onto the central themes of power and responsibility familiar to Spider-Man fans. A surviving Uncle Ben and a conflict with journalistic integrity at the Daily Bugle, now managed by characters including Wilson Fisk, set the stage for a different kind of storytelling. Furthermore, the newly introduced Green Goblin hints at deep connections with the Bugle's staff. The first issue concludes with Peter Parker choosing to let himself be bitten by the radioactive spider - a deliberate move that offers a fresh perspective on Spider-Man's origin story.

How does the new Ultimate Spider-Man differ from the traditional story?

The new Ultimate Spider-Man diverges from the original by featuring Peter Parker as a middle-aged, married father who only becomes Spider-Man after deciding to allow the radioactive spider, provided by Iron Man, to bite him. Unlike the classic narrative, Peter is not a teenager and is entering the superhero world later in life, with an existing family and a full career as a journalist.

Background Information: Ultimate Spider-Man first debuted in 2000 as part of Marvel's Ultimate Marvel imprint, which offered a modernized reimagining of classic characters aimed at new readers, unbound by decades of comic book continuity. This new series follows the Ultimate tradition of rebooting the characters for a new generation, with a fresh start that evokes contemporary issues and sensibilities. The original Ultimate Spider-Man series was critically acclaimed and recognized as successfully updating Spider-Man's mythos, making this new iteration a significant development for fans of the franchise.