Warning: Contains spoilers for Ultimate Spider-Man #13!

There’s an all-new Ultimate Universe, as the teenage son of Peter Parker and MJ Watson-Parker has officially suited up as a superhero for the first time, replacing his father. With Peter captured by Kraven and the rest of the Sinister Six, Richard Parker II takes on the great responsibility of his dad’s superhero identity, and starts growing closer to his strange sentient suit.

Ultimate Spider-Man #13 – written by Jonathan Hickman, with art by Marco Checchetto – opens with new skills as Spider-Man at the beginning of this issue.

Time has ed to the end of January in the series, and Peter has been missing in action for almost two whole months. Determined to find his father, Richard decides to suit up and kickstart his own superhero transformation, even without his dad’s superpowers helping him.

Richard Parker Begins His Web-Slinging Journey In "Ultimate Spider-Man," Officially Taking Over For His Father

Ultimate Spider-Man #13 – Written By Jonathan Hickman; Art By Marco Checchetto; Color By Matthew Wilson; Lettering By VC’s Cory Petit

Just one year into his family even finding out his Spidey secret not long after he began suiting up to fight crime, but Richard taking on the mantle of Spider-Man has totally changed the trajectory of the series. Fans had already been theorizing that Richard could become Spider-Man one day, but this development has sped up that journey.

Since Richard was never bitten by a radioactive spider himself, his version of Spider-Man is unique because he doesn’t even have any superpowers like his dad. He’s able to start web-slinging and take down petty criminals because of the abilities afforded to him by Peter’s super-advanced picotech suit, but the eerie tech could prove to be a real problem for the boy moving forward. When Richard makes his superhero debut, the suit is clearly meant to resemble Spider-Man’s black costume from Venom in main continuity, and things get even creepier when the suit’s A.I. keeps mimicking his missing father.

Ultimate Spider-Man’s Slow Burn Family Drama Officially Pays Off With This Major New Lore Twist

Spider-Man’s Son Earns His Father's Role As Tensions Rise

The family drama at the center of Spidey’s Ultimate title has been an integral part of the series since it began, but some argue that it moves a little too slowly. However, Richard’s big new status change in Ultimate Spider-Man #13 propels this story into the future, and officially establishes a spectacular new hero for Earth-6160 that can not only live up to, but even potentially sur his father’s heroic legacy in the universe. Richard has interesting dynamics with the series’ ing cast as the son of both Peter and MJ, and has gradually earned the superhero transformation he’s receiving.

As Peter and MJ’s son in the Ultimate Universe levels up and takes over the family business, he’s already one of Marvel's most exciting new heroes and could even prove to be Earth-6160’s true Spider-Man.

In the cliffhanger ending of Ultimate Spider-Man’s latest issue, Richard is already going up against his first super-villain, with the new Spidey actually being the one to face-off against the new Black Cat. Since Peter is still captured by Kraven and the other villains, Richard could even go toe-to-toe with the new Sandman in an issue to further prove himself as a hero. As Peter and MJ’s son in the Ultimate Universe levels up and takes over the family business, he’s already one of Marvel's most exciting new heroes and could even prove to be Earth-6160’s true Spider-Man.

Ultimate Spider-Man #13 is available now from Marvel Comics.