Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Ultimate Spider-Man #9! Marvel Comics recently gave fans an entirely new the newly-established Ultimate Universe of Earth-6160, complete with an alternate origin story and an updated, high-tech costume. However, it seems Spider-Man is already trading in his “picotech” costume for a brand new one, which has one huge advantage over his advanced suit despite technically being a downgrade.

In a preview for Ultimate Spider-Man #9 by Jonathan Hickman and Marco Checchetto, Spider-Man and the Green Goblin are finishing up a patrol of the city before heading back to Oscorp to check in with Otto Octavius. In this reality, Peter Parker and Harry Osborn are heroic partners, and Octavius is effectively Osborn’s ‘guy in the chair’. As Spider-Man and Green Goblin are protecting New York from everyday criminals (while working to dismantle the Maker’s Council), Octavius is working on something of equal importance.

Spider-Man and Green Goblin both got their suits from Stark/Stane Industries, meaning there was still a great deal about them that they didn’t understand, or had full control over - especially Spider-Man. Spider-Man’s suit is made of “picotech”, which is nanotech-like technology that was the last thing Howard Stark invented. No matter how much he’s tried, Octavius cannot figure out exactly how the picotech works, which is dangerous, as it leaves Spider-Man vulnerable to outside forces hacking into and hijacking his suit. So, Otto created a new costume for Spider-Man to wear, one that can only be less technologically advanced.

The Ultimate Universe Could Be Bringing Back Spider-Man’s Classic Costume

Ultimate Spider-Man Gave Peter Parker a High-Tech Suit from the Start, Now It’s Rolling Back

Spider-Man is no stranger to high-tech suits in Marvel’s main continuity of Earth-616, especially ones created by Stark (ie, the iconic Iron Spider Armor). However, Spider-Man has also consistently worn fabric costumes with no advanced technology integrated into the suit at all. That’s something the Ultimate Universe totally side-stepped right from the start, as Tony Stark gave Peter his father’s picotech suit to ensure that Peter would have all the resources he needed to be the best version of himself that he could be.

Narratively, Spider-Man wearing the picotech suit makes sense. But Spider-Man as a character is so much bigger than any one storyline that’s being told around him - even that of the wider Ultimate Universe as a whole. Therefore, it also makes sense that he’d revert to a more classic version of his costume, as the low-tech (aka no-tech) nature of his original suit is an iconic aspect of Spidey’s character. And now, it seems the Ultimate Universe is giving him just that with Otto Octavius’ new design.

Spider-Man’s New Suit Honors His Origin While Also Being the Most Practical

Spider-Man is in Danger Wearing the Picotech Suit, so Giving Him a Classic Costume Makes Sense

Not only does Spider-Man’s new low-tech costume honor Spidey’s original Earth-616 history and legacy, it also makes the most sense based on the details of this story. This team of heroes don’t know how the picotech really works, so Spider-Man is in danger every moment he’s wearing it. Given Spider-Man’s natural superhuman abilities that require no tech, it simply makes the most sense to get rid of the risky technology he’s covered in, which is a huge advantage this new suit will have over his more advanced one.

While it’s true that fans haven’t yet seen this new low-tech suit, it can be safely assumed that it will be reminiscent of Spider-Man’s classic Earth-616 costume design. Spider-Man really only needed a costume to conceal his identity, and since the picotech armor is a potential hazard (and completely redundant in of his powers), it’s better to just eliminate tech altogether and simply let Spider-Man be Spider-Man - and fans should be excited to see this ‘new’ look in action when the full comic comes out.

Ultimate Spider-Man #9 by Marvel Comics is available September 25, 2024.