Warning: Contains Spoilers for Ultimate Spider-Man #16!

Ultimate Universe, with brand-new takes on the franchise’s iconic characters, but the latest twist could be the most shocking and sinister switch yet. Theories are swirling about the true identity of one of the universe’s villains, and though I had trouble believing it, it’s starting to look more and more likely that a classic Spidey character is the new Mysterio.

Ultimate Spider-Man #16, written by Jonathan Hickman with art by Marco Checchetto, has been said to be set to reveal the secret origin of the new Mysterio, and the issue’s preview fittingly revolves around Gwen Stacy. Many have already guessed the tricky Sinister Six member would be Gwen, but the truth is finally set to be unveiled.

It seems like we’re close to getting confirmation that Gwen Stacy has been acting as the Ultimate Universe’s Mysterio. The issue will finally explain the ins and outs of Gwen’s updated backstory and how Mysterio’s shocking identity could continue to play out in the series.

I Still Can’t Believe Ultimate Mysterio Might Be Gwen Stacy

Ultimate Spider-Man #16 by Jonathan Hickman, Marco Checchetto, Matthew Wilson, and VC’s Cory Petit

While the theories that Gwen Stacy will turn out to be Earth-6160’s Mysterio may have seemed a little far-fetched before, I’m pretty sure that the preview to Ultimate Spider-Man #16 finally confirms it. The series has only shown brief scenes of Mysterio in the Ultimate Sinister Six, and there have been clues dropped that it won’t be Quentin Beck, the usual identity of the trickster villain. With the preview for the issue set to reveal Mysterio’s origin already confirming a focus on Gwen, it seems clear that the Stacy family has strong ties to the Sinister Six villain.

The design for the Ultimate Mysterio is pretty reminiscent of the classic version of Spidey’s villain, but Gwen as Mysterio could actually play a more complicated role moving forward. It’s curious that George Stacy, Gwen’s father, is also a part of the preview, as there’s a chance that he could have even been the original Mysterio in this universe. A recurring theme in Ultimate Spider-Man has been parents ing down their hero or villain mantles to their children, as seen with the Black Cat and Spidey himself. A clue in an earlier issue about Mysterio’s height changing could prove that theory.

Gwen Stacy’s New Role in the Ultimate Universe Could Be Her Most Shocking Yet

From Boardroom Powerhouse to Masked Enigma, Gwen’s Rise Is Just Beginning

Gwen Stacy has evolved far beyond just being Peter Parker’s love interest in the main continuity, so much that the Ultimate Universe sees them as not even being connected before Peter meets Harry Osborn. Gwen is Harry’s wife on Earth-6160, and the dynamic between them, along with Peter and Mary Jane, has been fascinating to watch unfold. Gwen is a tough executive in this universe, and though there have been hints of her being ruthless in the boardroom, I can’t wait to see the twists her story takes as she levels up to supervillain status, if Mysterio is truly a villain.

Gwen has held numerous roles in the Marvel multiverse, possibly more than most other characters, with her most notable being Spider-Gwen. She’s even had a variant in the recent Spider-Society series that turned her into a version of her original killer on Earth-616, the Green Goblin. However, in the new Ultimate Universe, Gwen Stacy becoming Mysterio could change both her character and the mantle as we know it. Mysterio has already helped Peter after Harry Osborn’s tragic murder at the hands of Kraven the Hunter, and it seems likely that Mysterio could actually become an Earth-6160 superhero.

Gwen Stacy’s Shift to Mysterio Could Redefine the Ultimate Universe

The Sinister Six, Misdirection, and the Rising Stakes

Gwen and the new Sinister Six take on new dimensions with the potential reveal in Ultimate Spider-Man #16. I revisited earlier issues in search of clues, and while there are some hints, they also add layers to Gwen’s character, who has seemed to drop in and out of the story. This development makes her more pivotal to the overall plot, raising the stakes in an exciting way. If Gwen becomes Mysterio, it would intensify tensions between the heroes and the Sinister Six, especially if she has been a mole within the group.

There’s also a real chance that other theorists and I are totally off course, and the Gwen Stacy-focused preview was another clever misdirection from the series. Still, I seriously would bet on Gwen’s chances as the new Mysterio. After the Green Goblin’s death, I’m ready for this to give Gwen a more major role in the series, and reflect on her other heroic multiversal variants by potentially turning Mysterio into a superhero. While these changes totally alter Spider-Man lore as fans know it, Gwen’s wildly different character is just part of what makes the Ultimate Universe so thrilling to read.

Ultimate Spider-Man #16 will be available April 30, 2025, from Marvel Comics!