Spider-Man knows death, but Marvel's latest kill is about to change the hero's world in a way we've not seen before

Warning: MAJOR Spoilers for Ultimate Spider-Man #14It's official: Spider-Man's latest story just killed off a major character, with Kraven the Hunter being responsible for this lore-changing death, shocking readers - including myself. Harry Osborn, the Ultimate Universe's Green Goblin and a close ally of Spider-Man in this revamped continuity, has been horrifically murdered right in front of Peter Parker, and I can already tell that this moment is about to alter Spider-Man's trajectory as a hero in critical ways.

Ultimate Spider-Man #14 by Jonathan Hickman, Marco Checchetto, Matt Wilson, and Cory Petit picks up where the last issue left off as Peter Parker and Harry Osborn are forced to navigate the treacherous Savage Land while the Sinister Six's scary new Kraven hunts them down relentlessly.

Just as Spider-Man and Green Goblin seem to be in the clear, Kraven stops them in their tracks and fights Peter head-on. By the end of their tense and action-packed encounter, Harry Osborn is killed. I didn't see this death coming at all, and I'm certain it will upend Spider-Man's status quo like never before.

Kraven the Hunter Just Killed Off Harry Osborn, and I'm Still in Shock

Spider-Man's Closest Ally in the Ultimate Universe Has Been Slain

When Kraven faces off against Peter Parker and Harry Osborn at the climax of his dangerous hunt, Spider-Man doesn't hold back as he punches him over and over, enraged by his threats towards his wife and children. However, before he can deal a fatal blow, he holds himself back despite Harry's urging to kill their assailant. Spider-Man truly believes that Kraven is down for the count, but it was at this moment that I - as a reader - had a sinking feeling that something would go wrong. Of course, I couldn't have imagined that Harry Osborn would actually die, and I'm still reeling from this groundbreaking twist.

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Harry Osborn has played a pivotal role in Hickman and Checchetto's Ultimate Spider-Man as a trusted ally of Peter Parker, so I never could have predicted that he'd be taken off the board this early on in the narrative. Since taking on the Green Goblin mantle and later joining forces with Spider-Man, he's established himself as a strong character - albeit with a dark side, as seen when he knocks the original Black Cat off a building in the series' ninth issue. Regardless, I'd assumed that Harry would be a mainstay within the series, so I couldn't be more taken aback by Kraven shooting him.

Losing Harry Osborn Will Change the Trajectory of Spider-Man's Story

Harry Osborn Is Ultimate Spider-Man's New "Uncle Ben" Figure

In most classic Spider-Man stories, a major character's death does have a huge impact on Peter Parker's worldview. Uncle Ben's passing defines the hero Spider-Man later becomes, as it teaches him about the nature of power and responsibility through him experiencing firsthand how failing to be responsible with his abilities can cost lives. Likewise, in Marvel's new Ultimate Universe, Peter has now learned that lesson - but not from Uncle Ben. In Ultimate Spider-Man #4, it's Harry Osborn who first utters the words, "With great power comes great responsibility." Now, through his death, he's shown Spider-Man exactly what that idea entails.

Usually, the lesson Spider-Man must learn is that he's obligated to use his powers for the greater good rather than standing idly by. Harry Osborn has taken that sentiment and pushed it even further, as his death teaches Spider-Man that he has a responsibility to kill his enemies with his powers before they can hurt anyone else. If Peter had listened to Harry and finished Kraven off, then his friend would still be alive. I'm interested in seeing how Spider-Man grapples with that fact from here on out, and he may not pull his punches anymore to avoid losing someone else the way he's lost Harry.

Harry Osborn May Not Be Gone For Good, Because Death Never Lasts in Comics

Spider-Man Could Potentially Reunite With Green Goblin In Some Way

While things are looking bleak for Harry Osborn's future in the Ultimate Universe, there's always a chance for death to be reversed in the world of comics. In fact, I actually have a few theories that could allow Green Goblin to make a comeback. Mysterio appears moments after Harry's death and urges Spider-Man to let Kraven go and return home to his family, and his presence suggests that an illusion could have been at play with Harry's death. After all, the Green Goblin has typically been a villain rather than an ally to Spider-Man, so it'd make sense for him to be secretly taken by the Sinister Six.

Gwen Stacy, Harry's wife in this continuity, could also inherit the Green Goblin mantle in his place. There's precedent for Gwen being Green Goblin, as seen in Spider-Society by Alex Segura and Ruairí Coleman. In any case, killing off a character as vital as Harry Osborn marks a massive change moving forward for Ultimate Spider-Man. The stakes have been raised higher than ever before, as Peter now knows firsthand just how far his enemies are willing to go to stop him. All I know for sure about what's next is that Spider-Man will never be the same after the death of Harry Osborn's Green Goblin.

Ultimate Spider-Man #14 is available now from Marvel Comics!

Spider-Man

Created By

Stan Lee, Steve Ditko

First Appearance

Amazing Fantasy

Alias

Peter Parker, Ben Reilly, Otto Octavius, Yu Komori, Kaine Parker, Pavitr Prabhakar, William Braddock, Miles Morales, Kurt Wagner

Alliance

Avengers, Fantastic Four, X-Men, Secret Defenders, Future Foundation, Heroes for Hire, Mighty Avengers, New Avengers, Web-Warriors

Race

Human

Franchise

Marvel, Spider-Man

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