Marvel’s new Ultimate Spider-Man is about to go head-to-head with the latest version of the Sinister Six, and he doesn’t even know it.

While the titular hero of Ultimate Spider-Man #8 and his allies are getting uncomfortably acquainted with none other than Tony Stark himself, a group of New York City’s worst villains are gathering together to discuss the emerging threat of superheroes. Called together by the Kingpin himself, Wilson Fisk, the five crime lords he brings together each have their own slice of the city to command, making their gathering that much more unnerving. As it turns out, Fisk isn’t out to change any preexisting arrangements but rather to offer everyone involved a chance at taking down Spider-Man and the Green Goblin. And, unsurprisingly, the Black Cat, Mister Negative, Kraven the Hunter, Mysterio, and the Mole Man are all game for the hunt.

Written by JONATHAN HICKMAN Art by MARCO CHECCHETTO Colors by MATTHEW WILSON Letters by VC’s CORY PETIT Design by JAY BOWEN Main cover art by MARCO CHECCHETTO & MATTHEW WILSON Variant covers by LEE GARBETT & DEAN WHITE and LUCIANO VECCHIO

1964’s Amazing Spider-Man Annual #1 by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko marked the debut of the Sinister Six. The team was originally brought together by Doctor Otto Octavius, better known as Doctor Octopus. The original lineup of villains consisted of Doctor Octopus, Kraven the Hunter, Mysterio, the Vulture, Electro, and the Sandman. Since then, several other iterations of the team popped up. So far, nearly two dozen versions of the Sinister Six have appeared in the primary Marvel Universe, with countless more having assembled across the Multiverse in one form or another.

The current Ultimate Sinister Six stands as some of the first major villains that Spider-Man or any other hero has faced. This new Ultimate Universe — Earth-6160 — was discovered by the villainous Reed Richards known as the Maker, who used his knowledge of the original Ultimate Universe to rewrite history. In turn, Earth-6160 developed almost entirely devoid of any heroes, or villains, who could stand in the Maker’s way. Eventually, he was defeated by a new version of Kang the Conqueror and Howard Stark, the latter of whom instilled in his son a duty to try and set things right.

Tony was the one who allowed the Peter Parker of this reality to become Spider-Man. Over the past few months, Peter has gradually come into his own as a hero, though he is still far behind his contemporary and fellow hero Harry Osborn, aka the Green Goblin. Together with the help and technical support of their world’s Otto Octavius, Peter and Harry have already taken on the Kingpin once. While they only narrowly survived their encounter with the villain, they left enough of an impression for their foe to take direct action against them.

Ultimate Spider-Man #8 is on sale now from Marvel Comics.

Source: Marvel Comics