Will Spider-Man get swatted in new story?

Associated Press

PHILADELPHIA

Has Spider-Man spun his final web?

Marvel Comics said this week it will unveil a story line in Ultimate Spider-Man — a separate imprint from its other comics — with a title that may prove unsettling to the webslinger’s fans: “Death of Spider-Man.” The story is set to hit comic-store shelves in February.

The publisher is playing coy about what fate may befall Peter Parker, but the story is likely to be groundbreaking given that the Ultimate Comics line has been less than kind to several characters in the past, killing off Magneto, Wasp, Wolverine and others for good.

Brian Michael Bendis, who penned the story with Mark Millar, said the story is a “bold endeavor” and will span several issues. But on whether Spider-Man will be killed or not, Bendis and the company were mum.

Fans of Spider-Man need not worry much, though, because the Ultimates imprint is separate from Marvel’s bigger universe, and whatever fate may befall Ultimate Spider-Man won’t count in the pages of the other series, including “Amazing Spider-Man.”

The imprint’s mission is to keep characters fresh even if it means killing them off. The Ultimate universe was created 10 years ago and has been a best-seller for Marvel.