Spider-Man’s New Picotech Suit Explained – Powers & Origin of New Costume

Warning! Contains spoilers for Ultimate Spider-Man (2024) #1-3!

Peter Parker’s new picotech suit, which was introduced in Ultimate Spider-Man, has fascinating new powers and an even more surprising origin. Peter Parker isn’t a stranger to new costumes; there have been countless variations of Spider-Man in the Marvel canon. That being said, Earth-6160’s variation of Spider-Man may have the coolest suit yet.

In the ongoing Ultimate Spider-Man continuity, Peter Parker is 20 years late in becoming Spider-Man. As a reporter and dad, he’s at a much different point in his life than his original origin story. Plus, in his original story, Peter Parker never chose to become Spider-Man. Rather, he just-so-happened to be bitten by a radioactive spider. Even then, it took the death of his uncle to convince him to become a hero.

However, Earth-6160 Peter Parker is given the choice to become Spider-Man, along with everything needed to be a hero, including a costume.

A Marvel Hero Turns Earth-6160’s Peter Parker Into Spider-Man

The choice to become Spider-Man arrives as a mysterious package for Peter Parker from an iconic superhero. Ultimate Spider-Man (2024) #1 by Jonathan Hickman, Marco Checchetto, Matthew Wilson, and Cory Petit reveals Tony Stark arranged the package to be delivered 6 months prior. A hologram of Iron Man explains to Peter that inside is the picotech suit and a radioactive spider. While Tony says Peter was meant to be one of the world’s greatest heroes, the choice is ultimately up to him. In the end, Peter Parker chooses to be Spider-Man and wears the picotech suit given by Iron Man.

Iron Man Gave Peter Parker’s Superhero Costume Unique Abilities

Spider-Man’s new picotech suit has both classic and innovative abilities, some of which are perfect for a brand-new superhero. Unless this version of Peter Parker is the second-ever comic iteration with organic webbing, Tony Stark, of course, remembered to include built-in web shooters. The first appearance of Peter using webs is in Ultimate Spider-Man (2024) #2 by Hickman, Checchetto, Wilson, and Petit. While the specifics of the webbing are never discussed, Peter Parker has multiple different styles and thicknesses of webs showcased by Hickman, Checchetto, Wilson, and Petit in Ultimate Spider-Man (2024) #3.

Nevertheless, the suit’s unique powers in Ultimate Spider-Man (2024) #3 are where it shines. Stark designed the suit knowing Peter is 20 years behind where he should be. The suit changes at will, so Peter Parker showcases four new Spider-Man costumes. The montage features him changing several aspects of the suit. Now, Spider-Man is a master of both camouflage and disguises. Moreover, he’s harder to unmask now. Parker can control his mask completely, choosing to remove it partially or fully. Though, there is one flaw. His suit synchs with other picotech suits. Whereas this helps with teamwork, users can deactivate Peter’s mask without consent.

Spider-Man is quickly adapting to his suit, powers, and role as a hero. The learning process being expedited is due to him being older and more mature. Even so, Peter being older means he now has more to risk. Peter Parker isn’t just risking his own life, but the lives of his children and wife. If the picotech suit weren’t so advanced, the risk might not be worth it for this version of Peter Parker. He chose both the great power and the great responsibility that comes with being Spider-Man when he accepted the picotech suit.