In this review of Ultimate Impact: Reborn #1, Miles Morales clashes with Spot for the possession of origin boxes. Key players for the upcoming Armageddon event are introduced.
ULTIMATE IMPACT: REBORN #1
Writer: Chris Condon
Artist: STEFANO CASELLI
Main Cover: BEN HARVEY
Variant Covers: AARON KUDER, LEINIL FRANCIS YU, DIKE RUAN, CREEES LEE, STEFANO CASELLI, RON LIM, INHYUK LEE
Page Count: 32 pages
Release Date: May 20, 2026
This review contains spoilers
Ultimate Impact: Reborn #1 starts with Hostilicus the Devastator, a follower of Annihilus in the 6160 universe who wants to prepare for his second coming. At some point, he defeated Mar-Vell and took his Nega-Bands, utilizing them for his current conquest in the Negative Zone.
In the 616, Miles Morales wakes up after sleeping through an alarm and rushes to a meeting with Tony Stark. He holds the 5 origin boxes he received in the Incursion series, and wants to ask Iron Man what to do with them. On his way there, Miles gets clocked by Spot, who reveals he’s been contracted by somebody to steal the boxes.
Elsewhere, the story cuts to 5 different individuals in 5 very different places in life. We receive a snapshot of their lives in New Jersey and New York City.
A loose theme of powerlessness connects the new characters. The first character–Vin Lerner– is attempting to do the right things to be a good role model for his kid. She looks up to him, calling him “Wonder Man” after he went viral for helping a neighbor. Vin struggles a bit getting his daughter to listen to him in keeping schedule, but succeeds at the end.
The second–a writer named Paulina– is forced to delete some words from her piece to support her publication’s political agenda. She remarks how she’s helpless in this situation due to her bills.
The next 2 are a duo named Max and Lola, reflecting on how vast the universe is. Max comments on how the infinite nature of space and their world’s other dimensions are scary.
The fifth, Orson Boothe, is Paulina’s editor, and he’s brushed off by the same politician he attempted to support.
As the fight continues, Miles uses his Venom-Saber to overwhelm Spot. Spot’s defeat makes him go haywire, and Miles loses control of the origin boxes during the scuffle. The resulting chaos mixed with Spot’s portals makes the boxes transport to 5 different locations. The ones of the 5 people observed before, who now begin to feel the Origin Boxes transform them.
Back on Earth 6160, Hostilicus gloats as he finishes a battle in the Negative Zone, declaring victory.
Analysis
Miles sleeping through an alarm for arguably the most high-stakes meeting of his life is standard Spider-Man charm, staying true to the name. It’s also very relatable, especially now during college finals season.
Stefano Caselli does a good job of making the setting feel like New York. The alleyway that Miles and Spot engage in is compact. The streets are packed and people start to turn instantly when they spot Brooklyn’s Spider-Man in a fight.
Max and Lola’s conversation forms the emotional spine of the issue, as their reflection on the universe’s nature and their helplessness against it invokes a natural feeling. Furthermore, it makes it interesting to see how they’ll react to their powers, as they now have a way to counteract their vulnerability.
Marte Garcia and David Curiel use a blended color palette, painting most of the buildings on the darker side, but utilizing bright colors for the sky. It creates the aesthetic of a breezy summer night in NYC, but also amplifies the conversation between Max and Lola as they point to the sky during their discussion.
Having 5 characters receive powers at the exact same time is a good touch. It allows them to be easy character contrasts to one another, and it already started by displaying their varied reactions to the powers. Especially since these are important characters in the upcoming Armageddon series.
Chris Condon doesn’t have a lot to work with here due to it being a set-up issue. But still, he squeezes in some good philosophical discussion to avoid the issue feeling completely hollow. Paulina’s predicament of feeling silenced and limited is captivating, and the duo’s lighthearted discussion on the universe’s seemingly infinite nature following it right after is a nice foil.
Final Thoughts
An interesting set-up issue, Ultimate Impact: Reborn #1 treads familiar territory with a solid Miles vs Spot fight. It feels a bit hollow in the story department, but salvages that by introducing intriguing new characters.
