Ultimate Spider-Man #77

Ultimate Spider-Man #77, released in 2005, is part of the long-running Ultimate Marvel imprint, which reimagined classic characters for a contemporary audience. This specific issue falls within the 'Hobgoblin' story arc, written by Brian Michael Bendis with artwork by Mark Bagley. The series was designed to offer a clean starting point for new readers, stripping away decades of complex continuity in favor of a grounded, modern narrative that focused heavily on Peter Parker's internal life.

Mark Bagley's distinctive, clean, and dynamic penciling style became the visual hallmark of the series, providing a consistent aesthetic that defined the Ultimate universe's look for over a decade. The collaboration between Bendis and Bagley is historically significant for its record-breaking 111-issue run, which provided a stable foundation for Marvel's efforts to reach a younger, 21st-century readership. Critics at the time praised the book for its approachable tone and its ability to reinvent iconic villains through a modern, often darker, lens.