I have been neglecting this blog due to battling depression, alas. So I’m a bit behind on Ultimate Spider-Man, but I assure you I’m still enjoying it very much and enjoying its Harry. Ultimate Spider-Man #9 is a pretty big issue for Harry, we get some fascinating character development for him.

Last issue Harry met Tony Stark, and now he’s meeting some villains. The Sinister Six is here! They’re a little different from what we’re used to though.

Peter and Harry are a well-established crime-fighting duo by this point. But they disagree on a point regarding money and freedom.

Harry does answer to someone, though – the AI of his father, Norman Osborn.

Otto adjusts Harry’s suit so that Stark can no longer track it and gives Peter a brand new one. Peter has to have a conversation with his weird AI before he can accept it, though.

Peter says no to the suit Otto designed for him and it falls to Harry to flatter Otto. Peter instead accepts a suit similar to his old one.

Later, Harry and Peter have a conversation on a rooftop. (Harry sure puts his arm around people a lot, huh?)

Harry invites Peter and his family to stay with him and Gwen over the holidays. (This is our first indication that he’s formed a friendship with MJ too.)

Peter’s spider-sense starts to tingle.

Something bad is about to happen! Black Cat (not that one, her father) is here.

Note Peter’s touching instinct to jump in front of Harry.

Black Cat’s weapon locks up Harry’s suit and he’s trapped in the darkness, talking to the AI of his dad, while Peter confronts Black Cat.

Harry starts shouting in terror when Peter is in danger, and his suit reboots.

Peter is able to defeat Black Cat and has him at his mercy. But Harry is still in play.

Black Cat then breaks free and attacks, juuuuust as Harry’s suit reboots.

I’m sure you can guess what happens next…

Harry, with Norman’s voice in his head, blasts Black Cat off the roof and sends him crashing to the ground below.

Peter is concerned, and Harry is not. He has no qualms about badly injuring or even killing bad guys.

Harry does at least call for the ambulance, and Peter watches from the roof. Usually in this sort of scenario, in the 616 universe, it’s Harry in the ambulance.

Peter is so mad at Harry that the mask comes right off.

Now doesn’t Harry look a little villainous in the above panel? Just me?

Peter insists that, as heroes, he and Harry can’t just blast people away whenever they feel like it. Harry isn’t so sure. Then, he reveals his motivation was his friendship with Peter and his desire not to see him hurt.

Harry has known Peter less than a year and would already kill for him. Now that’s friendship!

Peter forgives Harry. Aww, look at that smile.

“Harry, you just might be the worst best friend a guy could have,” Peter says, as Harry puts his arm around him once more. Oh, this is going to end so badly, I can feel it. The pain! They’re just so lovely as friends, you know?

What did you think of the issue?