That way Spider-Man doesn't jump around shouting "Gee Willikers!" when he is fighting someone. It's just a way to take stories that are cherished, yet also dated, and making them more believable for today's readers.
I don't think Spidey ever said Gee Willikers. Although I think he called Chameleon a dirty Communist once.
Anyway, I understand what you're saying. Most readers aren't going to be able to deal with the way comics used to be written, plus a lot of the silliness that they suffered through.
Still, I mean, imagine try explaining the Ultimate universe to somebody.
Cable's actually a Wolverine from the future without his healing ability.
Spider-Woman is a female clone of Spider-Man.
Dr. Doom has goat-legs.
A lot of these things are just as silly as the stuff that's in the regular 616 universe.
In the beginning, the Ultimate was I'll grant you, a more realistic Marvel universe, but that's just not the case anymore.
That's part of the reason that characters like the Green Goblin got changed so much. I know that in many people's eyes, the Ult. GG is horrendous. But I think the design makes a lot of sense. People don't run around in tights anymore (not that they ever did), and it just makes sense that villains no longer act that way. "Well, look at that. I have superpowers! Here's an idea, why don't I go make a spandex suit and try to take over the world!"
Not to digress too much, but I think the reason Ult. GG failed was that they turned him into a completely super powered monstrosity when the concept of the Green Goblin has always been a gadget-villain, plus his glider and pumpkin bombs are iconic and doing away with that hurts the visual appeal of the character.
I think Raimi's approach was good. Not in a Halloween costume, but still very recognizable as the Green Goblin.
Adding to that idea is that a lot of villains go unnamed in the comics. Carnage and Hobgoblin are never called by those names. Why? Because no one in today's world would realistically think, "Well, now that I have the powers and the spandex, I need to come up with a name for myself!"
Again, I think Raimi did a great job, modernizing this, more so than Bendis, with Jameson naming the villains.
