About Heroes

This is part 3 of Spider-Ben's review of Spider-Man: The Other. (Go to Part 1 | Part 2)

Later, we see the cocoon once again. Now Peter is having a dream about how the spider bit him years ago and gave him powers to become Spider-Man. A huge spider totemic being tells Peter that all these years he has had the gift of spider powers, yet has never truly embraced it. He always forgot and neglected his incredible abilities when he took off his costume and returned to being Peter Parker. Now the spider essence is giving Peter a brand new body, one that is completely healed and occupying the insides of the cocoon. The spider totem tells him that once in its life a spider sheds it skin, usually under times of extreme stress or trauma. The same is being done for Peter. He must once and for all embrace the spider essence of his powers. So is the second gift of the spider. The cocoon opens up and Peter is reborn, new body and a few new powers.

Peter returns to Avengers tower, which pretty much shocks the hell out of everyone. When all the excitement calms down, Iron Man tells Peter that he pretty much trashed all of his Spider-Man costumes to protect his identity. Peter doesn’t care, he’s just happy to be back with Mary Jane. Later that night, Peter returns to the morgue and examines the remains of his corpse. He continues to think back about what the spider totem told him, and wonders if he is “A man who dreamed of being a spider, or a spider who dreamed of being a man. Are you one, or are you, the other?”

Peter is now healthy and healed, with a few new powers. So, Iron Man decides to run some more tests on our hero. All tests show the same thing; Pete’s entire body is completely healed up. While Reed Richards, Tony, and Hank Pym all want to continue to run test, Aunt May tells them that Peter has been given a second chance at life. It’s a rare gift, and she wants them to let Peter out and enjoy his second chance. Peter decides to take Mary Jane for a ride. No, not that kind of ride! A ride web swinging around Manhattan!

Meanwhile, in the lab at Avengers tower, a plethora of pirate spiders begin to devour Peter’s old corpse. They take form into this really freaky spider-lady looking creature. Peter, meanwhile, gets a radical surge from his spider-sense. Something big is going on at Avengers tower, something related to spiders. How Peter knows this is a surprise to him, along with readers. Once back at the tower, Spider-Man confronts this spider lady amalgam and a battle begins. The stingers return, thrusting from his forearms. The spider lady smashes through a wall and Spidey pursues her across town.

While Spider-Man questions this new creature, she mocks him about whether he is one, or the other. This takes him back to his dream, and the spider lady take a nosedive to the street, exploding into a million spiders and getting away via the sewers. Peter is still confused and returns to Avengers tower.

At the tower, the New Avengers are puzzled by what’s going on, and why there is webbing everywhere. Peter offers to help, but he is just as confused and puzzled by what’s going on. Later, he visits Doctor Strange, hoping to get some answers. Dr. Strange tells Peter that he was sick and dying, but now he is pretty much brand new. It’s like he is starting life anew, with all his old faults and injuries left in the past. Peter tries to seek answers from his wife and aunt, feeling that he is cheating God. Peter realizes that he died; yet here he is among the living. Aunt May tells him it’s a wonderful gift he has been given, and that he should embrace that gift. Everything happens for a reason. This makes Peter realize what an amazing miracle he has been given. Later, we find another mysterious webbing cocoon inside a church. Who, or what is inside remains unknown.

Peter decides to do some more web swinging to get his mind off all the weirdness and comes to the aid of some people in trouble. A building has collapsed and a little girl with a severe case of asthma is trapped in the ruins. Peter goes into the pitch-black ruins in hopes of finding the girl. He does, and is surprised that he can now see in the dark. He can also sense vibrations from the debris and walls through his web line, much like a real spider senses when an insect gets caught in its web. Using his newfound powers, Peter finds the little girl and rescues her just before the debris gives away, crushing everything in its path.

Back at the Avengers tower, Peter talks with MJ about all the craziness going on. She tells him once again to be glad he was given a second chance and rejoice in knowing that he has a fresh start and new lease on life. Meanwhile, Tony Stark continues to work on Spider-Man’s new costume.

Check back tomorrow for the last part of this review, along with Spider-Ben's impressions of the story as a whole.