About Heroes

This review was submitted by Spider-ben

Writer: Peter David
Penciller: Khoi Pham
Cover: Mark Brooks

Last November, Marvel presented a twelve part Spider-Man story that would run through “Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man,” “Marvel Knights Spider-Man,” and “Amazing Spider-Man” for four months. The epic was titled “The Other” and promised to be a senses shattering tale featuring the return of the enigmatic Morlun and a brand new set of powers for our favorite web-head. I was pumped and ready for this story. I ended up being pretty let down with the results. However, the best part of the entire crossover was the writing of Mr. Peter David. David scripted parts 1-3 of the story, along with part 10. In the story, Peter Parker dies and has to face and embrace his inner spider if he wants to be reborn and given another chance at life. But Peter David asks the question “What if Peter didn’t embrace the spider?” I have to tell you, it isn’t pretty.

In this story, Peter basically tells the mythical Spider-God to go to hell. He literally rips the huge Spider-God’s head off, killing it in the process. Without embracing his true spider heritage, Peter is left in limbo within the webbing cocoon underneath the bridge. He would remain there for months, while his New Avenger teammates and his wife Mary Jane and his Aunt May would have to learn to live without Peter.

Meanwhile, the new Venom is trapped in some high tech prison. This Venom is Mac Gargan, the Scorpion. (See Marvel Knights Spider-Man #5-12 for the story) The symbiote realizes that Peter is laying dormant in the cocoon, and decides to reunite with it’s first host and one true love. The symbiote leaves Gargan, and quickly finds Peter in the webbing cocoon. For months the symbiote and Peter do battle within the cocoon, both mentally and physically. The Watcher tells readers that Peter is strong willed and determined, and that is what keeps the symbiote from bonding with his dead body for at least three to four months. Finally, Peter looses to the symbiote and a new creature emerges from the cocoon.

May and MJ have been staying at New Avengers tower for months after Peter’s death. MJ continues to have nightmares of Peter returning to life, but as a horrific nightmarish creature and not the man she loves. May and Jarvis rush to her room as MJ has another nightmare. May tells MJ that they will move away from the tower to help get over the loss of Peter. Suddenly a black, demonic looking creature enters through the window. May and MJ are shocked to learn that the Venom symbiote has complete control over Peter’s body and soul. He is now Poison, and he wants to kill MJ and make her his mindless mate and companion. Luke Cage and Logan rush to help May and MJ, and Logan tells Poison that whatever he is, he is and will never be Peter Parker. MJ states enough is enough and doesn’t want anyone to get hurt protecting her. MJ tells Poison to drain her dry and kill her, but she swears to God to make every day a living hell for this vile creature. She also states that whatever this creature is, it is not the man she loves. Quickly, Poison disappears and MJ is fine, wondering where the creature went.

The Watcher then explains how Poison left MJ alone due to perhaps Peter had one last shed of decency in him and spared his wife’s life. Yet, the story of Poison is far from over. At a cementary Poison digs up Gwen Stacy’s corpse, then puts her in the cocoon. Later on, a red symbiotic hand breaks the cocoon, and Poison now has his mate. The Watcher reminds us that you never get over your first love.

Thoughts/Comments:
Not bad. I was kind of disappointed with the original “Other” storyline, yet this was a fun new take on the story. I would have rather had a “What if Peter returned from the grave and kicked the shit out of Morlun for two issues,” but this was a fun and sad look at Peter’s fate if he hadn’t accepted the spider God. Peter David delivers as always, but I didn’t care for the artist. Hell, I don’t even think I’ve heard of this artist before. But the story was fun and the cover was great. Still, this story was sad and kind of spooky, so I’ll give it a B. All in all, a fun read but not the best comic I read this week.