Human Error

Spider-Man has just returned to Horizon Labs to see it is over run by staff that have been transformed into lizard creatures. However, these creatures are docile and not attacking. When Spider-Man asks Sajani Jaffrey why this is, she explains that lizards and humans are not natural enemies. That’s when he hears gunshots and rushes to the source. He finds Carlie Cooper who is fine because the lizard forms of Max Modell, Grady Scraps, and Bella Fishbach are actually harmless.

Spotting Curt Connors peaking out of a closet door, Spider-Man blames him for this happening.[1] The Lizard, despite reconsidering its position on humanity, decides to inject himself with the formula to avoid being incarcerated. With only moments before the Lizard fully transforms, Spider-Man rushes to get him outside before he can take command of the others. Since the building is still in lock down, Spider-Man uses the Lizard’s changing body to smash a hole in the containment shields to get him outside. As this happens, the Lizard gets a brief glimpse of Uatu Jackson and sees him as his son, Billy.

Once outside, Spider-Man seals up Horizon Labs up again. By this time, the Lizard has finished his transformation into his ultimate form. While Spider-Man fights the Lizard outside, Carlie Cooper gets the remaining scientists inside Horizon Lab to examine the Lizard formula and reverse engineer a cure. In the lab previously occupied by Morbius the Living Vampire, Uatu Jackson finds one of the hypoons they built to initially turn the Lizard back to human form, giving the young man an idea.

Back outside, the Lizard furiously battles Spider-Man, upset that it gave up its newfound humanity and cut itself off from the sensations that humans enjoy. He decides to take it out on all of humanity and is about to attack a woman on the street, but he suddenly sees her as his late wife, Martha, and pauses long enough for Spider-Man to renew his attack. That’s when Uatu arrives with an upgraded hypoon to use against the Lizard. Spider-Man takes it and as he fights back against the man-monster, debates using it as this time it could kill Connors for good. As he debates what to do, Madame Web watches from afar hoping that Spider-Man makes the right choice.

The Lizard renews his attack because he can’t see other humans other than versions of Curt Connors and his family. Spider-Man decides to use this to his advantage. Since the Lizard sees him as a man with one arm, he lunges at the creature and impales the hypoon into the Lizards head. Spider-Man instantly regrets his choice as the Lizard collapses. He doesn’t return to human form forcing Spider-Man to web the creature up until it can be taken to Ryker’s Island. Later, Spider-Man goes to Ryker’s Island consumed with guilt over what happened to the Lizard. Walking past the cell containing Michael Morbius, the web-slinger refuses to inform him that Sajani Jaffrey survived his attempt to drink her blood. Seeing the Lizard in his cell, Spider-Man assumes Curt Connors is gone for good when he sees the creature eating a rat and leaves. The Lizard calls out, but Spider-Man ignores him. As it turns out, the formula restored Curt Connor’s mind. When Spider-Man doesn’t respond, Connors figures he deserves this after everything he has done.

Back at Horizon Labs, the staff have all been restored to normal and are trying to make sense of their experience.[2] Max then asks to speak to Hector Baez privately and asks him to begin an internal investigation after he discovered someone had rifled through his office. Max wants to know who it was and why. At that same moment, Tiberius Stone has finished building the first of the spider-sense jammers for the Kingpin. When Wilson Fisk decides to discuss Stone’s future in his organization, the Hobgoblin sees it as a threat and makes a note to himself to deal with it. While in Chelsea, Madame Web observes this with her clairvoyant abilities. Unfortunately, her attempts to stop the troubled visions she saw, but unfortunately the web of life still leads to darkness.[3] She tries to see what events lead to this doom and all she brings up is a vision from Delvadia, where a mercinary calling himself the Devil Spider is dealing with rebels.

Once he has finished his mission the Devil Spider is approached by one of his informants who tells him his brother, Daniel Kingsley, was murdered and someone else has been working for the Kingpin as the Hobroblin.[4] The Devil Spider, who is actually Roderick Kingsley, is furious and decides that now is the time for the original Hobgoblin to return.[5]

Recurring Characters

Spider-Man, the Lizard, Max Modell, Morbius the Living Vampire, Grady Scraps, Sajani Jaffrey, Bella Fishbach, Uatu Jackson, Hector Baez, Carlie Cooper, Madame Web, Doctor Octopus, Spider-Slayer, Devil Spider

Continuity Notes

1. Spider-Man mentions how Curt has lost his arm, his wife, and his son. Curt first transformed himself into the Lizard in an attempt to grow back the arm he lost while he was in the military as seen in Amazing Spider-Man #6. Martha Connors died of cancer in Spider-Man: Quality of Life #4, and Billy was murdered by the Lizard in Amazing Spider-Man #631.

2. Mention is made about the annual Horizon Labs baseball game. The last one was played in Amazing Spider-Man #670. It is suggested that the teams should be divided between those turned into spiders during Spider-Island and those who were turned into lizards. This ballgame will actually happen in Superior Spider-Man #17.

3. This, of course, is alluding to the events of Amazing Spider-Man #700.

4. Daniel Kingsley attempted to get employment with the Kingpin and was murdered by Phil Urich who usurped the role. See Amazing Spider-Man #649-651.

5. Kingsley has been a fugitive of justice after fleeing the United States in Spectacular Spider-Man #259-261.