The Raven’s Nest

Based on the files retrieved by the Red Hulk, Spider-Girl has found the location of a lab run by the Raven Society. With the help of Spider-Man, Anya investigates this lab leading to a clash with the Raven Society’s American Ninjas. These are warriors who have undergone a process similar to the Super Soldier Serum that gave Captain America his powers. However, a side effect of the process is a drastically reduced life span. Once they wrap up all the ninjas, Anya’s temper gets the better of her as she berates one of the ninjas for allowing themselves to be part of this process.

Later, they find another Raven lab that is being run by legitimate law-abiding scientists. As Spider-Man helps them with their latest equation, Spider-Girl snoops around the lab for more information on the Raven Society.

Two hours later, Anya takes her friend Rocky Flint to the Baxter Building, headquarters of the Future Foundation. Rocky is starstruck and while she is busy talking to the Thing, Anya passes along the documents she lifted from the lab to the Invisible Woman to run through her husband’s decryption programs. Sue tells her that she can have the notes decoded in about 10 minutes. Luckily, Rocky has to head out and leaves Anya to her work. On her way out of the Baxter Building, Rocky calls her father to tell him all about how she got to meet the Future Foundation. After she’s done her call, she bumps into Mr. Godwin, their neighbor across the hall. He is a member of the Raven Society and while he has Rocky distracted one of his minions injects her with a sedative and they take her prisoner.

Later, Spider-Girl and Spider-Man find another Raven facility, but it appears that the Red Hulk got there first and trashed the place. As they deal with the last of the guards, Spider-Man brings up the subject of the Red Hulk. He knows that Anya doens’t like him but reminds her that he is an Avenger now and is trying to redeem himself.[1] Although he admits that he doesn’t trust the Hulk not to fall apart again as he has in the past. However, he is more concerned with making sure Spider-Girl keeps her head together and tells her that living in the past is not healthy, something he knows from experience.

They continue their search and find computer records about how the Raven Society wants to recruit Spider-Girl into their ranks. Their search is interrupted when more American Ninjas and a robot attack them. Luckily, the robot is not programmed to attack Spider-Girl. While Spider-Man keeps them busy, she rushes to a nearby computer terminal and installs a game into the robot’s operating system causing it to become harmless as it focuses on playing the game downloaded into its operating system.[2] Looking through the rest of the files, Anya is shocked to discover that her neighbor, Mr. Godwin, works for the Raven Society. Fearing for Rocky’s safety, Anya tries to call her as she races back to her apartment, but gets no answer. When she returns home, Spider-Girl finds the Raven Society’s Emeline Foster. She tells Anya that they have kidnapped Rocky and her father and that they should talk. She then presents Anya with a version of her costume which bears the Raven Society’s insignia.

Recurring Characters

Spider-Girl, the Raven Society (Kurt Godwin, Emeline Foster), Screwball, Spider-Man, Rocky Flint, Invisible Woman, Thing

Continuity Notes

1. The Red Hulk joined the Avengers in Avengers (vol. 4) #12.

2. Spider-Man brings up that Anya has received training from SHIELD. Around the Civil War era, Anya became a sidekick to Ms. Marvel and received SHIELD training as a recruit in the Initiative. See Ms. Marvel (vol. 2) #6-20.