Spider-Verse #2
Spider-Verse continues from Spider-Woman (vol. 5) #2….
It’s Showtime
Earth-30847[1]
Spider-Man is confronted by Morlun. He tries taking down his foe with a flurry of attacks like his web-ball, spider-sting, and maximum spider. Morlun shrugs off these attacks and takes down Spider-Man with a single blow he calls the Inheritor punch. This world is actually a video game and the player wonders what the fuck just happened.
Recurring Characters
Spider-Man, Morlun
Continuity Notes
This reality is the one where the Marvel/Capcom fighting games such as Marvel vs. Capcom take place. This version would go on to appear in Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite that was released 2017. How could Spider-Man survived Morlun? Well, it’s a video game, they have continues.
Anansi: A Spider in Sheep’s Clothing
Anansi the spider trickster is being chased by the massive Mister Mighty, who blames Anansi for some prank.[1] Anansi insists that he is innocent of any wrongdoing. As he runs away he picks up a porcupine out of the Mister Mighty. Eventually, Anansi comes upon a cliff and the only thing keeping him away from the Mighty is a herd of zebra. Mighty is furious because Anansi didn’t follow through on his promise to watch a flock of sheep.
Anansi complains that the sheep are awful with their constant bleating, and gloating, and their smell. Despite this he swears to Shango, the storm spirit, that he did nothing. By speaking Shango’s name, Anansi has summoned the spirit who appears in the form of a tornado. As Mister Mighty cowers at Shango’s fury, Anansi finds escape hiding in a calabash.
This causes the calabash to fall off the edge of the cliff to the ground below. Safely away, Anansi emerges from his hiding place and is greeted by Spider-UK. He explains how he is gathering spider-totems to fight against the Inheritors. However, Anansi refuses to leave in the middle of a story, because then he won’t know how it ends. He only agrees to go if Spider-UK helps him resolve things. He then slaps a sheepskin on Spider-UK and he is quickly carried off by the Tiger Spirit. Anansi then turns Mister Mighty’s attention to this and he chases after the tiger, thinking it has stolen one of his sheep.
By nightfall, Mister Mighty has returned all of his sheep to their pen. As he sleeps, the Tiger Spirit and Anansi sneak down to the sheep pen and free Spider-UK, who is shocked to discover that the sheep can talk. Anansi explains that this whole ordeal was to teach Mister Mighty to look after his own responsibilities. With this task over, they leave before the Tiger Spirit leaps into the sheep pen to feast on some of the sheep.
Recurring Characters
Anansi, Spider-UK
Continuity Notes
This story takes place on Reality-7082 per Secret Wars: Official Guidebook to the Marvel Multiverse #1.
With Great Power Comes No Future
It’s a new day in America and President Osborn has called for the authorities to clear the streets those he views as nothing more than cockroaches. The only thing standing in their way is the Amazing Spider-Punk and his army that are preparing to make a stand against the President’s Thunderbolt Department. These footsoldiers in riot gear are enhanced by their VENOM gear.
Leading the charge is President Osborn himself. As they approach, the Spider-Punk reveals that he is standing on a stack of speakers that are connected to his electric guitar. He hits a heavy chord which causes the VENOM gear to withdraw. Spider-Punk’s army then rushes the Thunderbolts and beats them senseless.
President Osborn refuses to let this stop him and he reaches into his sport coat for a gun. However, Spider-Punk is ready and leaps off the stack of speakers and smashes the president’s head with his guitar. Pulling off his mask, Spider-Punk holds up his guitar as everyone else raises their fists in solidarity on this day, the day they took America back.
Spider-Punk, aka Hobie Brown, is unaware that he is being tracked by the Superior Spider-Man who has deemed him perfect for the army he is gathering.
Recurring Characters
Spider-Punk, Captain Anarchy, Spider-Man (Octavius)
Continuity Notes
This story takes place on Reality-138 per Secret Wars: Official Guidebook to the Marvel Multiverse #1.
El Espiritu de las Calles
It’s after midnight in Mexico City when Arachnido nabs two crooks buying tacos from a street vendor.[1] He tells them to bring him to their leader but soon finds himself caught in a crossfire as gang members come out of the woodwork. He quickly webs them up, and after questioning one of them he learns where their leader is.
As Arachnido swings off, he thinks back to how he came to be in this situation. This web-slinging hero is the son of the original Arachnido a popular luchador. During one of his matches, Arachnido’s partner Escprion stood by as his opponent broke his back in the ring. His father was raced to the hospital and the boy arrived shortly after to look after his father during his recovery. Unfortunately, Arachnido died in his hospital bed, and he decides that this injustice cannot stand.
His recollection over, the new Arachnido arrives at the mansion owned by the mob boss where he is holding the kidnapped daughter of a filmmaker. Arachnido quickly webs all the kidnappers up, telling their would-be victim that enough families have suffered in this city.
Recurring Characters
Arachnido Jr.
Continuity Notes
This story takes place on Reality-15349 per Secret Wars: Official Guidebook to the Marvel Multiverse #1.
It’s the Little Things
Earth-001
It is the final battle against the Inheritors where an army of spider-totems from across the multiverse are fighting for their lives. Two Spider-Men one in the classic red and blues and another in the black and white costume are running out of web-fluid.[1] Miles Morales tells them to get to cover and re-load as another wave of spiders are coming.
Seeing the Spider-Man in the black and white costume loading more web-cartridges, the red-and-blue is glad that his ally isn’t wearing the symbiote. They both had experience with the Secret Wars and are amazed at how small the multiverse actually is.[2] They are also both Peter Parker and admit that they all think of themselves as the Peter Parker even though there are countless other versions of themselves involved in the battle. Red-and-Blue Parker points out that not everyone is a version of Peter Parker, having met a Japanese Spider-Man named Komori. The black-and-white Parker wonders why there are only 5 Japanese Spider-Men, and hopes he’s not the racist Spider-Man.[3]
They then start talking about weird versions of Spider-Man they have met. They ranged from one that sings show tunes, another who keeps trying to teach English, to ones who look like famous Hollywood actors.[4] This leads the two of them to figure out what is different about each other. They both have an Aunt May, Uncle Ben, both got their powers from a spider bite. Both consider Harry Osborn their best friend and know his father Norman as the Green Goblin. They can’t figure out what the difference is, not noticing that while Red-and-Blue wears a wedding ring, the other does not.[5] They decide not to stress over it and rejoin the battle.[6]
Recurring Characters
Spider-Man-18119, Inheritors (Verna, Bora, Brix, Jennix), Spider-Man (Morales), Spider-Man-66115, Scarlet Spider, Spider-Doppelganger, Spider-Hulk-200527, Aracnido Jr, Spider-Man-80219, Spider-Jameson the Super Astronaut, Spider-Man 2099, Timeslip Spider-Man, Spider-15, Charnel Spider-Man, Spider-Boy, Spider-Prime, Spiders Man, Spider-Man-730911
Continuity Notes
The red and blue Spider-Man with the wedding ring comes from Earth-18119 per Secret Wars: Official Guidebook to the Marvel Multiverse #1 (all other universal designations are confirmed from this source) For more on this version of Spider-Man see Amazing Spider-Man: Renew Your Vows #1-5 and volume 2 #1-23.
Both of these Spider-Men appear to have experienced the Secret Wars and waring the Venom symbiote. Presumably, these experiences are similar to those of the Earth-616 Spider-Man. That Parker obtain the symbiote thinking it was a new costume in Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars #8. He abandoned it after he discovered it was alive in Amazing Spider-Man #258.
The two Spider-Men mention a bunch of Spider-Men they have encountered. There are a few specific ones identified:
The Japanese Spider-Man that red and blue met is Yu Komori, aka Spider-Man J, of Earth-70019. He first appeared in the November 9, 2004 issue of Comic BomBom in Japan and Spider-Man J #1 in North America.
The Spider-Man that “keeps singing show tunes” is the Spider-Man from the play Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark. His reality is Earth-11714.
The Spider-Man who “keeps trying to teach English” is the Spider-Man the appeared on the Electric Company and Spidey Super Stories comic book. His reality is designated Earth-57780.
There is a guy who red-and-blue says looks like the actor from the movie Seabiscuit. This is a reference to actor Tobey Maguire who appeared in the 2003 movie about the famous race horse. Maguire played Spider-Man in a trilogy of films that were released in 2002, 2004, and 2007. These Spider-Man movies exist in Reality-96283.
black-and-white Spider-Man says he saw one who looked like the actor from the movie The Social Network. This is a reference to actor Andrew Garfield who appeared in that 2010 film. Garfield succeeded Maguire as Spider-Man in two Amazing Spider-Man films that were released in 2012 and 2014 respectively. These films exist in Reality-120703.
The red-and-blue Spider-Man is wearing a wedding ring, as he is married to Mary Jane Watson as we’ll learn in Amazing Spider-Man: Renew Your Vows #1. His Earth-616 counterpart was once married to Mary Jane, the two tied the knot in Amazing Spider-Man Annual #21. That marriage was erased from existence by Mephisto in order to save the life of Aunt May in Amazing Spider-Man #545.
There are many, many, many Spider-Men and Women on display. They are all from different realities and not all of them have been identified. Some of them appear wearing specific costumes from different points of Earth-616 history. For the sake of clarity, I’m going to divide these two different groups between alternate reality spiders and the ones that are paying homage to various Earth-616 costumes.
Alternate Reality Spider-Men include:
Miles Morales, the Ultimate Spider-Man of Earth-1610, first seen in Ultimate Fallout #4.
A version of Spider-Man wearing his Future Foundation costume. Spider-Man-616 first wore this costume in FF #1. This version of Spider-Man has been seen Spider-Verse #1.
The Scarlet Spider, aka Kaine, from Earth-616.
The Spider-Doppelganger, a creature created by the Magus of Earth-616 during the Infinity War. First seen in Infinity War #1.
A Spider-Hulk from Earth-200527 first seen in Wha… Huh? #1.
Arachnido, who we saw in the story above. Earth-15349.
Another version of Spider-Man is from Earth-80219 who first appeared in What If? #19. This Spider-Man is from a world where Uncle Ben didn’t die and continued his showbiz career.
Also present is Spider Jameson, the Super Astronaut from Earth-78327. He first appeared in What If? #7. He comes from a world where the radioactive spider bit John Jameson.
Spider-Man 2099 of Earth-928 also makes a brief cameo here. He comes from Earth-928 and was first seen in Spider-Man 2099 #1.
Another Spider-Man is patterned after the unlicensed Turkish film 3 Dev Adam. He does not have a universal designation, probably because he’s not officially licensed.
There is a version of the Ultimate Spider-Woman, a Peter Parker clone named Jessica Drew. This look first appeared in Ultimate Spider-Man #98. This however is not the Earth-1610 because at the time of this story she had become the Ultimate version of the Black Widow in All-New Ultimates #1.
There is a version of Spider-Man Noir here. However, this is not the one from Earth-90214 who first appeared in Spider-Man Noir #1. That Spider-Man was injured in Amazing Spider-Man (vol. 3) #10 and sent home.
The Mattie Franklin Spider-Woman. The Earth-616 version took on the mantle in Amazing Spider-Man (vol. 2) #5. This is probably not the Earth-616 version as at the time of this story she was dead, having been killed by the Kravinoff family in Amazing Spider-Man #637.
There is also the Timeslip Spider-Man of Earth-96211 who first appeared in Marvel Vision #2.
There is a version of the symbiotic Spider. It is unclear if this is the one previously seen in Exiles #12 as he was later killed in issue #44. That version of Peter Parker came from Earth-15.
Spider-Boy, aka Pete Ross of Earth-9602, aka the Amalgam Universe. First seen in Marvel Versus DC #3. He is an amalgamation of Ben Reilly and DC Comic’s Superboy (Kal Kent, also a clone)
Spiders Man of Earth-9997. He comes from a reality where everyone on Earth is mutated by the Inhumans Terrigen Mists. He was first seen in Earth X #3.
There is also Spider-Man of Earth-730911, who is from the short-lived Spider-Man live-action show from 1977.
One Spider-Man is wearing a cheap Spider-Man Halloween costume that was produced by Ben Cooper. It was produced in 1954, six years before the first appearance of Marvel’s Spider-Man. This one, unlike Turkish Spider-Man, has a reality number it is Earth-313710.
The Homage Costumes are:
A lot of them are wearing variations of the classic red-and-blue costume that first appeared in Amazing Fantasy #15.
At least one of them is wearing a cloth version of the black-and-white costume. Earth-616 Spider-Man had a costume like this made for him by the Black Cat in Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #99.
Others are wearing the Hornet, Prodigy, Dusk, and Ricochet costumes. Earth-616 Spider-Man wore these outfits during a period he abandoned his Spider-Man identity during the Identity Crisis storyline. See Amazing Spider-Man #433-435, Spider-Man #90-92, Spectacular Spider-Man #256-258, and Sensational Spider-Man #26-28.
One is wearing the original Scarlet Spider costume. This was worn by the Ben Reilly clone starting in Spider-Man #52.
Another Spider-Man is dressed as the Bombastic Bag-Man. This was a make-shift costume that Earth-616 Peter Parker wore after ditching the Venom symbiote in Amazing Spider-Man #258. It was comprised of a Fantastic Four costume and a paper-bag as a makeshift mask.
Another is wearing a black and white costume similar to what happened when Spider-Man-616 was charged with energy from the Negative Zone in Spider-Man #90.
Yet another is wearing spider-armor similar to the one Spider-Man-616 wore during the Ends of the Earth story arc in Amazing Spider-Man #682-687.
Another is dressed as the “Masked Marvel” outfit that Peter wore in the ring against Crusher Hogan back in Amazing Fantasy #15.
There are two different Spider-Men wearing a stealth Spider-Man suit similar to the one designed by Spider-Man-616 in Amazing Spider-Man #650. One of them is red the other is green. These different colors signify what stealth mode the suit is in.
One Spider-Man is dressed as Peter Parker but has half of a Spider-Man mask. This is a trademark look first seen in Amazing Spider-Man #1 to signify that Peter’s spider-sense is going off.
… Spider-Verse continues in Amazing Spider-Man (vol. 3) #12.