Spider-Man Family Featuring Spider-Clan #1
Legend of the Spider-Clan: Elemental Evil
While visiting the grave of his Uncle Ben with Aunt May and Mary Jane he has a vision that tells him that he will learn the way of the spider in preparation for his coming battle against the Four. He snaps out of this vision and apologizes for startling everyone and tells them about his vision. May suggests they leave when they are suddenly ambushed by the Four — elemental beings which include the Sandman, Jack O’Lantern, Cyclone and Hydro-Man.
Peter orders them to let his Aunt go and changes into his Spider-Man costume. Despite his fighting skills and bladed throwing spiders, Spider-Man is no match for the Four who easily overpower. They then decide that one of his loved ones should die. Deciding between Mary Jane or Aunt May, they decide to murder the old woman. They tell Spider-Man that they are there to help him shed his skin and follow the way of the spider, and warn him to never cross their paths again.
Mary Jane is hospitalized and while Peter mourns his Aunt May, he discovers an old map that shows the way to the land of the Spider-Clan. Visiting Mary Jane in the hospital he tells her comatose body and tells her that he is going to seek out the Spider-Clan to continue his training since he has nothing left for him.
He climbs the treacherous mountains and soon finds the hidden domain of the Spider-Clan. He is confronted by the members of the clan which includes the Rhino, Kraven, the Green Goblin, the Vulture, and the Scorpion. Venom, his brother, tells Spider-Man that he shouldn’t worry about them and attacks hi brother. He easily beats Spider-Man in battle because he is sick with a fever.
Weeks later, Venom begins training Peter in the ways of the Spider-Clan. It is during this training that he reminds Peter that he can shoot webbing from his wrists. After much training, Venom believes that Spider-Man is ready to face his destiny. He takes Peter to a nearby cave where he finds the woman from his vision — his mother, Kiri — who tells Peter that his Aunt and Uncle were keeping him from meeting his destiny and so she sent the Four to murder May so he would seek out the Spider-Clan. She intends for him to lead the Clan. However, when he learns that she intentionally murdered his Aunt and Uncle, Peter renounces the Spider-Clan and he is banished from their secret domain.
Spider-Man finds himself attacked by the Four again, but this time with the full strength of his abilities, he is able to destroy them and avenge the death of Aunt May. Later, Peter pays his respects to May and Ben and tells them that since so many have died because of Spider-Man, he has decided that will never wear his mask again and leaves it by their grave.
Recurring Characters
Spider-Man, Mary Jane Watson, Venom
Continuity Notes
Per the Spider-Geddeon Handbook this story takes place in Reality-7122.
The Date
Peter Parker is running late and as he is going to his locker, Liz Allan asks if he’d like to tag along with her, Flash, and the other kids to get an egg cream. He turns her down because he has other plans. To make up for lost time, Peter changes into Spider-Man and web-slings for home. Along the way he has to stop in order to prevent the Rhino from robbing a bank. After a quick battle which Spider-Man wins, Peter rushes home as quickly as he can so he and Aunt May can pay their respects at Uncle Ben’s grave. There, May tells Peter that Ben would be proud of him.
Continuity Notes
This story can’t have happened on Earth-616 because it features Peter still attending at Midtown High and then fighting the Rhino. The Rhino first appeared in Amazing Spider-Man #41 while Peter graduated from Midtown in issue #28 of that series. To date (September 2020) a reality number has not been assigned to this story.
