Spider-Woman (vol. 3) #10
Day of Thunder
Spider-Woman is suddenly ambushed by what appears to be the Rhino. Although the villain catches Spider-Woman off guard, he grossly underestimates how strong she actually is. Still, this attacker explains that there is a reason why it took on the form of the Rhino and tosses a car at the novice heroine sending her flying toward a playground. As Spider-Woman tries to figure out how to avoid crashing into a yard full of children her mind drifts back to how she found herself in this situation…
… Four hours earlier, Mattie Franklin is passing time in Madame Web’s Greenwich Village home when she notices that Jessica Drew has put on her old Spider-Woman costume. Jessica explains that since her powers seem to be coming back she decided to try it on to see what how it felt putting it back on.[1] This makes Mattie insecure as she feels that if Jessica becomes Spider-Woman again she’ll have to give up the title. That’s when Madame Web enters the room and assures Mattie that this is not the case after picking up stray thoughts from Jessica’s mind, saying that Jessica won’t resume her costumed identity because it would affect the anonymity she has when she uses her powers for her job as a private eye. Noticing that Madame Web is wearing normal clothing for once, the medium tells Mattie that she has a task that required more conventional dress and asks the two Spider-Women to join her.[2]
Soon, the three women arrive at the Meridian Home to meet with Doctor Robert Meridian. Along the way, Mattie is in a miserable mood, although she can’t say why. Communicating telepathically, Madame Web reminds Jessica that she used her powers to erase the knowledge of Spider-Man’s identity from Mattie’s mind. While Mattie doesn’t remember this, she still has the emotions of upset when the adults made this decision for her.[3] Meeting with Doctor Meridian, Mattie and Jessica learn that Madame Web has come here to commit her granddaughter, Charlotte Witter. However, in order to cover up the fact that Web was granted newfound youth by the Gathering of Five, she has convinced Meridian and his staff that Charlotte is actually her sister.[4] While Madame Web and the doctor go to talk in private, Mattie is allowed to explore the facility but is warned to follow the signs in order to avoid areas off-limits to the public….
… Spider-Woman’s mind snaps back as she continues to hurtle toward the schoolyard by the car thrown at her. Using her power of flight, she manages to redirect the car and send it crashing into a nearby river instead. Upon impact, Mattie’s mind drifts back once again…
… Eventually, Mattie grew bored walking around the Meridan Home and decides to disobey the doctor’s orders and look behind an unmarked door. On the other side, she’s shocked to see a number of holding cells with massive doors. One of the doors appears to be made of glass and when Mattie tries to peer inside the cell, the being that took on the form of the Rhino comes crashing through it and out of the building. Taking responsibility for this escape, Mattie then changed into Spider-Woman. Watching Spider-Woman follow after the “Rhino”, Doctor Meridian appears to know something about the situation.
… Spider-Woman then emerges from the river and tries to attack the “Rhino” a second time. However, when she tries to strike the villain she harmlessly passes through the brute much to her surprise. When the Rhino tries to charge at her, Spider-Woman grabs him by the horn and tosses him into a condemned building, causing it to collapse. However, the “Rhino” emerges unscathed and after warning Spider-Woman that she doesn’t know what she is dealing with suddenly grows four mechanical arms like those worn by Doctor Octopus. At that moment, Madame Web screams in pain as she senses something of pure evil and demands that Doctor Meridian what is going on. He tells Cassandra and Jessica that it is something that is possibly older than mankind and has the power to destroy them all.
Recurring Characters
Spider-Woman, “the Rhino”, Madame Web, Jessica Drew, Robert Meridian
Continuity Notes
Jessica Drew lost her Spider-Woman powers when they were stolen by Charlotte Witter in Amazing Spider-Man (vol. 2) #5. She started regaining those abilities in Spider-Woman (vol. 3) #3.
Mattie mentions how she was recruited by Madame Web, that was in Amazing Spider-Man (vol. 2) #6.
Mattie learned Spider-Man’s identity in Amazing Spider-Man (vol. 2) #14. Concerned that Mattie might accidentally expose his identity, Spider-Man had Madame Web erase this knowledge from Mattie’s mind last issue despite her protests against it.
They’re just mentioning the Gathering of Five even when it’s not relevant to the plot now! Anyway, the Gathering was conducted in Sensational Spider-Man #32-33, Amazing Spider-Man #440, Spider-Man #96, and Spectacular Spider-Man #262. It was the ceremony that gave Mattie her spider-powers and made Madame Web young again.
