Bits and Pieces

Mattie Franklin and Jessica Drew are visiting Morris Maxwell at his pawnshop once again because Mattie wants to know more about hero foes Shadocaster, Flesh, and Bones.[1] Unfortunately, a limitation to Maxwell’s powers of infinite knowledge all banks on someone asking him the right question, which is something that Mattie hasn’t been able to do successfully.[2] Frustrated, Mattie asks if there is a villain out there that she can fight and understand. Since this is a question, Morris enters a trance-like state and tells her that there is such a foe far away.

After telling this to Madame Web, Mattie and Jessica are sent to Death Valley to investigate what Maxwell told them. After landing their private jet in the desert, Mattie gets into her new Spider-Woman costume and flies around the canyons and rock formations to search the area in a way they couldn’t by plane. At first, she doesn’t see anything until she spots a lizard getting caught in a strange whirlpool in the sand. Saving the small reptile, she has to pull back when tentacles come out of the sand and try to grab her. As she takes to the air, Spider-Woman is shocked to discover a saucer-shaped craft emerging from the desert. She tries to contact Jessica over the radio, but something is jamming the signal.

At that same moment, Jessica is trying to communicate with Mattie and has the same problem. She is then ambushed by a strange humanoid lizard creature but easily evades him. Attacking the monster Jessica is surprised when it splits into two different creatures. As the fighting continues the strange creature continues to duplicate whenever she strikes it. She tires to change tactics by throwing one of the duplicates into another, but this only makes things worse. That’s when she notices Spider-Woman trying to fight off the tentacles. Breaking free, Spider-Woman attacks the creatures and discovers that they are getting smaller the more duplicates that are created. Soon, Spider-Woman finds herself outnumbered and the creatures begin dragging her toward the ship.

Back in New York City, a young woman named Sandra Miller contemplates how her attempt to make it in New York City has failed. Sitting by the waters under the Brooklyn Bridge, the woman is suddenly attacked by Flesh. Swallowing the homeless woman gives Flesh a host body for another couple of days. She has returned because her mental connection to her sister, Bones, has been severed and she is determined to learn why.[3]

Back in Death Valley, as Spider-Woman is dragged into the alien ship, Jessica wonders if she can catch up to the craft with her returning spider-powers.[4] Inside the ship, Spider-Woman continues to struggle to get free and as she speaks the monsters begin mimicking her speech. As the small creatures merge back together, Spider-Woman notices that more alien creatures are entering the room. While outside, Jessica holds onto the alien ship for dear life and realizes that they’re in for more trouble as the ship she is clinging onto is heading toward a larger vessel.

Recurring Characters

Spider-Woman, Cluster (unidentified), Madame Web, Jessica Drew, Morris Maxwell, Flesh

Continuity Notes

1. Spider-Woman fought Flesh and Bones in Spider-Woman (vol. 3) #3-4 and Shadowcaster in issues #5-6

2. There’s another mention of the Gathering of Five. Sensational Spider-Man #32-33, Amazing Spider-Man #440, Spider-Man #96, and Spectacular Spider-Man #262.

3. Flesh and Bone’s mental link was broken in Spider-Woman (vol. 3) #4 and Bones seemingly died. However, Bones turns up alive again in Spider-Woman (vol. 3) #16.

4. Jessica lost her spider-powers after they were stolen from her by Charlotte Witter, the evil Spider-Woman in Amazing Spider-Man (vol. 2) #5. Later, Mattie Franklin absorbed these powers from Witter in Spider-Woman (vol. 2) #2. However, Jessica has noticed that her powers have been slowly returning since issue #3. This story incorrectly states that Jessica Drew’s spider-powers allowed her to fly. This is not accurate. She never had the ability to fly. However, the webbed underarms of her old Spider-Woman costume allowed her to glide in the air, as explained in Marvel Spotlight #32.