Superior Spider-Man #24
Dark Embrace
Spider-Man had tricked Flash Thompson to coming to Parker Industries under the promise of getting cybernetic legs. This was all a cover to try and capture and contain the Venom symbiote.[1] Unfortunately, the creatre is much more powerful than Otto predicted and it escaped and bonded to him. Now calling itself the superior Venom, the symbiote finds something strange about its former host.[2] Flash tries to convince the symbiote to come back to him, Spider-Man knocks him aside, refusing to give up the creature because he believe he can use it to its full potential.
Dr. Elias Wirthham decides to drop all pretense and tries using his Cardiac powers to contain him. However, Spider-Man is faster and cuts through the mesh like skin that covers Wirtham’s body. Outside the lab, Parker Industries have been drawn to the door from the noise coming on the other side. Spider-Man then comes crashing through, shoving Sajani Jaffrey out of his way as he makes his escape. Going inside she finds Elias and Flash and rushes to get them medical attention.
Reveling in the power given to him by the symbiote, Otto figures he can control the creature where others have failed. Seeking action, he orders his Spiderlings and spider-bots to alert him of all crimes going on in the city.
Across town the Bruin has just committed a bank robbery when he is confronted by what appears to be the Hobgoblin. The Bruin figures that Hobgoblin has come for his cut for franchising the Grizzly tech he uses and hands the money over, unaware that this is actually the Goblin King in disguise. The Goblin has a good laugh because he is manipulating criminals into doing his bidding even when they aren’t part of his growing Goblin Nation.
While back at Parker Industires, Sajani has finished patching up Elias, but she is more concerned about Flash Thompson. Her investigation has shown that Flash needs to be bonded to the symbiote in order to live and that if they don’t get it back he only has hours until he dies. However, Flash points out that capturing the symbiote will be easier said than done since it can disguise itself as anything.
However, Spider-Man is not doing much to keep cover, going after criminals and savagely beating them into submission. When Sajani tries calling him he tells her that he is busy and hangs up. He then gets a call from Anna Maria Marconi and detects that she is upset and tells her that he’ll be right over to fix whatever is wrong.
Meanwhile, Roderick Kingsley is furious over what’s been happening with his super-villain franchise business, especially since Mysterio, the Hobgoblin and Blue Streak have gone missing.[3] Now is even more furious to hear that Bruin, Blaze, and Devil-Spider gave his cut of their earnings to an impostor. He orders them to find money to pay him quickly or he will shut them all down.
By this time, “Peter Parker” has arrived at Anna Maria’s apartment to see what’s wrong. She is upset because she is afraid that their relationship is hurting his relationship with Aunt May. This is because May has addressed concerns about Anna Maria being a little person. Otto comforts Marconi, promising her that he will go and talk to May and sort everything out.
While at the Goblin Underground, the Goblin King returns and informs his Goblin Knight that he disposed of the money he stole from Kingsley. This is because the money is immaterial and he doesn’t think Roderick has what it takes to be a true goblin. He then checks on Menace who continues to interrogate Carlie Cooper to learn Spider-Man’s secret identity.[4] Carlie refuses to talk so the Goblin decides to take things a step further and sprays her in the face with his Goblin Formula.
At that same moment, Mary Jane Watson is trying to get ahold of Carlie and gets her voice mail again. She wants to know why Carlie warned her to stay away from Peter Parker, particularly since Carlie’s colleague, Yuri Watanabe, showed up to question her. After her call she arrives outside the apartment that May Parker shares with her husband Jay Jameson and asks the doorman to announce her arrival.
Upstairs, May and Jay answer the door and are surprised to find “Peter” outside. He angrily confronts May for hurting Anna Maria, particularly after he worked hard to repair May’s damaged leg.[5] May admits that she was in the wrong but also expresses her concern over “Peter” keeping secrets, particularly after he lied about not associating with Spider-Man anymore, telling him how she recently witnessed him brutalize a villain who tried to kidnap her.[6] His emotions amplified by the symbiote, Otto begins losing his temper and he starts to shout. That’s when Mary Jane arrives and pulls “Peter” out onto the balcony in order to try and diffuse the situation. She demands to know why he is acting so strangely of late and where Carlie is. That’s when one of the Spiderlings calls in to report a robbery. Otto tells Mary Jane that he has important business to take care of. She tries to stop him but is horrified when his street clothes turn into his costume, making her realize that he is bonded to the Venom symbiote again. He tells her to tell May and Jay that Spider-Man called him away on business and threatens her if she tries to cross him.
That’s when Yuri Watanabe kicks down Jay’s front door after hearing Mary Jane scream from the balcony. When everyone rushes outside, the Watson woman tells them that she was startled when Spider-Man came and took “Peter”. Deciding that Mary Jane knows more than she is letting on, Yuri decides to take her down to the station for questioning.
Down in the Diamond District, the Bruin, Blaze and Devil-Spider are on the rampage while collecting more loot so they can pay off Kingsley. That’s when Spider-Man arrives to stop them. By this time, Mary Jane is brought down to the 18th Precinct where she decides enough is enough and calls the special number Peter gave her. It connects Mary Jane with the Avengers who she tells to help because Spider-Man has been taken over by the Venom symbiote. Captain America takes the call and assures her that the Avengers are on the case.
Recurring Characters
Spider-Man, Flash Thompson Goblin King, Goblin Knight, Menace, Elias Wirthham, Carlie Cooper, Mary Jane Watson, Aunt May, Jay Jameson, Yuri Watanabe, Roderick Kingsley, Bruin, Devil-Spider, Blaze, Avengers (Captain America, Thor, Black Widow, Wolverine, Spider-Woman)
Continuity Notes
Flash lost his legs while serving in the military as seen in Amazing Spider-Man #574. He later became the latest host for the Venom symbiote in Amazing Spider-Man #654.
Peter Parker was the first human host for the Venom symbiote back in Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars #8. He later discovered it was alive and trying to permanently bond to him back in Amazing Spider-Man #258 and rejected it. The reason why “Parker” seems off to the symbiote is because Peter’s body was taken over by Doctor Octopus in Amazing Spider-Man #698.
The Hobgoblin got outed as Phil Urich an arrested before being rescued by the Goblin Nation in Superior Spider-Man #15-16. Mysterion went missing because Spider-Man kidnapped him in order to force him into becoming a member of the Superior Six in Superior Spider-Man Team-Up #5. Blue Streak was taken down in Mighty Avengers (vol. 2) #1.
Carlie Cooper was captured by the Goblin Nation in Superior Spider-Man #19.
May’s leg was injured when the city was attacked by Terminus in Amazing Spider-Man #694. When Otto learned about this injury in Superior Spider-Man #10 he worked to develop a cure for her condition which he did in Superior Spider-Man #22.
This would have been Blackout, who kidnapped May in Superior Spider-Man Annual #1. Spider-Man beat and tortured Blackout in order to send a message to anyone who would target Peter Parker’s family.
