Warning: contains spoilers for Amazing Spider-Man #75!
Marvel’s new Spider-Man has a brand-new, disgusting alternative to the wallcrawler’s ubiquitous webbing. Peter Parker has been the one and only Spider-Man for most of the titular hero’s history; only recently have other heroes like Miles Morales taken up the mantle of the webslinger. But in Amazing Spider-Man #75, written by Zeb Wells with art by Patrick Gleason and colors by Marcio Menyz, a new hero dons the mask – and it’s someone who has plenty of experience being Spider-Man.
In the aftermath of Amazing Spider-Man #74, Peter is despondent. The Kindred threat has been dealt with, but Harry Osborn is dead and Peter (as per the tradition for Spider-Man stories) blames himself. While climbing to a high vantage point in New York City to clear his mind and lift his spirits, he spots another figure in a similar Spider-Man suit with a different spider sigil in the center swinging from building to building. Peter Parker gives chase.
Peter calls out to the figure – who astonishingly brings a figure to his lips, making the “shhh” gesture. When Peter attacks, the man in the Spider-Man suit – who Peter will later discover is his clone, Ben Reilly – simply says “Deploy spinneret.” A shining, mechanical device emerges from Ben Reilly’s suit, unfurls spider-like legs, and wraps around Peter, immobilizing him. While Ben swings away and disappears, the device binds Peter’s arms and legs while saying “You will be released in one hour. Please use this time to reflect on your life.”
One hour is exactly the time it takes for Peter Parker’s standard webbing to lose its adhesive properties and dissolve. This is no accident; Ben Reilly is working for the Beyond Corporation, a company that bought Parker Industries and thus owns everything Peter’s former company owns…including the rights to Spider-Man. Thus, it’s in their best interest to make their Spider-Man behave almost exactly like the previous hero – but not without some refinements. Perhaps the corporation wants to avoid the image of webs dangling from buildings, even if they dissolve eventually. The utilization of the Spinneret is certainly a unique alternative – but it is truly a horrifying experience for Peter.
It’s important to note that the Spinneret was able to hold down Spider-Man with minimal effort, despite his super-strength. Peter has been shown lifting an entire subway car at one point, so the Spinneret was most likely designed with super-strong heroes in mind. Whatever the case, the new Spider-Man’s “web” is indeed a sinister-looking high-tech equivalent – but it has certainly proved its worth in the field.
