Amazing Spider-Man #18

[Cable]

If you read X-Men Dark Web you know how things were resolved with Maddie. How is it going with Ben Reilly?

Full Spoilers:

Spoiler: show

Madelyne Pryor tells Chasm that Jean Grey showed her uncommon kindness and that their demonic invasion has to stop. He is pretty mad that she is quitting now that she got what she wanted while he got nothing. She says the scythe she wields as ruler of Limbo comes with responsibility and she can't allow this to continue, and he angrily leaves. Madelyne Pryor directs Hallow's Eve to assist her but when the Goblin Queen sets aside her scythe for a moment Eve betrays her, putting on the monster mask and then throwing Maddie off the castle. Meanwhile Spider-Man is teaming up with Rek-Rap against the Insidious Six. Parker groans his way through Rek-Rap's antics while they try to get JJ Jameson and Robbie Robertson to the portal out of Limbo. As this is happening Eve has given the scythe to Ben Reilly and he now becomes the new master of the realm: King Chasm! Parker and Rek-Rap try to fight him but are no match for his power. He doubles down on the demonic invasion, expanding the portal and erecting a new dark tower over New York City. Maddie shows up and says she will take her army back. She has the X-Men with her and Spidey takes her offered hand as they all agree to unite to defeat King Chasm.

Well that escalated quickly.

The Rek-Rap stuff is amusing but I'm going to say I haven't loved the silly tone that has been weaved into much of this latest Inferno event. Maybe I'm being too serious but anyone who knows me knows I love a good Deadpool comic so it isn't like I think there is no place for the giggles. I just think there is a time and place for it and the lever has been a little too far in that direction for a story about the great trauma that has been endured by the two clones people at the heart of this event. IMO Duggan handled it better in X-Men than Wells has in Spider-Man, though I am thinking (hoping?) that the Dark Web Finale will be the issue that grapples with the more serious questions surrounding Eve and Ben. Just my opinion though, I know some would prefer some smiles instead of doom and gloom that we get enough of in the real world lol.

I also would love to know the story of how this event came about. We have noted before how every writer in the X-Office basically got to do a big event, but Wells did not. However a big new Inferno feels like something he could have been planning during his time there. I wonder if he couldn't resist that call to do the crown jewel of Amazing Spider-Man instead but then just brought the idea with him and realized it could work for both the X-books and for Spidey. But then again it is interesting that Duggan is the one who wrapped Maddie's story and not Wells...If anyone sees Wells at a con ask him about how this all happened and report back

[Monolith]

"Hey, Ben! Jean agreed to help when I just asked nicely...what if we ask Peter? Jean can even memory-drop you like she did for me!"

ROLL CREDITS

[Blackcyclops]

As someone who really enjoyed the X-Men part of this and even liked how the Venom team used this event to progress their story, I agree with you Cable. This isn’t serious enough given what is actually happening. Like what Ben’s going through is like traumatic and the terrorizing if Peter’s friends should be given more weight. But instead this feels like a story you’d find in a Spidey Unlimited or LS with Deadpool. Part of the biggest issue is the art. It’s not bad art but its wayyyyyyyyyyy too goofy for this.

I’m holding out hope for the finale.

[grief]

"Hey, Ben! Jean agreed to help when I just asked nicely...what if we ask Peter? Jean can even memory-drop you like she did for me!"

ROLL CREDITS

If they don't at least ADDRESS this possible plot point in the final issue, I'mma be livid.

[Blackcyclops]

Would Peter go for that?

[Monolith]

Under normal circumstances...yes, absolutely.

With the additional benefit of stopping a demon invasion of Manhattan...yes, absolutely.

[Blackcyclops]

Under normal circumstances...yes, absolutely.

With the additional benefit of stopping a demon invasion of Manhattan...yes, absolutely.

Lol…I forgot that Ben already knows Peter’s identity because they are the same person. That’s what I was thinking about, protecting his identity.

[grief]

Under normal circumstances...yes, absolutely.

With the additional benefit of stopping a demon invasion of Manhattan...yes, absolutely.

Lol…I forgot that Ben already knows Peter’s identity because they are the same person. That’s what I was thinking about, protecting his identity.

Madelyne: Spider-Man, are you okay with Jean here just copy-and-pasting your memories onto Chasm here? Wouldn't that solve all of our problems?

Spider-Man: NO! First off, I've been having a REAL hard time recently and I've had to just deal with it. Ben needs to handle his OWN problems like the grown-up individual he is. Secondly, (and here he whispers) if we did that he would know my secret identity.

Jean: This is why I just go by my name.

JJJ: Wait. Are you telling me I know you're Peter Parker and your own CLONE doesn't know?

Spider-Man: JONAH!

Magik: Who the *&^% is Peter Parker? He sounds like a nerd.

Spider-Man: BLONDE GIRL!

Cyclops: You can copy and paste my memories. I'm pretty cool.

Jean, slightly rolling her eyes: Of course you are.

Madelyne, also rolling her eyes: Can we just mind-control SPIDER-MAN into consenting to this? Isn't it worth it in the name of saving New York City?

Synch: If we create a circuit, we could not only copy-and-paste, but then wipe Spider-Man's mind of any of this happening anyway. Problem solved.

Spider-Man: Wait what?

FIVE MINUTES LATER.

Cyclops: Well everyone, good job. Alex, Maddie, see you at the next family get together. Spider-Man, good luck with everything.

Ben claps Spider-Man on the back. Ben: Thanks Peter, I really appreciate this. Now I need to go talk my girlfriend out of being a super-villain. Bye!

Spider-Man just stands there, alone. Peter: HOW DOES THAT GUY KNOW MY NAME!?!