Spider-Man: Life Story No. 3: A very different Black Costume Saga

Credit: Chip Zdarsky (Marvel Comics); cover for

Spider-Man: Life Story No. 3

Spider-Man’s black costume becomes a different kind of metaphor as Peter struggles with fatherhood, an ailing Aunt May, and growing old before his time.

Spider-Man: Life Story No. 3
“Chapter Three: Our Secret Wars”

Writer: Chip Zdarsky
Penciler: Mark Bagley
Inker: John Dell
Color Artist: Frank D’Armata
Covers: Chip Zdarsky; Aco

AUTHORS NOTE: Spider-Man: Life Story No. 3 was released on May 15, 2019.

In 1984, Marvel did two things which, for better or worse, forever changed how we read comic books. The first was Secret Wars, a year-long miniseries that brought together the House of Ideas’ prominent heroes and villains in a battle royale. Along with being a shameless promotion of a new line of action figures, it gave birth to the line-wide crossover, a practice that both major comic publishers carry on today.

The second, which spun out of Secret Wars, was a costume change for Spider-Man. Instead his colorful tights, he now wore a sleek, ominous-looking black-and-white outfit, one that seems to reflect the darkening mood of the times. It also proved incredibly popular, rivaling the original Steve Ditko design in terms of its iconography. This, too, also became a storyline in the comics dubbed “The Alien Costume Saga” or “The Black Costume Saga,” one which would also pave the way for one of the wall-crawler’s signature villains, Venom.

Credit: Mark Bagley, John Dell, and Frank D’Armata (Marvel Comics); from

Spider-Man: Life Story No. 3

As much as the symbiote may make [Spider-Man] more aggressive, it’s what also allows him to feel as if he’s still young. It makes him believe he can keep time still. What Peter’s going through doesn’t seem like a typical mid-life crisis, but it definitely resembles one.

Suffice to say, 1984 was a significant year for Spider-Man. Very astute, then for Chip Zdarsky and Mark Bagley to then set their third chapter of Spider-Man: Life Story literally in 1984. And with Life Story operating on the premise of Spider-Man and Marvel Universe moving in real time, and how their existence affects the world at large, this comic also provides what is, perhaps, the darkest chapter of the series.

As in the original Secret Wars, Peter Parker, along with various heroes and villains, has been brought to a place called Battleworld by the mysterious, god-like Beyonder. Also, just like the original, when his costume is damaged, he trades for a new black one which seems to respond to his thoughts. Fortunately, this version of Secret Wars only last just over a month instead of a year. Unfortunately, the world has suffered all the worse during his and the other heroes’ absence, as this world’s version of the Cold War has turned into World War III.

There’s one other crucial difference. When Peter discovers that his new costume is a living, extraterrestrial, possibly parasitic symbiote, he doesn’t get rid of it like he did in the original comics. Instead he keeps it, treating it as just another weapon in his crime-fighting arsenal. Keep in mind, this isn’t the young, optimistic Spidey we’re used to. This Peter has been Spider-Man for twenty-two years. He’s thirty-seven, but looks much older, and he isn’t as strong, fast, and agile as he once was. As he explains to Reed Richards, the black suit is what makes him stay “relevant.”

Credit: Mark Bagley, John Dell, and Frank D’Armata (Marvel Comics); from

Spider-Man: Life Story No. 3

Yet Zdarsky shows that, at this point in Peter’s life, perhaps being Spider-Man should be the least of his priorities. Having lost his first wife, Peter’s now in his second marriage with Mary Jane, who has just given birth to twins. His Aunt May, well into her nineties, exhibits clear signs of Alzheimer’s. Much as Peter says he’s trying to make the world a better place and protect his family, his continual excursions as Spider-Man, and thus placing undue burden on MJ, looks extremely hypocritical and irresponsible.

The irony isn’t lost on Peter, either. Throughout the issue, he’s confronted by living specters of aging and mortality. From Reed, Aunt May, and (naturally) Kraven, he’s faced with the inevitable fact that he’ll one day die. As much as the symbiote may make him more aggressive, it’s what also allows him to feel as if he’s still young. It makes him believe he can keep time still. What Peter’s going through doesn’t seem like a typical mid-life crisis, but it definitely resembles one.

By the end of Life Story No. 3, even you, like MJ, wind up feeling just as disappointed in Peter over the terrible decisions he’s made. Despite eventually relinquishing the symbiote, there are some things he refuses to give up, even though he knows it’s doing more harm than good. Zdarsky then leaves us asking how long can we cling to the lofty, idealistic promises of our youth when they collide with our obligations? When does “with great power comes great responsibility” become an excuse for avoiding real responsibilities?

Credit: Mark Bagley, John Dell, and Frank D’Armata (Marvel Comics); from Spider-Man: Life Story No. 3

Bagley’s outstanding art also enhances [Spider-Man: Life Story No. 3] themes…Seeing Peter break down over having missed one of the most important moments of his and MJ’s life makes you feel his sadness, regret, and terror at what kind of world his kids will have to face.

Bagley’s outstanding art also enhances those themes. As always, his Spider-Man, while in costume, looks as graceful and energetic as always. Not wearing the mask, however, shows the truth. Already showing distinctive age lines, tired eyes, and fading hair color, we see that Peter’s years of web-slinging and wall-crawling are starting to take their toll. No more is this clear than when Peter, having just returned from Battleworld, sees his newborn children for the first time. Seeing Peter break down over having missed one of the most important moments of his and MJ’s life makes you feel his sadness, regret, and terror at what kind of world his kids will have to face.

A shame, then, this is only limited to one issue. Zdarsky has stated in interviews that he envisioned Life Story as a series of miniseries, each taking place in a different decade. Given the two-page Secret Wars spread, and the slight variations we see in Marvel’s other characters, it makes one wonder what other changes occurred between this world’s 1978 and 1984. It also feels the least connected with the previous two issues. At least issues No. 1 and No. 2, despite a ten-year gap, felt linked by the Green Goblin and the Vietnam War. Here though, it feels as if there’s a crucial chapter missing.

All the same, Spider-Man: Life Story continues being a stellar series, one which not only redefines Spider-Man as we know him, but challenging his own fans. For as much as we profess how much we like to see him grow, develop, and change, isn’t there a part of us that doesn’t? Don’t we, deep down, wish he was the same as when we first read about him? Aren’t we, like Peter with the symbiote, hoping that time never catches up to him…and us?

Stillanerd’s Score: 4.5 out of 5