During Joe Kelly’s Amazing Spider-Man Nos. 7 and 8, Spidey gets a beating of a lifetime from a mysterious villain named Hellgate. No matter what Peter did, he couldn’t defeat him. He barely slowed him down. Eventually, Hellgate delivered the final blow after telling him to get stronger. A weird thing to say after destroying someone, but Joe Kelly is a superb writer, so it will mean something later in this series.
The following two issues showed Peter Parker acting unlike himself. As a civilian, he was rude and short with the people he loved, and more aggressive than normal. As Spider-Man, he was showing a level of brutality that’s normally reserved for when he’s in his black suit. At the end of the issue, you learn why as Peter Parker and Spider-Man meet face-to-face.
The Amazing Spider-Man No. 11 creative team
- Writer: Joe Kelly
- Artist: John Romita Jr. and Pepe Larraz
- Colors: Marcio Menyz and Marte Garcia
The two impostors wasted no time fighting each other, but most of the talking was coming from Peter, but without the quips. He seemed furious that someone was wearing Spidey’s uniform. As the Spider-Fake points out, their reaction was enraged. So much so that they almost killed some people during the fight.
We find out why the acting Peter is so mad. It's because he's Ben Reilly, and he knew Norman Osborn was wearing the suit. Because of all the people to play the part, Norman should be the last one.
Both characters have reasons to play the role. Ben Reilly (now going by Chasm) feels the need to protect Peter’s life due to their bond (Ben is a clone). Norman knows that the city needs Spider-Man, and he’s actively trying to be a better person. As he put it in his journal, “Peter saved my life… I will save his dream. His legacy.”
All of that being said, what happened to the real Peter Parker after his defeat? Well, it’s simple. He somehow ended up in space after Hellgate punched him.
"The liberation is, for the lack of a better word, intoxicating. But also…disorienting. I don’t like it."Norman Osborn
We don’t know how Hellsgate punch landed Peter in outer space, or if that’s what did it. What we learn is that, after weeks of being stranded alone, he was saved by Dr. Xanto Starblood. While there, the two get along smashingly due to their love for science. Sadly, things aren't what they appear to be (classic Parker Luck).
To Marvel Comics fans, Starblood is known as a genius, but an intergalactic criminal who once tried to kill Broo (this happens in Wolverine and the X-Men). When Peter learns that Starblood has kidnapped various species to study, he turns on him. Luckily, Peter has a brand-new alien suit, and this time it's not a symbiote.
Peter wins the fight and saves the captured beings. Among them was the one and only, Rocket “Don’t call me a” Raccoon. Rocket tells him: "Perfect. Another idiot Earth, Peter to the rescue... no offense. Mostly" Now, the question is, what's next for the Wall Crawler? Stay tuned to Bam Smack Pow to find out.
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