During the Marvel Comics event Blood Hunt, Spider-Man (Miles Morales) was turned into a vampire by Blade, who we later find out was possessed by Varnae. After the crossover ended, Miles remained a vampire. After he fails to control his bloodlust, Misty Knight calls a favor with T’Challa, the Black Panther.
T’Challa gives Miles some techniques and a vibranium suit to help keep his desire for blood down while still being able to use his venom powers. However, that wasn’t enough, so T’Challa takes Spidey to the Soul Tree, Bishiya Ruhi in Wakanda. While there, Spider-Man is confronted by Bast and his god, Anansi. With their help, Miles is cured of his vampirism, but it comes with a price: Anansi is now along for the ride in Miles’ head to learn stories from his perspective.
Pools of Blood creative team
- Comic book: Miles Morales Spider-Man
- Writer: Cody Ziglar
- Artist: Luigi Zagaria
- Colors: Bryan Valenza
- Comic Book: Deadpool
- Writer: Cody Ziglar
- Artist: Andrea DI Vito
- Colors: Guru Efx
During the Deadpool and Miles Morales: Spider-Man crossover, Pools of Blood (written by Cody Ziglar), we learn that Anansi’s actions had consequences. Apparently, Anansi isn’t allowed to “meddle” in the new world even though other gods can. To send a message to Anansi, Ares (the Greek God of War) gave Julia Gao godly superpowers and weapons to kill Miles, but it wasn't enough. She was defeated by Spider-Man, Shift (Miles’ clone brother), Deadpool, and his daughter, Ellie.
After the fight, Gao was forced to return to Ares with her head held in shame. Ares states that if Anansi wants stories to be told, he should provide them. It looks like the God of War won’t be the only god coming after Miles. The final pages show an angry Hercules and a preview of issue No. 32 Miles Morales: Spider-Man with Miles fighting Thor, Hercules, and Ares.
"Even more curious is that so many of our kind operate in the new world freely, yet the moment Anansi sets foot, Skyfathers one and all, clutch their pearls."Anansi
Spider-Powers being portrayed as mystical instead of scientific has opened infinite doors for ideas. It starts with the introduction of Ezekiel and a fight between Peter Parker and Morlun (Amazing Spider-Man by J. Michael Straczynski). This leads to Morlun's family (the Inheritors) and the Marvel Comics event, Spider-Verse. Since then, the Spider-Verse has become an interesting and creative way to bring new heroes like Spider-Gwen into Marvel Comics.
Within all of these comics, Ezekiel tells Spider-Man the story of Anansi. However, we don’t see the "trickster" god interact with any of the Spider-Beings in a big way. That’s why Cody Ziglar bringing Anansi to Miles’ life is brilliant. He’s a new god with a different kind of motivation, swagger, and powers.
As predicted in Pools of Blood, Anansi is going to get Spider-Man in a lot of trouble. The good news is Miles Morales will come out of this a stronger and more experienced hero. Plus readers get entertaining stories out of it. Too bad he has to fight deities like the Prince of Power and the God of War to get there. Stay tuned to Bam Smack Pow to see how this ends.
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