"Crossfire, Part: 1"
This story continues from Web of Spider-Man #125...

Dressed as the Scarlet Spider, Peter Parker goes to visit Detective Jacob Raven, who has been staying at the Gotham Inn.[Continuity 1] He has come to talk to Raven about how Peter Parker is innocent for the murder of Raven’s partner in Salt Lake City, five years earlier.[Continuity 2] That’s when Raven turns and shows the Scarlet Spider the scar on his face.[Continuity 3] Raven reveals that after seeing this same mark on the face of his partner, Doctor Octopus and the Grim Hunter, he now knows that Kaine is responsible.[Continuity 4] Now that he knows that the wrong man is in prison, Raven vows to the Spider that he will not rest until he sees "Peter Parker” released from prison. Believing that Jacob means what he says, the Scarlet Spider thanks him and leaves. As he swings away, Peter wonders what Jacob Raven would think if he knew that Peter Parker switched places with his clone, Ben Reilly, so that he could be with his pregnant wife.[Continuity 5]

As the Scarlet Spider swings through the city, he is unaware that he is being observed by Judas Traveller. He continues to observe the two Spider-Men as part of an experiment into the nature of good and evil.[Continuity 6] Landing on the roof of the Top of New York hotel, Judas Traveller watches as the Spider swings away.[Continuity 7] He is joined by Scrier, who wonders how he can admire the wall-crawler when his plans are terrible, pointing out that they will work to break Peter Parker beyond the point of saving. Traveler tells Scrier that he doesn’t want his advice, reminding him that he is nothing more than his servant.[Continuity 8] Telling Scrier that what he does is for the greater good, he leaps off the building and transforms into a bird, flying off to continue his observations.

By this time, Peter Parker returns home, waking up his wife. Mary Jane is upset that Peter went out without telling her, reminding him that he promised not to. Peter apologizes but tells her that he can’t sit back and do nothing until he has found enough evidence to get Ben Reilly out of prison. He tells her that it is the least he can do after all the sacrifices that Ben has made for their family. This upsets Mary Jane, pointing out the sacrifices she made while Peter was hiding behind his mask recently.[Continuity 9] Then she mentions the recent attempts on her life by Kaine and yet another Spider-Clone.[Continuity 10] She tells him that while she is willing to endure a lot of her him, the situation is changed now that she is pregnant. She tells Peter that with a baby on the way, he needs to be there for her more so than ever before.

Peter notices that Mary Jane is still upset and wants to know what else is bothering her. She shows him the test she had done on her baby by Seward Trainer.[Continuity 11] She is concerned about the condition of their baby, fearing what Peter’s radioactive blood may have done to the baby. Catching herself just as she blames her husband’s biology, Mary Jane apologizes and says she is just concerned. Peter is shocked, but understand and says that he will love their baby no matter what happens. That’s when the room begins to fill with mist, causing Mary Jane to pass out. Peter is then confronted by Judas Traveller. Judas explains that he has not come to fight the wall-crawler, but that he has merely come to observe what happens next. Not buying this, Peter puts on the Scarlet Spider mask and attacks Judas Traveller. However, with his nearly limitless powers, Judas manages to overpower the faux Scarlet Spider. He then begins his test by holding out a globe that he claims to contain the soul of May Parker.[Continuity 12] He tells Peter that the globe has the power to restore Aunt May to life and good health. However, this comes at a cost, telling him that in exchange it could snuff out a number of lives. He skirts around the actual number, telling the web-slinger that it could be as many as 100 people, or it could be only one insignificant soul.

However, the Scarlet Spider crushes the globe into bits, seemingly sending the soul of Aunt May back into the afterlife. He refuses to believe any of this has been happening, believing that this is merely a series of illusions. However, Judas says he is a being of great power, and decides to show him what the future has in store for him. Bringing him back to reality, he shows him a future where Manhattan is in ruins. He then tells Parker that it is his fault, and the cause of this disaster will prove that he is not quite the hero he always thought he was.

... This story continues in Spider-Man #59.

Jun 1995

Marvel

759606024575

402

April

1995

Volume 1

Direct

United States

$1.50

Modern Age

English

Magazine

Part of the Clone Saga event
Part of the Crossfire arc

Old Soldiers

~£6.47

2024-09-14

2018-07-02 22:44:18