Warning: contains a preview of Amazing Spider-Man #88!
In a new preview for Marvel Comics' Amazing Spider-Man #88, it's revealed that the new Spider-Man's bosses at the Beyond Corporation don't just deal in heroes, intending to unleash a brand new Goblin upon the Marvel Universe. After discovering they have ulterior motives apart from the betterment of mankind, Ben Reilly's Webslinger has been struggling to trust Beyond, which seems more interested in the bottom line than saving lives. However, this new preview confirms he has no idea about Beyond's true nature.
Previously, Ben Reilly had been incredibly angered by Beyond, discovering secret files which revealed he wasn't chosen as the new Spider-Man because of his strong will and determination like he had been told. Instead, Ben was chosen for the opposite reason, with psych evaluations and reports concluding that he's weak and susceptible to manipulation, able to be turned into whatever Beyond needs him to be based upon its agenda. As a result of these new revelations, Ben was taken by Beyond and had his mind altered and memories erased, a dangerous procedure that - owing to his status as a clone of Peter Parker - threatens to permanently damage his already fragile mind.
Now, the new preview for Amazing Spider-Man #88 from writer Zeb Wells and artist Michael Dowling features Beyond's Hero Division head Maxine Danger as she goes about her day, speaking with Ben before the Beyond Board of Directors who are uneasy, feeling as though she's been letting the Hero Division get away from her. Maxine decides to activate something known as the Halifax Protocol, viewing recent events with Spider-Man as the perfect opportunity to test out Beyond's secret Villain Division - their first asset being a new Goblin of their own creation identified as the Queen Goblin. Enjoy the preview pages below:
While it's been revealed that the hero business is new territory for the massive conglomeration - previously run by cosmically omnipotent beings whose sole motivation is to be entertained - it darkly makes sense that Beyond would have an interest in crafting their own villains as well, apparently using imprisoned subjects. Furthermore, the fact that this new Queen Goblin has been created using the pure, extracted sins of the original Green Goblin is truly disturbing, providing Spider-Man's clone with a Goblin who is composed of the darkest parts of Peter Parker's greatest foe. All Norman Osborn's regret and horror at his own actions has been stripped away, leaving only the essence of his countless murders and betrayals, now residing within the Queen Goblin.
While there's plenty Ben doesn't know about Beyond (or was made to forget), it's possible that he's now seen as a liability. Perhaps the Queen Goblin will be Beyond's way of cleaning house in the Hero Division, eliminating Ben via a public hero/villain showdown to give them plausible deniability. Whatever their endgame is, it's clear that the new Spider-Man needs help. So long as he's with Beyond, Ben Reilly will never be able to become the true hero he's always wanted to be in the Marvel Universe. However it all goes down with the new Queen Goblin, the full issue of Amazing Spider-Man releases on February 2.