Gwen Stacy, AKA Marvel's Ghost-Spider, is going to be targeted by The Maker in May's upcoming Ghost-Spider #10. The confrontation ties into plot threads that have been building across several Marvel series, from her Spider-Verse spinoff to the pages of Venom. The Maker is the most dangerous villain Ghost-Spider has ever faced, and upcoming previews indicate that her other most dangerous foe is returning as well, meaning her own powers are likely to betray her.
Since the beginning of Gwen's new series, the web-swinger from an alternate universe has been taking one of the multiverse's most dangerous entities for granted. The last time Ghost Spider encountered her universe's Venom symbiote, which naturally was nicknamed Gwenom, it nearly destroyed her life. After a narrow victory, she ended up taming the symbiote and using it as her costume. The convenient twist allowed Gwen to remain a superhero after losing her own superpowers, having to use the symbiote to simulate them. Unfortunately, the symbiote has been biding its time until it can reassert itself and return as Gwenom, but that will be just the start of her problems.
The Maker is also from an alternate universe, but his life took a much darker turn. The Reed Richards of the Ultimate Universe started out as the leader of the Fantastic Four, acting like a younger and more modern retooling of the Mister Fantastic most readers know, before becoming bitter and turning against his family and society. He renamed himself "The Maker" and set out to recreate the Ultimate Universe in his own image, forcibly evolving humanity to higher stages and making civilization as we know it obsolete. He lost, and his efforts to salvage his dying world from the end of the multiverse in Secret Wars failed as well, making him a vengeful remnant of a dead timeline.
In Donny Cates and Ryan Stegman's Venom, The Maker set his sights on studying symbiotes as part of a still-mysterious scheme. The disasters of Absolute Carnage delayed Ultimate Reed's goals, but in Venom #20 readers learned that it involves interdimensional travel and symbiotes from worlds other than Earth-616. The solicitation for Venom #26, also releasing in May, mentions that the Maker's ultimate goals will be revealed. Based on the reveal in issue #20 that The Maker is trying to join the Council of Reeds (yes, it's exactly like Rick and Morty's Council of Ricks but for Reed Richards, and no, the Council of Reeds came first), but is refused entry until he can restore his annihilated universe. It seems that somehow collecting and studying symbiotes will lead to the return of the Ultimate Universe.
- GHOST-SPIDER #10
- Written by SEANAN MCGUIRE
- Art by IG GUARA
- Cover by TAKESHI MIYAZAWA
- Gwen Stacy has served hard time in prison on Earth-65 for her dalliances as the super hero known as GHOST-SPIDER… Will EARTH-616 be next?!
- And just what exactly is the Maker up to on Earth-65? And what part does GWENOM play in his schemes?
The Maker has gone up against Marvel's heaviest hitters in several universes. When he decides he wants Ghost-Spider's power source, which is actively trying to possess her, can she get out of it with her powers or her life intact? Readers will find out when Ghost-Spider #10 hits the stands on May 27th, 2020.