Warning: Contains spoilers for Amazing Spider-Man #75 and #83
As the villains are taking over New York City throughout the latest big event from Marvel Comics, Spider-Man’s spider-sense is going haywire. While the timing isn’t ideal for (arguably) Spider-Man’s greatest ability to be on the fritz, his powers began to malfunction long before Marvel’s supervillains launched their full-on strike against superheroes. In fact, it was another group of supervillains best known for taking on the Hulk who are to blame for Spider-Man’s latest personal crisis.
In Amazing Spider-Man #75 by Zeb Wells and Patrick Gleason, Peter Parker is attacked by the U-Foes and beaten so badly that he had to be taken to the hospital as he was in critical condition. Spider-Man’s road to recovery has been long and arduous, pushing Peter’s mental strength to its limits as he is forced to learn to become Spider-Man all over again. During this process, the worst of Spider-Man’s injuries weren’t physical but psychological and his spider-sense has taken a brutal toll.
The autonomous nature of Spider-Man’s spider-sense was shown to be something of a curse after Peter was hospitalized. When Spider-Man was first brought in, he was unconscious but his spider-sense was going off the rails as it constantly alerted his body to the potential threat of life-saving drugs that were pumped into his system. After he woke up from the coma the U-Foes put him in, Peter’s spider-sense manifested itself as near-constant nightmares as his mind couldn’t process what his spider-sense was trying to tell him. In Amazing Spider-Man #83 (by Patrick Gleason) Peter says, "radio volatile gas plus my own unique physiology equals my normally dependable spider-sense taking on a new life of its own," confirming just how damaged his spider-sense is. Because of the physical and mental abuse the U-Foes inflicted on Spider-Man, he could no longer process his spider-sense which was telling him he was in constant danger because of the trauma his body and mind suffered.
While Spider-Man is currently on the mend after training with Black Cat and Captain America, he still isn’t in any condition to fight like he could before being hospitalized. In the current Devil’s Reign Marvel Comics’ event, Peter Parker is still absent due to his ongoing recovery, leaving Ben Reilly to be the only acting Spider-Man facing off against the Kingpin’s minions, aside from Miles Morales. If Spider-Man’s spider-sense wasn’t causing him such mental turmoil, Peter would be able to help his fellow heroes in this ongoing conflict that could cost them their freedom and even their lives.
While the events of Devil’s Reign didn’t cause Spider-Man’s injuries that has made his spider-sense go haywire, the stress of the event is assuredly not helping his recovery. Because he doesn’t have the same control over his powers as he once had, Spider-Man can’t help fight Kingpin and his minions until he is fully recovered. Spider-Man’s spider-senses are going haywire while Marvel’s other heroes are dealing with a threat unlike any other, and the only way to help them is if he can overcome his greatest obstacle yet, his own damaged psyche.