Warning! This post contains SPOILERS for Spider-Man #4
In the latest issue of Marvel Comics' Spider-Man, the "End of the Spider-Verse" event continues with its best twist yet. Following the erasure of Peter Parker from the Great Web of Life and Destiny, it's confirmed that it will be some time before he's brought back, even if he is "The Chosen One". As a result, Marvel's new Spider-Man series has an exciting opportunity on its hands.
In the new Spider-Man #4 from Dan Slott and Mark Bagley, the few heroes who remain in the Spider-Verse are still reeling from losing Peter Parker's Spider-Man from Earth-616. Having been stabbed by a corrupted Spider-Gwen using the same ritual totem dagger that erased Jessica Drew's Spider-Man from existence, it's confirmed that the primary Spider-Man has suffered the same fate and all hope seems lost in this new issue. However, the arrival of a new Spider variant and the implication that Peter Parker will no longer be the main star of this new Spider-Verse event is very exciting.
Spider-Man's "Death" Is A Good Thing For End of the Spider-Verse
With the sinister Shathra having the upper hand after corrupting most of the Spider-Verse's heroes into her dark Spider-Wasps, even Madame Web feels lost. Her ability to see the future has become limited given the possibility that there might not be any future at all thanks to the dark villain. That being said, a Spider-Verse event without a typical main Earth-616 protagonist is uniquely refreshing. With Peter gone, more Spider variants will get more time to shine as they attempt to save the Spider-Verse and free those who've been corrupted (as well as to hopefully bring back Peter and Jessica).
While the 616 Spiders are often called upon to lead and help save the Spider-Verse, this new event is flipping that idea on its head. Peter and Jessica are gone and Miles Morales' attempt to infiltrate Shathra's corrupted forces ended with him getting caught and imprisoned with other variants immune to Shathra's corruption. As a result, other variants can now step up, helping prevent the end of everything in the Spider-Verse.
Humorously, a backup Spider-Man has potentially been found in the form of "Peter Palmer", an inadvertent typo created by Lee and Ditko in The Amazing Spider-Man #1 who's now become his own variant. Seen as "the original prototype", it will be interesting to see what Palmer will contribute to the surviving Spiders as "End of the Spider-Verse" continues. Spider-Man #4 is on sale now from Marvel Comics.