Spider-Island

Do you think it's easy being Spider-Man, crawling up and down wall, and having the agility and strength of a proportional arachnid?

Well it's not! And you're about to learn why. Spidey always says, "With great power comes great responsibility"; this time the people of New York get a first-hand experience of what it's like to be Spider-Man in the Marvel Comics event "Spider-Island".

Set in Manhattan, Spider-Island began in July 2011, with Amazing Spider-Man #666 and a myriad of arachnoid characters including Venom, Anti-Venom, Spider-Girl, oh...you name it; if there's an eight-legged bug somewhere in their name, they'll probably wind up in these pages. What happened? The Jackal That's what! In some diabolical plan, he creates a mutation infection that goes rampant throughout the city. Before you know it, everyone has spider powers.

January 24, 2012

*Added two items from Amazon.com: The Spider-Island and Spider-Island Companion Hardbound Books. 01/24/2012

*Did a reread of Spider-Island after my buddy Touchdown91 schooled me in some of my errors. Found some important parts that needed fixing and I'll do another reread this weekend to double-check. 12/02/2011

*Updated the next chapter and the Reading Order. Need to grab one more issue. 09/28/2011

*Updated to current release. 10/06/2011.

*Updated with Black Panther Issue #524, and assembled a detailed day by day summary. 10/20/2011

*Updated all the issues, added some artwork and fixed up some material all the way to the end of the event. Only one issue left, the epilogue, which releases this week. 10/31/2011

*Fixed a Reading Order mix up, spotted by Raven, who I give full credit. Thanks, my friend. This week I'll be double-checking the entire RO and making it all nice and shiny. 11/02/2011

*Added the final issue to the reading order and cleaned up some of the page. Going to do one final sweep and make sure the Reading Order has integrity. (That's right, Raven, I'll get back with you on that last check.) 11/03/2011

You might have come to this site for different reasons. The primary one is for information; if you've been reading the Spider-Island event and want a summary of the issues or a Reading Order, you've come to the right place. On the other hand, if you're just getting started, and you found this article, maybe you don't want to be spoiled.

In that case, here's what I've done. I linked up to Amazon and found the two major Spider-Island Hardcover editions. They contain the entire event and you can pick them up and find out everything on your own.

Excellent. Welcome. Follow along below. You'll be able to check into the Reading Order, which has been thoroughly picked at by all the people who have dropped in over time, and just in case you missed something, you'll find some clues, timelines, and extraneous information which could be useful.

That's why it's here. If you need the issues, please use my links to pick them up. But even if you're good to go, please enjoy this resource as it stands.

What you should know to help you follow the event.

The "spine" of Spider-Island is contained in the Amazing Spider-Man series, particularly issues #667-672. That is, there are six parts to the epic and each has key sub-events that identity where everything else should go.

DAY ONE:

Officially starts with Chaos at 42nd and Fifth Avenue in Manhattan. In response, Mayor Jameson plants an emergency care center near the Brooklyn Bridge. Once the news is out, a major fight occurs at 42nd Street with Spider-Man and heroes such as Iron Fist, Cloak & Dagger, The Thing, and just about every superhero in the city.

The Battle at Bryant Park, which is likely a continuation of the same fight, takes place the same day and lasts all through the night until DAY 2, morning. That's where many of the superheroes move on to face about 200 spider-infested opponents. Spidey's response is to go in as an "infested Peter Parker" and try to rally NYC citizens to help.

The first major battle from DAY 1 occurred at 42nd and 5th Avenue, and then moved into Bryant Park. It involved numerous superheroes and about 200 spider-infested opponents.

DAY 2

Throughout the previous day and night, Jameson has ordered and finally contained the infestation by shutting off access to all bridges and exits. This is announced on Day 2. Later that day, though, probably afternoon to dusk, there is a The Breach at George Washington Bridge. Venom is dropped into this site and faces The Spider-King. That evening Peter figures out that The Jackal is behind this and heads to one of the villain's old HQs with Carly that evening.

DAY 3

The morning of Day 3 we see that the Spider-King was full of infested spiders which are running wild at Project Rebirth. He arrived there the previous night when Venom captured him. We see shots of Times Square being overrun. Meanwhile Jameson estimates now that 1 million New Yorkers are infested. At Horizon Labs that afternoon, the first "Spider-Sense Jammer" is constructed, which will provide a psychic barrier against infested around the city. At the same time, Reed Richards figures out that Mutated Bed Bugs are the carrier source, and that it's now airborne. Jameson is informed that he is infected.

The Major fight on DAY 3 is The Battle at Spuyten Duyvil Bridge, where we find the Misty Knight and the Heroes For Hire subplot. By Dusk, The Queen is revealed to be behind the whole affair and everyone infected is beginning to mutate into monstrous spider-creatures.

DAY 4

From Day 3 to Day 4, about 40 Spider-Sense Jammers are being place throughout the city. This has caused a lot of chaos and is blocking Madame Web's ability to see the future. The Queen is now out in the open and mutations are rampant. At Our Lady of Saints Church, Anti-Venom has set up a triage of sorts and is curing people as fast as he can. Venom is sent to collect him. At the Emergency Center, Jameson finally agrees to bring in Spider-Slayer to figure out how to solve the crisis, but Queen forces him to mutate and kill Smythe before he can learn anything useful..

DAY 5

This appears to be the timespan where the cure is being administered and Queen attempts to mind-control those who are infected. Venom is then called out to terminate her in her lair below Central Park. As they duke it out, Steve Rogers joins in. They think they've knocked her out, but she mutates into a huge creature. The final conflict becomes The Battle at Union Square, where Queen is finally defeated. Just about every superhero in Manhattan joins in, and almost loses, until Parker comes up with an idea to remove the sources fueling her powers.

If you've just heard about the Spider-Island event or don't know where to begin, the following titles listed here will pull you right in. This is a list of the information that will make you an expert in no time!

The most detailed lead-up to this event is Infested: The Road to Spider-Island, which is embedded in the series Amazing Spider-Man #659-665. These issues are explained as follows:

Amazing Spider-Man #659 (This is a Spider-Man/Future Foundation adventure in the Caribbean with pirates and high-sea excitement. Infested: Stage 1: Bug Time. This is the first salvo for Spider-Island. Miles Warren, also known as The Jackal, releases a strange, mutated breed of bed bugs into Manhattan.)

Amazing Spider-Man #660 (Spider-Man and the Future Foundation face off against The Sinister Six. Infested: Stage 2: Great Power On day 1, after he releases his infestation, The Jackal witnesses an incident at high school, where Richard Davies, a bully, accidentally kills another kid with his Spidey Sense and super strength.)

Amazing Spider-Man #661 (After having taken down a huge monkey with the Future Foundation, Spidey gets hired to teach Avengers Academy as a substitute teacher. All goes well until they face Psycho-man! There is no Infested material in this issue.)

Amazing Spider-Man #662 (Starts off with Spider-Man and the Avengers Academy facing the power of Psycho-Man. In this issue, Psycho-Man has turned the students against Spidey. After some work with Reptil and Veil, they manage to turn back on the villain and take him out. Infested: Stage 3: Great Responsibility. Husband Walter Coleman, who suddenly has spider-like powers, uses them during a house fire to escape safely with his family, recognizing that they are his greatest responsibility.)

Amazing Spider-Man #663 (Begins with a look at Eddie Brock, now the mostly misunderstood superhero called Anti-Venom. He's determined to find evidence against Mr. Negative, whom he knows to be Martin Li, whose base is in a homeless shelter. In this issue he heads to take out Li's men as they are tangling with a vigilante hero known as The Wraith. As they meet, he realizes that she's Jean Dewolff. As the story continues, somehow Aunt May has a premonition style event with Martin Li and she passes out. Brock happens to be there at the time. He soon turns to Anti-Venom and attacks. Unfortunately, Spider-Man sees him and believes him to be the threat. Infested: Stage 4: Out Of Nowhere. Cloak and Dagger stop some thugs, one who manages to get away with some uncanny spider-augmented jumps. The Jackal shows up, insinuating that these powers are part of his plan.)

Amazing Spider-Man #664 (Having captured Spider-Man, Anti-Venom tries to show him he's on the side of good. He leaves Spider-Man to capture Mr. Negative. Meanwhile, The Wraith is checking up leads on her own. Brock keeps a close eye on Li, and gets a chance to take him out. He heads back to where Spidey's been captured and brings him to the where the fight will occur. As Anti-Venom fights Mr. Negative, things go against him with a sword in his back. Fortunately, The Wraith frees Spider-Man and they both join in to help. In the end, they all realize Brock was right, Li is Mr. Negative, and they manage to foil him. Infested: Stage 5: Wall To Wall. Shang-Chi teaches Spidey his own form of martial arts, perfectly suited for his spider powers. Madame Web then shows up and tells him that it will be very helpful when "the spiders come".)

Amazing Spider-Man #665 (As Spider-Man, Parker has to deal with being members of the FF and Avengers. It's starting to seriously affect his relationships and his time management. In this story, Betty Brant gets mugged and beaten to within an inch of her life. Parker learns late and goes on a rampage to find her assailant. Going through the city, he completely hammers away at anyone and everyone until getting to the target. But just as he's about to take this guy down, he gets a call from his Aunt and is reminded about his responsibility to be there for Betty. In the end, he lets the mugger get off, but also manages to return Betty's locket. No specific Infested reference in this issue..)

The chronological reading order for the Spider-Island Event.

Spider-Island is an event surrounding Spider-Man and a host of character in Manhattan. The following is a chronological reading order of the story:

000-006 Infested: The Road to Spider-Island (ASM #659-665)

007 Spider-Island Spotlight #27 (Marvel Spotlight) (Discussions with Spider-Island creators and writers Dan Slott and Humberto Ramos, including a perspective on Spidey's membership across the various superhero teams. Here, you'll get insight into some of the coming action.)

008 Spider-Island Daily Bugle #1 (One-Shot) (Established in a newspaper style format, The Daily Bugle goes into stories about recent sightings of Spider-Man, strange powers throughout the city, and random occurrences that all tie into this exciting event.)

009 Amazing Spider-Man #666 (Prologue for Spider-Island. Amidst the business of his membership to two Avenger teams and the Future Foundation, Spider-Man is heavily stretched thin, which includes his secret identity dramas. But now things are starting to change. We learn in the early part of the issue that there's the reports of Spider-Man all over the place. He knows it isn't him and suspects villains such as The Chameleon. Meanwhile, we learn that The Jackal has been working furiously with Parker's DNA. And now he's got it figured out. But we also learn he's teamed up with a mysterious female that intends to control all the people infected with spider DNA. And a couple other notes of importance. Something's up with Parker's girlfriend, Carly, she takes a robber without even trying. Spider-Powers, anyone?)

010 Venom #5 (Happens after Betty Brant leaves the hospital, after ASM #666.)

011 Amazing Spider-Man #667 (The issue starts off with Peter surprised by his girlfriend, Carly, because she has Spider powers. Confused, and slightly worried that he gave her a disease, they go to take Aunt May to the airport. Meanwhile, Madame Web and Shang-Chi are witnessing The Jackal and his goons, Taratula and Spider-King reveal his master plans; he's infested the crime syndicates and merged them into one spider-powered gang under his control. Later, that morning, Peter and Carly are oh the bridge when radio reports are saying the city is being hit with spider-infested people of all sorts. At the end, Peter arrives at The Battle of Bryant Park.)

Above: Ah, Brock. Gotta love you, man. Keep up the good work!

The second Chapter of Spider-Island takes place right at the end of the first major encounter Parker has with spider-powered thugs, Avengers, and The FF. This is where Spidey awakens after he's been knocked out.

012 Spider-Island: Cloak & Dagger #1 (Occurs before and after the battle where Spidey gets knocked out by The Thing.)

013 Spider-Island: Deadly Hands of Kung-Fu #1 (Shang-Chi's encounter with Iron Fist occurs during the fight; his fight with Bride of Nine Spiders occurs shortly thereafter.)

014 Amazing Spider-Man #668 (After being knocked out, our hero awakens and sees Avengers, The FF, and superheroes joined in battle against a mass of spider-powered citizens doing wrong. Luke Cage finally tells him to sit the fight out after everyone realizes he's the real Spider-Man, but only because he'd get in the way due to all the people wearing spidey costumes. As he changes to Peter Parker, he encounters Norah Winters and Mary Jane; that's when he gets the idea to broadcast an inspirational message, revealing he also has spider-powers, and telling the New Yorkers to do the right thing! Minutes later, Parker leads a group of citizens to aid the superheroes and subdue the situation. The next morning, he heads to Horizon Labs and finds Reed Richards working his associates; it turns out Mayor Jameson made them the NY Center for Disease Control and deputized all the helpful, spider-powered citizens. Richards takes some of Parker's DNA, in hopes to find a cure. It's important to also note here that the issue takes two quick scenes: 1) Anti-Venom is using his powers to cure people, and 2) The Jackal embeds millions of Spider Embryos in The Spider King, saying the spider-virus will mutant! At the end of the issue, Carly thinks The Jackal is behind this scheme and takes Peter with her to check out an old lab warehouse he used. In the shadows, though, spider-people are watching them...)

015 Spider-Island: Deadly Foes #1 (One-Shot) (Occurs around the first major fight. Two Stories. Part 1, featuring The Hobgoblin. Phil Urich, as he attempts to take out Robbie Robertson for being near his love-interest, Norah Winters. The only problem is that Randy has spider powers; he ends up beating Phil. And the end Randy can't handle Norah and they break up, but Norah offers her affection to Phil as he shows up. Part 2, features The Jackal, mostly in a flashback sequence, where he somehow resurrects Kaine, The Tarantula. The Alpha Gwen Stacy clone makes an appearance and is trying to kill all the other clones. In the end, she dies. And in the last few panels, a mystery woman gives him a vial with special DNA.)

016 Spider-Island: The Amazing Spider-Girl #1 (Anya Corazon regains spider-powers and faces the Cult of the Wasp.)

017 Spider-Island: The Amazing Spider-Girl #2 (Continues from ASG #1. Anya checks in with the heroes after the Battle at Bryant Park.)

018 Venom #6 (Venom faces Spider-King at the Breach at George Washington Bridge, which correlates to ASM #668. [Shout out to Raven, who helped me put this in the right place.])

019 Spider-Island: Infested #1 (One-Shot) (This issue can be read anywhere in the Spider-Island event. It's a compilation of the "Infested" prelude, parts 1-5, to Spider-Island that was already released back in Amazing Spider-Man #659-665.)

020 Spider-Island: I Love New York #1 (One-Shot) (Four Short Stories of side events happening in New York. [I] Tingling: Four Spider-infested thugs dressed up in his costume feel their spidey-senses go off when one of them under the mask ends up being The Punisher. [II] Spider-Mom: A married mother of two gains spider powers, but still manages to fill her day with busy tasks while thwarting evil. [III] Charlotte's Web: Two lame thieves, Eddie and Melinda, face 6-year old, spider-enhanced, Charlotte, when they break into her parent's apartment. [IV] 9 Lives: An imaginative cat with spider-powers dresses up in his costume and face the hordes of Venom pigeons.)

021 Spider-Island: Emergence of Evil - Jackal & Hobgoblin #1 (One-Shot) (It is believed that Madame Web is analyzing the strands of fate before, during, and after the major fight. This is A focus on the new Madame Web as she tries to unravel the mysterious implications to the future from studying the occurrences of Spider-Island. The issue starts and ends with her, but dives in the retelling of three stories, Amazing Spider-Man #129, #239, and #239. [These issues go into the first sightings of Jackal and Hobgoblin.])

022 Amazing Spider-Man #669 (Parker and Carly are immediately beset by three super-villains; what's worse is that they also have spider-powers. Fortunately for our hero, though, he's studied Kung Fu! In moments White Rabbit, Scorcher, and Chance are taken out. Meanwhile, watching from a remote location, Jackal and Tarantula are keeping an eye on Parker; the Jackal tells his mysterious lady friend that the infection will soon spread to other cities. Over at Horizon Labs, though, Reed Richards of the FF has it figured out; the spider-infection has gone airborne. They've got a vaccination, but are still waiting out a cure; luckily, it turns out that the bedbugs will soon die off in the next 24 hours. J. Jonah Jameson, Manhattan's Mayor, is ready for the vaccine...but wait! He's infected! Back with Spider-Man, he's headed towards a distress call; it turns out to be the Shocker. A six-armed Shocker who wants to get rid of the powers. When Spidey asks why, the villain rips off his mask and exposes an arachnid-morphed face. Suddenly, Carly doubles over; she's transmuting, too. Back at his lair, the Jackal watching as the next phase of his plan takes effect...everyone is horribly mutating. And then, from the shadows, the mysterious woman helping him is revealed. It's the Queen!)

023 Spider-Island: Cloak & Dagger #2 (Dagger faces her roommate who has mutated.)

024 Spider-Island: Cloak & Dagger #3 (Continues from Spider-Island: Cloak & Dagger #2.)

025 Spider-Island: Avengers #1 (One-Shot) (In the midst of the Infestation, Day 2. Flag-Smasher and Ultimatum attempt a terrorist attack on the U.N. Building. The whole issue is hilarious.)

026 Black Panther: The Most Dangerous Man Alive #524 (T'Challa faces Overdrive, then Lady Bullseye on Day 2 of the outbreak. .Ironically, he's already infected and mutated with extra arms. He defeats them, but learns that Overdrive's "package" was an 8th Grade Girl the Kingpin was trying to smuggle out of the city.)

027 Herc #7 (Placed here because The Queen shows up at the end. It's better if you first see the Queen in ASM #669.)

028 Herc #8 (Herc's fight concludes, a continuation from his previous issue.)

029 Spider-Island: Spider-Woman #1 (One-Shot) (With an origin already consisting of mostly spider DNA, Reed Richards of the FF brings in Spider-Woman for a specific mission. In the past, she and The Thing teamed up to save Alicia Masters after she had been transformed by a spider virus; long ago, she was restored. Reed now believes that Alicia's bloodstream holds the cure or vaccine against the threat. As Spider-Woman heads out, though, she's ambush by Gypsy Moth. The two struggle before the sightless Alicia, both trying to convince her they are on her side. But eventually, Gypsy Moth gains the upper hand through her powers. Spider-Woman is nearly doomed as The Thing arrives and attacks her; Moth's abilities are making her look like an enemy! Fortunately, Spider-Woman manages to free herself and focuses again on her mission. Attacking Gypsy Moth in the air, the two attempt once more to gain the trust of Alicia, but now our arachnid super-heroine understands how looks can be deceiving. She defeats her opponent and gets Alicia to Reed.

Manhattan, Overun

030 Amazing Spider-Man #670 (All around the city of Manhattan, the third stage of the disease is taking effect; everyone is now mutating with spidery hair, fangs and extra limbs. The Queen, no longer fearful of others, strolls out in the open and orders her minions to kill Eddie Brock, Anti-Venom, who has been curing people. Venom hears her plan while he's posing as The Spider King and volunteers to go. Meanwhile, back at Horizon Labs, J. Jonah Jameson is looking for solutions; Dr. Richards can get a cure together but it's not quick enough. J.J. has Alistaire Smythe, the captured Spider-Slayer brought in, but before he can exact help, he mutates from the disease and bites into the prisoner's neck. It appears there's only one shot left; Reed manages to have Anti-Venom brought to him; he tells Brock that he can save the city, but will have to give up all his powers in the process.)

031 Venom #7 (Runs simultaneous with ASM #670)

032 Spider-Island: Deadly Hands of Kung-Fu #2 (Shang-Chi awakens 12 hours after SI: Deadly Hands of Kung Fu #1, and then goes after the Bride of Nine Spiders later that night.)

033 Spider-Island: Deadly Hands of Kung-Fu #3 (Continues immediately after Spider-Island: Deadly Hands of Kung Fu #2.)

034 Spider-Island: Heroes For Hire #1 (One-Shot) (Misty Knight brings her team in to assist Mayor Jameson right when all the transmutations are taking place. Her group is called to guard the Spuyten Duyvil Bridge exit, but Paladin becomes infected. At first, he's happy for the transition because of his new powers, but later he also transforms into a monster. Misty pulls off the team to head to his penthouse, finding a monster-version of him there. He almost kills her and then she shoots webbing out to catch her fall; she's also infected. This story covers 4 days of the Spider-Island event. At the end, Misty and Paladin are alone in the night, waiting to become totally inhuman.)

035 Amazing Spider-Man #671 (The battle continues as J. Jonah, now mutated, goes crazy until he kills Smythe; it's too late now to get answers from him. But some parting words ignites Parker's creativity and he heads towards his lab to look for an answer. Elsewhere, the infection has reached global-killer proportions; the only thing keeping the disease in check are spider-towers emitting special frequencies, strategically located around the city. Fearing her plans are about to be undermined, The Queen sends out commands, attempting to find information and destroy any cures. At each instance, her minions are cured before they can do damage. Before Spidey can get to Horizon Labs, though, Madame Web makes an appearance; she's realized that the towers are also preventing her from seeing fate. That's when she tells the scientist to fix the problem. In response, they decide to piggyback a frequency which will help Parker and her....this happens as Peter reaches his workshop and is ambushed by Kaine, The Tarantula. As the frequency goes live, his Spidey Sense returns more powerful than ever; Madame Web is overwhelmed with visions. And ultimately, Queen becomes more powerful. UH-OH!)

036 Venom #8 (Venom and Steve Rogers face Queen just before she mutates into the huge spider-creature faced in ASM #672.)

037 Amazing Spider-Man #672 (Culimating at Central Park, we see Steve Rogers and Venom taking on the Queen. Most of this scenario is played out in Venom #8, and show her being beaten and then mutating into a huge spider-monstrosity they have no chance facing. Meanwhile, back at Horizon Labs, the cures are ready and Peter and his clone brother, Kaine, quickly switch clothes so that no one realizes their secret identity situation. After some necessary deceit, Parker gives Kaine his specially prepared anti-Queen suit, and the two go into battle. Against her, everyone is showing up: X-Men, Avengers, even Mary Jane and all the top superheroes. Madame Web warns them, though; Queen is now like a goddess, connected to the web of fate. This is when Peter gets an idea, heads back to the lab, and activates all the Otto-Octavious-Bots, with cures. He sends thousands of them out, healing all of the infected, and reduces the Queen's power so that Kaine, with Mrs. Marvel's help, can deal her the final death blow, ending the battle. With her strange influences gone, the city now moves to repair itself.)

038 Spider-Island: The Amazing Spider-Girl #3 (Anya and Kingpin's fight in Madison Square Park occurs simultaneous with ASM #672.)

039 Amazing Spider-Man #673 (The battle is now over and the queen is dead, so what does the city do? Get some pants! They also start cleaning up. Surprisingly, we learn that the Jackal is still alive and apparently the Queen only killed one of his clones; in the midst of all the heroes, he's in a mac truck grabbing some of her DNA. In the afterwards of the mess, Peter heads back to his apartment to learn that Carly has figured out his secret identity and is breaking up with him. He heads to Avenger's Mansion and asks the astral form of Dr. Strange about it; in the exchange he learns that he compromised the spell that kept things secret and now anyone can learn who he is. At the end, he catches up with Mary Jane and gives her the cure; together they discus things in the backdrop of a city giving him its thanks.)

The Lion of Olympus is now a...Spider.

Herc #7 (When he's first seen, Herc lands near the X-Men as they are trying to help out with Spider-Sense Jammers. [They happened to be in the area.] That's when Brooklyn's Finest lands before them...and seems interested in fighting. There's some back and forth, but no one can figure out why Hercules is on the warpath. The issue then goes into a flashback where Hercules is bitten by a bedbug and acquires his spider-flavored powers. After beating up some Thugs, he dons the spidey suit one of them is wearing and starts patrolling. But not before The Queen decides that he will be one of her champions!)

Herc #8 (Herc is still under sway from Queen's mind control, and while he's battling the X-Men, she orders the rest to head en masse to his location and storm the spider-jammer. But from her own location Arachne, the greek spider-goddess has had enough. She appears to Queen and orders her to keep her assault to Manhattan and leave the son of Zeus along. She then teleports to his battle and separates the fight peacefully. Back at Arachne's apartment, Anansi, the African spider-god heads in and steals her tapestry; it turns out that he released a bedbug in Hercules' room in Brooklyn and this was all part of his plan. He almost gets away, but Elektra is there to stop him.)

On Spider-Island, everybody is getting in on the act; that includes the spirit of Kung Fu, Shang-Chi. Now gifted, or cursed, with the spider-powers running rampant on Manhattan, he has the added agility and strength of a spider in this 3-issue miniseries.

Spider-Island: Deadly Hands of Kung-Fu #1 (Shang-Chi awakens from a series of repeating nightmares, where people are entangled in sticky strands of webbing, and decides to take to the streets. There, he finds The Immortal Iron Fist and others fighting Spider-Man lookalikes. During the engagement, they both realize they are having the same dream. Shang-Chi then agrees to meet with Iron Fist later, but turns around and notices The Bride of Nine Spiders, a member of The Immortal Weapons, calling Iron Fist to a secret meeting. His suspicious serves him right when he follows the two and The Bridge surprises and knocks Iron Fist out, covering him in webbing. That's when Shang-Chi realizes The Bride is the assailant in his dream. He shows himself and the two start fighting. He is beating her until she uses a unique Immortal technique and knocks him out.)

Spider-Island: Deadly Hands of Kung Fu #2 (Shang-Chi awakens to find that Silver Sable rescued him from the rooftop; she tells him that she started tracking Iron Fist and the Bride of Nine Spiders at once after they departed the battle, only to see Bride running off with Iron Fist's cocooned body. Together, they start searching for possible locations; finally, using clues from a dream, they are able to piece one potential area. The two split up and Shang-Chi heads to rescue his friend. Once there, he begins to fall prey to Bride's illusionary powers; the two test each other's skill, but finally the Master of Kung Fu gets a distraction and frees Iron Fist. Fighting as one, the two knock Bride out. But from within the shadows, another figure emerges; his name is Al Apaec and as a deity, he decided to use the Bride of Nine Spiders as a pawn. Iron Fist immediately goes into battle, but it's not enough. From behind, he hears the voice of his friend; that's when we see that Shang-Chi has mutated into a fighter with six arms.)

Spider-Island: Deadly Hands of Kung Fu #3 (Mutating, Shang-Chi attempts to maintain the control over his disciplines while facing the deadly Spider-God, Al Apaec. Iron Fist helps him, but the two aren't of equal match and are fighting a losing battle; that's when the Immortal Weapon heads over and works to free the others. The engagement continues and Shang-Chi is almost down until all the Weapons join in; Iron First then uses the opportunity to cure Shang-Chi with his own Chi powers. Rising with the strength of his true Kung Fu, he then tells Fist and his crew to go help the rest of the city; he will stand alone against this arachnid trickster. While it appears he has no chance, cleverly, he begins destroying the support beams in the burning house until he causes the wreckage to fall upon Al Apaec. The last few pages are with Shang-Chi and Madame Web at the last battle in Union Square; seeing his allies, he jumps back into the battle, a true Master of Kung Fu.)

Spider-Island: The Amazing Spider-Girl #1 (Anya Corazon, now back with her new spider powers, has been found and targeted by the Cult of the Wasp, old enemies of her original spider-cult. They head after her and she breaks loose until she can regain her bearings. Once she's costumed, she heads back into the direction of their attacks and encounters The Hand, a cult of ninjas that are usually villainous. Surprisingly, she realizes they are protecting her, but that's not all; Hobgoblin shows up and he also keeps her safe from attacks. Once all the wasps-hunters are beaten back, he knocks her unconscious and drops her off at The Kingpin's hideout. When she comes to, he offers her a position for work because...as it turns out...he has spider-powers, too.)

Spider-Island: The Amazing Spider-Girl #2 (After a confrontation with the Kingpin, Anya thinks he's nuts and storms out; she believes she can find a group of friends on her own, because now she's learned that the Wasps have a large nest and plan on taking out all the spiders. When Anya gets home, she's soon met with Madame Web and a mysterious vision; in it, she tells Spider-Girl that she'll have to join forces with an enemy to successfully navigate the coming trouble. And although Anya has tried to get other heroes to work with her, they're too busy trying to solve other problems on Spider-Island. Finally deciding to follow Madame Web's advice, she heads back to the Kingpin...but not before she runs into Hobgoblin. The two of them are suddenly in the midst of Hunter Wasps while they argue, and then they meet the Queen Wasp. They are both almost overtaken, but then Kingpin charges in and the three fight in unison. That's whey they learn of the Queen Wasp's plan to harness a new venom that will kill everyone on Manhattan and end all the spider-powered people. The trio continue the melee, but it's soon clear they aren't strong enough; they flee to regroup.)

Spider-Island: The Amazing Spider-Girl #3 (In a desperate attempt to keep the Queen Wasp from killing the innocently mutated New Yorkers, Anya, Kingpin, Hobgoblin and The Hand battle the Wasp Cult until the fight leads them into Madison Square Park. Suddenly, Kingpin announces a force, summoning all of the infected. Things appear to go badly until Anya realizes that the opponent she needs to ally with is Wasp Queen. Convincing the creature, both sides join forces and subdue the spider-creatures from moving towards the summons. The final pages of the story end with an epilogue after Spider-Island has been resolved. Anya manages to retain her powers and parts ways with Kingpin.)

The Dark and Light over Spider-Island

Expected to be a 3-issue miniseries.

Spider-Island: Cloak & Dagger #1 (While Cloak and Dagger are trying to get their bearings in the city, they are evicted from their dwelling, a run-down church. The end up on the street in Times Square as they see a huge billboard ad of themselves for Hire; it turns out the Future Foundation has secretly helped Cloak turn them into a non-profit private investigation agency. While they are in the square, Avengers and The Future Foundation show up because there is a call of spider-man look-a-likes running rampant. Cloak teleports them to the scene; surprisingly, Dagger has to run off. In the last few scenes, Mr. Negative speaks to Suan Ming, a witch who can see the future. He's been wanting to learn the name of the man who will kill him. But she laughs and says "he?" and there's a cut to Dagger, studying during a class.)

Spider-Island: Cloak & Dagger #2 (Once her roommate turns arachnid from the infestation, Tandy AKA Dagger bolts from the room, but is subdued by Mr. Negative. He believes the vision of The Suan Ming that says she will kill him, but he wants to do this under honorable terms. To coerce her into following his plans, he has his minions attack Cloak; the darkness superhero dispatches most of them, but Mr. Negative uses Dagger as a distraction and then knocks him out. Tandy doesn't want to go along with the villains designs, but after threatening Cloak's life, she agrees; Mr. Negative touches her with her powers and you see a darkened version of Dagger at the end.)

Spider-Island: Cloak & Dagger #3 (This issue pushes the envelope of Cloak & Dagger, setting the stage for a very unique relationship between the two, perhaps romantically and with their powers. Having altered Dagger, Mr. Negative then goads Cloak into trying to save her. Unknowingly, he thinks he can keep Tandy from dying and rushes to her. But death was never Mr. Negative's intent; he allows Cloak and Dagger to unite, and then something...perhaps too unrated to suggest here...happens: Cloak reverts to human form and the two are seen, together, unleashing waves of dark and light force. Once they awaken, everyone else is gone or fled. Cloak is now draped in white and Dagger appears to be united with the Darkforce: they've changed powers! At the end, in a conversation with one of his associates, Mr. Negative admits he was never trying to kill Dagger. Suan Ming's prophecies can never be wrong and someday Dagger will be the one to destroy him. To delay that inevitable end, he made her powers inert against him. This was all part of his plan.)

Venom #5 (This is also considered a Spider-Island lead-in, but specifically, Betty Brant is out of the hospital, so it goes after ASM #666. Starts with Venom taking out The Human Fly. Later, Flash and Peter Parker head out to find his father, only to learn he's got a terminal condition from his drinking. While there was no actual Spider-Island references or scenes, this is prepping the way for Flash to be involved with the series.)

Venom #6 (When Flash gets his next mission, it's right on the outskirts of Manhattan, where a giant arachnid-beast heads. He joins Gravity, already facing the creature. Teaming up seems to work and they knock the creature out where it ends up back at Project Rebirth, isolated. But that's not entirely true; although they think they've got the Spider-King contained, he releases waves of tiny, infecting spiders and then breaks out. Flash is helpless; the Venom suit has been put away. Fortunately, the symbiote finds it's way back to him and he manages to put the monster back down. But as their tests completed during the battle, Flash is told not to kill it...because it's actually Captain America.)

Venom #7 (Flash AKA Venom infiltrates his way through to the source of the infestation by disguising himself as The Spider King, only to find out that Queen is running Spider Island. While he's there, she learns that Eddie Brock, Anti-venom, is curing people. She orders his death and Flash volunteers for the task. Once he gets to the church where Brock is hiding out, his symboite reacts violently with Brock's; the two start fighting and the black symbiote tries to bond with Brock. That is, until Flash convinces it the he needs it more. At the end, Anti-Venom is knocked out and brought to Reed Richards for a cure.)

Venom #8 (Flash leaves Project Rebirth just as they believe they have a cure for Steve Rogers' mutated form. Back at the hospital bed, he finds Betty in his dad's hospital room, but it's too late; he's passed on and Flash missed it. He tries to console Betty and resolve some of his past differences while reading a message his father wrote him, but suddenly gets a new mission and has to leave. Reverting to Venom, he battles the Queen, but is no match for her new strength. All is not lost, though, when Steve Rogers jumps in, now cured, and the two square off against her. With her now distracted, Venom manages a near-fatal blow; it appears she's been killed...until she mutates into a huge, omega-level threat: a gigantic, unstoppable spider-thing!)

Spider-Man: The Edge of Time ships October 4, 2011 and is sporting lots of cool Spidey action, his assortment of super-villains, and interesting new features like updated costumes and plots. The link below is for the Xbox360 version; if you need another format, you can click here.

Thanks for dropping by! If you have any information or see anything interesting or related to the Spider-Island event, please let me know. I'm also always interested in constructive criticism.