Edge of the Spider-Verse
Edge of the Spider Verse is a series in Marvel Comics featuring a multitude of characters with spider powers. Many, but not all, are alternate versions of Peter Parker. All of them are under threat from Morlun and The Inheritors, cannibal monsters who feed on the vital energies of people with spider powers. They range from Peter Porker, the "Spider-Ham," who mostly provides comic relief, to Cosmic Spider-Man, who has the powers of a god. The series, which so far has appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man, resembles "Crisis on Multiple Earths" and such series in DC Comics, with the major difference that the many threatened super-heroes have spider powers, having been bitten by mutated or radioactive spiders. The very wise and knowledgeable Ezekiel, an alternate-universe version of an old friend of Peter Parker, informs Peter that of all the Spider People, the three most important ones are:
- The Bride, aka Silk, aka Cindy Moon-
- The Other, also known as Kaine-
- The Scion, the infant child of Peter Parker and Mary Jane Watson. The Peter of this particular universe was slain by the Inheritors, but the Uncle Ben (Benjamin Parker) of yet another universe volunteered to help take care of little Benjamin, his namesake. This offer was gladly accepted.
In addition to those mentioned above, other heroes of the Arachniverse include:
- Spider UK, who does double duty as a superhero, being both Captain Britain and a Spider-Man. Peter Parker, who is unable to resist making a joke, calls him "Benedict Cumber-Bug," presumably because his British accent sounds like that of Benedict Cumberbatch.
- Gwen Stacy. In an alternate reality, it was she, not Peter Parker, who received the spider's sting.
- The so-called "Superior Spider-Man," actually the mind of Doctor Octopus in the body of Peter Parker.. His intellect is at a genius level, and he has a very inventive and active organizational mind. Unfortunately, he is also arrogant, cynical and selfish. He tries to impose his leadership on all the Spider People. However, Peter outsmarts him and gets the leadership. Then he, being the wise and generous Peter Parker, asks Octavius for advice and help.
- Miles Morales, an African-Hispanic Spider-Man in an alternate universe, has a problem the exact opposite of that of Dr. Octopus. Miles suffers from low self-esteem, not realizing how brave and heroic he really is. People who know him well call him "the Brain from Brooklyn."
- "The Great Spider-Wolf of the Lycansphere." A huge spider-werewolf who gets killed almost as soon as he appears.
- A Spider-Monkey (not to be confused with the spider monkey), who is killed and devoured very early.