Spider-Man Just Replaced A Member of The Fantastic Four

Warning! Spoilers for Spider-Man: Spider's Shadow #5 below

After overcoming his darkest moment, Spider-Man has decided to join the Fantastic Four and replace a fallen team member. In the finale of Spider-Man: Spider's Shadow #5 by Marvel Comics, the What If...? story ends with a tragic death and a new beginning for Peter Parker, as he opts to join Marvel's first family after nearly losing everything due to the symbiote he brought back to Earth.

Spider-Man: Spider's Shadow is part of Marvel's new What If...? line. The story asked the question, "what if Spider-Man kept his symbiote suit?" The answer is dark, as Spider-Man killed some of his greatest villains under the influence of the alien symbiote, including the Kingpin and Scorpion. While Peter would eventually get rid of the symbiote, it would find a new host in Reed Richards, the worst-case scenario for the hero. With Reed's brainpower, the symbiote created more of his creatures that bonded with the Avengers, leaving Spider-Man to deal with the near-impossible onslaught of infected heroes.

Related: Marvel's Twisted Version of The Suicide Squad is Even Grosser

In Spider-Man: Spider's Shadow #5 by Chip Zdarsky, Pasqual Ferry, Matt Hollingsworth, and Joe Sabino, the Fantastic Four fight off the infected Avengers as Peter discovers that stopping Reed will free the heroes from the symbiote. After offering himself to the symbiote for saving everyone, Peter watches as the alien leaves Reed's body but kills him in the process. However, the symbiote is defeated after it bonds with Spider-Man, only to learn it actually bonded with Johnny Storm instead (thanks to some image-inducing tech trickery). Johnny transforms into the Human Torch and burns the alien alive. The issue ends with Peter at Reed's funeral, where Sue Storm offers him a spot on the Fantastic Four.

It's not the first time Spider-Man has joined the Fantastic Four, as he most recently got his own blue costume alongside Wolverine during Marvel's Empyre event. Before that, Spider-Man (and Logan) joined a new Fantastic Four team in Fantastic Four #347, while Peter also joined the roster as part of the Future Foundation back in The Amazing-Spider-Man #657. 

It's a fitting ending to the miniseries, as Peter is the perfect hero to replace Reed Richards on the Fantastic Four. Not only does he fit in as the go-to inventor and scientific mind, but he's got a heartfelt and genuine connection to the team and its members. After watching the alien symbiote nearly destroy him and everyone he cares about, joining the Fantastic Four is probably for the best. Spider-Man doesn't have to face any challenges alone anymore. Spider-Man's Spider-Shadow #5 is in comic book stores now.

Next: Spider-Man’s New Costume Makes Its Big Debut

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August 14, 2021 at 12:16AM