Spider-Geddon

• Core Identity: Spider-Geddon is an epic 2018 comic book crossover event and the universe-spanning sequel to spider-verse, which forces the collective Spider-Totems of the multiverse to reunite against the resurrected and technologically enhanced Inheritors.
• Key Takeaways:
• Role in the Universe: Spider-Geddon serves as a direct sequel to the 2014 spider-verse event, escalating the threat of the inheritors and solidifying the concept of a multiversal “Spider-Army.” It significantly elevates the roles of next-generation heroes like miles_morales and spider-gwen, transitioning them into leadership positions.
• Primary Impact: The event's most significant impacts include the permanent deaths of several fan-favorite Spider-heroes, the final, decisive defeat of the Inheritors, and the establishment of a new status quo for the multiversal Web-Warriors. It fundamentally explores the moral dilemma of whether it is justifiable to kill an irredeemable foe.
• Comic vs. Cinematic Adaptation: Spider-Geddon is exclusively a comic book storyline and has not been directly adapted into the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). However, its core themes—a multiversal team-up of Spider-People against a dimension-hopping threat—are foundational to the critically acclaimed animated films Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, though those films feature different antagonists and plot points.

Spider-Geddon was announced in June 2018 as the highly anticipated follow-up to the blockbuster Spider-Verse event. Published by Marvel Comics, the core miniseries ran for five issues from October 2018 to January 2019, with an additional “zero” issue serving as a prologue. The event was helmed by writer Christos Gage, who had been a key contributor to Dan Slott's long run on The Amazing Spider-Man and the original Spider-Verse story, ensuring narrative continuity. The primary artist for the main series was Jorge Molina, whose dynamic and expressive art style was crucial for depicting the chaotic, multiversal battles. The creation of Spider-Geddon was a strategic move by Marvel to capitalize on the immense popularity of the Spider-Verse concept. The original event had introduced a host of popular new characters, most notably Spider-Gwen (now Ghost-Spider), and reinvigorated interest in existing characters like Miles Morales. The timing of Spider-Geddon was also significant, launching shortly before the release of the animated film Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and the blockbuster PlayStation 4 video game, Marvel's Spider-Man. The inclusion of the game's specific version of Spider-Man (from Earth-1048) in the comic event was a major cross-promotional effort that drew significant attention. The narrative groundwork was laid in the months prior through a five-issue anthology miniseries titled Edge of Spider-Geddon, which, much like its predecessor Edge of Spider-Verse, spotlighted various alternate-reality Spider-heroes, re-establishing their status quos and introducing new ones to set the stage for the main conflict.

The genesis of the Spider-Geddon crisis stems directly from the hubris of Dr. Otto Octavius, operating at the time as the “Superior Octopus” in San Francisco. Following the first Spider-Verse, the surviving inheritors were exiled to Earth-3145, a barren wasteland ravaged by a nuclear holocaust, which was toxic to them and contained no life force for them to consume. The Spider-Army believed them to be permanently trapped. However, Otto Octavius, in his quest to prove his “superiority,” established a new base of operations and began utilizing cloning technology he had acquired from the Jackal. Unbeknownst to him, this technology was based on the same multiversal principles the Inheritors themselves used to resurrect their fallen members. A specialized team of Web-Warriors, led by Spider-UK, discovered that Otto's tech was inadvertently broadcasting a signal across dimensions that could allow the Inheritors to “download” their consciousnesses into new clone bodies, bypassing their prison. Before the warning could be heeded, the Inheritors enacted their plan. Morlun, the most relentless of the family, was the first to manifest in a new body on Earth-616. He immediately and brutally murdered Spider-Man Noir and Spider-UK, sending a clear and bloody message across the multiverse: the hunt was on again. The Inheritors were back, more vengeful than ever, and this time they possessed the technology to travel the multiverse at will, making them an even greater threat. This cataclysmic return forced the surviving heroes from the first war, including Peter Parker, Miles Morales, and Gwen Stacy, to once again assemble a Spider-Army to prevent the total annihilation of every Spider-Totem across all realities.

It is critical to state unequivocally: the Spider-Geddon event has not occurred in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) or any of its associated film properties. The Inheritors, the Web of Life and Destiny, and the formal concept of a “Spider-Army” as depicted in the comics do not exist within the MCU's established canon. However, the core concept of multiversal Spider-People interacting has become a cornerstone of modern on-screen Spider-Man stories, creating thematic parallels.

• Spider-Man: No Way Home (MCU): This film brought together three different cinematic Spider-Men (played by Tom Holland, Tobey Maguire, and Andrew Garfield) to face villains from alternate timelines. While not a “Spider-Army,” it was the MCU's first live-action exploration of a multiversal Spider-Man team-up, a central pillar of the Spider-Geddon narrative. The impetus, however, was a magical spell gone wrong, not a targeted hunt by cosmic predators.
• Sony's Spider-Verse Animated Films: Into the Spider-Verse and Across the Spider-Verse are the closest spiritual counterparts to Spider-Geddon. These films are built entirely around the concept of a multiverse of Spider-Totems, featuring a team led by Miles Morales and Gwen Stacy. They explore the Web of Life and Destiny (referred to as the “Great Web”) and feature a large, organized group of Spider-People (Miguel O'Hara's Spider-Society). The key difference lies in the antagonists: the films use villains like the Kingpin and The Spot, whose goals are tied to the multiverse's stability, rather than the Inheritors, who are focused solely on consuming Spiders. The tone and stakes, while immense, differ from the life-or-death hunt that defines Spider-Geddon.

In summary, while fans may recognize the multiversal team-up elements in movies, the specific plot, villains, and consequences of the Spider-Geddon comic event remain unique to the source material.

The event kicks off with the Inheritors successfully exploiting the Superior Octopus's cloning technology. Jennix, the family's scientist, masterminds their escape from the toxic Earth-3145 by creating new bodies on Earth-616. Morlun's brutal takedown of Spider-Man Noir and Spider-UK serves as the inciting incident, immediately establishing that the Inheritors are not only back but also more vicious. Their primary target becomes Earth-616, as it houses the Web of Life and Destiny, the source of their power and their greatest potential prize. Their initial strategy is to cripple the Spider-Army by eliminating key leaders and sources of multiversal travel.

Upon regrouping, the Spider-Army immediately fractures over strategy. This ideological civil war becomes the central internal conflict of the story.

• Otto Octavius' Faction: The Superior Spider-Man, driven by his immense ego and a twisted sense of responsibility for their return, argues for a non-lethal solution. He believes his intellect can devise a way to permanently contain or de-power the Inheritors without killing them. His plan is seen by others as arrogant and naive, failing to recognize the absolute nature of the threat.
• Miles Morales' Faction: Having witnessed the Inheritors' brutality firsthand, Miles Morales argues that containment failed once and will fail again. He advocates for a more permanent solution: destroying the Inheritors for good. This puts him in direct opposition to Peter Parker's long-held “no-kill” rule, but many, including Spider-Gwen and other veterans of the first war, agree that the stakes are too high for half-measures.

This schism leads the heroes to split into two separate teams, pursuing different objectives and often working at cross-purposes, which the Inheritors expertly exploit.

Spider-Geddon is characterized by a series of desperate, scattered battles across the multiverse as the Inheritors hunt down pockets of Spider-Totems. Key confrontations and losses define the middle act of the story:

• The Death of Spider-UK: Billy Braddock's death is the first major blow. As a Captain Britain Corps member and leader of the Web-Warriors, his loss creates a significant power vacuum and deals a severe morale blow.
• The Fall of Peter Parker of Earth-11580: In a grim reality where Peter became a guilt-ridden recluse after his family's death, the Inheritors consume him and his entire world's population, showcasing their genocidal capabilities.
• The SPdr Armor's Destruction: The Inheritors target Peni Parker on her home world of Earth-14512. They destroy her robotic SPdr suit and consume her reality's version of Ben Parker, leaving her traumatized but determined to fight back with a new, more aggressive armor. === The Climax: Solus and the Enigma Force === The two factions of the Spider-Army are forced to reunite for a final stand on Earth-616. The Inheritors succeed in their primary goal: resurrecting their powerful patriarch, Solus, who was killed during the first Spider-Verse. With Solus back, the Inheritors are nearly unstoppable. Realizing that conventional force is useless, the heroes seek out the Enigma Force, the cosmic power that creates Captain Universe. While they initially intend for Earth-616's Peter Parker to become its host, the Enigma Force chooses Miles Morales, sensing his potential and resolve. Imbued with god-like power, Miles transforms into Captain Universe. He effortlessly neutralizes Solus and the other Inheritors, using the Power Cosmic to turn the tide of the battle in a spectacular display of force. This moment is the definitive turning point of the war and Miles's ascension to a top-tier hero. === The Aftermath: A New Web of Life and Destiny === With the Inheritors defeated and de-powered by Miles, the Spider-Army faces the question of what to do with them. Otto Octavius's last-minute plan is to kill them while they are helpless, but the other Spiders stop him. Instead, they embrace a unique solution: using Otto's cloning technology, they revert the entire Inheritor family to infancy. They are then given into the care of Spider-Ma'am (Aunt May from Earth-3123), who volunteers to raise them on her world in the hopes that they can be taught compassion and grow up to be better people. The Web of Life and Destiny, which was damaged during the conflict, is stabilized. The Spider-Man of Earth-1048 (from the PlayStation game) uses his advanced technology to create a device that helps repair the cosmic structure. With the war over, a new team of Web-Warriors is formed to protect the multiverse, with Spider-Gwen (now officially adopting the name Ghost-Spider) stepping up to lead them. The event concludes with the heroes returning to their respective dimensions, forever changed by the war and the hard choices they had to make. ===== Part 4: Key Factions & Major Players ===== ==== The Spider-Army (Miles Morales' Faction) ==== * Leader: Miles Morales (Earth-1610). Miles steps into a leadership role for the first time on a multiversal scale, defined by his pragmatism and willingness to make the hard choices that Peter Parker often struggles with. * Philosophy: “Whatever it takes.” This faction believes the Inheritors are an existential threat that must be eliminated permanently to ensure the safety of all realities. They see Otto's plan as a repeat of past mistakes. * Key Members: * `Ghost-Spider (Gwen Stacy, Earth-65)`: Miles's most trusted confidante and a brilliant strategist in her own right. * `Peter Parker (Earth-616)`: While he initially struggles with the idea of lethal force, he ultimately sides with Miles, trusting the younger hero's judgment. * `Jessica Drew (Earth-616)`: A veteran spy and superhero, she provides experience and a level head. * `Spider-Man (Peter Parker, Earth-1048)`: The hero from Marvel's Spider-Man video game. His technological prowess proves invaluable. ==== The Superior Spider-Army (Otto Octavius' Faction) ==== * Leader: The Superior Spider-Man (Otto Octavius, Earth-616). Operating from a body that is a clone of Peter Parker, Otto's arrogance and belief in his own intellectual superiority guide his every action. * Philosophy: “My way is the only way.” Otto is convinced that his scientific mind is the only thing that can truly defeat the Inheritors. He rejects lethal force not out of morality, but because he sees it as an unintelligent, brutish solution. * Key Members: * `Kaine Parker (Earth-616)`: The volatile clone of Peter Parker, who has a history with Otto and a deep hatred for the Inheritors. * `Spider-Punk (Hobie Brown, Earth-138)`: An anarchist freedom fighter who, while clashing with Otto's authoritarian style, initially believes his plan has merit. * `Peni Parker & SP//dr (Earth-14512)`: The young pilot of the SPdr mecha-suit, she provides unique technological support. * `Karn (Earth-001)`: The reformed Inheritor and current Master Weaver, who is torn between his past and his duty to protect the Web. ==== The Inheritors ==== * Leader: Solus. The ancient and immensely powerful patriarch of the family. His return is their primary objective. In his absence, Morlun often takes a field command role. * Goal: To feast on the life force of Spider-Totems across every dimension. They see themselves as the natural predators of Spiders and view the Web of Life and Destiny as their rightful inheritance. * Key Members:** * `Morlun`: The most tenacious and iconic of the Inheritors. He is the family's greatest hunter. * `jennix`: The twisted scientist and intellectual of the group, responsible for their cloning technology. * `daemos`: The gluttonous and boisterous eldest son. * `bena` and `brix`: A pair of competitive twins who hunt together. * `bora`: The family's tracker, who enjoys the chase. ===== Part 5: Key Tie-In Stories & Character Arcs ===== ==== Edge of Spider-Geddon ==== This essential prelude series served to reacquaint readers with key players and introduce new ones. Each issue focused on a different hero, including the anarchist Spider-Punk, the futuristic SPdr, a new monstrous Spider-Man named the Spider-Ben of Earth-3145, and even a Spider-Man based on the “Overdrive” video game from the PS4 title. It effectively set the diverse stage for the main event, showing that the Inheritors' return was already causing ripples across reality. ==== The Superior Octopus & The West Coast Avengers ==== The story of how the Inheritors returned is told in the pages of Superior Octopus #1. This tie-in is crucial as it details Otto Octavius's attempt at heroism in San Francisco. It shows the exact moment his technology is co-opted by the Inheritors and establishes his immense guilt and responsibility, which fuels his desperate, controlling actions throughout the main Spider-Geddon series. It perfectly frames his character arc as a man trying to escape his villainous past but constantly being undone by his own fatal flaws. ==== Insomniac's Spider-Man (Earth-1048) ==== The inclusion of the Spider-Man from the PlayStation game was a major highlight. The tie-in story, Spider-Geddon #0, depicts his first encounter with the Superior Spider-Man and his recruitment into the multiversal war. It faithfully captures the personality, fighting style, and technological ingenuity of the game's character. His most critical contribution comes at the end of the event, where his knowledge of advanced tech allows him to jury-rig a device that helps patch the frayed strands of the Web of Life and Destiny, proving that he is not just another fighter but a brilliant scientist on par with his comic book counterparts. ==== Spider-Gwen: Ghost-Spider ==== Gwen Stacy's tie-in issues were pivotal for her character development. While the main series focused on the grand conflict, her solo title explored the personal cost. She grapples with the responsibility of protecting her home dimension while being pulled into a multiversal war. The events of Spider-Geddon directly lead to her decision to embrace a larger role, culminating in her accepting the leadership of the new Web-Warriors. This storyline cements her transition from a solo hero into a leader capable of coordinating a multiversal team. ===== Part 6: Variants and Alternative Versions ===== As an event centered on variants, Spider-Geddon's most significant impact was on the status quo of several key alternate-reality characters. == The Fall of Spider-UK (Billy Braddock, Earth-833) == Billy Braddock was a unique combination of Spider-Man and Captain Britain. Following the first Spider-Verse, he co-founded the Web-Warriors, a team dedicated to protecting realities that had lost their own Spider-Totems. His position as a seasoned leader and member of the pan-dimensional Captain Britain Corps made him a high-value target. His death in the opening salvo of Spider-Geddon at the hands of Morlun was a shocking moment that immediately established the heightened stakes and left the Web-Warriors without their founder. == The Sacrifice of Spider-Man Noir (Earth-90214) == A fan-favorite for his hardboiled 1930s detective persona, Spider-Man Noir was a veteran of the first war. During a fierce battle, he and his team were cornered by Morlun. To save the others, including Spider-Gwen, Noir stayed behind to fight the Inheritor. Realizing he couldn't win, he allowed Morlun to get close and then detonated a series of grenades, sacrificing himself in a massive explosion. His death was a poignant and heroic end for a character defined by cynicism and darkness. == The Rise of Miles Morales == Spider-Geddon represents the single most important chapter in Miles Morales's journey from a young hero to a major force in the Marvel Universe. He steps out of Peter Parker's shadow, challenges the veteran heroes' methods, and proves his strategic and moral fortitude. The event's climax, where he is chosen by the Enigma Force to become Captain Universe, is a definitive statement of his worthiness and power. By defeating Solus and making the final call on the Inheritors' fate, he solidifies his place not just as a Spider-Man, but as one of the multiverse's greatest champions. == The Redemption of Karn == Karn's journey from a conflicted Inheritor to a hero concludes in Spider-Geddon. Having taken up the mantle of the Master Weaver to atone for his family's sins, he dedicates himself to protecting the Web of Life and Destiny. Throughout the event, he provides crucial support to the Spider-Army, using his unique position to guide and aid them. In the final moments, he performs his ultimate act of redemption by sacrificing his life force to ensure the Great Web is fully repaired, passing on the mantle and ensuring the future of the multiverse he once helped to terrorize. ===== See Also ===== * spider-verse * inheritors * miles_morales * superior_spider-man * spider-gwen * morlun * web_of_life_and_destiny * web-warriors ===== Notes and Trivia ===== ^{1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6)}