Death-Web? Deathweb? I think Death-Web. Dann Thomas is back to co-writing as of this issue. Apparently, between issues, Spider-Man charged them and got knocked back toward Iron Man, who says he “ordered him” not to. Then we get a double-page spread of the heroes engaging the baddies, and despite outnumbering them significantly, they’re being treated like chumps.
The shiny one is apparently called Antro, and the big one is Therak. Not gotten a name for the lady yet. Unless she is, herself, Death-Web, but I thought it was a team name. Wonder Man notes that Therak has glowing red eyes like him and makes the logical jump that they both have ionic power, which… I mean, a lot of people in the Marvel U have glowing eyes, dude. We cut to Spider-Woman and Living Lightning guarding the bigwigs (And Julia’s daughter), then back to the fight, where we learn the female baddie is Arachne (Naturally), and that the shiny one can teleport.
Meanwhile, Galvan continues to refuse to leave the assassination attempt like a dumby, and then the lights come back on. But Spider-Woman notices her daughter is gone, and abandons the candidates to look for her.
Really worked hard to get to that butt shot, there, Dave. Arachne spells out how they killed the guys last issue in case you couldn’t figure it out, but before she can kill Scarlet Witch, Spider-Woman hits her with the mind webs, smashing her into a wall. This lets Wanda hex the big guy and make him fall through the floor.
Not sure a Reserver Avenger in New York needs to be up on the details across the country, but ouch. Perhaps inevitably, Rachel appears in the room, and is immediately taken hostage by Antro, who says they’ve accomplished their purpose here and teleports the bad guys out. The blowhard Galvan doesn’t even believe they were fighting anyone. Iron Man, a far more taciturn and serious leader in this title than I have ever seen him in anything, orders Julia back to base, saying Rachel is only in danger because Julia left her post, and she’s now too personally involved. She refuses and storms off.
That’s the Clemson guy from last issue, meeting someone called The Manipulator, who sent Deathweb to the convention center. Manipulator says everything is going to plan. Clemson is very upset, but his mysterious bosses call in to say it’s all good.
The male 2/3s of Deathweb have arrived, and the big one accidentally lets Julia know they work with Clemson. Then Manipulator shows back up, reveals the previous one was a hologram, even though we saw him answer the phone (Twice!), and he begins to Force choke Clemson. I dunno, I don’t know anything about this guy.
Well. Things look grim. Given the reason I’m here, tho, I do appreciate Roy putting Spider-Man right in the middle of the action. Who knows what happens next issue? Maybe she kills him. It could happen!