Spider-Man: The Other Storyline Explained

With Spider-Man Brand New Day about to swing into theaters this weekend (at the time of this article) I thought this would be a good time to go over one of the more interesting and divisive runs in Spider-Man’s comic book history (though a good portion of that divisiveness falls at the feet of Marvel editorial). If you have listened to my Friday podcast (which a great listen, I guarantee that), you will already know that this movie is drawing from the overarching storyline called The Other which was written mainly by J. Michael Straczynski with other parts written by Peter David and Reginald Hudlin. The Other story arc ended with Peter dying and then experiencing a rebirth where his strength and spider sense increased, stingers came out of his wrists, and the biggest one, organic webbing. But that was later in the run. Before that, we got things like spider gods, energy vampires, a wasp lady and a big retcon for the ole Webhead. In the trailers for Brand New Day we Tom Holland’s Peter going through some similar changes so what could this storyline mean for the movie? Hold onto your butts, I am about to take you down a nerdy rabbit hole.

The J. Michael Straczynski (JMS for short) run of Amazing Spider-Man started in 2001 and was a bold new direction for the webslinger as it really delved into what stories you could tell with an adult Peter Parker. It is a run that has some high highs and some very low lows. It began with Peter and Mary Jane reconciling their marriage after being estranged along with Aunt May finding out Peter is Spider-Man. It also had Peter become a science teacher at his old high school and even move into Avengers Tower with Aunt May and MJ towards the end of the run. Unfortunately it all came crashing down, first in Civil War and then concluding with an editorially forced storyline called One More Day that had Peter making a deal with Mephisto, the devil in the Marvel Universe. Like I said, major highs and lows.

In between all this JMS had a major story arc woven into his run that he began in his first issue. That idea was this question, what if Spider-Man’s powers were maybe not a mere accident but the will of an otherworldly entity called The Other and it had chosen Peter to be its totemic representative? That question is posed to Peter by Ezekiel Sims (who was the villain in the Madame Web movie which I still cannot believe), a man who has the same powers as Peter but has used them for selfish gain, resulting in untold wealth. He also reveals that he knows Peter is Spider-Man.

We later find out that Ezekiel received these superpowers not through a lab accident, but a ritual in a spider temple. He warns Peter that because he is a spider-totem, he will start to attract new villains whose purpose is to destroy such totems. The first of these villains is an energy vampire named Morlun. Beyond being able to withstand any punch Spidey can dish out, he also can track Spider-Man no matter where he is, both in and out of costume. This leads to a near death knock out drag out fight between the two that emcompasses nearly half a day and finds them jumping all over the city. It is only through his brains that Spider-Man defeats Morlun, though it is not the last time Peter faces him.

Even after this experience Peter is still skeptical as to whether Ezekial’s story is true. Several issues later, Spider-Man comes face to face with another totem hunter in the form of the villain Shathra. While battling it out in New York City, Spider-Man starts to lose control of himself, with his basic instincts of survival and attack overtaking his normal nature of defend and protect, as if the spider part of him was in control. Towards the end of the battle, he gets paralyzed by Shathra’s venom. Luckily Ezekial, starting to be inspired by Peter’s heroism, saves Peter and brings him to the spider temple where he got his powers. It is there that Peter is able to defeat her and leaves her trapped in the temple. In the aftermath Peter still shows skepticism towards the idea of being a totem, though part of him begins to wonder if it is true because of what he has seen and experienced.

Later on in the run JMS would bring this storyline to completion through the arc called The Other or Evolve or Die. It is here that Morlun returns to finish the job he started at the beginning of this entire run as he and Spider-Man once again engage in a brutal fight that leaves Peter on death’s door. After encasing himself in a web cocoon, he is approached by the spider god and is offered the chance to enhance his powers to defeat Morlun by embracing his spider nature fully. Peter then emerges out from the cocoon after “dying”, with organic webbing and all the other enhancements I mentioned earlier.

These new powers stayed around until the One More Day storyline I mentioned before, which many fans including myself loathe to this day. Marvel editorial used Mephisto to reset Spider-Man “back to basics” so to speak. The reset meant he was no longer married to MJ, his identity which he had famously revealed in Civil War was back under wraps, Harry Osborn returned from the dead, and Peter's new powers including the organic webbing disappeared. Storylines involving Morlun and spider totems would continue to appear from time to time, including a big storyline during Dan Slott’s run called Spider-Island which saw everyone get Spider-Man’s powers and the Spider Queen arriving to control them. It concludes with Peter’s clone Kaine becoming the new spider totem and receiving the powers Peter had previously had. Morlun would also reappear in the Spider-verse storylines that continued to deal with the mystical elements JMS introduced in his run.

So what does this mean for Spider-Man Brand New Day? Well from the teasers we see Peter’s powers evolving as I mentioned before and the first teaser also had a voice over talking about the cycles of birth and rebirth for spiders so it feels like this movie is heavily inspired by this run at the very least. We have also had interviews from many people who have worked on this movie saying that this film is about Peter neglecting his civilian life in favor of Spider-Man, furthering that theme of struggle between the spider and the man. As far as whether they will go all the way with it, I would have to think yes because there is really no other explanation I can think of as to how they would justify the evolving powers without having to jump through hoops to do so. Maybe we won't get Peter talking to a full blown spider god but hints of its existence wouldn't surprise me.

I have mixed feelings about this because I do not like the idea of The Other at all. I think making Spider-Man, a story about an ordinary kid becoming a hero, into a part of a mythical legend is dumb and takes away what makes Spider-Man so appealing. So to see them inspired by this storyline has me a little concerned. That being said, No Way Home used elements from the horrible storyline One Moment In Time to great effect so I am willing to give them the benefit of the doubt.

The use of this storyline also has me thinking of who Sadie Sink could be playing. Marvel has been coy as to her identity and the trailers have followed suit. I know people are thinking she is Jean Grey but I have a different theory, one that I hope is true (no X-Men in this movie please). I think she could be Shathra. It would make sense as to how the mystery villain knows so much about Peter and why they would be coming after him personally. They would have to change her power set a little (which would be fine) to include the telepathic abilities but at least with Shathra you would have the villain connected to the changes Peter is dealing as well as the thematic idea of her also embracing her animalistic side and the consequences of doing so. I have no basis for this other than my knowledge of the comics and what we have seen in the trailers but it makes more sense to me than randomly introducing an X-Men that barely shares any history with Spider-Man in the comics.

Lastly we know Keith David is in this film (hard not to recognize that iconic voice). I have two theories as to who he could be playing. Shoutout to my friend Cameron who suggested that he could be playing Ezekiel Sims. We know his role has not been revealed yet and with his connection to this storyline in the comics it makes a lot of sense and David would be incredible for that role. Maybe Shathra is hunting Spider-Man and he follows the character in the comics and reveals the supernatural nature of the spider bite?

My other theory is he is playing the MCU version of Dr. Connors. Maybe Peter goes to him for help after Banner Hulks out? That would be a fun cameo and Keith David would make a great Dr. Connors. Heck make him Lizard in the future. Either way I cannot wait to see how he is used in the film.

Well I hope this long nerdy ramble was informative and that it provides a little extra context as to what may be happening in the new Spider-Man movie. I will be seeing it opening weekend so you better believe I will have a spoiler free review next Wednesday and a spoiler article the week after for paid subscribers.

Side note, as for the JMS run on Spider-Man, I recommend it if you are a Spider-Man fan. Despite those lows I mentioned before, it's really well written and refreshing in a time where Marvel seems uninterested in seeing Peter Parker grow as a character, or in some cases, act like a grown adult. Plus the way his relationship with Aunt May and MJ is written is top notch and you get prime John Romita Jr killing it on art. Do yourself a favor and give it a read!

As always thank you for reading and if you wish to become a paid member for the extra perks or just to support my work, click the upgrade button on the page here! I will be back Friday with my news podcast!

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