Spider-Man's Emergency Powers Explained: How Peter Parker 'Evolves' When He's Hurt Badly Enough

The Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man may be everyone’s favorite street-level hero, but Peter Parker is connected to something much greater than himself. Beyond the twisted weavings of the Spider-Verse exists a mystical power capable of drawing out Spidey’s full potential. When pushed to his absolute limits, Spider-Man becomes a living host to a multiversal power that only members of the Spider-Family can access.

While Spider-Man may have been born from scientific ingenuity, he is not foreign to mystical influences. Most recently, with a collection of magical artifacts to boost the hero’s power against an onslaught of magical monsters. However, Spidey shares a deeper connection with the paranormal that binds the hero to the power of eldritch gods: The Web of Life and Destiny.

When Spider-Man is pushed to his absolute limits, an ancient power from the other side of the Web of Life awakens to give Peter the strength he needs to survive. However, this power is truly monstrous.

Spider-Man Can Summon the Power of an Eldritch God

The Web of Life and Destiny Connects Peter to "the Other"

Before Peter Parker ever donned his red and blue spandex, the Multiverse was first woven together by the eldritch goddess of all spiders, Neith. The Web of Life and Destiny binds the past, present, and future of the Multiverse together through the powers of multiversal, spider-themed constructs called Spider-Totems. These supernatural deities operate similarly to most other Marvel gods and have the power to choose avatars to harness their power. Among Neith’s most loyal arachnid gods, exists an entity whose purpose is to support the Web of Life’s greatest champions when in their greatest time of need: The Other.

While no one knows the true purpose of the Other’s cosmic station, the ancient spider-god can choose a mortal avatar who it believes to be in grave danger to gift a portion of its divine power. However, the Other’s power comes at a monstrous cost, transforming its host’s body into a twisted bi-pedal arachnid form while the god intrudes on its host’s mind. In Amazing Spider-Man #527 (2005), Spider-Man is plagued with prophetic dreams of his death and resurrection following the harrowing news that he is dying. As Peter’s life slowly widles away, the Other interjects to save its champion.

The Other Transforms Spider-Man Into a Spider-Monster

Amazing Spider-Man #527 (2005) - Written by J. Michael Stracynski; Art by Mike Deodato Jr.; Inking by Joe Pimentel; Color by Matt Milla; Lettering by VC”s Cory Petit

Spider-Man attempts to stave off his death for as long as possible until the multiversal psychic vampire Morlun suddenly attacks the hero. The ensuing battle ravages Peter’s dying body, giving Morlun a fast advantage over his enemy. When the ancient enemy of the Spider-Verse nears a fatal blow, Spider-Man suddenly springs back to life and savagely assaults his attacker. However, while it may be Peter Parker’s body leading the attack, the hero’s soul has been momentarily quieted to make room for the Other’s power. As Spider-Man’s reanimated form takes on the Inheritor, he rapidly develops numerous arachnid augmentations.

Spider-Man’s body soon contorts under the strain of his rapid evolution. His teeth grow razor sharp and poisonous stingers emerge from his wrist. For a brief moment, Peter Parker sheds his humanity to allow the Other to take complete control. Peter and the Other savagely maul Morlun, making a bloody mess of the multiversal villain. As the Inheritor tries his best to fight back his previously frail opponent, Peter gains the advantage and rips Morlun’s throat out with his teeth. Soon, the Other’s power fades from Peter’s body before his disease condemns the hero to a quick death.

Spider-Man Hasn’t Been the Other’s Only Avatar

All Spider-People Can Summon the Other

While the Other coudln’t save Peter Parker from his newly developed chronic condition, Spidey isn’t the only spider-themed hero to have been chosen by the Other as its mortal avatar. Years later, the Other chose Spider-Man’s clone , Kaine, to become its new host. Like Peter, Kaine is reborn through a cocoon, emerging as a monstrously humanoid spider creature. Kaine’s new body possessed three sets of eyes, identical wrist stingers to Peter’s, and sharp teeth, all housed in a hyper-muscular exoskeleton. The further a host allows the Other to influence their soul, the more their body reflects the god’s presence.

When Spider-Man, or any mortal attached to the Web of Life and Destiny, faces imminent death, the Other is there to protect its warriors from the reach of death. These “evolutions” shatter and twist a host’s body to house this seemingly immortal power. But in truth, the Other is only one of many cosmic powers that oversee the Web of Life, each of whom may choose avatars to channel their powers. No matter how close Spider-Man walks the line between life and death, greater powers watch out of sight, hoping for an opportunity to claim its next host.