Marvel has revealed new details regarding the first gay Spider-Man's origin story, which will be featured in the upcoming Edge of Spider-Verse #5.
Arriving in October, Edge of Spider-Verse #5 will introduce readers to Web-Weaver, a new Spider-Man variant who will be featured in a story by Steve Foxe and Kei Zama. Preview images for Edge of Spider-Verse #5 show the character, who appears to have been classmates with Peter Parker, pushed Peter out of the way from being bitten by the radiated spider and then began developing powers. The images also show the character being kicked out of home and seemingly being comforted and potentially taken in by Aunt May and another woman.
Marvel said of the character's role in Edge of Spider-Verse #5, "Web-Weaver, a not-so-mild mannered fashion designer at Van Dyne gets spider-powers and shows us a very different kind of Spider-Slayer in a story by Steve Foxe and Kei Zama. See him strut the runway in front of his fellow Spiders in a variant cover by Kris Anka, the amazing artist behind Web-Weaver’s fabulous design!"
Foxe initially announced the first gay Spider-Man would debut in Edge of Spider-Verse #5 in a June 16 tweet. "SURPRISE: I had the huge gay honor of helping to co-create WEB-WEAVER, who'll make his debut in EDGE OF THE SPIDER-VERSE #5 this September!" the post reads. "Designed by the one and only [Anka], cover by Josemaria Casanovas, with our interior artist to be revealed soon!" On Sept. 1, Foxe tweeted that, to the best of the creative team's knowledge, Web-Weaver is the first canonically gay male Spider-hero. "Ultimate Spider-Woman is queer and predates Web-Weaver by about a decade," he posted. "IMO the key is telling good stories with a range of characters, not just notching 'firsts' ;)".
Along with Web-Weaver, Edge of Spider-Verse #5 will also debut a new Hunter-Spider variant in a story by Dan Slott, J. M. DeMatteis and Bob McLeod. Marvel said Hunter-Spider is "most hardcore Spider yet," as the variant is a version of Sergei Kravinoff/Kraven the Hunter who becomes equipped with Spider-Man's powers. Additionally, Edge of Spider-Verse #5 will introduce Syllie Spider, a "one-of-a-kind new Marvel character" created by Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse's Phil Lord and artist David Lopez.
Edge of the Spider-Verse #5 will be the final installment in the series. The issue will play into Slott and Mark Bagley’s new Spider-Man run, which launches in October. The first story arc of the series will see Peter team with Miles Morales and a number of other variants in order to prevent an ominous threat from bringing an end to the Spider-Verse.
Edge of Spider-Verse #5 features cover art by Josemaria Casanovas and variant cover art by Anka, Bagley and Lopez. The issue releases Oct. 5 from Marvel.
Source: Marvel