WARNING: The following article contains spoilers from Free Comic Book Day 2022: Spider-Man / Venom #1, available now from Marvel Comics.
Spider-Man's newest villain, Chasm/Ben Reilly, is seen teaming up with Madelyne Pryor/the Goblin Queen in Free Comic Book Day 2022: Spider-Man / Venom #1.
In Free Comic Book Day 2022: Spider-Man / Venom #1, Spider-Man/Peter Parker fights a mailbox that's become sentient and bares giant, horrific-looking fangs. The fight proves to be a relatively easy one and Spider-Man jumps away afterward not thinking too much of it; however, standing next to a nearby villain is none other than Peter's clone, Ben Reilly. He's joined by major the Goblin Queen, a major X-Men villain, and the issue reveals that the two are in cahoots. "I think we're going to make a great team," Ben says to his new partner. "I should hope so, Ben..." Madelyne agrees. "...We have a LOT in common."
The storyline will be continued in Dark Web, a new Spider-Man and Venom development previously teased by Marvel. While not much is known about Dark Web at this time, the publisher previously released a teaser poster saying "The Dark Web has been spun" with more developments to come.
Ben Reilly first appeared as Spider-Clone in 1975's Amazing Spider-Man #149. The recently concluded Amazing Spider-Man run saw Ben unsure whether to continue on a path of heroism or villainy as he struggles to find his identity in light of being Peter's clone. The run ended with Ben falling into a pool of chemicals, leaving Peter to assume he's dead. The final epilogue, however, revealed that Ben is still alive, has a new, sinister-looking costume and is going by a different name: Chasm.
Madelyne Pryor first appeared in 1983's Uncanny X-Men #168. While she's operated under a handful of different aliases in the past, she became the Goblin Queen after becoming tempted by the demon S'ym. She's a longtime foe of the X-Men -- particularly Jean Grey, as Madelyne was cloned from Jean's DNA by Mr. Sinister.
Free Comic Book Day 2022: Spider-Man / Venom #1's "Lost in the Mail" story comes from writer Zeb Wells, penciler John Romita Jr., inker Scott Hanna, colorist Marcio Menyz and letterer VC's Joe Caramagna. The issue also contains a separate Venom story from writers Ram V and Al Ewing, artist Stefano Raffaele, colorist Alex Sinclair and letterer VC's Clayton Cowles, as well as an All-Out Avengers preview. The issue is available now from Marvel.
Source: Marvel