Marvel Officially Confirms Peter Parker’s Horrific New Origin For Big Reboot Universe

Published Oct 15, 2026, 8:02 PM EDT

Like DC Comics Absolute Universe, Marvel Comics Midnight Universe will begin with three titles. They’ll be the Midnight X-Men, Midnight Fantastic Four, and Midnight Spider-Man. The latter will have readers never looking at their Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man the same way ever again. That will be thanks to brilliant writer Phillip Kennedy Johnson (Incredible Hulk) turning Peter Parker’s life into a horror story.

So far, there haven’t been many similarities between Earth-616 Peter Parker and his Midnight counterpart. Characters like Felicia Hardy and Norman Osborn exist and will affect his life, but things are mostly different. However, one thing that remains the same is that Peter’s attempt to make money causes the death of Uncle Ben.

Peter Causes Ben's Death (Again)

Midnight Spider-Man No. 1: Writer: Phillip Kennedy Johnson; Artist: ScieTronc; Colorist:Neeraj Menon

In the Midnight universe, Peter Parker’s parents were killed thanks to Oscorp, and Ben Parker plans to keep the wrongful death lawsuit going. He figured the money would go to making sure that Peter's higher education would be paid for. The problem is the money he’s spending could help them with their financial situation. Knowing that money is tight, and Ben won’t give up his lawsuit, Peter makes a deal with the Devil.

Far from Mephisto, the devil here is Oscorp. They sent Felicia Hardy to bat her eyes and use her incredible gift of gab to talk Peter into signing a deal with them. He knew signing a contract without Uncle Ben was a bad idea, but Peter did it anyway.

After coming home from Oscorp, Ben is bitten by the spider that hitched a ride in Peter's backpack. First, Ben’s hand swells up, then his foot begins to deteriorate. It doesn’t stop there. His face swells up, and blood comes out of his mouth and eyes. All of this happens to Ben as he’s trying to call Peter for help, but Peter’s phone is on the floor, and he’s in bed and doesn’t hear it.

Power And Monsters, Not Responsibility

Writer Phillips Kennedy Johnson isn’t a stranger to twisting a beloved character and making them the stuff of nightmares. He did it in both Incredible Hulk and Infernal Hulk titles, and now it’s happening in Midnight Spider-Man. It isn’t just the visuals that made this issue twisted. The well-known phrase of power and responsibility is now monstrous too.

Peter’s father, Richard, told him that power makes monsters. He understood the phrase, but ended up not following through on the lesson. Peter may have wanted power and money for altruistic reasons, but it doesn’t take away from the fact that he signed on with a company that he knows does horrific things.

Power making monsters was a metaphorical phrase, but it became literal. Peter was rebirthed from a web cocoon with a giant arachnid protruding out of his torso. That's the kind of body horror seen by the creative minds behind Nightmare on Elm Street.

He has literally become a monster, and the giant spider on his chest will be a constant reminder that he’s turned into the thing that his father never wanted him to become. The question readers should be asking themselves now is how much of a monster Spider-Man will become as this series continues.