THE MARK OF KAINE! After his first altercation with KAINE, Spider-Man is left with many unanswered questions. Where did Kaine come from, and what are his connections to the dreaded MORLUN?
Brace yourselves and expect the unexpected as the lore of the hit animated series continues to expand in new and exciting ways!
Written by: J.M. DeMatteis
Art by: Jim Towe
Cover by: Nick Bradshaw, Rachelle Rosenberg
Page Count: 32 Pages
Release Date: October 8, 2025
Preview pages are below. Enjoy!
Preview pages are below. Enjoy!
I have to tell you, Mr DeMatteis, it's getting really hard to wait for each new issue of this arc. After 30 years, any fan would be impatient.
ReplyDeleteConsidering what happened to Vermin in the first issue, and now gathering together 4 other "animal villains" just before Morlun appears... Something tells me this is going to be a carnage. (No pun intended).
It really hurts my heart, you know? Introducing all these new characters into the world of "Spider-Man: the animated series" only to be disposed instantly. These are clearly the "Legion of Losers" from the comics, and I really feel sorry for them, if what I suspect is going to happen next is what I'm afraid of.
You'll find out next week!
DeleteDo you know how well issue 1 did in sales wise ?
DeleteIt's my understanding that it did very well.
DeleteGood second issue Mr J. I imagine a certain tweak to one character will provide healthy debate (hopefully of the good natured kind), I see lots of easter eggs from your prior times spent on Spidey, it's fun pointing out which comes from where. I do have concerns for MJ being a little too 'easily led', but a conversation she has at the end of the issue may bring her 'round. Plenty more issues left, let's see where you take us next!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the speedy feedback, Zarius! Glad you enjoyed the issue and I hope the next three continue to entertain you.
DeleteMr DeMatteis, I have seen the second issue of this comic, and while I just loved what I saw in it... I have to say that it almost gave me a heart attack too!! This issue really shocked me!!
ReplyDelete- Kaine is actually a clone of Morlun in the 90s animated series?! Well, the idea really creeps me out, but I guess it takes away part of the "clone drama" that hunts Peter Parker in most of realities. I feel really sorry for Kaine, though. I wonder if there's some hope for him at the end of all this, because it would hurt me so see him with a tragic end. By the way, the whole thing of dying and resurrecting through clones kinda reminds what the Jackal did to Ben Reilly in comics and turned him crazy.
- Thank you for allowing Grizzly and the others to survive Morlun. It's not like they are the most important characters in Spider-Man's mythos, but they are not the kind of characters who deserve such a horrible end. Hope Grizzly will get better and appear again. And after helping Spidey, Leap-Frog has certainly gained my favor.
- I swear, Anna Watson is even a bigger jerk than Jerk Jonah Jameson!! Back when the series was airing, I always wanted to punch Jameson in the face and slap Anna Watson in the face. I guess some things never change.
- AUNT MAY KNOWS?!!! This is definitely the most shocking twist of the story!! It always got in my nerves how Aunt May said bad things of Spider-Man, ignoring he was her own nephew!! But then again, in those times, I wondered how Aunt May didn't ever find the truth on her own. I mean, with Peter living on her own house, it would be easy for her to find Spider-Man's spare suit or something. (Besides, you can't fool a mother). I can't wait to see more of this!! And I truly hope Aunt May will be understandable about Peter.
- I was suspecting of Kraven's presence in the previous issue. And I'm glad to know he's after Morlun, because that means he's not after Spider-Man here. Can't really wait to see which is his conection with Morlun, anyway.
- After this issue, I'm starting to suspect how Ezekiel Sims gets into this story. I'm not going to ask you spoilers, but I hope in the next issue we will have some clues around the backstory of Morlun and Ezekiel. I suspect a DEEP connection.
In general, another great issue, Mr DeMatteis!! It's going to be really hard to wait another month for the next issue!
Thank you! So glad you enjoyed it!
DeleteI'm glad it makes you happy my opinion, Mr DeMatteis.
DeleteYou also made an excellent adaptation of Spider-Man and Morlun's fight from the comics. VERY intense, but without turning too bloody. (I didn't want to see Peter losing an eye like in the comic).
Can we expect more twists in the next issue like the ones we saw here?
Absolutely!
DeleteI may have thought that kaine could be clone of morlun in this series?
DeleteCorrect!
DeleteMr DeMatteis, I have a question I hope you don't mind.
ReplyDeleteOn the cover of the next issue (#3), besides Morlun, there are three other hands grabbing Spider-Man's mask. Are these new characters that are going to debut in the 90s animated series or are they someone we have seen before?
One of those hands makes me think is some kind of ape.
There are some interesting creatures coming up...but they've never been seen before in comics or animation.
DeleteBy any chance, would these "creatures" be kinda like Monitor, Gila and Gecko in the animated series?
DeleteYou know, the mutant lizards that appeared in the episode "The Lizard King". They don't have any counterpart on any other comic or animation, being exclusively from the 90s animated series. (Although I believe John Semper once said they were based on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles).
No relation.
DeleteGreetings, Mr DeMatteis.
ReplyDeleteThis comic has only reached 2 issues for now, but I want you to know that I love it! As fan from the 90s animated series, it's a real relief finally having a continuation of a cliffhanger that has tormented me for almost three decades. I deeply thank you.
My only complain is the same one others might have say, the art is a little twisted version of the 90s animated series. I would have like that Jim Towe (the one who does the illustration, I suppose), would have tried to make it more similar to the animated series.
If the rest of this story is as good as the first two issues, I really hope it will be adapted into animation if they revive the series, like they did with the X-Men.
Thanks for your kind words. I'd love to see this series launch a revival of the show and I'd love to see them use this story. That's all fantasy for now...but it's a nice one!
DeleteIf you were to do more comic series set in this universe what characters would you want to use that you did not get to use in this one from the 📺 TV show ?
DeleteMr DeMatteis, I have seen the solicitation for the last issue of "Spider-Man '94" in January, and it certainly has me wishing we were already after New Years' Eve.
ReplyDeleteI don't know what it's going to happen, but I just want to believe that, over everything else, Peter and Mary Jane will finally have the happiness they deserve and no more tragedies torturing them. More insane stories upcoming turning their lifes upside down? Sure, that's just the world of Spider-Man. But like Madame Web said back in the last episode "Spider-Man finally entitled to some happiness".
And it's my sincere wish for you (and personal hope for me) that you will get green light from Marvel for more stories in this universe. Both to explain how Peter saved Mary Jane, and who knows? Maybe more stories after this first arc. I can certainly imagine hundreds of stories to increase this beloved Spider-World.
Thanks for your kind words of support! I, too, hope that we get the green light for more stories in the '94 universe. As for a happy ending for Peter and MJ: I love them too much to torture them anymore!
DeleteWhat was your take on the Hobgoblin and both Green Goblins from the show ?
DeleteHonestly, I enjoyed the show overall, but I don't have any deep thoughts about specific characters or storylines (beyond that cliffhanger that I hope we get to resolve). The heart and soul of it all for me were Peter and MJ.
DeleteWhich cliffhanger ?
DeleteMary Jane's fate.
DeleteIt's not that I don't believe you, but after so many years of writers working on stories in "Amazing Spider-Man" after the damn "One More Day" which only made Peter's life more and more miserable, I hope you would understand my reservations around those words.
ReplyDeleteEither way, this is not "Amazing Spider-Man" (thankfully) so I have no reason to doubt you. But Marvel is quite cruel with Spidey, to be honest. Bad enough is they don't allow 616's Spidey be happy, each time we have an alternative reality showing Peter and Mary Jane living happily together and with childre, Marvel just abruptally cancel it. And right now we are in the way of that with the cancellation of "Ultimate Spider-Man". This is really heartless!!
I truly hope and wish your comic won't suffer the same luck, especially with so many fans of Spider-Man TAS around the world.
Have faith!
DeleteI'd like to bring in some of my favorite Marvel characters, like Doctor Strange and the Fantastic Four.
DeleteWhat villains 🦹♂️ would like to use from the show you did not het to use here ?
DeleteNothing springs immediately to mind. That's a question I'll need to ponder.
DeleteI have some things in mind, but nothing I can discuss publicly.
DeleteMr DeMatteis, I would like to know your opinion about something. You see, it has been revealed that Dan Slott based his concept of the Spider-Verse in the 90s animated series' finale, with the different Spider-Men from different dimensions. The thing is, I have noticed that the alternative Spider-Men who appeared in the series' finale might be useful to adapt elements from stories that came way ahead of them after the 90s.
ReplyDelete- Armored Spider-Man: He was like a Tony Stark version of Spider-Man, so it would fit him to eventually replace his grey amor by the Iron Spider's armor, right?
- Octo-Spider: In his world, Doc Ock died and Spider-Man adapted Ock's arms to use them. Wouldn't be logical for him to "evolve" into something like "Superior Spider-Man"? You know, deeply mixing elements from Spider-Man and Doctor Octopus.
- Six Armed Spider-Man: A Spider-Man who was never cured from his Man-Spider's mutation. I see this eventually evolving into something like The Other's powers, or maybe bonding with the Venom symbiote and have something like Ai Apaec.
Don't you think these coincidences are quite peculiar?
And by the way, Happy Halloween!
I have to once again ask (gently and respectfully) that you not suggest potential storylines. Thanks.
DeleteAnd a very Happy Halloween to you, too!
My apologies. It's just something I noticed recently and the similarities called a lot my attention.
DeleteWatch out for the ghosts and witches tonight!
I'll do my best!
Delete