Chapter Thirteen: The Difference Between Spider-Men

The method Michael used to obtain spider genes was simple: he just tapped Gwen with a blood-drawing needle he’d made himself. It was just like how he’d handled Peter—walk up, say hello, and take a sample. Convenient and straightforward.

As soon as he spotted Gwen, Michael was about to go greet her, but the moment he raised his hand, Gwen turned to face him immediately.

“Hi, Michael. Do you need something?”

Michael paused.

Damn, he’d forgotten about her spider-sense.

“It’s nothing. I just saw you standing here by yourself and thought I’d come over to say hello.”

Gwen gave him a peculiar look. “You seem a little off today.”

Michael stared at her, his mind racing with a dozen thoughts, but in the end, he chose to be direct.

“A Spider-Woman has turned up recently. That’s you, isn’t it?”

“Huh? What are you talking about?” Gwen stammered, trying to cover up, caught off guard by his bluntness.

“How could I… How could I possibly be Spider-Woman?”

While Gwen was flustered, Michael slipped the blood-drawing needle into his pocket.

“You’ve been skipping class a lot lately. The times Spider-Woman appears line up perfectly with your absences. And there was that strange question you asked the other day.”

Gwen answered with a troubled sigh. “Michael, this isn’t something I can explain easily.”

“I understand—it’s interspecies gene splicing, isn’t it? By chance, you fused with a spider’s genes.”

Gwen looked worried. “Maybe… Do you think it’s weird to have another animal’s genes transplanted?”

Seeing her expression, Michael smiled. “Don’t worry. Captain America is a genetically modified human, after all.”

“Really?”

“The reason I came to you today is to ask if I could use a bit of your blood for research,” Michael revealed his true purpose.

The idea of being studied made Gwen uneasy.

Michael continued, “You should at least know if there are any side effects to this kind of gene mutation. There might be changes you haven’t noticed yet.”

“My body’s always had some issues. If interspecies gene fusion works without problems, maybe I could use it myself.”

Gwen looked at Michael, sensing his pain. The words he’d spoken that day echoed in her ears.

If an illness can only be cured by something even more terrifying, should it still be treated?

In the end, Michael obtained a sample of Gwen’s blood, and in return, he promised to make her several suits as thanks.

In the days that followed, Michael submitted a few serum optimization proposals, used his privileges at Oscorp to obtain some spider silk for the suits, and set to work.

After much consideration, Michael decided to make a black-and-white hooded spider suit—the most elegant and striking of all. As for the black venom suit or the classic blue-and-red, those would look more sexy than heroic on a girl.

Since this was payment for Gwen, Michael spared no effort, even using some of Oscorp’s advanced technology.

When the suit was finished, Michael went to deliver it to Gwen, and happened to run into Peter at the entrance.

“Hi, Peter.”

Peter glanced at Michael, responding weakly. “Hey, Michael.”

The two knew each other, though they weren’t exactly friends.

Michael looked at Peter with a hint of regret. Why wasn’t this version of Peter Parker Spider-Man? Spider-Man’s character was the closest to the average person out of all the Marvel heroes.

The original Spider-Man was far from perfect—more like a loser, bullied and mocked by everyone, a bit of a clown at first. The heroine was fickle and only ever called for help.

Yet Spider-Man remained hugely popular, because he was the most relatable superhero.

The second Spider-Man, the Amazing Spider-Man, was even more well-crafted—a bit like a wish-fulfillment story. Orphaned, smart, independent, principled in the face of bullies, kind and reserved, secretly loved by the girl of his dreams. After gaining powers, he even stood up for female classmates.

During his first infiltration of Oscorp to find Dr. Connors, he showed his intelligence among a group of college students, memorized the complex door locks after just one look, invented his own web-shooters, and helped Connors research interspecies gene fusion.

The original Spider-Man’s adult life was a mess—his landlord always after him, late food deliveries, scraping by selling photos of Spider-Man, and his love interest was the unfaithful Mary Jane.

Clearly, without becoming Spider-Man, Peter would have remained a nobody.

But the second Spider-Man was different. Even if he never became Spider-Man, his intelligence would have ensured his success one day.

In the comics, after Iron Man dies, it’s Parker Industries that funds the Avengers.

Looking closely, the second and third Spider-Man films are more faithful to the comics.

The events unfolding here were also closer to the Amazing Spider-Man’s story.

But it seemed Michael’s interference had altered the plot—Gwen had become Spider-Man.

Truly, the world is unpredictable.

Wait—that’s not quite right. In the storyline where Gwen becomes Spider-Man, she and Peter never became a couple. Without becoming Spider-Man, Peter wouldn’t have been able to thrash the school bully, and there’d be no uncle to lend a helping hand. To get back at the bully, Peter would inject himself with a serum and become the Lizard.

In the end, Gwen only realized with Peter’s death that with great power comes great responsibility.

At this thought, Michael’s expression turned odd.

Peter noticed something strange, but paid it no mind and went on to conduct his second control experiment.

Gwen, meanwhile, was being scolded by Dr. Connors for skipping work too much lately.

As a doctor, Connors adored bright students, but Gwen’s recent lack of focus frustrated him.

“Dr. Connors.”

“Michael, do you need something?”

“I’m here to see Gwen.”

“Alright,” Connors replied, prideful as ever. Despite his displeasure, he gave up chastising Gwen and let her go.

“Do you need something, Michael?”

“The suit is finished.”

“It’s done?” Gwen asked.

“Yes.” Michael took out the suit and handed it to her.

“This is made from silk produced by genetically modified spiders and a special insulating material. It’s highly heat resistant, slash-proof, shockproof, and waterproof. But if you stay submerged too long, you’ll still get soaked, though the suit itself won’t.”

“I’ve also built in a heating function for drying and warmth. The spider emblem is a miniature drone; the back of your hand can fire trackers. The hood has a projection system, the mask filters toxins, and there’s a parachute in the back for emergencies. The ears have headphones for listening to various radio stations and gathering crime information. The web-shooters have some extra tricks for you to experiment with.”

“But, I must warn you, every feature has its limits. Don’t rely too much on the suit.”

Compared to the Amazing Spider-Man’s suit, this one was loaded with features, though still not quite on par with Iron Spider.

“Thank you, Michael! You’re incredible!” Gwen was overjoyed, eager to try it on immediately.

She hugged Michael, kissed him, and said, “That’s my thank you.”