Appearing in 1st story
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Parker-Man / Rek-Rap (First appearance) (Bonds to an unnamed symbiote)
- J. Jonah Jameson
- Robbie Robertson
Antagonists:
- ⏴ Chasm (Ben Reilly) ⏵
- ⏴ Goblin Queen (Madelyne Pryor) ⏵
- Insidious Six (First appearance)
- Gorepion (First appearance)
- Doctor Octoball (First appearance)
- Grave Goblin (First appearance)
- Rhiceratops (First appearance)
- Kraken the Hunter (First appearance)
- Lizzaro (First appearance)
Other Characters:
- Daily Bugle (Named only)
- Scorpion (Mac Gargan) (Mentioned)
- Doctor Octopus (Otto Octavius) (Mentioned)
- Demon Alchemist's apprentice
- Rek-Rap's Symbiote ⏵ (First appearance)
Races and Species:
Locations:
- Limbo
- Tree of Exquisite Liberation
- New York City, NY, USA, Earth (Mentioned)
Items:
- Spider-Men's Suits and Web-Shooters
- Fruit of the Tree of Exquisite Liberation
- Scythe of Sorrows
- Kraken the Hunter's Vest (First appearance)
Vehicles:
- Coffin Glider (First appearance)
Synopsis for 1st story
In Limbo, a pasty-faced demon makes a joke to a man-shark demon about having a good day playing humans, but the man-shark demon isn't laughing and readies to murder him. Peter arrives and reminds the man-shark demon about his warning him about biting each other's heads off. As the man-shark demon attacks Peter, he reflexively bops the man-shark in the face and shatters his teeth, which Peter admits wasn't that strong a punch at all. The pasty-faced demon is surprised Peter even saved him, reminding Peter that it wasn't even his job, but Peter admits it was a force of habit. The pasty-faced demon asks if he's the human "Parker Pete-man," so Peter takes it as close enough and earns the pasty-faced demon's admiration. Inside, J. Jonah Jameson tries playing his role in ordering the demon "reporters" to get out there, but they get angry with him for not sounding angry enough, so they start to threaten him until Peter arrives to tell them to stop, or he'll rip them in two. Adamant about it despite the demons reminding him of what will happen to Jonah and his friends should he not comply; Peter knows but orders them anyway to comply. One demon directs Jonah to order Peter to get tasty pics of Spider-Man, and the demons in the bullpen cheer when he plays the role just right as Peter swears under his breath he'll make Ben pay.
Outside, Chasm meets Peter as he's walking away from work and demands Ben release everyone trapped in Limbo. Chasm retorts that he went to all the trouble to recreate New York City for Peter and invites him to have an apple. Peter refuses, knowing it's an obvious trap and what Ben wants from him. While Chasm claims he could have shoved the apple down his throat, Peter deduces that he can't, likely requiring him to willingly eat it to work. Because if Ben believes Peter would give up, he truly has gone crazy. Chasm reminds Peter that he won't let him leave, and Peter snaps back that he isn't going to ask permission. Elsewhere in Limbo, some demons are being morphed into off-brands of Spider-Man's rogues. Madelyne Pryor oversees the transformations and reminds Ben that his "hospitality" with Peter is predicated on hers, reminding him further that her demons are on loan. An exasperated Madylene asks what he'll call them, and Chasm introduces her to the Insidious Six. As the Insidious Six form, the pasty-faced demon from before is going by "Parker-Man" and wants powers to play a hero. Madelyne doesn't find this to be a good use of her time while she has her own guests to entertain,[1] so Ben excuses himself to discipline the demon and make him a villain, yet Parker-Man escapes while Ben shouts that he has it backwards. As Jonah prepares for bed, he foregoes his nightly routine, given his toiletries are all demons, and avoids his talking bed. Out the window, Peter lures Jonah to talk to him, having devised an escape plan. While Chasm wants him to eat the fruit and forego his soul, Peter realizes that Chasm has a two-way method of traversing Earth and Limbo. Peter asks Jonah to watch for his signal tomorrow as they're going to take their way home come what may and asks Jonah for a thimble, as he lost his costume.
A dejected Parker-Man walks along when a Demon Alchemist's apprentice sees his hurt and asks how he is. After explaining he wants powers, the apprentice has an idea after acquiring a new substance, and whether it kills or helps him, doing so will make him his father's favorite. Inside, Parker-Man is shrunk down to accommodate the small sample size as the apprentice merges his Spidey shirt with the symbiote. But when the symbiote puts him on instead, Parker-Man screams how it's backwards as the symbiote merges with him. At the Daily Bugle the next day, Jonah announces a red-hot story and asks if the demon reporters are interested, but they chant they're not given the script. So, Jonah tells them that some demons are allowed to go to Earth and terrorize humans, phrasing it in demon reverse psychology, clearing out the building. With Robbie impressed, Spider-Man arrives with an escape plan after having helped "Peter" escape earlier. In the sewers, Jonah and Robbie follow the demons Jonah riled up to the exit, but they have to split up once ambushed by the Insidious Six. Tired of the scenario, Spider-Man fights them anyway before they overwhelm him with numbers, but a new figure stops one of them from dealing a fatal blow. Much to Spider-Man's chagrin and surprise, he is saved by Rek-Rap.
Solicit Synopsis
Round One is over!
• Peter Parker finds himself trapped in Limbo.
• Peter not only has to find his way back home, but he has to do it in a truly hellish fashion.
• And who is shadowing him?
