4. Spider-Man Dies, Becomes A Spider, Gives Birth To Himself
J Michael Straczynski's run on Spider-Man wasn't to everyone's taste. One of the more interesting things he introduced to the character, however, was the idea that Peter Parker's superpowers weren't quite as accidental as originally thought - he wasn't simply the fortunate benefactor of a radioactive spider bite, but the latest "chosen" to carry on the totemic power of the arachnids. It was a little loopy and spiritual but it was a fun explanation for why all this spider stuff gravitated towards him (besides the fact he called himself Spider-Man)...right up until the Changes arc, which counts amongst the most ridiculous Spidey stories ever, and the most ridiculous resurrections. This was around the time the first Sam Raimi Spider-Man film came out, where Peter Parker had organic web shooters. Marvel wanted to bring the comics more in line with the movie, and Straczynski's method was to have Spidey kidnapped and transformed into an actual giant spider by new villain The Queen, only for him to have a seizure and immediately die. The Queen is genuinely heartbroken, not least because the Man-Spider was apparently pregnant. She leaves, and then the giant spider does give birth...to Peter Parker. Wait, what? No, seriously, what?
Tom Baker is the Comics Editor at WhatCulture! He's heard all the Doctor Who jokes, but not many about Randall and Hopkirk. He also blogs at http://communibearsilostate.wordpress.com/
