Ultimate Spider-Man 34
From Ultimarvel
[edit] “Inheritance”
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Pencils: Mark Bagley
Inker: Art Thibert
Editor: Ralph Macchio
Publication Date: February 2003
• Eddie Brock explains to Peter that the vial in the cooling locker is the project that their fathers were working on when they died. It was intended to be the cure for cancer. Eddie mentions that with the help of Professor Curt Connors, he has been trying to piece together the project.
• The project was being called “the suit”. It was a protoplasmic medical dip that would be tailored to a patient’s specific DNA. In theory, the protoplasm would take hold of a patient’s biology, find what the body needed, and then find the natural solution. For example, if a tumor developed in the patient, the suit would search the body for the right natural toxins and then use them to eliminate the growth. Eddie tells Peter that it appears their fathers had gotten to phase 2 of the project, in which the suit would enhance the physical strengths and the natural abilities of the patient. It was here that Eddie said that hey ran out of money.
• Eddie tells Peter that after running out of funds, their fathers took staff positions with Trask Industries. When their new employers found out about the physical ability enhancing qualities of the suit, they took the project away from them. Shortly after this, the plane crash occurred which took both Peter and Eddie’s parents’ lives.
• Eddie tells Peter that the sample in the cooling locker was an attempt at Richard Parker and Ed Brock Sr. to make their own “suit” to try to prove ownership before Trask Industries. Eddie says his grandfather had kept the sample in storage for years because he could not bear to throw away something that belonged to his son. Eddie says he had the suit moved to the lab and that he and Curt Connors has been studying it. Dr. Connors says the suit is totally useless. Eddie also tells Peter that this particular sample is DNA specific for Richard Parker.
• The next day at school, Peter is planning to hang out more with Eddie. While waiting for Eddie to pick him up after school, he is approached by Gwen who asks him if he is walking home. While they speak, Peter sees MJ coming out of the building with Liz Allan. Gwen stops Peter from going and talking to MJ about their break-up. At this time, Eddie Brock pulls up in a convertible and yells for Peter. Peter asks Eddie if he can give Gwen a ride as well to which Eddie accepts. Peter gets in the car, and Gwen sits on his lap in the front seat, in view of Mary Jane.
• Peter and Gwen hang out with Eddie at the food court of the mall. Eddie receives a phone call from Curt Connors inquiring about the guest that he brought to the lab. Eddie explains to Dr. Connors that the guest was Peter Parker. Eddie invites Peter and Gwen to a reggae concert on Friday night. Peter says he has to work, but Gwen accepts.
• Peter asks Eddie if he believes that their parents were murdered for their involvement with “the suit”. Eddie replies that he believes the timing was suspect but can’t believe that someone would cause a whole plane to crash into the Atlantic for it.
• On Friday night, Peter watches a video that Richard Parker and Ed Brock Sr. had made. It contains a proposal video made to present to potential investors and then a video diary by Richard Parker where he vents his frustration against the companies that have taken his project and wish to use it as a weapon. Peter becomes incredibly frustrated at corporations preying on good people who were just trying to help the world. He decides to take part of the sample in Eddie’s cooling locker and try his own tests on it.
• Peter, as Spider-Man, breaks into the Science Building where the sample is kept while Eddie and Gwen attend the reggae concert. He attempts to take a small sample of the suit and spills some on his hand. The suit reacts, expanding and covering Peter’s arm with black goo. It completely covers his body and Peter collapses to the ground in a smoking heap. Moments later, he breaks free, standing up from the mass of goo, his body now covered with a black version of his costume.
Notes:
- Peter Parker has encountered Curt Connors before as the Lizard in Ultimate Marvel Team-Up. Eddie Brock makes a reference to this incident as having occurred last year, though all he knows is that something happened to Dr. Connors with the University. No actual mentions of the Lizard are mentioned.
- Eddie states that the sample “suit” is 10 years old.
- After seeing Peter and Gwen leave with Eddie Brock, Liz Allan asks MJ what to tell her one special thing about Peter Parker. This starts a trend of people asking MJ similar questions during their break-ups. Until Ultimate Spider-Man 79, MJ never replies. In Issue 79 though, she finally answers the question to Mark Raxton. The answer? “Everything”.
- One of Richard Parker’s containers of notes for the suit project is labeled “Venom Project”.
- Peter is wearing his costume when the black suit overtakes him. It changes to mimic his costume, only black. However Peter's costume, minus the mask is destroyed in the process.
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