Spectacular Spider-Man #179

Title: “The Child Within part two: Wounds”

Writer: J.M. DeMatteis

Penciller: Sal Buscmea

Inker: Sal Buscema

Colors: Bob Sharen

Editor: Danny Fingeroth

The tape plays. Spit flies out of Vermin’s mouth as he shouts that he is going to eat her up. Kafka tells him that he isn’t going to eat anyone and that he doesn’t want to eat anyone. Vermin says that he does. He says that he wants to chew flesh and suck the bones. Kafka says that is Vermin talking, but that he isn’t Vermin. Vermin says that he is. Kafka says that Vermin is a cocoon and that inside is someone that has been badly hurt. Vermin asks her not to hurt him. Kafka says that she isn’t going to hurt him, and that she wants to take him someplace safe… and warm where he will be at home. Vermin says, “Home? No! Don’t take me home!” Kafka says that she won’t take him anywhere he doesn’t want to go, but that he has to trust her. She asks if he trusts her. She asks if he remembers how he closed his eyes and how her voice lead him up and down the stairs. Vermin says that there were so many stares. Kafka says that there is no hurry to get down the stairs… there are no cares. She says that with each step he takes down that he will feel the cocoon melting away. She says that he won’t need it. She asks if Vermin is gone now. Vermin says that he is. Kafka asks who she is talking to. Vermin says, “E-Edward.”

Vermin stands at the gate to the house. He says that he knows this place… or that he thinks he does. The little boy asks him what he is waiting for and asks if he isn’t going to go in. Vermin says that this place is a house of lies and masks. The little boy says that it is home. Vermin says, “Home? Mommy?” Vermin thinks about his mother’s dark skin and full lips. The boy tells him to go ahead in and not to be afraid. Vermin thinks about the darkness and the sounds. He thinks about ‘the bad thing’ and how it makes him hungry. He looks at the little boy and hugs him. Vermin leaps to the top of the wall. He wonders where the strange sad little boy came from. He wonders why he cares about him like the doctor did. Vermin thinks about Kafka and how she was always nice to him. How she was his friend. He tries to think if the doctor is inside, but then remembers that it is ‘Mommy’. Vermin looks down the wall at the boy and asks if he isn’t coming. The boy says that he isn’t yet, but that he will wait out there. Vermin asks him. “Pleassse”, but the boy tells him that he already told him that he doesn’t have to be afraid anymore. Vermin runs along to the house and thinks to himself that he is afraid. He wonders why he is and that no one can hurt or scare him… only the bad thing. He says that he is Vermin and can kill and tear and rip and chew. He thinks that he is still afraid. He thinks that mommy will help him and make it better. He wonders what if mommy isn’t in there. He looks up at the house and starts to climb. He says that there is only one way to find out.

An elderly African-American woman lies in bed. She awakens to a sound.

An elderly Caucasian man sleeps in another bed. Vermin’s hand runs along the man’s face as he thinks about a different smell and different touch. Vermin thinks that he remembers as the old man’s eyes open. Vermin puts his head on the man and says, “daddy… I’m home.” Sweat runs down the old man’s face as he reaches in his night stand for a gun.

The old woman rushes to her feet as she hears a shot.

Vermin leaps out a window, shattering it, as he holds his shoulder.

The little boy stands at the gate with tears running down his eyes.

Peter and Mary Jane stand with Aunt May at the graveyard. May tells MJ that she has been bringing Peter there every year since he was a little boy. She says that she thinks its important. She says that they have so many relatives her. Both of her parents, her sister Annie, Ben, and of course Peter’s mother and father. They’re looking down at Mary and Richard’s graves and May says that she remembers the first time she met Richard. She says that Ben and she were dating and that he said he wanted to bring his little brother along. May says that to be honest that she wasn’t exactly thrilled. She says that they used to hold hands at the movies, and that the last thing she wanted was a twelve year old bursting their romantic bubble. She says that Ben gave her that puppy dog look and that she couldn’t say no. She says that she was glad that she didn’t because Richard was a delight. She says that some children get withdrawn or silly with adults, but that Richard was an equal. She says that he didn’t act like an adult, but that he had lots of energy and a wonderful sense of humor. She says that he had a quality about him… not all children have it, but that Peter certainly did. She says that it is a wisdom beyond their years. She says that if she believed in reincarnation that she would think those children had been around before. Suddenly Peter sees a vision of Vermin crawling out of the grave. Peter freaks and shouts, “no!” May asks him what it is. Peter says that it is nothing. He says that he forgot that he has an appointment this afternoon with Joe Robertson of the Bugle. He says that he is sorry, but that they have to go. May says that she understands. She asks him to just hang on while she says goodbye to Ben. MJ tells Peter that she doesn’t think May bought it, and that he knows what a worrier she is. MJ says that this probably wasn’t a good idea. She says that graveyards aren’t his favorite place since, but Peter says that it has nothing to do with Kraven. He corrects himself and says that it might, but that it’s because Vermin is out there, and that until he brings him down that the dead can wait. They walk out of the cemetery.

Normie is on a merry-go-round with Liz. He shouts out to his dad to look at him. Harry smiles and waves to his son. Norman’s ghost stands beside Harry and says that this is a waste of time. He asks Harry why he indulges Normie like this. He says that it is a hard world out there and that the sooner Normie learns that the better. Harry says that Normie is just a little boy and that he needs to be sheltered and protected. He says that he needs the innocence and fantasy that a place like this can provide. Harry says that Norman used to take him here when he was little. He says that he, Norman, and mom used to take him to the park and the zoo and buy him cotton candy. Norman gets right in Harry’s face and says that he never did that. Harry says that he did. He says that he remembers and that he was a good father. Harry tells Norman that he loved him. Norman says that yes he did, but then suddenly Norman’s face goes blank. He drops to his knees and falls over revealing a goblin glider stuck in his back. Spider-Man’s visage appears behind Norman and tells Harry that Norman didn’t have any love in his heart. He says that he was a sick and vicious man. He says that Harry should be happy he is dead. Harry stands there aghast. Normie starts pulling on his arm and calling to him. Harry snaps and says, “What the devil do you want?” Liz asks what is the matter with him. Harry snaps out of it and apologizes to Normie again. He says that he has a great idea and asks if Normie wants some cotton candy. Normie says that he does. Harry says that it will be just like when his dad used to buy it for him. Liz asks Harry if he is sure he is all right. Harry says that he is fine… just fine.

That night, rats run before Vermin in the park. He says that he feels so afraid and so ashamed. He says that he is so hungry. Vermin knocks over the merry-go-round.

On the tape, Vermin is curled up in the fetal position. Kafka calls out to Edward, but he doesn’t move. She walks up to him and puts her hand on him. Vermin turns and growls at her, but then he takes her hands and hugs her. Kafka watches the tape. Suddenly Spider-Man asks Kafka how she could do that. Kafka says that he scared her to death. She asks why he can’t just knock like normal people. Spider-Man says that in case she hadn’t noticed that he isn’t “normal”. He tells her to answer his question and asks again how she could do it. She asks, “Do what?” He asks how she could get so close to him… hold him. He says that whenever he gets near Vermin that he touches off something ugly inside of him as if Vermin emitted it. Kafka says that it is psychic poison and that he does seem to stir the waters of the unconscious. She says that he brings out the night terrors. She says that some people don’t have the same psychological defenses as the rest of them. She says that they weren’t sufficiently nurtured as children. Spidey says that he didn’t come there to hear new age psycho-babble. Kafka asks why he did come there. Spidey says that he wants her help. He says that she spent months working with him and claims to know him better than anyone. Kafka says that she does. Spider-Man asks what happened. He asks why Vermin killed all those people. Kafka shouts that she doesn’t know, but then calmly says that maybe she does. Spider-Man apologizes. He says that he had no right to yell at her like that, but that his nerves have been shot since he heard Vermin escaped. He asks if there is anything that will help. Kafka says that in their therapy they hit upon some buried trauma from Edward’s childhood. She says that he was abused… badly abused. Spider-Man asks if he was beaten. Kafka says no and adds that not all abuse leaves physical wounds. Kafka is looking out the window when she suddenly sees Vermin’s face looking back at her. Vermin says that he is hurt and asks for her help. The police spot lights are on Vermin as he sits on her ledge. Kafka tells Edward that it is all right and that there is nothing to be afraid of. She says that she will help him, but then Vermin sees Spider-Man and freaks. He climbs up the rest of the wall to the roof.

Spider-Man is already there. Vermin wonders how he moved so fast. Spidey tells Vermin that Kafka is right and that there is nothing to be afraid of. He tells Edward that he wants to help him. Vermin says that it is a trick and that he just wants to "hitandhurt" again. Spider-Man is nearly sick at the sight and smell of Vermin, but he reminds himself that Vermin is just another victim… a man. Spidey tells Edward that no one is trying to trick him. Vermin’s face grows angry. He shouts that he isn’t Edward… he’s Vermin. Vermin leaps at Spider-Man. Spider-Man thinks to himself that Vermin isn’t a man, but a thing. Vermin’s rats start crawling all over Spider-Man and he freaks out. He thinks about how Vermin eats people and shouts that he isn’t going to eat him. Spider-Man drives a palm into Vermin’s face. He hits him again and asks Vermin why he doesn’t leave him alone. Spider-Man leaps at Vermin and thinks about how Vermin is always there in his dreams… taunting him… blaming him. Spider-Man thinks that Vermin isn’t going to blame him anymore. He realizes that he isn’t making any sense. He realizes that it is the psychic poison that Kafka spoke of, but it doesn’t stop him from hitting Vermin. Peter thinks about his mother and father’s grave as he pounds Vermin. Kafka shouts for him to stop. She says that it doesn’t have to be like this. She tells him not to let him drag him down into the darkness. She says to leave him to her. Spider-Man tries to object, but she says to do it for his sake and for Edward’s. Vermin thinks to himself that the doctor was good and kind to him like the other… like mommy. Kafka holds her hand out for Edward, but Edward lunges at it and bites it. He kicks Kafka aside and thinks to himself that he trusted mommy, but that he still got hurt. He says that he trusted mommy, but The Bad Thing still happened. Vermin shouts to his rats to chew her up. Spider-Man leaps after Kafka and swats the rats off her. He picks her up, but then Vermin is gone.

Harry stands over his sleeping son. He kisses him on the head and walks out of the room. Outside the room, Norman’s ghost stands there. He is holding the Green Goblin costume in one hand and the goblin mask in the other. He says, “Harry… it’s time.”

Tangled Web rating: 9 out of 10

Review and pictures by The Leader

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