Added Free Comic Book Day 2022: Spider-Man/Venom

Continuing the Free Comic Book Day tradition, Marvel Comics released Free Comic Book Day 2022: Spider-Man/Venom #1 on May 4, this year’s festivities. The issue’s first story served as a teaser for the upcoming Dark Web event and included a cameo appearance by Ben Reilly in his new supervillain identity of Chasm. The issue has yet to be reprinted in a collected edition, but will likely be included in future collections of Amazing Spider-Man vol. 6 and/or Dark Web.

At the time of this issue’s release, Ben Reilly had just finished his second stint as Spider-Man in the pages of Amazing Spider-Man vol. 5, where it ended with his erased memories at the hands of the Beyond Corporation causing a collapse of his morality and psyche. An epilogue scene in the last issue of that story arc depicted Ben adopting the Chasm identity for the first time. (In a strange juxtaposition, comparing last year’s Free Comic Book Day 2021: Spider-Man/Venom #1 teasing the recent Beyond era and this issue made for quite the stark contrast between the two one-shots released only a year apart.) Meanwhile, Ben Reilly was still starring in the Ben Reilly: Spider-Man mini-series, which was set during his first stint as Spider-Man.

In Free Comic Book Day 2022: Spider-Man/Venom #1, Ben Reilly appeared on 2 pages. Ben Reilly, dressed as Chasm, hid with Madelyne Pryor, the Goblin Queen. Madelyne had a small demon possess a mailbox and terrorize Spider-Man. And while Spider-Man was able to defeat it, Madelyne explained that it was only one of many eager to please its queen. Ben commented that they should make a great team and Madelyne agreed, pointing out that they both had a lot in common.

The issue was added to Phase Eight of Limbo Part 6.