14-Day Money-Back Guarantee
0
The short answer
The plot rests on two broken clones: Ben Reilly, renamed Chasm, and Madelyne Pryor, invested with the powers of Limbo. Together they pour that demonic dimension out over the streets of New York, where Peter loses his bearings as an urban hero and crosses paths with X-Men such as Magik. The full workings are set out below.
When Marvel launched the Dark Web event at the end of 2022, readers found themselves facing a bold crossover blending horror, revenge, clones and infernal dimensions. This labyrinthine tale placed Spider-Man at the heart of a psychological war where his past demons come back to haunt him, while tying the story to iconic characters such as Chasm (Ben Reilly) and Madelyne Pryor.
More than a straightforward heroic showdown, Dark Web is a dive into the shadowy corners of the Marvel multiverse. A story where the lines between reality and hell are blurred, where New York becomes a theatre of nightmarish visions, and where Peter Parker has to fight his enemies and himself in equal measure.
But to grasp the scope of this story arc, you need to go back to two key characters: Ben Reilly, Peter's clone turned Chasm, and Madelyne Pryor, Jean Grey's clone turned Goblin Queen. Both are bound by the same sense of injustice, a quest for identity cut short… and a devastating urge to rewrite their own reality.
🎯 This crossover touches on powerful themes: memory, legitimacy, pain, and the very nature of evil. It echoes other strong stories from the web-slinger's universe such as One More Day, The Clone Conspiracy and One Moment In Time.
And if you want to relive the big moments of this arc or soak up its dark mood, our Spider-Man figurine collection and our Spider-Verse decorative posters are here to plunge you back into the visual and emotional chaos of Dark Web or our web-slinger blankets for a cosy night in
Chasm and Madelyne Pryor: two broken clones, one infernal alliance
The heart of Dark Web rests on an unlikely alliance: that of Chasm — the corrupted version of Ben Reilly — and Madelyne Pryor, Jean Grey's clone. Both were created from heroic templates, then stripped of their memories, of their place in the world… and above all, of their identity.
Ben Reilly, whom long-time fans have known since the days of the Clone Saga, was long seen as a brother to Peter Parker. But after the events of the Beyond run, he loses his memory, feels betrayed by Peter, and takes on a dark new identity: Chasm, the reflection of an existential void he is desperate to fill.
For her part, Madelyne Pryor, resurrected and invested with the powers of Limbo, takes on the role of the new Queen of Demons. Together, they orchestrate a diabolical plan: throw open the gates of hell over New York, sow chaos and, above all… force Peter Parker to face his worst regrets.
This double-mirror dynamic — two wounded clones facing the original — gives Dark Web a psychological density that is rare in recent Marvel stories. It is a tale that also recalls the dilemmas lived through in The Clone Conspiracy and the inner battle Peter faces when he has to defend his own legitimacy.
And in this struggle over identity, the web-slinger's iconic objects — from his masks to his web-shooters and his costumes — all become symbols of the weight of a legacy that each of them covets or rejects.
A New York devoured by Limbo: when hell comes to life
In Dark Web, this is not just a war of clones or a score being settled between former allies. It is a genuine descent into hell for the city of New York, literally sucked into the dimension of Limbo. The streets warp, objects come grotesquely to life, traffic lights bite, benches turn into monsters. It is a visual and sensory chaos that recalls the imagery of Across the Spider-Verse, but in a demonic register.
This situation makes it possible to explore another side of Spider-Man: no longer the nimble urban hero, but a survivor in a corrupted, hallucinatory world. Peter Parker is up against magic that is beyond him, an infernal logic in which his rules as a hero no longer work.
And yet, even in this hellish atmosphere, the web-slinger never loses his human dimension. He fights to save civilians, to protect the most vulnerable, to preserve the city he loves. That relentless courage echoes other dark moments in his history, such as Kraven's Last Hunt, where he faces death and resurrection.
The event also becomes an opportunity for unexpected alliances: here Spider-Man crosses paths with X-Men such as Magik and Cyclops, and with former enemies who likewise refuse to watch their world go under. A convergence of heroes that recalls the finest hours of the Spider-Verse, where every version of Spider-Man has to stand together against a common threat.
And for those who want to relive that dark, supernatural mood at home, the shop also offers Spider-Man lamps with a style all of their own, perfect for sinking into a mystical atmosphere or giving a fan's bedroom an infernal touch.
A disturbing arc… but an unforgettable one
Dark Web does not set out to please every Spider-Man fan. Its strange atmosphere, its fragmented storytelling and its improbable alliances can throw you. But that is also what makes it a one-of-a-kind work: by confronting Peter Parker with a distorted universe, by pushing him to face the most painful reflections of himself, this arc deeply renews his mythology.
With Ben Reilly turned Chasm, Marvel explores how far suffering and the loss of identity can lead, and what it really means to be a hero. A powerful reflection, one that finds an echo in other arcs such as Brand New Day. You can see all the Spider-Man story arcs on our full dedicated page.
And if Dark Web fascinates you with its supernatural settings and epic confrontations, you can carry the experience into your everyday life too. The Spider-Man keyrings in our collection capture that dark, tormented aesthetic perfectly, while our Spider-Man costumes let you slip into the skin of the web-slinger… or of Chasm, for one memorable Halloween.
More than a simple clash between Spider-Men, Dark Web is a journey into the abyss of a hero, a reminder that even the brightest heroes sometimes need to embrace their own darkness in order to come back stronger. And perhaps that is where Spider-Man's true strength lies: in his ability to fall, to doubt, to be broken… but always to get back up.
