What If ...? # 133

What If ... Spider-Man Killed Venom?
Part 1 of 3

By Bryant Kotyk

NOTE: This story takes place right after AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #374. Also, for this story to make sense, the Human Torch accidentally setting ESU ablaze never happened in this reality, and Richard and Mary Parker are in fact the real Richard and Mary Parker.

"The Hunt"

Spider-Man sits, perched, atop a building in Soho, not far from where his wife Mary Jane gave him the worst piece of news he could hope to receive. He almost expected it to happen, but never believed that it would. Venom has kidnapped Peter Parker's parents.

'Why?' Spider-Man thinks to himself 'Why did Brock have to do this? I know he hates me because he thinks I ruined him. But go after my parents? Does he want them dead too, for bringing me into the world?'

Spider-Man stands up and turns around, looking away from the edge of the rooftop.

"I don't know why he would blame them for my actions, but if he harms them, harms them in any way..."

Spider-Man holds his head in his hands for a moment, and begins to make his way back to the edge of the rooftop.

"What am I talking about? I know I could never kill anyone. Not even an evil monster like Venom. All I want is to get them back. I can deal with Brock later."

'But what can I do!? I don't know where Venom took them! I'm forced to sit and wait until he lets me know where they are!' Spidey thinks, frustrated.

"There's only one way I might be able to find out where Brock took them. I have to know Brock! And there's only one way to learn about Brock's life...the Daily Bugle's "morgue" files!"

Then, Spider-Man suddenly leaps off the rooftop and shoots a strand of webbing at a nearby building.

***

Inside a storage bunker on the grounds of the deserted "Thrill World" amusement park in Brooklyn, where the answer to Peter Parker's question lies...

"Richard and Mary Parker, the parents of Peter Parker-- No More! For now...you belong to us!"

The voice of Venom strikes more fear into the hearts of Richard and Mary Parker than any of the other horrors they've faced in their trying lives.

"Please! I-I don't want to die-- !" Mary's desperate pleas hit Venom in a soft spot.

"Hush, sweet lady! Shhh! You've been restrained for your own safety, so that you won't harm yourself! But rest assured-- we will protect you from that web-slinging monster!" Eddie Brock replies in his most gentle voice.

"I don't understand! Why would you think we'd have anything to do with Spider-Man?" Richard questions Eddie.

Venom staggers back a few feet, shocked. He puts his hand on the back of his head.

"You mean... he didn't tell you?! You don't know that he's-- NO! We won't tell you either!"

Venom stands tall over the Parkers.

"It would only break your hearts! And your innocence, above all else, is what we've sworn to preserve!"

***

An exhausted Peter Parker sits in front of the large computer screen in the "morgue". He scrolls through some unimportant information, and stumbles on something surprising.

"Venom was married?" Cries out the startled Parker.

Peter opens a file on Venom's ex-wife.

'His ex-wife's name is Anne Weying. Says they were married a short time before they divorced. Hmm, she lives on 34th Street. Wonder if I should...'

"No. I won't drag her into this mess. I can find him myself." Shouts Peter as he pulls on his coat and opens the door. "And I will."

Peter runs up the stairwell going to the roof.

'I can find Venom, but I'll need some help. And I think I know where to turn..."

Peter bursts through the door leading to the roof. He quickly pulls off his street clothes and webs them to one of the massive letters that spell out "Daily Bugle". Spider-Man leaps off the building and fires a strand of webbing at a near building, and swings off.

"Wha-?"

Spider-Man begins to fall towards the street below him.

"I'm in such a hurry I missed the web-line! I've got to settle down and concentrate on what I'm doing, here."

Spider-Man shoots another strand of webbing up, and pulls himself to the roof of a building.

"I can't afford to mess up like that, not when my parent's lives are a stake."

Spider-Man stands tall at the top of the building and looks for his target...Four Freedoms Plaza.

***

Richard and Mary Parker sit in the dark, covered in Venom's webbing. The shadows in the storage bunker hide Venom from them.

"Is...is he here?" A frightened Mary Parker asks her husband.

"I don't know. I think he went somewhere. Maybe I can use this broken glass on the floor to cut the webs." Replies Richard.

"Uh-uh-uh! We don't think so. You have to stay here where you're safe! Safe from Spider-Man and his evil influence!" Venom's voice is clear from the shadows.

"Please, Mister...um..." starts Mary.

"Brock. Eddie Brock." Venom informs her.

"Yes, Mister Brock. We have nothing to do with Spider-Man. Please let us go. If you want to help us like you say, you'll let us be free!" Mary pleads.

"You have more to do with that web-slinging monster than you know. If I were to let you go, he'd utterly destroy you! We cannot let that happen." Venom replies. "I wish you weren't so afraid of us. We just want to protect you. Preserve your innocence."

'This Eddie Brock...he seems to have his heart in the right place, but his mind is too far gone.' Richard Parker thinks to himself. 'He's insane. There's got to be some way to escape him...'

"So you're just going to keep us webbed up here forever?" Richard cries out harshly.

"Not forever. You will be free to go after we are done killing Spider-Man. Then there will be nothing to threaten you." Venom says in an icy voice.

***

Spider-Man climbs up the wall on Four Freedoms Plaza. 'I hope Johnny can help me on this...' he thinks to himself.

Spider-Man stops at a closed window and peers inside. Seeing Johnny, he knocks on the window. Johnny Storm looks up, startled, and makes his way to the window.

Johnny opens the window wide. "Hey, Spidey. What's up?"

"More than you know, Johnny. I need your help."

"Whoa, whoa! What is it? Is this serious?" Asks Johnny.

"Very. Venom's back. And he's got my parents." Replies Spider-Man. "I don't need to hide my identity from you. I never did. But I hid it from you anyway. After this is over, you'll know it anyway, so I'll tell you now."

Spider-Man pulls off his mask.

"My name's Peter Parker."

"Peter Parker? The Daily Bugle photographer?" Asks a stunned Johnny Storm.

"That's me."

"Ha! You mean all this time; J. Jonah Jameson's been giving Spider-Man a paycheck? That's hilarious! Did you plan it that way?" Johnny laughs.

"Yes, actually, but that's not important right now. I need your help. And Reed's too. I need Reed to build me a tracking device to find Venom. And you...I need you to help me defeat him." Peter's voice is more serious that Johnny had hoped.

"Well, sure...no problem. I'll get Reed." Johnny leaves the room.

***

About 15 minutes later, Johnny Storm, Reed Richards, and Spider-Man are huddled in Reed's lab, around the miniature tracking device Reed is holding.

"This should lead you right to Venom, Spider-Man. But are you sure you don't want the rest of the Fantastic Four to help?" Reed offers.

"Yeah. Me and Johnny can handle it." Says Spidey.

'You know that's just an excuse, Peter. You just don't want the rest of the FF to know your secret identity...' Spider-Man thinks to himself

Reed hands Spider-Man the tracking device.

"Remember, Spider-Man, if things get out of hand, just give Johnny the word, and we'll be there to help." Says Reed.

"I'll remember. And thanks for all your help, Reed!" Replies Spider-Man as he makes his way to the open window.

Spider-Man leaps out the window, and the Human Torch follows him.

"Uh, Peter?" Asks the Torch. "Do you really think Venom will hurt your parents?"

"I don't know what to think, Johnny. I can only pray they're alright."

To Be Continued in What If ...? 134!!

Yyou can e-mail me at bkotyk@yahoo.com, and I'll reply to your messages.

-Bryant Kotyk