Warning: Contains spoilers forEdge of Spider-Verse (2014) #4!
DespiteMarvel’svast lineup of monstrous and supernatural characters, the publisher’s most frightening horror story is actually a twisted take onSpider-Man, turning the superhero’s classic origin into a total nightmare. There are endless possibilities in the Spider-Verse, but it’s hard to imagine that Marvel will conjure up a worse Webslinger than the sinister variant introduced in 2014 who’s creepy enough to rival even the most iconic horror movie villains.
Edge of Spider-Verse (2014)#4 – written by Clay McLeod Chapman, with art by Elia Bonetti – tells the story of a nerdy high school kid who lives with his uncle and gets bitten by a radioactive spider before undergoing a strange and powerful transformation. Only this isn’t Peter Parker, it’s actuallythe almost-identical origin of a seriously disturbed killer named Patton Parnel.
With other characters like Uncle Ted and Sara Jane in this alternate universe, Patton is a terrifying reflection of Peter Parker’s story. Instead of becomingone of Marvel’s greatest heroes, Patton’s spider powers send him on a killing spree.
Patton Parnel Is Marvel’s Most Twisted Spider-Man, In A Seriously Scary Tale from the Spider-Verse
Edge of Spider-Verse (2014)#4 – Written By Clay McLeod Chapman; Art By Elia Bonetti; Color By Veronica Gandini; Lettering By VC’s Clayton Cowles
Spider-Man has had his fair share ofscary variants throughout Marvel Comics, butnobody even comes close to surpassing Patton Parnel as Marvel’s most horrifying Spider-Verse character. Patton’s grotesque transformation into a literal spider man certainly seals the deal, growing eight limbs and eyes, along with giant fangs and a sharpened tongue to match. However, Patton was already a major creep before he ever encountered the radioactive spider that gave him his monstrous power-up. From the beginning of his story, Patton was already spying on Sara Jane through her window and torturing animals in the neighborhood for his so-called experiments.
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Patton Parnel would already have been a disturbing Marvel character without his physical transformation, since he’s basically a budding serial killer before the events of the story begin, but his spider powers help him set his malevolent murderous rampage into motion. Before Patton meets his demise, Sara Jane is his last victim and sort ofthe “final girl” of this horror story, as she’s terrorized throughout the house that has become Patton’s corpse-filled web. Genre tropes and references sprinkled throughout, like aTales from the Crypt IIposter on the bedroom wall, highlight the comic being influenced by classic horror.
Despite Patton’s Demise, The Villain Could Always Make A Comeback
There are other versions of Spider-Man or other heroes connected to Marvel’s Spider-Verse that have also gone evil orundergone unsightly body horror transformations, but Patton Parnel is the worst of the worst. He is only alive during this one issue of a comic that’s over a decade old at this point, but Patton’s horrific tale has left a lasting impact, and he’s remembered as the most disturbing Spider-Man. However, despite being truly diabolical, Patton never mastered his powers and wasn’t much of a threat once a real supervillain, the life force draining Morlun, showed up to kill him off.
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Patton Parnel died in his first appearance, and thankfully hasn’t shown up since, but everybody knows that characters rarely stay dead in comics.Edge of Spider-Verse (2014) #4even ends on a nightmare-fuel cliffhanger that could tease either Patton or his alternate universe returning someday. The next day, after Sara Jane escapes and Patton is killed, a cluster of potentially super-powered spiders swarm out of a bite wound she received during the attack.Marvel’s still exploring new corners of the Spider-Verse, soit’s not impossible for Patton Parnel or Sara Jane to make an unexpected comeback for another terror-filled tale.
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One Of The Most Iconic Superheroes; Also One Of The Creepiest
Edge of Spider-Verse (2014) #4isn’t only one of the creepiest stories to be based on Spider-Man, but the twist on Peter’s origin isone of Marvel’s best horror comics overall. There are elements of body horror in the original story, butPatton Parnel shows just how terrifying these powers can be when they end up in the wrong hands, with somebody that feels no heroic responsibility along with their new power. This issue proves that the wallcrawler’s history and multiversal potential carries enough material for a classic EC Comics-style series with tales from the Spider-Verse instead of the crypt.
Marvel Comics still hasn’t topped their creepiest take on Spider-Man ever, with a malevolent main character that could have been ripped out of a gruesome horror movie or Peter Parker’s worst nightmares.
Marvel recently debuted another scary version of Spider-Man, this time a reference to Dracula, with avampiric variant named Count Parker. The latest version of Spider-Man to be inspired by horror is also a major villain in his universe and even fought his own version of Mary Jane, but Count Parker is still nowhere near as scary or disturbing as the sinister Patton Parnel. After over a decade,Marvel Comicsstill hasn’t topped their creepiest take onSpider-Manever, with a malevolent main character that could have been ripped out of a gruesome horror movie or Peter Parker’s worst nightmares.
