Well, I’m back at last, Unspokenites. I apologize for the long delay in getting to this third part of the story. I blame global warming personally. Okay. That was lame. Would you believe that I barely survived an alien plague? Fine. I was being lazy. Happy now? Geez! You guys are relentless! Anyway, let’s shift the focus from me to the Spirits of Vengeance storyline. This part was originally presented in “Web of Spider-Man” #96. Enjoy!

In the inky depths beneath Manhattan, Spider-Man fought for air! He and the priest were so swarmed with the deadly Deathspawn that it was as if they were drowning in them! Suddenly, using his superior strength, Spidey broke through! Using this freed hand, he triggered one of his web-shooters, shooting a webline onto an overhead pipe. He then pulled himself and the priest to freedom! (I won’t make a “Braveheart” joke here. The Scottish people may thank me by ceasing all haggis cooking. Ugh!) Pulling them both up, Spider-Man spied a crack in the pipe. This gave him a desperate idea. He yanked with all of his might until the pipe burst and water came shooting down over the Deathspawn at an alarming rate! This disoriented them enough for Spidey to slip through another tunnel.

At this moment, Venom was crawling through yet another winding tunnel. Below him, he spied Doppelganger, Demogoblin, and a terrified Hobgoblin. Demogoblin had Hobgoblin pinned to a wall. The demon spoke of how it would tear the taint of it’s own demon blood from the Hobgoblin’s veins, leftover from when he himself had possessed his body! He would then slay every demon until only he was left to transcend to a higher being! (Can I just say here that Demogoblin might just benefit from some help with his metal health issues? Because he’s nuttier than a salted nut-roll!) Hobgoblin begged for the creature to see reason! He begged for his life! Uninterested in this exchange, the Doppelganger turned and spied a quietly approaching Venom! It attacked immediately and the two creatures began to tear one another apart!

Meanwhile, in yet another part of the sewers, Ghost Rider and Johnny Blaze were having their own problems with this invasion of Deathspawn creatures. As they battled, Ghost Rider ensnared one of the beasts around it’s throat with his chain! Blaze attempted to end it’s unholy life with his hellfire shotgun, but the Rider had other ideas. He would terrify it with his Penance Stare, making the creature feel all of the pain it had ever caused others by looking into his cold eyes, and then it would be more apt to lead the heroes to the trapped humans. Staring into the frightened monster’s eyes, he began his terrible stare! But the Deathspawn merely exploded! Another plan would have to be conceived. (Umm, yeah! I know you’re only reading this and can’t actually see my shocked face, but damn! That’s definitely one for the books, folks! It felt so bad, it literally blew up! I’m still in shock!)

Just then, Spidey and the priest rounded the corner and almost ran right into Ghost Rider and Blaze as they fought the countless Deathspawn horde! With barely a word spoken between them, the web-slinger threw himself into their fight to help! The captive people were everywhere it seemed, free of their prison, but now in immediate danger! The heroes agreed that they needed to separate the victims from the Deathspawn somehow. Spider-Man instantly formulated a plan. He shot two twin lines of webbing overhead, catching the cracked ceiling over them all. He then instructed Blaze to fire at the largest crack, making it even bigger. Spidey then ordered Ghost Rider to throw his chain into the same area. When it took hold, the two pulled with all of their superhuman might as Blaze continued firing! The effect was that the ceiling collapsed, separating the humans from the deadly Deathspawn attackers by tons of concrete rubble! (Ah, teamwork. Not unlike the X-Men. Well, when Wolverine isn’t slowing things down by trying to get into Jean Grey’s panties. Hairy little pervert.)

While the captives begin their escape, Spider-Man and the others suddenly hear a blood-curdling scream! That’s when Spidey realizes that Hobgoblin is not amongst the other victims! He states that he must rescue the criminal before the Demogoblin has his way with him! Blaze argues that the other people’s lives mean more than Hobgoblin’s. He should leave him to die. Spider-Man looks to the priest. Both agree with a nod. No life is more important than any other. The wall-crawler crawls off to save one of his deadliest foes as the priest says a prayer for him. (Respect goes to Spidey here. I’d not only leave Hobgoblin behind, I’d post pics of his demise of Facebook. I take lots of medication…..)

Just as Demogoblin raises one razor-sharp clawed hand to end Hobgoblin’s life, webbing pins the claw to a wall as a foot connects with the demon’s jaw! The unholy one falls but orders the Doppelganger to protect him while he finishes his grisly work! The near-mindless creature growls and attacks Spider-Man from behind! But a well-placed fist from behind drops the Doppelganger! It’s Venom! Venom won’t allow anyone to kill Spider-Man but himself! That moment is when all hell breaks loose! All present combatants are now beating each other to a pulp! Spidey seizes this chaotic moment to advance upon Demogoblin! He beats the creature within an inch of it’s cursed life until the demon can no longer stand! But before this can go any further, the Deathspawn erupt from beneath Demogoblin and drag him downward with shadowy claws! (It seems as if you can’t even trust Hell’s forces in this day and age! Sheesh!)

Spider-Man reaches down to help the Hobgoblin to his feet. The man all but begs for prison at this point! But Spidey had forgotten all about the murderous Venom! Done with his prey, the many-limbed Doppelganger, he now attacked his true target, Spider-Man! The two had done this dance too many times. So much, that they nearly knew one another’s every fighting technique! But the fight is suddenly interrupted by a chain around Spidey’s symbiotic attacker’s throat! It was of course Ghost Rider! The Spirit of Vengeance demanded that Spider-Man flee with the innocents and make sure they got to safety! Begrudgingly, he does so. An enraged Venom then faces the Rider. This insult would not stand!

To be concluded…..

Dedicated to the memory of my stepfather, Bob Metz. Ten years have passed since the night you left this world behind. And you will be missed by those who loved you for all time. Rest in peace.