In a wild change to the deaths of his parents, Mary and Richard Parker. Decades ago, Peter learned that Richard and Mary were CIA agents killed while working undercover against the Nazi supervillain known as the Red Skull - now, it turns out the villain had a little help.
In Spider-Man & Wolverine #1 - from Marc Guggenheim, Kaare Andrews, Brian Reber and Travis Lanham - Spidey and Logan team up to steal back a cache of information on every undercover agent, past and present. Despite the danger, Spider-Man can't resist looking into his parents' past, finding a video which shows Wolverine advancing on his parents shortly before their fatal plane crash.
The issue begins with Wolverine acknowledging that during his brainwashed days working for the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, he carried out some black ops work for the Red Skull. Given fans already know Spider-Man's parents died in a sabotaged crash, it makes sense that Logan was the one sent to do the deed. That's certainly the conclusion Spider-Man reaches, lashing out at Wolverine and vowing to kill him.
Every Way Spider-Man Could Kill Wolverine
Most fans would back Wolverine over Spider-Man in a death battle, but Peter Parker's skills and powers make him deadlier to Logan than many imagine.
Wolverine Killed Spider-Man's Parents
As a Brainwashed Black-Ops Soldier, Logan Did the Unforgivable
While fans may be expecting some kind of mislead - and that's technically still possible - it's not necessarily on the cards. Peter's parents being assassinated CIA agents has been canon for a long time, even as it's part of his backstory that fans don't tend to regard with a lot of affection. Likewise, it's already established that Wolverine spent many years in black-ops after being brainwashed and repeatedly mind-wiped by Weapon X. Killing two CIA agents wouldn't even be the worst thing he did in those dark days (that prize goes to kidnapping and torturing a young Frank Simpson to turn him into the cyborg Super Soldier Nuke.)
While Peter Parker's parents being spies isn't controversial - and was even adapted in the Amazing Spider-Man movies, starring Andrew Garfield - it's disliked by many fans as taking away from Spider-Man's nature as an everyman hero.
It's entirely possible that Marvel has decided to give its two A-list heroes a new connection, despite the huge wrench this throws into Spider-Man and Wolverine's friendship. Despite being one of Marvel's most unlikely friendships, Logan and Peter are surprisingly close, having gone through some truly dark experiences together, including being hurled through time in Jason Aaron and Adam Kubert's Astonishing Spider-Man and Wolverine. Various stories have also revealed Spider-Man and Wolverine have a standing arrangement to meet up for Logan's birthday - a tradition that's probably going to skip a year after this latest revelation.
It's still possible Marvel will reveal this shocking retcon as a fakeout, but fans shouldn't count on it, given the twist doesn't significantly change either hero's backstory. Whatever happens next, fans won't get the full story until Spider-Man has done his best to kill his former friend and ally Wolverine, taking revenge for the murder of his parents.
Spider-Man & Wolverine #1 is available now from Marvel Comics.
-
Spider-Man
Spider-Man is the name given to several individuals who have employed a spider-moniker throughout Marvel Comics. Typically gaining their powers through a bite from a radioactive spider, the different Spider-Man heroes employ super-strength, agility, and intellect while utilizing webbing to swing and tangle up their foes. The most notable of these Spider-Men is Peter Parker, who remains one of the most popular superheroes throughout the world.
-
Wolverine
The human mutant Wolverine (a.k.a. Logan) was born James Howlett, blessed with a superhuman healing factor, senses, and physiology. Subjecting himself to experimentation to augment his skeleton and claws with adamantium, Logan is as deadly as he is reckless, impulsive, and short-tempered. Making him the X-Men's wildest and deadliest member, and one of Marvel Comics' biggest stars. He's played in Fox and Marvel's movie franchises by Hugh Jackman.
