 Having finally achieved balance between his regular life with Mary Jane and his superhero alter-ego, Peter Parker/Spider-Man thinks he finally has it made. But dark changes are on the horizon. His former friend Harry has become the New Goblin to hunt Peter down. The case regarding his Uncle Ben has been reopened and new evidence points to Flint Marko, who has recently become the Sandman, as the true killer. A possible new relationship with fellow student/model Gwen Stacy drives MJ to terrible jealousy. Eddie Brock, Peter s new rival at the Daily Bugle, is determined to make Spidey look like a bad guy. And worst yet, a mysterious alien substance attaches itself to Peter, enhancing his powers and changing his personality for the worst. With the mysterious new darkness corrupting him, Spider-Man will hunt down Sandman in revenge, settle his score with Harry, drive MJ away from him and unknowingly create his most deadly enemy yet: Venom. But perhaps the most desperate battle raging may be within Peter/Spider-Man himself.