New York City is about to be overrun with the biggest infestation ever, as spiders crawl all over the buildings, lurk in every corner, and swing through the busy streets. In Dan Slott’s SPIDER-ISLAND things get a little crazy when normal citizens gain spider-powers of their own, and Peter Parker must defend against a threat not only to the city, but to his very existence. If you’ve been reading Spider-Man since you were a little one (or watching the 90s cartoon), you’re in for a treat because this event brings back characters, both allies and villains, from across eras. We already have our beloved Venom back, but that’s only the beginning. So get ready because SPIDER-ISLAND is going to rock your world by bringing back the ENTIRE Spidey lineup. The wait is over boys and girls, SPIDER-ISLAND, one of the most anticipated events of the year, hits shelves this Wednesday. Read on for the skinny…

WRITTEN BY: Dan Slott
ILLUSTRATIONS BY: Stefano Caselli

“THE SPIDER-MAN STORY OF THE DECADE BEGINS WITH THS ‘SPIDER-ISLAND: PRELUDE’ Super-star writer Dan Slott and fan-favorite Spidey artist Stefano Caselli are back! New York has been INFESTED and the web grows as it gets ready to explode into SPIDER-ISLAND! Normal people are getting Spider-Powers! But not all of them realize that with great power must also come… you know the rest. Okay, sure we often say Peter Parker’s life will never be the same. But listen, pal, we’ve never been more serious. Heroes and villains are crawling all over Manahttan and no one knows why. This will change everything for Pete, for Spidey… and possibly for YOU! Look at it this way… If EVERYONE’S a Spider-Man…then no one is.”

Dan Slott, acclaimed Spider-Man storyteller, returns with another big event. Slott proved his ability to weave a wonderful story web with his work last year on The Gauntlet, and recapted the Spidey sense-of-humor we all know and love. This event, thankfully, does not interfere with the Fear Itself business but as always Spider-Man looks to be the busiest hero of them all, taking on more than his human heart can handle.

To be frank the Amazing Spider-Man title has been lacking in quality over the past year, with constant writer changes, weak filler issues, and haphazard crossover storylines. This is all about to change; Spidey finally regains some continuity in his life (though it’s looking mighty grim). The plot of SPIDER-ISLAND is simple, people around the city, friends and foes alike are gaining the same powers as Spider-Man. The event welcomes back some classic villains such as Hobgoblin and Jackal, who, with their newfound abilities, are giving Spidey a run for his money.

The return of so many characters will not only be great for the series, but for the entire Marvel Universe, as they have promised many spin-off titles. Personally I can’t f*#kin’ wait to see the return of Cloak & Dagger as they help out the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man with their own three-part tie-in series. On the other hand, there’s something very unsettling about seeing the large and in charge, egg-headed, Kingpin slinging webs around New York.

FYI: For those of you who haven’t been following the wall-crawler recently, he lost his spider-sense a few months back while saving the world (what a stand up guy!). Obviously this has had a major impact on his life; Parker will no longer be able to rely on such warnings, but instead must be quicker, smarter, and stronger in battle.

If everyone has spider-powers, Peter Parker is no longer one-of-a-kind, no longer is it only his “great responsibility”, no longer does he have any sense of self. SPIDER-ISLAND is more than a huge event to bring back fan favorite villains, it focuses attention on Spider-Man as an individual. Peter is going to have to figure out what makes him stand out from everyone else, aside from the blue and red spandex. Things kick off this week with the official prelude to SPIDER-ISLAND and you won’t want to miss it.

“Amazing Spider-Man” issue #666 Drops Wednesday, July 27th From Marvel Comics! (MSRP – $3.99)