The Spectacular Spider-Man #178, page 8

Page from the first chapter of "The Child Within", my favorite Spider-Man saga of all time!

DeMatteis goes beyond the simple duality between good and evil typical of superhero stories, creating a true group therapy session for the trio of Peter Parker, Harry Osborn, and Edward Whelan (Vermin), which leads them to delve into their own minds and the tragic experiences of their childhoods.

Their relationships with father figures, their struggle with themselves and their own demons, guilt, fear, anger, and above all Evil itself, not as something external to be defeated, but as a dark and deeply human part that can dwell within each of us.

That, to me, is DeMatteis’s greatest achievement: transforming a Spider-Man story into a painful and deeply human psychological journey, where the real monsters aren’t necessarily the ones hiding in the shadows, but the wounds we carry with us all life long.

Once Spidey has swung a safe distance away, Vermin emerges from the sewer with a lost child cradled in his arms, surprised that the kid does not seem to fear him and instead trusts him. Lightly toned, with pinholes and production-punched holes in the margins, whiteout corrections, small stains, a taped-on page number paste-up, marginal tape, and handling wear. Additionally, Panels 2-4 are primarily stat, with Panel 4 having additional art added to the stat to show the sewer grate opening and smoke coming out.

Signed (bottom left): Sal Buscema