Spectacular Spider-Man 148 - Inferno

Betty Leeds and Flash Thompson encounter demons and not just the ones who've come from Limbo.

Spectacular Spider-Man #148

Script: Gerry Conway
Art: Sal Buscema
Letters: Rick Parker
Color: Bob Sharen
Editor: Jim Salicrup
Editor in Chief: Tom DeFalco

Betty Leeds has been staying with Flash Thompson since she was rescued from a cult. She has a vision in which her former husband Ned rises from the grave along with Gwen Stacey and Spider-Man who admits he isn't even dead. Coming to her senses she and Flash opt to stay in the flat, the only occupants of the building to do so, and keep out the demons. Flash tells her not to use the gas heater from his camping equipment indoors because of the danger. He goes up to the roof to board up the door only to be attacked by Spider-Man. Down in the apartment the decayed corpse of Ned breaks through a window and chases after Betty. Flash is webbed to the television antenna by Spider-Man who removes the connection to the lightning rod so that the next bolt to hit will kill Flash. Flash releases himself with a screwdriver and realises this isn't Spider-Man. He pulls off "Spidey's" mask to reveal a monstrous face. In the flat Betty hides in a living room and remembers the men she depended on who died including her brother Bennett and then Ned when she sees an image of Ned's ghost telling her she can't depend on them and she has to save herself. She determines to take control and confronts the corpse form which reveals itself to be a demon impersonating her husband. Flash and the demonic Spider-Man crash off the roof and into the flat whereupon Betty shoves the camping gas heater into one of the demons and tells Flash to run as she's broken the valve. They get out just before it explodes, killing both demons. Outside they see things returning to normal and the Empire State Building its regular size. Spider-Man swings by in the distance and they realise they were saved not by heroes outside but the heroes within them.

The final Spider-Man issue of Inferno is an oddity, detached from the rest. Was it a product of confusion over the schedules or did somebody feel that with so many other members of the supporting cast given moments throughout the crossover it was right to look in on Betty and Flash? Either way we get a very close and personal tale in which the star of the book only appears in one panel. Instead there's a focus on two individuals and how they have developed.

Betty Leeds (née Brant) has not a good time over the years. She was Peter's girlfriend but his responsibility as Spider-Man kept coming between them. Her brother was shot dead right in front of her. She married Ned Leeds but it was an unhappy marriage and she twice had affairs. Then she discovered was the Hobgoblin and he was killed not long after. She had a breakdown and ended up in the hands of a cult until Spider-Man and Flash rescued her. It's been a pretty rough ride for her and time and again she's come to rely on others, losing so many along the way. Now even Flash isn't present when the demon comes into the flat. The scenes as she realises that only she can save herself are strong though tempered by inspiration coming from what appears to be the ghost of Ned but could just be her subconscious speaking.

Flash also gets some good moments as he thinks about both the situation in the city and his own situation, reflecting on how he's come from the days as a high school sports star but also that he regrets some of the choices he took. Spider-Man is still his hero which makes the demon taking his form all the more hurtful. The demon plays on how he clings to past glories and his hero worship of the real Spider-Man. But Flash proves he still has what he needs as he manages to break free of his bonds and then use his sports experience to fight the demon (who unmasked looks rather like Spider-Carnage later would - was this where the inspiration came from?) and dodge the attacks. Again it's a tale of personal discovery.

This is a surprising good little tale that could be easily overlooked. It doesn't contain big name villains or major developments but instead gives two of the longest standing supporting cast members their own chance to shine in a situation where there's no help coming. It shows that you don't need flashy moments or big names but just good well told stories and strong characters.