Dr. Strange is explaining to his fellow heroes how Dormammu arrived in their dimension. (See my review on ASM #498) Being the Sorcerer Supreme that he is, Strange goes to fight Dormammu while the other heroes resume their battle with the Mindless Ones. Spider-Man saves a family of three from the beasts. He can't stand to see Dr. Strange fight Dormammu alone, so he tries to help. When he swings into action, he takes the two by surprise, and Strange's spell goes wrong. It teleports him and Spider-Man to an area between time and space.

Dr. Strange is infuriated, and after time recites an incantation that sends him and the webbed one back to their previous dimension. The spell hasn't fully generated them back, and so they witness events of their past, and a possible future, right before their eyes. The possible future, all the heroes at the battle are dead, and the city is burning to the ground. They also see the same area minutes before the Mindless Ones arrived. Peace, traffic. Then back to another possible future, Spider-Man witnesses Mary Jane running through the debris, looking for him. The Mindless Ones are on her tail so Spider-Man goes to save her, in case these events really do come to be. He knocks away the group with a bunch of rocks and such, and beats them up. One of them escapes, and snaps MJ's neck. The web-slinger rushes to his wife, but is sent into the middle of another possible future. He is thinking to himself "I'm sorry, MJ, I'm sorry, I -". A future Peter Parker, (Possibly years older judging by the graying hair) is at Aunt May's gravesite. The Peter of the future says "I'm sorry May. I'm sorry I let you down." Sirens go off, and the future Pete reveals a leather motor-cycle bike-jacket, with a striking resemblance to the original spider-costume. He ten puts on a red mask, but without the web-design. The modern-day Spidey then witnesses the fateful day at the science lab, where the irradiated spider lowers itself, ready to bite the young, powerless Peter Parker. At modern-day Spider-Man, he sees the younger version about to be bitten at his left-side, and the future one at his right, with the police surrounding him with armed weapons.

Wow! This issue was great! Excellent story! Excellent art! A cliffhanger! The only thing wrong with this was the over-exposure to Dr. strange. Haven't we seen enough of this guy lately? Strong story. I can't wait until next month's 500! Four and three fourths out of five stars! ****3/4

Reviewed by Willi Gerrard

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