Marvel’s Spider-Man: Across the Multiverse

"That's Kingpin? He looks a bit different from the one in my world," Shadow Spider muttered, lowering his voice. In his universe, Kingpin was also imposing, but still within the realm of what a normal person could comprehend.

This one, however...

Peter's confirmation sealed it for him. After all, Peter was his "kind."

And Kingpin—no matter the universe—was rotten to the core.

Peter didn't know this world's Kingpin personally, but the man before him was a dead ringer for the one from the 1994 Spider-Man animated series.

He might look overweight, but in reality, 90% of that bulk was muscle, not fat.

This made him incredibly strong, capable of punching through a wall with his bare hands.

On top of his raw strength, he was a master of hand-to-hand combat, representing the pinnacle of skill for non-enhanced humans in the Marvel universe (no mutations or tech gadgets involved).

But don't mistake him for a brute.

Kingpin was highly intelligent, with a sharp, calculating mind.

Publicly, he posed as a generous philanthropist and a successful businessman, collaborating with many companies and frequently engaging in charity work.

But behind the scenes, he was the biggest crime boss in the country. By some estimates, 40% of all criminal activities in the country could be traced back to him.

His adversaries weren't minor players either—Daredevil, Punisher, Spider-Man, and even the Fantastic Four and X-Men had crossed paths with him.

The fact that he thrived despite facing so many superheroes spoke volumes about his power and cunning.

Peter even suspected that their sudden arrival in this world might somehow be connected to Kingpin.

Facing such a formidable opponent, it was better to err on the side of caution.

The good news was that Kingpin probably wasn't aware of their presence yet.

They had the advantage of being hidden while their enemy was in plain sight.

Taking advantage of the cover of darkness, the two of them climbed onto a nearby rooftop and began monitoring the scene below, trying to discern Kingpin's plans.

On the street, a news van was parked nearby.

The reporter they had seen on the big screen earlier was now standing in front of Aunt May, holding a microphone.

"When did you first find out that Peter Parker was Spider-Man?"

Aunt May glared at the reporter coldly, saying nothing.

"Did you support your nephew in pursuing such a dangerous career?"

"Do you think—"

The reporter fired question after question.

Each one was like a dagger, stabbing into Aunt May's already shattered heart, making it bleed afresh.

As the barrage continued, Aunt May, who had been holding herself together, finally broke.

She abruptly turned away, covering her mouth as silent sobs wracked her body.

But the reporters weren't done. They pressed forward, their cameras and microphones poised to capture every moment of the two grieving women's pain.

"Despicable scumbags!" Peter growled, his anger boiling over.

Shadow Spider, standing beside him, muttered coldly, "It's the same in every world—journalists are always this awful."

At that moment, a hulking figure pushed through the crowd and entered the yard.

It was Kingpin!

Using his massive frame, he positioned himself between Aunt May and the reporters.

"All right, esteemed members of the press," he said, his deep voice carrying authority, "I think it's time for you all to call it a night."

Kingpin's massive figure, several times broader than an average man's, completely shielded Aunt May from view.

Of course, his reputation worked in his favor as well.

The reporters quickly turned their cameras and microphones toward him.

"Mr. Fisk, why are you here?" one of the reporters asked.

Kingpin glanced at the reporter and put on an expression of profound sorrow. "Spider-Man was a dear friend of mine. I've always admired him greatly. I believe he was a true hero. Oh, what a wonderful person he was! It's heartbreaking that such an unkind disaster has stolen his life from us."

Both Peter and Shadow Spider wore puzzled expressions.

"This Kingpin doesn't quite match the one I know," Peter muttered.

"This Kingpin seems different from the one in my world," Shadow Spider echoed.

Could it be that Kingpin had turned over a new leaf? Or was it that, due to the nature of parallel universes, this world's Kingpin was actually a good person?

Peter had a nagging feeling that something wasn't right, though he couldn't put his finger on it.

As for whether Kingpin was truly a good person, Peter reserved judgment.

Stereotypes were not to be trusted, but Peter recalled that in the 1994 Spider-Man series, Kingpin was a master at maintaining a dual identity.

His public image and true self were polar opposites.

Surrounded by so many reporters, this could simply be Kingpin preserving his public persona.

Fortunately, Shadow Spider wasn't impulsive.

The two continued to watch.

Kingpin then began to speak eloquently, responding to the reporters' questions. He skillfully emphasized his close ties with Spider-Man and Peter Parker.

He even extended a public invitation to Aunt May and Mary Jane, asking them to attend a charity gala he planned to hold in Spider-Man's honor.

Kingpin announced his intent to establish a foundation in Spider-Man's name, promising to help those in need and continue Spider-Man's legacy.

He spoke with such emotion and conviction, both heartfelt and generous, that even Peter and Shadow Spider—despite their initial biases—almost began to believe that this version of Kingpin might genuinely be a good man.

After half an hour, the crowd of reporters and mourners gradually dispersed. Kingpin, basking in the praises of those around him, climbed into his extended Lincoln limousine and drove away.

"Should we head out now?" Peter asked, seeking Shadow Spider's opinion.

But Peter quickly noticed something was wrong.

Shadow Spider's body was displaying a rainbow-like shimmer, and parts of him appeared distorted and warped.

"Shadow Spider? Shadow Spider!" Peter called out, hesitant to touch him, fearing he might accidentally make things worse.

Thankfully, the phenomenon subsided after a few seconds.

"Whew," Shadow Spider exhaled deeply. "Damn it. What was that? I've never had anything like this happen before."

"Could it be some sort of... environment-induced reaction?" Peter suggested.

It wasn't unheard of for someone entering a new environment to experience temporary discomfort due to changes in their surroundings.

But Spider-Men, with their genetically enhanced bodies, weren't supposed to experience something as trivial as "environmental adaptation."

Shadow Spider hesitated, then shook his head. "It felt different. It was an intense, unbearable pain. Like falling from the sky and smashing an egg against a rock."

"Yikes," Peter winced, his face twisting at the thought. "And you endured that?"

Shadow Spider chuckled lightly and pointed toward the long Lincoln that had just disappeared around the corner. "What choice do I have? I don't trust that guy."

"That's the spirit," Peter replied, giving him a thumbs-up.

"All right, now that the onlookers have left, I think it's time we spoke with Aunt May and Mary Jane."

With that, Shadow Spider rose and began heading in their direction.

(Chapter End)

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