Spider-Man: The Murderous SIN-EATER Has Returned

Warning! Spoilers for Amazing Spider-Man #45 below!

Sin-Eater is one of the most blood-thirsty foes Spider-Man has faced. With the exception of Norman Osborn, no other has enemy has cost Peter Parker as dearly as the Sin-Eater. Like the Green Goblin, Sin-Eater also took someone very close to Spider-Man – Captain Jean DeWolff – and in Amazing Spider-Man #45, he strikes again.

Sin-Eater first appeared in Peter Parker,Spectacular Spider-Man #107 in 1985. Formerly an agent of SHIELD, Stanley Carter received experimental drugs that gave him increased strength but left him unstable. The program was discontinued. Carter, now a detective with the NYPD, eventually adopted the murderous vigilante persona of “Sin-Eater” following the death of his partner. Though obsessed with punishing “sinful” criminals, his first victim is a fellow officer – frequent Spider-Man ally Jean DeWolff. Spider-Man and Daredevil eventually stopped Sin-Eater’s rampage, with Daredevil preventing Spider-Man from beating Carter to death (which could explain why recently Spider-Man has been so concerned about Daredevil’s recent actions). Though rehabilitated by SHIELD, Carter remained troubled by his actions and eventually committed suicide by police via an empty shotgun. Though there have been several Sin-Eater copycats over the years, it seems the villain Kindred has resurrected Carter, complete with his unhinged personality.

Amazing Spider-Man #45 begins with Carlie Cooper reminiscing about her life – including her desire to be a cop, her romance with Spider-Man, and her time as Monster – before performing an autopsy on an unidentified individual. Meanwhile, Peter gloomily attends a performance of Hamlet alone, after Mary Jane was forced to cancel their latest date. He soon finds small-time high-speed supervillain Overdrive careening down the street, putting bystanders in jeopardy. Spider-Man springs into action, realizing this isn’t a coincidence since he’s had troubling dreams about Overdrive lately. Overdrive, however, is actually glad to see Spider-Man – because he’s fleeing the freshly-returned Sin-Eater. And to add insult to injury, the resurrected Sin-Eater is wearing DeWolff’s badge, goading Spider-Man into a one-sided fight.

Overdrive tries to flee, but Sin-Eater shoots him with a high-powered laser through the chest, and he dies in Spider-Man’s arm. Spider-Man fights Sin-Eater, who brags about cleansing Overdrive about his cowardice, and alludes to Kindred’s greater plan before disappearing. Meanwhile, back at the morgue, Carlie discovers Overdrive’s wounds have healed – right before the supposedly dead supervillain wakes up, just as shocked as Carlie.

Just how did Overdrive survive his death at the hands of Sin-Eater? It seems likely this is Kindred’s doing. Sin-Eater accused Overdrive of the sin of “cowardice”. Has he been purged of this sin after his death, and if so, what other side effects with his resurrection have? It seems like Kindred has big plans for the webslinger. Earlier, Peter Parker remarks that something might be conspiring to keep him and MJ apart. Could Kindred’s plot also be part of an infernal conspiracy towards that direction? Either way, it looks like whatever Sin-Eater is up to, Spider-Man has just scratched the surface of his old foe’s true intentions.

Amazing Spider-Man #45 by Nick Spencer and Mark Bagley is on sale now.

About The Author