Amazing Spider-Man: Worldwide #4
Amazing Spider-Man: Worldwide Vol. 4 is the essential 'Before Dead No More' prelude volume within Dan Slott's decade-long Amazing Spider-Man run, serving as the narrative bridge directly into the Dead No More: The Clone Conspiracy event. It collects the first appearance of Francine Frye as the new Electro (ASM #17) — a generational villain-legacy torch-pass that gave the role to a woman for the first time and recontextualized Max Dillon's story through cloning technology introduced by the Jackal. The volume also delivers a long-gestating payoff for Superior Spider-Man readers: Otto Octavius, trapped inside the Living Brain's robotic shell since the All-New, All-Different relaunch, finally breaks free and plots his return, a thread Slott had been seeding since the end of Spider-Verse in 2015.
In "Up & About," Peter Parker's world expands as Francine takes control of Electro's powers—ending the original Electro's life in the process. With the Prowler dispatched to investigate New U on Peter’s behalf, he meets a deadly fate at the hands of the new, unstable Electro, leading to a shocking resurrection and a forced alliance with the Jackal. Written by Dan Slott and brought to life by R. B. Silva’s dynamic art, with inks by Adriano Di Benedetto and colors by Marte Gracia, this issue blends high-stakes action with personal stakes. The cover, a striking portrait by Alex Ross, captures the intensity of the moment.
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The source issues (Amazing Spider-Man Vol. 4 #16–18, Annual #1, and a backup from Free Comic Book Day 2016 Captain America #1) were written by Dan Slott and published in late 2016 under Marvel's All-New, All-Different banner — the company-wide relaunch following Secret Wars. Interior art was split between Giuseppe Camuncoli and Javier Garron, with the TPB cover by Alex Ross. Slott had by this point claimed roughly one-fifth of all published Amazing Spider-Man stories and was consciously layering Clone Conspiracy setup threads across every issue, making this volume a deliberately constructed prelude rather than a standalone arc. The trade was collected and released by Marvel in January 2017, timed to the ongoing Clone Conspiracy limited series.
Trivia · 8 facts
- Collects Amazing Spider-Man (Vol. 4) #16–18 and Annual #1, plus backup material from Free Comic Book Day 2016 (Captain America) #1.
- Written by Dan Slott; interior art by Giuseppe Camuncoli and Javier Garron; trade cover by Alex Ross.
- ASM #17 contains the first appearance of Francine Frye as Electro — the second character to hold the Electro identity, making her the first woman in the role.
- Francine Frye's transformation into Electro occurs when the Jackal's attempt to restore Max Dillon's powers fails and Frye absorbs all the suit's electrical charge by kissing Dillon, accidentally killing him.
- ASM #17 also features the apparent death of Hobie Brown (the original Prowler) and the introduction of his Jackal-created clone, who is dispatched to spy on Peter Parker.
- ASM #18 resolves the long-running subplot of Doctor Octopus's consciousness being trapped inside the Living Brain robot at Parker Industries — a thread planted since the All-New, All-Different relaunch — and sets up his role in the Clone Conspiracy.
- The entire arc functions as the 'Before Dead No More' prelude mini-series, directly preceding the Dead No More: The Clone Conspiracy five-issue limited series and its ASM tie-in issues.
- The Jackal's New U Technologies cloning operation is the connective tissue across all issues, tying together returning villains including Rhino, Lizard, Electro (both incarnations), and Doctor Octopus.
Cast · 25 characters
Full credits
Full plot ⚠ may contain spoilers
▸ Reveal full plot — may contain spoilers
Francine takes Electro's powers, killing him in the process. The Prowler investigates New U on Peter's behalf, but the new Electro, Francine, kills him; the Jackal restores Prowler to life and forces him to work for him.
Plot details indexed by the Grand Comics Database (CC BY-SA).