Bitten by a radioactive spider, high school student Peter Parker gained the proportionate strength, speed, agility, equilibrium, and early warning danger sense of that irradiated arachnid. Hoping to use his powers for personal gain, Peter sought to make money as pro wrestler and a TV sensation, but with the death of his beloved Uncle Ben, a grief stricken Peter learned an invaluable lesson. With great power there must also come great responsibility. Armed with his wondrous web shooters Peter struggles with this lesson. Trying to balance an ordinary life with a day job and still divide time to be with his wife and to protect his fellow man. Due to the events regarding his personal life, Peter has given up the role to the one true Peter Parker whom goes by the moniker Ben Reilly. This is the story of The Amazing Spider-Man!

"Seven Ways To Hell Part I of IV"

Scream your last pitiful cry for freedom demon of Lilith - no one escapes the Ghost Rider!

With a simple back hand the hunter larvas' head was rendered from it's shoulders, it's body went limp from the impact as copious amounts of blood spewed from its neck, and the Ghost Rider relaxed his grip on his flaming, spiked chain to let it's dead carcass strike the pavement with a sick wet smacking sound. Across from where the Spirit of Vengeance had dealt with Lilith's putrid child a woman shook with panic over what she had witnessed. A horrible sight of unholy demons and men turning into flaming skeletons. Such graphic imagery had pushed her far way from the reach of the others - including the man known as Johnny Blaze. Johnny tried though - his warm, comforting arms wrapping around her and helping her up. In the back of his mind though he could feel the subtle warnings from his other half that this was just precursor of what was to come.

---

"Y'know Scorpy we do this same routine every week for what has been ten years and you still don't learn do you," Spider-Man said as tapped the webbed up Scorpion on the nose. "You will always be a loser."

After saying that Spider-Man dropped down from his crouched position on the underside of the street light and swung away. Scorpion bit his lip and lashed out in his bindings at again being beaten by the accursed wall-crawler. While several blocks away Spider-Man was sneaking into his temporary residence to change into his civilian clothes. MJ and Peter after their frightening encounter with Venom decided to move to Dallas where she knew a friend who could help them out. Peter wasn't sure when or if they were coming back, but he had been kind enough to lend Ben their apartment until the lease was up. The only obstacle was the uptight land lord.

"Mister Reilly!"

Speaking of the devil.

"What is it, Mister Ernie?"

"It's Earnest, Reilly. And I want to know what the hell all those noises are going in your apartment at odd hours of the night and the afternoon?"

"Aerobics."

Earnest tilted his head and gave Ben such a disturbing stare.

"Listen, I'll try to cut down on the noise, but would you kindly ask Mrs. Dinklemyer to stop coming into the apartment without an invitation."

"Why would..."

Ben looked away already getting impatient that the notion was lost on Ernie. So he side-stepped him and headed down the stairs to catch the bus to work. A cost effective strategy that Ben realized was necessary if he wanted to keep himself fed and afford the other necessities he liked. Not to mention being able to keep affording doing his favorite past-time - well to be honest it had become far removed from a past-time. It had become a coping mechanism that allowed him to deal with every thing that life could throw at him and as he hopped on the bus he thanked god for stupid gimmick villains and punching bags like Mac Gargan.

---

"Hello - my name is Johnny Blaze."

The waitress gave a snort and tilted her head to the side as pulled out her pad and pencil. "What'll ya have?"

"Um, lemme think. Hell, give me a hamburger, fries, and a coke."

"Coming right up," the waitress said as she started to walk away, but she stopped for some reason and lowered her head. "My daughter used to watch you when she was younger - it's too bad yer all washed up - she had a huge crush on you before she died."

Johnny exhaled and mumbled a bit before saying something. "I wish I was half the hero that I was to all those kids who looked up to me. The problem is I'm just Johnny Blaze. Nothing special - nothing worth caring about."

"Didn't have to tell me."

After the waitress walked off Johnny stared at the glass of water and watched the cold water turn - how he envied water. Being able to overcome any obstacle through sure flexibility yet maintaining a cool exterior. His eyes were taken away from the water when some one sat beside him.

"What are you doing sittin' here mopin' like a kid who sprained his ankle."

"Get out of here Caretaker. I don't give a shit who you work for this time."

"You know Lilith is here. And she's lookin' ta take you down. If I was you I'd get my head straight and forget about Danny. He knew what was at stake and accepted his fate. You have to do the same."

"He died saving my soul - he was my brother and I hardly knew him."

"One lesson you should have learned long ago kid. Time doesn't make up to nobody and you have to let it go. Otherwise Mephisto has already won."

"Well, what time won't I'll make sure Mephisto will."

"I'm just wastin' my breath here. If you didn't learn your lesson the first time then I guess you'll learn it this time around and if you don't I'll be kicking yer head in while we both rot with the rest of the damned."

"I'm sure my bike and that horse of yours will have plenty to talk about," Johnny said, as Caretaker walked out the door of the diner and disappeared.

---

If the pits of Hell held many wanderers in it's eternal grip then it was safe to assume that Heaven did the same. Only not as entertainment, but as prisoners who could not return with the knowledge of what they saw and with such thoughts in mind Dan Ketch wondered how he ended up in Heaven. Was he not damned for all creation because of the blood-line curse? Had he not committed the ultimate unforgivable sin - murder. He tried to rationalize the foggy atmosphere of his surroundings and the shapes of light that darted to and fro. One particular orb of light flew up to Dan and emitted such a soothing sense of feeling into him. He gave a gesture of thanks to the orb and walked toward the large golden gates licking his lips with wonder and amazement in his eyes.

"Dan Ketch," a soft, sweet voice said. "Come on through."

"Where does this gate lead?" He asked back.

"What you seek is beyond the veil - journey fourth at your own peril."

"I didn't like the sound of that - Um, shouldn't I be in hell now?"

No answer was forthcoming so Dan scratched his head and preceeded forward.

---

"How do you like that," Jessica said as she dropped the early edition on the table. "I got beat to the punch by Pen Lister."

Ben took a drink of his coffee as Jessica sat beside him. "It's nothing to get upset about. Besides the Kingpin's murder is still unsolved and with so much media attention being put onto his death - it's made you popular enough to be getting plenty of offers for that novel you wrote."

"All those offers are attempts by dirty businessmen to get a buck off anyone connected to the investigation of Wilson Fisk's death. And I maybe a lot of things, but I'm not some dime store bimbo."

"Didn't say you were."

Jessica laid a kiss on Ben's cheek. "You're a prince you know that."

"Really? I get told by the guys on the bus that I'm just some illiterate college preppie who represents the fall of modern society."

"You don't look like a preppie to me."

"Oh, what do I look like."

"I don't feel like saying," Jessica said in a teasing manner as she got up and walked off.

"I don't think I will ever understand the opposite sex."

---

Johnny stepped out of the diner and started to light a cigarette when some one tapped his shoulder. He turned in time just to catch a fist across his jaw and blackness filling his vision. When he awoke hours later he found himself bound in a chair with several of Lilith's children watching him. A smirk crossed his face.

"You guys sure saved me the trouble."

"Really, seems like the big bad Ghost Rider is out of gas."

For whatever reason Johnny couldn't transform, but he could tell the power there just beyond his grasp. Of all the times he wished not to be bound to damnation again he needed the power to defeat these demons.

"What do you think Lavic? He doesn't look so tough."

"I think his reputation is quite exaggerated Vida. With that binding spell - well hell my brother could take him."

It is not!

"Mistress Lilith, what brings you here?"

I heard you captured my mortal enemy. I had to see it for myself.

"Well, the gang's all here. I guess this is some kind of home coming party hunh, Lilith?"

You were always the annoying one Blaze. Ketch was the noble one.

"Leave him out of this," Johnny said flatly.

Whatever for? We both know if it wasn't for you and that witch you called a mother none of your family would have suffered.

Johnny's bound hands began to sizzle and build up with heat as he let his hatred take hold. In a burst of hellfire he destroyed the binds and whipped out his chain in a manic frenzy cutting swarms of Lilith's drones while Vida and Lavic stayed back to the protect their mother. By the time the last bloody corpse hit the ground the Spirit of Vengeance was making a slow stride toward Lavic.

"You want a piece of me? Vida, get mother out of here. I'll take care of this bloke. He ain't nothin'."

Lavic is it? You are REALLY starting to piss me off.

"Oh deary me. I guess I should be afraid then. But, then I wonder which Ghost Rider are you? I know Blaze is your other half, but you I can't place. Are you Zarathos or Noble Kale?"

The Ghost Rider laughed. I'm just full of surprises - trust me.

"Let's have a go then," Lavic said, as he shot out the poison quills at the demon who rides the highways. To his disappointment the Ghost Rider pulled them out and dropped them to the ground making what sounded like a snort.

Pulling his shotgun from his back holster the Spirit of Vengeance blasted hot hellfire at Lavic, but the damn cagey demon leaped too quickly out of the way. Two more shots were fired wildly before the gun was knocked from Ghost Rider's grip.

"Aw, did the poor Ghost Rider's toy get taken away," Lavic said sarcastically as he kept to the shadows.

Remember second eldest of the blood - YOU ASKED FOR THIS!

Twirled and twirled did the Ghost Rider's chain go as it built up heat that lacerated through the warehouse. Just the slightest touch of the scorching air was enough to bring Lavic out of his hiding spot and the chain - red hot as it was wrapped around his neck and with a jerk Lavic was brought into Ghost Rider's open hand.

What is Lilith planning? TALK!

Lavic spit into the flames that emanated from the Ghost Rider's skull and with an ever so fast tug Lavic's neck made a sickening crunch sound. The Rider let loose Lavic's corpse and snapped his fingers to summon his ride. A hell on wheels burst through the wall popping a wheelie and came to a stop right beside the rider and Spirit of Vengeance gazed up at a spot in the rafters before collecting his gun and leaving.

"You think he saw us?"

"That's not what matters now. What matters is we find him help before he loses more of himself to the Rider."

"I know just the people - I will contact you when I can Caretaker."

"Yeah, don't count on it."