Issue(s): Spectacular Spider-Man #218
Cover Date: Nov 94
Title: "When monsters roam!"
Credits:
Todd DeZago - Script
Tom DeFalco - Plot
Sal Buscema - Penciler
Sal Buscema - Inker
Mark Powers - Editor

Review/plot:
Spider-Man continues to fight Puma.

But when Puma notices Nocturne, who had been knocked out during the fight, he withdraws. Spider-Man is torn between being "The Spider" and pursuing Puma, or helping Nocturne. He chooses the latter. Spidey tries to take Nocturne to her old apartment, but finds that it's been occupied by new tenants. He therefore realizes that "life goes on" and that if he continues to suppress his Peter Parker identity, his loved ones will move on without him. Nocturne then recovers. After a cameo by Daredevil...

...Nocturne takes Spider-Man to a warehouse where Puma is. And despite his earlier revelation, Spider-Man gets into a furious fight with Puma again. Nocturne uses her powers to cause Spider-Man and Puma to experience each other's emotions. The effect causes Puma to revert to human form, and he staggers off. Spider-Man is said to be filled with peace. And that feels like the (lame) end to Back From The Edge to me, but apparently there are still two issues left in this "crossover".

Quality Rating: D

Historical Significance Rating: 1

Chronological Placement Considerations: This is part two of Back From The Edge. Part three is in Amazing Spider-Man #396. But the final two parts don't necessarily continue directly. In fact, Spider-Man will say that he's been studying Daredevil for the "past few nights" to confirm that Daredevil is indeed Matt Murdock, and those nights would have to be after this issue where Spider-Man still thinks that Murdock is dead.

There's a brief cameo by the Scarlet Spider when Spider-Man is helping Nocturne instead of going after Puma (wishing he could be in two places at once).

The MCP place this in the middle of the Exile Returns, the crossover happening in the other Spider-books. It definitely takes place after Web of Spider-Man #118 (part one of Exile Returns), when the Scarlet Spider creates his costume.

References:

• Continues from Amazing Spider-Man #395.
  
• Spidey thinks Daredevil is the "new" one since the old one died in Daredevil #325.
  
• Spider-Man met Nocturne in Spectacular Spider-Man annual #13.

Crossover: Back From The Edge

Continuity Insert? N

My Reprint: N/A