Peter Parker's life is looking up. Aunt May is proud of him. Black Cat is giving him the time of day. As Spider-Man, Peter's taken some super-powered punches. But he's never caught the kind of Hell that's in store for him next: fighting for survival as he tries to keep Hellgate from destroying Manhattan! But what does this strange new enemy want? And can Peter figure it out before his day gets worse?! The city watches as Spider-Man takes the worst beating of his life. Battered and broken, Peter needs to level up if he's going to survive the next round ... and he has resolved to get stronger by any means necessary. He is a different man following Hellgate's revelation ... but Mary Jane Watson has a secret of her own to share! And the first foes to put Spidey's strength to the test are Shocker and his new allies, the Aftershocks!