Daredevil: Blood of the Tarantula # 1 - Blood of the Tarantula

Overview

Carlos LaMuerto, a.k.a. Black Tarantula, is finally doing something good with his life. Well, at least it ain’t all bad. Lying low after getting out of prison and wiping out an entire gang, Carlos has become a low-key Robin Hood -- cleaning up the neighborhood he used to run as a gang lord. But he’s about to discover that leaving his past behind isn’t as simple as a change of attitude…as ghosts from his former life haunt him, Carlos turns to his friend/adversary, Matt Murdock.

Now Black Tarantula and Daredevil must work together to save the streets of Hell’s Kitchen from a powerful new gang from Carlos’ homeland.

SPOILERS

Alleged Recent Unregistered Activity:

• Daredevil crashed the Hood and Fear's meet and engaged Fear in an extremely violent conflict. Fear was easily bested physically, but there is no cure for Milla Donovan's conditionof madness inflicted by Fear. While Fear was locked away in Ryker's, Milla was committed to a long-term care facility in an effort to find some way to reverse the effects of Cranston's toxins.

• Carlos LaMuerto, a.k.a. the Black Tarantula, was once the latest supervillain/crime boss in a long line of supervillain/crime bosses. After run-ins with Spider-Man and Daredevil that eventually left him in prison, LaMuerto turned his life around and went to work for Dakota North (on a recommendation from Matt Murdock) after his release. It wasn't long before he took a more "active" role in crime-fighting, adopting his Black Tarantula persona again, only now as a vigilante.

Current Activity

• In a move reminiscent of Daredevil's now-legendary "Kingpin" incident, Black Tarantula has banned drugs in his neighborhood and takes the fight to some schoolyard dealers that leaves them in traction.

• The next morning, LaMuerto spots his estranged wife and son on a crowded street, but loses them amidst the chaos. Later that evening he gets a call from his son who is being held hostage. Walking into the obvious trap, LaMuerto finds himself at his odds with his own Argentinean gang from years ago, led by his cousin Luis.

• Luis has come to steal the Black Tarantula birthright and return it to "greatness" by once again flooding the streets with drugs and generally being a supervillain/crime boss. Before Luis can perform the necessary ritual, LaMuerto escapes his captors and flees to the doorstep of Matt Murdock.

• Three days later, Black Tarantula and Daredevil move on Luis's pier. LaMuerto finds his "family" only to discover they're actually innocents drugged and forced to pose as his family as bait. In the ensuing battle, Daredevil makes short work of most of Luis's goons, and LaMuerto (after surviving an explosion and severe burns) kills his cousin.

• Knowing there will be more men coming to steal his power and destroy his streets, LaMuerot strikes a deal with Daredevil. In exchange for the Devil's silence, LaMuerto will keep a low profile and wait for the other shoe to drop in this particular piece of madness in hopes of putting a stop to it once and for all.

A Regular Robin Hood—Though his methods are brutal, LaMuerto is indeed makes a profound impact on his community, and perhaps more importantly, finds peace within himself after a lifetime of misery and corruption.

The Family Business—At one time, the Black Tarantula was believed to be immortal. We know now that the mantle of Black Tarantula and its powers are a legacy passed down from father to son through ritual and sacrifice. Displeased with his cousin's decision to wash his hands of his criminal past, Luis LaMuerto has come to New York to restore honor to the mantle.

From the Ashes—After discovering that his "family" was not as it seemed, the Black Tarantula literally walks out of the fires of hell to extract vengeance upon his murderous cousin. One has to wonder if Daredevil sees the irony in this general situation.

A Deal with the Devil—Daredevil is typically known for a rigid adherence to the law, sometimes regardless of the consequences or situation. Here, however, faced with the very real threat of a secondary force set to bring chaos to the streets, he’s forced to strike a deal with LaMuerto, despite the fact that he just murdered a man. Desperate times and all that.