In an odd artistic twist, illustrations depict Spiderman preying upon alternate versions of himself in scenes evoking horror tropes of evil doubles. While Spiderman battling villains like Green Goblin is familiar, watching Spidey stalk Spidey makes for unsettling viewing.
In one image, a Peter Parker version of Spiderman sits hapless and hogtied while a dark, twisted version towers over him menacingly. Other pieces show the superhero handcuffed and hung upside down as his creepy clone prepares for a feast.
The series leverages the classic fiction motif of protagonists confronting their monstrous alter egos. By rendering Spiderman in the role of victim and villain, the art heightens the fear factor for shocking effect. The mundane setting of a kitchen or bedroom makes the scenes eerier.
Seeing wholesome heroes subverted through themes of cannibalism and predation urges examination of our shadow selves. While Spiderman traditionally fights external baddies, these artworks imply the scariest foe may be the darkness lurking within. They explore the universal struggle to tame one’s inner demons.
By feeding one Spiderman to another, these unnerving images serve up some food for thought about how we confront – or succumb to – our dark compulsions. Perhaps in a strange way, we are all being devoured by ourselves.