Alpha: Big Time #1 COVER by Humberto Ramos, 2013 -- ALPHA bursting out of SPIDER-MAN's web (from the pages of Amazing Spider-Man)

It’s MIGHTY SPIDEY FRIDAY again (my how time flies!)

For this week, I have chosen two covers that feature a character from the Spiderverse, ANDY MAGUIRE, code-name ALPHA. Both covers feature nice big images of Spider-Man and are drawn by one of my favorite artists, HUMBERTO RAMOS.

ALPHA debuted in Amazing Spider-Man #692 (Aug, 2012) and later got his own mini-series called “ALPHA: BIG TIME” which lasted six issues (#0.1 and #1-5).

Andy Maguire achieved his powers at Horizon Labs, Peter Parker’s former place of employment, when a problem arose during a demonstration of “Parker Particles.” While trying to save a girl named Chrissy in the chaos, Andy Maguire was struck by the energy himself.

Instead of being fatally injured, he miraculously survived and gained the ability to create a hyper-kinetic form of energy tied to the forces of the universe. After being tested by many scientists and superheroes, Andy became the new spokesman of Horizon Labs, while he was being trained by Peter Parker's superhero alter-ego, Spider-Man.

ALPHA’s adventures continued, including a team-up with the Avengers in a battle against Terminus, as well as run-ins with the notorious Jackal and the Superior Spider-Man (Doc Ock). Moving to Pittsburgh, he acquired his own cast of characters, including Duncan Kilgore and Susan “Soupcan” Rice, teamed up briefly with Thor, and made enemies of Pittsburgh top crime boss, “Boss” Cohen, and a tumor-like beast named Zeta. ALPHA ended up enlisting the support of Spider-Man to try and defeat Zeta in issue #5.