Considering the fact that Peter Parker is normally one of Marvel's more effervescent and lighthearted heroes, the "Ruins" take on Spider-Man is an especially jarring shift in tone. In this world, Peter is responsible for the experiment gone awry that ends with him being bitten by a radioactive spider. But he doesn't gain arachnid-like powers in the "Ruins" universe. Instead, the bite leaves him with a contagious mutant virus that leads to a deadly skin disease. The last time we see Peter Parker in "Ruins," he's seemingly homeless, huddled in a blanket on the street as the virus devastates his body, turning his skin red and cracked in a way that gruesomely mimics Spidey's traditional design.
The tragic retelling of Spider-Man's origin is actually what leads to the miniseries' end. In the final pages, Phil reveals that he'd previously worked at The Daily Bugle, where he would run into Peter Parker. The veteran journalist, referring to Parker as a "contagious little weasel," contracted the strange virus. "Ruins" ends with Phil Sheldon succumbing to the mysterious ailment, never having completed his work.
While the Marvel Cinematic Universe has proven itself to be wildly successful in adapting some of the most epic, weird, or unique stories from throughout comic book history, "Ruins" is proof that some source material is probably best left on the cutting room floor.
