Identity Crisis is a 1998 Bat Family Crossover between various Spider-Man titles regarding his attempt to prove he was framed for murder by creating four new costumed identities. It spans The Sensational Spider-Man #27-28, The Amazing Spider-Man #434-435, Peter Parker: Spider-Man #91-#92 and The Spectacular Spider-Man #257-258.
Spider-Man has been framed by Norman Osborn and the Trapster for the murder of a small-time crook named Joey Z using "web fluid" to fill his lungs. Norman Osborn also "provoked" Spider-Man into attacking him on tape, leaving Spider-Man with a five-million-dollar reward posted for his capture and unable to even go out on patrols without the police or even normal people attempting to shoot him. Knowing he can't prove his innocence as Spider-Man and being aware people will figure out the truth if a new hero simply appeared after Spider-Man vanished, Peter creates four new costumed identities each with a unique goal: the tech-based Hornet who uses a jet pack to fly; the wisecracking criminal for hire Ricochet; the mysterious Dusk who uses a suit from the Negative Zone; and the more traditionally heroic Prodigy. Using all four of these identities, Peter was able to prove his innocence before returning to his identity as Spider-Man.
This storyline got a sequel with the Slingers, which followed four teenagers who took on the four identities Spider-Man had used. Not to be confused with Identity Crisis (2004).
Identity Crisis provides examples of:
- Bat Family Crossover: All of the comics involved star Spider-Man, but the crossover covers four different titles: The Sensational Spider-Man, The Amazing Spider-Man, Peter Parker: Spider-Man and The Spectacular Spider-Man.
- Breather Episode: While the different titles continued arcs going on at the time, the tone is much more light-hearted and relaxed following the intensity of the preceding Spider-Hunt four-parter.
- Call-Back: The Hornet uses Ben Reilly's sedative stingers as a gauntlet-mounted weapon, with Peter thinking "Thanks, Ben", after using them.
- The Cape: While Spider-Man was already this, Prodigy takes it further by being a Superman Substitute.
- Character Exaggeration: This is intentional on Peter's part, as each of his identities is based on aspects of his actual personality and skills. This is to make it less likely for people to figure out the truth, though Vulture is still able to deduce that the Hornet is Spider-Man. Broadly speaking, this is how his personality is broken down into four identities: the Hornet is based on Peter's intellectual genius and ability to make his own tech; Ricochet is based on Spider-Man's agility and speed as well as his Motor Mouth tendencies; Dusk is based on Peter's more menacing side and stealth skills; and Prodigy is based on his genuine heroism and desire to do good along with his super strength.
- Clothes Make the Superman: Averted. While the Dusk suit allowed Peter to become practically invisible in the shadows and he portrays Hornet as being a tech-based hero, Peter still retains all of his Spider-Man abilities.
- The Cowl: Dusk fits this perfectly.
- Didn't See That Coming: When Prodigy fully exonerates Spider-Man during a press conference (see Framing the Guilty Party), we get a close-up of a stunned Osborn.
- Frame-Up: The entire premise is that Osborn did this to Spider-Man, using Trapster to make it look like Spider-Man killed Joey Z and provoking him into attacking Osborn on camera while Osborn is in his civilian identity.
- Framing the Guilty Party: Peter deals with Osborn's Frame-Up by claiming (while in his new role as Prodigy) that he found evidence that the Spider-Man who assaulted Osborn was actually Jack O'Lantern or Conundrum, foes he recently defeated with a knack for illusion (Dusk is able to persuade the Trapster to legitimately clear Spider-Man of the murder charge to hurt Osborn).
- Hell-Bent for Leather: Part of Ricochet's costume is a leather jacket with the letter "R" on the back. This wasn't intentional, as Mary Jane simply found the jacket and Peter built his new identity around it.
- I Am What I Am: Peter has a variation of this at the end. Despite the constant problems he has had as Spider-Man and how Prodigy is much more loved by the public, he ultimately chooses to return to his original identity because Spider-Man is who he truly is.
- Odd Friendship: Despite being shocked and creeped out by it, Peter does genuinely come to like the Trapster in a way while working with him in his Dusk identity, the latter also coming to respect him since Dusk saved his life.
- Rogues' Gallery Transplant: Two of the foes Spidey faces in this story is the vampiric Bloodstream and his brutish companion Roughhouse (he primarily faces them as Ricochet, but in the final clash he adopts all four identities in rapid succession). These two are normally Wolverine foes.
- Spotting the Thread: After so many years of fighting Spider-Man, the Vulture is able to deduce Hornet's identity while they are fighting.
- Superman Substitute: Prodigy is this, with Peter using his powers and a bulletproof vest to mimic the powers of Superman when he first appeared. His confidence and old-fashioned heroism make him a hit with the public, with even Jameson coming to like him.
- Vitriolic Best Buds: Despite their constant arguing, Peter is touched when the Human Torch warns Hornet against going after Spider-Man.
