During the "Spider-Hunt" storyline, in which a massive bounty is placed on Spider-Man's head, Herd's wife is gravely injured and left in medical care.

[4] Herd dismisses Franklin with little effort but is later forced to battle the original Spider-Man and Iceman while trying to tell officials that Dolman was tampering with his mind.

[6] Somehow separated from both Shadrac and Dolman, with Aura restored to human form, and back in his original costume, Herd joins Hammerhead's "villain army" that was captured by Iron Man and S.H.I.E.L.D.

Due to the Gathering of the Five ceremony, Herd has internalized the powers of his cybernetic suit as well as gaining the ability to override emotions.

[8] A prior story revealed that Mattie Franklin and Madame Web eventually gained the gifts (power and immortality) they had in the mainstream continuity,[9] but what became of Herd after the first attempt was not shown.