Peter Parker is taking a well-deserved shower…especially after what he's just witnessed (see the above recap). Aunt May knocks on the bathroom door and asks if everything is all right. He tells her he's fine – he's not – and he hopes she doesn't come in, as his costume lies on the floor. She mentions that they should talk. He really doesn’t want to but he reluctantly agrees. Since he doesn't really have a chance to wash his costume, he is forced to wear the darn thing nonetheless, or else his secret identity will be revealed. As Peter comes down the stairs, Aunt May explains that she did not expect him. Peter responds that he should have called ahead. Aunt May proceeds to introduce Peter to J. Jonah Jameson Senior, whom she is dating. As Spider-Man, Peter has met JJJ Sr. before, but he refrains from showing too much of a reaction so as to not give away his secret. Peter asks them how long they've been dating. JJJ Sr. answers that they've been seeing each other for about a month. Aunt May tells Peter she would have told him earlier, but she didn’t hear from him for weeks (Peter, as Spider-Man, was away in the Macroverse). Both she and JJJ Sr. know how JJJ Jr. has been treating him over the years and they didn't want to embarrass him. Peter is speechless and stares at them for what seems to be an eternity. He then looks at a picture of Aunt May with Uncle Ben and proceeds to stand up, telling them he has to go. Aunt May asks if he’s coming down with something, as he doesn't seem to be himself. Peter replies that he's fine but adds that he has a lot of things on his mind so he doesn't really have time to deal with the current situation at the moment. Aunt May understands and reminds him that she always loves him. Peter turns around and proceeds to give his blessing for their dating each other. He then kisses his aunt on the forehead, bids them goodbye and takes his leave. As he walks down the street, he sees a bus with J. Jonah Jameson Jr's face plastered on its side with a caption that vows to rid the city of Spider-Man. Peter comes to the realization that he almost forgot what had him riled up in the first place: JJJ Jr.
Later, the story moves to a subway train where a burglar is in the process of robbing the car's occupants. As the train pulls to a station, the thief prepares to leave but he ends up falling into a large web, thanks to Spider-Man's timely arrival. After webbing up the robber, Spidey prepares to move on but he's suddenly accosted by J. Jonah Jameson’s anti-Spider-Man squad. One of the squad members has a very large weapon on his shoulder that he's got pointed at Spidey. Spidey tells the cop to be smart and not use his weapon, for fear of harming innocent bystanders, but the cop answers that he's a crack shot and opens fire before Spidey can do anything. Large waves of ultrasound are fired, causing Spidey to fall to the ground, completely disoriented. Spidey is about to be arrested when the bystanders come to his rescue, telling the gunmen that it's not right to arrest Spidey after what he just did for them. Some are threatening to file civil suits against them while others express a lot of displeasure toward the squad members. The cops try to reason with them, telling them to clear the area, as they are interfering with official police business, but to no avail. In the ensuing confusion, Spidey gets back on hits two feet and manages to take his leave, not before thanking the brave citizens that came to his aid.
Minutes later, Spidey comes to rest on the side of a building. Across the way is a large billboard of Jameson Jr., which was left over from the mayoral election. It reads: "Spider-Free NYC – Vote JJJ!". Upon seeing this, Spidey vows to continue waging war against the disgruntled mayor, especially since he seems to be getting great support from his fellow New Yorkers. Support, which he is craving more of.
A man is yelling into his cell phone, swearing, cussing, and annoying other passengers of a tour bus. Spidey swings by and webs his mouth shut, to the utter appreciation of the other commuters. Later, Spidey hands out web-umbrella to people during a heavy rainstorm, directs traffic at a busy intersection, and even poses for pictures with tourists.
Jameson Jr. sits in his office and watches a TV news report that talks about Spider-Man's latest antics. Jameson's assistant – last name Anderson – tells Jonah that reporters have begun asking about the new Vulture that's been terrorizing the underworld. JJJ claims that the mobsters are pinning the blame on someone else for their violence, as a diversion. He then tells Anderson to cancel his lunch with the Senator and to have his spider-squad come in for a strategy session. He adds a comment about luring the spider into his web.
Spidey is still swinging full-tilt, though fatigue is finally catching up to him. He's getting ready to head home when he hears someone screaming for help. He locates the source of the yelling and it turns out to be Jameson's assistant Anderson – Spidey does not know this, obviously. When Spidey lands next to him, Anderson reveals that he's just bait and proceeds to call out to JJJ's anti-Spider-Man squad team members, who come out of hiding and surround him. Wasting very little time, Spidey engages them into battle – he has no other choice, if he wants to get out of there alive. Spidey is mad with himself for not heeding the warning of his spider-sense more seriously. He makes up for it, however, in the ensuing battle, as within a few minutes, he has the entire squad all webbed up. He warns them to lay off, as he's losing his patience with them. One of the members tells Spidey that they’re doing their job; that he's the one who started it. He asks why Spidey continues to get under Jameson's skin like that and why he won't let it go. Spidey replies that he's no longer in the mood to do that. He’s had JJJ as a thorn in his side for years and he's not about to just roll over and let the man walk all over him. Especially not now that he has power. He is fighting back. He then tells the cop that he will not let Norman Osborn squash him anymore. Perplexed, the cop asks why he's saying something about Norman Osborn all of a sudden. Spidey just there and then, comes to the realization that he's not doing this to get back at JJJ; he's doing it to get back at Norman Osborn.
Just then a scream is heard from nearby. Spidey swings off to investigate and finds a seemingly dead man and a man dressed like a Vulture standing over him, his face obscured by a scarf around his neck. Before Spidey can even process what is happening, the new Vulture attacks him and pulls him into the air. He then takes off flying with Spidey in tow. The wall-crawler manages to twist and turn until he's face-to-face with his opponent, who has yet to speak one word. Spidey pulls the scarf off his face, revealing a large mouth with the mandible split in the middle. The villain opens his mouth and proceeds to spew acid all over Spidey's face. Grabbing his face in pain, Spidey loses his grip on his opponent and falls to a nearby rooftop. He tries wiping off the acid, but to no avail. It's eating right through his mask and it falls into his eyes, rendering him blind on the spot, just as the new Vulture swoops down from the sky toward him.
To be continued.
)