User blog:ProfessorKilroy/Daily Bugle website fills gaps between Amazing Spider-Man films

Depending on where you live, The Amazing Spider-Man 2: Rise of Electro has recently been released, or will be sometime over the next two weeks. So with that in mind, I thought I'd share a viral marketing site that has been running for some time now, the Daily Bugle tumblr page. In it, you'll find editorials with opinions on the vigilante Spider-Man, as well as reports of things that happen around him. These articles are written by Daily Bugle employees, Dilbert Trilby, Ned Leeds, Izzy Bunsen, Ken Ellis, Joy Mercado, Kate Cushing, Eddie Brock, Frederick Foswell, Chelsea Goodrich, Melissa Hutchins, as well as J. Jonah Jameson himself.

So, although its canonicity is somewhat uncertain, I thought I'd collect some interesting details and events here:

2013:
 * 18th July - Dates the Lizard attack on Oscorp Tower as 17th July. A spokesperson for Oscorp refused to comment on the incident.
 * People are questioning whether or not the Police Department is capable of protecting citizens from superhuman threats, and questioning what goes on behind Oscorp's closed doors.
 * The Major Crimes Unit (formally led by Captain George Stacy) is tasked in increased activity in organised crime, with acting chief of the MCU, Detective Stan Carter saying "All of our forces remain united and focused on the Russian mob activity in Brooklyn and the growing rumors of a ‘Big Man’ who is trying to consolidate organized crime in Manhattan. That’s the ball George would have wanted us to keep our eye on. All the other science fiction stuff can be left to the tabloids."


 * 14th October - Donald Menken, spokesperson for Oscorp spoke about the construction of a prototype alternative energy power plant, complete with hydroelectric tower, and said it should be completed within a year.
 * Menken also speaks of significant advancements in robotics (including a flight harness prototype for the military) under Spencer Smythe, the head of the engineering division. And he also said of the future of Oscorp, "Between the disappearance of Dr. Rajit Ratha, the rogue actions of a very unstable former employee and Norman Osborn’s health concerns, everyone in the media will cry the sky is falling, but just the opposite is true. While everyone else ducks for cover, Oscorp is always reaching for the stars."


 * 23rd October - A trial date is set for Dr Curt Conners, who has been charged with trespassing, malicious destruction of property, theft of private property, aggravated assault, and using a weapon of mass destruction, among 15 other charges. He has pleaded "not guilty", claiming that pressure from Oscorp caused him to test the formula on himself.


 * 15th November - Dr. Rajit Ratha's body has been found in the sewers.


 * 20th November - Oscorp's experimental hydroelectric power plan is said to "reshape New York's power landscape", and could power the city for the next 20 years.


 * 27th November - A robbery at G.K. Mason Bank occurred, with a mysterious perpetrator. Police stated "There’s still a lot we don’t know, but it looks like some kind of sustained vibration literally shook the door off its hinges and ripped the walls apart in the process."


 * 6th December - World-renowned nuclear researcher, Otto Octavius is rumoured to be in talks with Oscorp on some projects.


 * 12th December - A mob shoot-out broke out between "Fancy" Dan Brito and accomplices Jackson "Montana" Brice and Raymond "The Ox" Bloch, and rival mobsters from the Manfredi crime family. Spider-Man intervened, and by the time the police arrived, a dozen mobsters were restrained with webbing, including Brito and his accomplices.


 * 17th December - Reports indicate that a central figure has risen to claim control over Russian organised crime families, but the NYPD continues to deny the existence of a "Big Man".


 * 19th December - Harry Osborn is studying in Europe, but photos provide evidence that he has been partying with supermodels.


 * 26th December - Crime families have become involved in more high-tech crimes, stealing microchips, processors, experimental alloys, and advanced weaponry.


 * 28th December - Spider-Man stopped a bank robber, suspected of previous heists. The robber was identified as engineer, Herman Schultz, who had created wrist-gauntlets capable of emitting vibratory waves of pressure that could tear apart thick steel vaults.

2014:
 * 6th January - Dr Curt Conners, represented by Anne Weying, was found guilty, and will be sent to Ryker's Island. Although it has been suggested that Ravencroft Institute for the Criminally Insane, would be better suited to Conners.


 * 9th January - Empire State University announced a new class in advanced biogenetics, called Introduction to Live Cloning, to be taught by geneticist, Professor Miles Warren.


 * 7th February - The District Attorney's office opened an official investigation into criminal activity, and questionable medical practices at Oscorp.


 * 11th February - Oscorp has asked some of their top scientists (such as Dr Spencer Smythe) to leave, following the announcement of an investigation into illegal practices at Oscorp. Alistair Smythe has been given a promotion to the Director of Robotics position previously held by his father.


 * 28th February - Oscorp announced that they destroyed all of their cross-genetics research.


 * 11th March - The investigation into Oscorp's practices has closed, with no discovery of illegal activities. However, the closing of the investigation comes with rumours that Oscorp threatened to cancel any discounts they provided to the city for their prototype power station, of which a grand opening is planned for the 16th April.


 * 12th March - Another mob shoot-out occurred, between the Russian mob and the Big Man's gang, leaving three dead. Security camera footage confirms the presence of the Big Man, with his crew, the Enforcers. Analysis of the footage is ongoing. The three victims were identified as members of Alexsei Sytsevich's Brighton Beach crew.


 * 14th March - Bank robber, Herman Schultz, escaped from Ryker's Island using vibratory gauntlets he crafted from materials in the prison workshop.


 * 18th March - Spider-Man caught the crime boss, the "Big Man", who was revealed to be Daily Bugle reporter, Frederick Foswell.


 * 2nd April - Herman Schultz has been apprehended again, by Spider-Man.


 * 4th April - Oscorp failed to secure a contract for the development of a flying suit for the United States Military, despite two decades worth of research into electromagnetic anti-gravity from Dr. Adrian Toomes. Sources hint that the contract has landed with a Los Angeles-based conglomerate.


 * 9th April - Frederick Foswell (previously unmsked as the "Big Man") was found murdered in Ryker's Island penitentiary.


 * 10th April - Escaped serial killer, Cletus Kasady has been captured. He has been sent to Ravencroft Institute for interrogation before relocation.


 * 16th April - The Oscorp Industries Life Sciences Division has offered a grant to several New York City hospitals, which will allow nursing departments to maintain necessary staffing, and will also supply hospitals with extensive robotic medical equipment upgrades (some in experimental phases).
 * Nurse, May Parker said "It’s great to see more opportunities for younger nurses and it’s also an amazing gift to the people of New York City. I’m excited to learn how to use these new machines, even if they do look a little scary."