Appearing in "Targets!"
Amazing Spider-Man #411
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Gaunt (Mendel Stromm)
- Cell-12 (First appearance)
Other Characters:
- Daily Bugle Staff
- Dr. Seward Trainer
- Shirley Washington
- Devon Lewis
- Spider-Skeleton (Photo)
- The Burglar (Referenced)
- Uncle Ben (Referenced)
- Tilde
- NYPD
Races and Species:
Locations:
- Earth
- North America
- United States of America
- New York State
- New York City
- Manhattan
- Daily Grind (Destroyed)
- Daily Bugle Building
- MultiVex Corporation
- Manhattan
- New York City
- Portland, Oregon (Mentioned)
- New York State
- United States of America
- North America
Items:
Synopsis for "Targets!"
Amazing Spider-Man #411
This story continues from Sensational Spider-Man #4...
J. Jonah Jameson has called together his staff to celebrate the front page photo that allegedly proves that Spider-Man stole a skeleton from the morgue. Jameson has issued a $100,000 reward for anyone who can return the skeleton as Jonah intends to prove that it is the dead body of the original Spider-Man and that the current one is the killer.[Continuity 1] That's when Joe Robertson enters the room and tells Jonah that he got off the phone with the police commissioner. The commissioner is upset by Jonah's reward, feeling that it will hamper his investigation by drawing out every crackpot in the city. Jonah admits that he hopes the police find the skeleton first because then he wouldn't have to pay out the reward.
Meanwhile, Spider-Man swings across the city, his mind worried with thoughts about Jessica Carradine. Jessica was the daughter of the burglar who shot his Uncle Ben years ago, and she has bore a grudge against Spider-Man ever since his arrest and subsequent death. To make matter worse, Jessica had recently snapped a photo of Spider-Man with his mask up, compromising Ben's double identity.[Continuity 2] Returning his mind to the job at task, he recalls how his relationship with Peter Parker has been strained after Seward Trainer refused to meet with Peter to examine the Spider-Skeleton.[Continuity 3] When he arrives at Trainer's lab, he sees no sign of his old friend. The entire place is being packed up and moved, prompting Spider-Man to tag one of the crates with a spider-tracer in the hopes of tracking it to Seward's new home later. He still tries to find Seward and finds no trace and decides to head back home.
There, Ben begins changing out of his costume and try to keep his mind of Jessica while he gets ready for his shift at the Daily Grind. That's when he notices that it is very cold in his apartment. Going downstairs he asks his landlord, Tilde, why there is no heat in his apartment. She angrilly tells him that she doesn't provide heat to deadbeats who don't pay their rent. Ben is confused by this until Tilde tells him that his rent cheque bounced. He doesn't know why and tells her that he will straighten everything out soon and rushes out the door. While at the hotel room Peter Parker and his wife Mary Jane have been staying, Peter is amazed by how much money Jonah paid him for photos of Spider-Man with the skeleton.[Continuity 4] Not only that, but Jameson paid for their hotel stay and their tickets to fly back to Portland.[Continuity 5] Mary Jane suggests that they head home on an earlier flight. However, Peter wants to stay and find Seward Trainer in roder to learn the identity of the Spider-Skeleton and find out once and for all who he really is. Mary Jane, however, doesn't care about anything other than the fact that Peter is her husband and the man she loves. She also reminds him that he can't play super-hero anymore now that he lost his powers and reminds him of his new responsibilities of being a father to their unborn child.[Continuity 6]
While at the Multivex corporation, the mystery man known as Gaunt has forced Seward Trainer into his employ. He demands that Trainer work to restore his broken body back to its former glory, something that Trainer figures he can accomplish. Going to the bank to find out what went wrong, Ben learns that the IRS has flagged his account and he won't have access to his money until they are satisfied with the results of their investigation. Reilly decides to swallow his pride and as his boss, Shirley Washington at the Daily Grind, for an advance on his pay. However, when he arrives at the coffee shop his spider-sense warns him about the two men who are talking to Shirley when he comes walking in. Going into the staff area in back to change into his work uniform, he notices that he has Jessica's shoulder bag in his locker. When he walks out of the back room, Ben asks what the two men wanted. Shirley and her son Devon explain that they were police officers who came to warn them that Ben has had violent altercations with past employers. He assures them that this is a big misunderstanding and begs them to believe him. At that same moment, Peter and Mary Jane have just finished some shopping. During their time out, Mary Jane has convinced Peter that they need to go back to their normal lives in Portland. However, the couple is unaware that they are being observed from the shadows by a cyborg who works for an organization calling itself Cell-12.
Back at the Daily Grind, Jessica Carradine arrives to collect her bag. In the backroom, she admits that they have a lot to talk about, but here is not the right place and time and promises to call him later. Simultaneously, Peter reiterates his commitment to moving forward when he and Mary Jane are wrapped up in an energy whip and pulled into a nearby alley. They find themselves confronted by the cyborgs calling themselves Cell-12: As massive and deformed Nardi, the snake like Andros, energy whip weilding Lasher, and their leader the cannon armed Bramer. Although they have come for Peter Parker, they refuse to let Mary Jane go since she will likely try and call the police. While Lasher detains Mary Jane, the rest of the group beat on Peter, who is defenseless without his spider-powers. They have come to deliver a warning from their employer who is not happy with Peter's attempts to contact Seward Trainer and investigate the Multivex Corporation. By this time, Spider-Man is out web-slinging, and comes to the rescue of a couple and their child who are being mugged in an alley.[Continuity 7] As he swings away the young boy calls the wall-crawler a hero, a sentiment that Ben Reilly doesn't agree with. When he returns to his apartment, he is shocked to discover that his apartment has been cleared out. Whoever was responsible left a message scrawled on the floor that reads "We know who you are!!", filling the wall-crawler with paranoia as he tries to figure out who is responsible.
Back in the alley, Nardi holds tightly to Peter Parker while Andros beats him senselessly. Mary Jane begs them to stop, but they don't until Bramer is satisfied that Parker has gotten the message from their employer. The group then drop Parker to the ground and leave in silence as Mary Jane runs to the aid of her unconscious husband. While back at his apartment, Spider-Man is upset that he has been left with nothing but his costume and the clothes on his back. That's when he realizes that if his attackers know who he really is, his friends at the Daily Grind could be in trouble. He quickly web-slings back to the coffee shop only to see that it is in flames.
... Blood Brothers continues in Spider-Man #68.
Appearing in "Into The Depths"
Spider-Man #68
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
Other Characters:
- Dr. Seward Trainer
- Flash Thompson (Only in recap)
- NYPD
- Spider-Skeleton (Mentioned)
- Jackal (Miles Warren) (Mentioned)
- The Burglar, Jessica's Father (Mentioned)
- Uncle Ben (Mentioned)
- Green Goblin (Mentioned)
Races and Species:
Locations:
- Earth
- North America
- United States of America
- New York State
- New York City
- Manhattan
- Daily Grind (Destroyed)
- Jackal's Smokestack (Mentioned)
- New York City
- New York State
- United States of America
- North America
- Portland, Oregon (Mentioned)
Items:
Synopsis for "Into The Depths"
Spider-Man #68
This story continues from Amazing Spider-Man #411....
Following a fire at the Daily Grind, Spider-Man goes to investigate the ruins as he believes that someone is out to get him. He thinks about how much simpler his life was when he was living on the road before it when he thought he was a clone, and before the revelation that he was the real Peter Parker all along.[Continuity 8] Now he has to wonder who is doing this to him, and if they are doing it to Ben Reilly or that they discovered that he is also Spider-Man. He observes an interview between the police and his employer Shirly Washington and is shocked when the officer tells her that his alter-ego has a history of acting out violently against his employers. The wall-crawler is upset when Shirley breaks down in tears, convincing him that she believes their story. He swings away feeling horrible as Shirley Washington was so charitable to him when they first met, even giving him a job at her coffee shop.[Continuity 9] Giving in to his anger, Spider-Man vows to track down whoever is responsible for causing this misery.
Meanwhile, at a hotel, Peter Parker tries to convince his wife Mary Jane to leave the city.[Continuity 10] He is afraid she will get hurt after he was attacked on the street by the group calling themselves Cell-12. However, Mary Jane is certain that they are not coming back as they beat her husband only to send a message. Peter thought his life of danger was over after he lost his spider-powers, hoping that he and his wife, and their unborn child could live happily ever after in Portland.[Continuity 11] However, this dream turned into a nightmare after his recent attack. He felt so helpless when the members of Cell-12 were beating him, a feeling he hasn't had since high school when Flash Thompson used to bully him before he got his spider-powers. Although he doesn't care what happens to himself, Peter fears what could happen to Mary Jane and their child if he can't protect them. When Mary Jane suggests that they leave the city, Peter can't go as long as there are so many questions about his true identity that need to be answered. In response, Mary Jane insists on staying by his side until he is ready to go.[Continuity 12]
Elsewhere, Jessica Carradine returns to her apartment building, her mind full of conflicting thoughts. Looking at her photo of Spider-Man unmasking, she thinks about all the years that she blamed Spider-Man for the death of her father, only to discover that the wall-crawler is Ben Reilly, a man she is falling in love with.[Continuity 13] She could use the photo to destroy Spider-Man, but can't reconcile with her feelings. When she enters her apartment, she finds Ben Reilly waiting inside in his Spider-Man costume. He is tired of her dodging him and he insists that they talk about things right then and there. He tries to convince her that her father murdered his Uncle Ben, but she doesn't believe him. this leads to an argument, and Ben quickly loses his temper and leaves, telling her to stay out of his life. Still angry, Reilly goes to the hotel where the Parkers are staying to see Peter. He tells Peter and Mary Jane that he is going to prove that Seward Trainer didn't manipulate the results that proved he was the real Peter Parker. Even after seeing the beating Peter got for trying to get into contact with Seward Trainer. This isn't enough to convince him that Trainer is anything more than a friend and swings off to prove Peter wrong.
Soon, Spider-Man arrives at Seward Trainer's old lab. Although it is still deserted, someone has tacked a note to the only remaining crate that reads "you were warned". As he looks around the building for clues, the wall-crawler is unaware that he is being observed by members of Cell-12 who are waiting for the right moment to attack. After receiving the signal, Lasher is the first one to attack. After Spider-Man knocks him out, he is then attacked by Nardi and Andros, defeating them both one at a time. This leaves their commander, Bramer the only one left standing. However, as the web-head knocks out this last attacker, he is then ambushed by Cell-12's leader, the Hobgoblin, who has recently underwent cybernetic augmentation. As they battle, the Hobgoblin explains that he is the one responsible for the attacks on Peter Parker and Ben Reilly, but that his actions are the work of a much grander scheme.[Continuity 14] However, the Hobgoblin refuses to reveal who his real employer is and is about to kill the wall-crawler when he is ordered to stop by Seward Trainer. Trainer apologises to Spider-Man for this, telling the wall-crawler that this isn't what he wanted to have happen. Seward and the Hobgoblin depart, with Trainer warning the web-slinger to stop looking for him.
Recovering from his trouncing, Spider-Man feels more alone than ever before as everyone has either been driven away or set against him by others. With no other place to turn, Ben crawls back to the Parker's hotel room where he wakes them up from their sleep as he collapses to the floor.
... This story continues in Spectacular Spider-Man #234.
Appearing in 3rd story
The Spectacular Spider-Man #234
- Appearances not yet listed
Synopsis for 3rd story
The Spectacular Spider-Man #234
- Synopsis not yet written
Notes
Continuity Notes
See Also
Links and References
References
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