Appearing in "...Just a Man Called Cage!"
Amazing Spider-Man #123
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
Other Characters:
- NYPD
- Norman Osborn (Appears to be Dead)
- Phil Fox (Mentioned)
- Randy Robertson
- Anna Watson
- Unnamed Doctor Octopus Henchman
- Doctor Octopus (Otto Octavius) (Referenced)
- Bruce Wayne (Mentioned)
Races and Species:
Locations:
Items:
- Spider-Man's Suit and Web-Shooters
- Pumpkin Bombs (Mentioned)
- Goblin Costume (Mentioned)
Synopsis for "...Just a Man Called Cage!"
Amazing Spider-Man #123
Three days later is Gwen Stacy's funeral, everyone is there (except Jameson) to pay their respects to Peter, especially Mary Jane who takes Peter out for coffee after. While at the Manhattan office of Luke Cage, J. Jonah Jameson sees as Cage tosses out a rude potential client. Jameson offers Cage his next job: For five thousand dollars, Jameson wants Spider-Man captured dead or alive.
As Spider-Man web-slings through the city, puzzling over his feelings and over who could have removed the Green Goblin costume from Osborn's body, he's attacked by Luke Cage. After a brief battle across the city, Spider-Man gets the upper hand, and Luke vows to get him because he needs the money. Spider-Man returns home, and changes back to Peter Parker and is shocked to find Harry Osborn at home. When Peter asks why he isn't at his father's estate, Harry can only angrily glare at him.
Later, when Peter is dragged out to a school concert by Mary Jane, it is interrupted by Luke Cage, who bursts in calling out a challenge to Spider-Man (not sure if the wall-crawler is really there, but hoping that since he's frequently seen around Empire State University he may be in the crowd.) Sure enough, Peter slips away and changes into Spider-Man to battle Luke Cage.
During their fight, Spider-Man finally gets through to Luke Cage, and the two find a camaraderie, in that they both initially got into super-heroing to make money, and that they have both been treated as outlaws. Later, Luke Cage pays a visit to J. Jonah Jameson and literally stuffs his money down his throat. Back at the concert, Peter has changed back into his civilian identity, and he and Mary Jane call it a night, Peter telling her that after talking with someone he realized that he's not really alone dealing with his problems after all.Appearing in "Killers of a Purple Rage!"
Featured Characters:
Antagonists:
- Killgrave The Purple Man (Apparent death)
Other Characters:
Locations:
Items:
Synopsis for "Killers of a Purple Rage!"
Hawkeye and the Two-Gun Kid ride through a desolate Southwestern landscape; Hawkeye says it’s one of the only places where things still look like Two-Gun’s native era of 1873. Suddenly the ground gives way beneath them, and they tumble into a secret underground stronghold, where the Purple Man is plotting his revenge against Daredevil. (He also notes how he slipped away from the blast that caused Daredevil to think he was dead, in DD Vol 1 89). Believing they have come for him, he orders them to kill each other. Unable to resist him, they begin fighting, but Two-Gun in desperation whistles for his fallen horse, Nancy, who rushes at Killgrave and knocks him over. Hawkeye blasts him with an arrow and they destroy his base, and make their getaway. Two-Gun wonders if maybe Killgrave only led them to believe that he was defeated; Hawkeye tells him not to worry about it.
Notes
- This issue is a double-sized Birthday/Anniversary Special. The Hawkeye story is new material.
- Featues a featurette (with some altered dialogue) from Amazing Spider-Man Annual #1 that showcases Spidey's costume and powers.
- Also features a full page poster by Gil Kane and Joe Rubinstein.