Spider-Man (UK) Vol 1 580

At the Marvel Comics office Al Milgrom is furious that his pencils for this months issue have all been rejected. Heading to the office of Danny Fingeroth. Instead he finds assistant editor Bob DeNatale in his place, and demands some answers. Bob explains that Danny has gone with the other Marvel editors to the San Diego Comicon and left all the assistant editors in charge of the company. Bob goes on to explain that although he likes Al's work he has a different vision of Spider-Man and introduces the man he's hired to write this months issue of Peter Parker: Fred Hembeck. When Hembeck turns over his finished pencils DeNatale is impressed much to Milgrom's chagrin. The story is as follows:

The Fly is back in New York, seeking to get revenge against Spider-Man and J. Jonah Jameson, the Wall-Crawler for his earlier defeat and Jameson for turning him into an inhuman freak. However along the way he stops to terrorize a garbage scowl's crow and much to his horror and disgust finds himself compulsively eating the garbage much like a real fly would.

Elsewhere in the city, Spider-Man is trying to get away from the Black Cat so that he can contemplate their relationship, however the Cat won't let him and tries to confront him about the situation. Finally stopping the Wall-Crawler the two talk things out. Spidey admits that he is concerned for the Black Cat's safety if she continues to act as his side-kick however she explains to him that she has the same need for adventure he does and the two sort it out and decide to make their partnership as crime fighters work. Spider-Man takes Felicia to the building across from the Daily Bugle and tells her that he works for the newspaper. Felicia is surprised to learn that Spider-Man uses a secret identity and has a day job. Spidey tries to explain that when he got his powers his old life didn't stop.

Before they can discuss this further, Spider-Man witnesses the Fly crash into the window into J. Jonah Jameson's office, where Jonah has been working on a new story. As they swing over to the Bugle building, Spider-Man explains his previous encounter with the Fly. When he tells Felicia to stay behind, she refuses and follows after him. While back in the office the Fly threatens Jonah until he is distracted by, and begins licking, a spilled can of soda. As Spider-Man and the Black Cat come to the rescue, Jonah learns that the two costumed adventurers are dating and tries to wrap his head around the concept.

The battle leads them down into the Daily Bugle's printing press with Jameson in tow. There the Fly becomes distracted by a sandwich and the heroes eventually manage to use it to trip up the villain leaving him easy prey when Spider-Man wraps him up in webbing, and save Jameson whom the Fly attempts to drop into the rolling printing press. With the Fly stopped, Spider-Man storms out and warns Jameson to do whatever it takes to restore the Fly to normal or next time the hero will not come to his rescue.

The story narrative is interrupted by the return of Danny Fingeroth returns to the office and is furious that Al Milgrom's pencils were replaced by that of Fred Hembeck and replaces the rest of Al's pages for the remainder of the story.

Spider-Man and the Black Cat make a stop on a rooftop where the Black Cat found the experience of seeing Spider-Man's civilian job exciting and asks if she can see where he lives. This cause an inner struggle with Spider-Man as he doubts once again if the Black Cat could love both Spider-Man and Peter Parker, but ultimately decides to take the chance and agrees to take her to see his place.

Appearing in "The Curing of Dr. Banner!"

Reprint of the 1st story from
Incredible Hulk #223

Featured Characters:

Hulk (Bruce Banner)

Supporting Characters:

Antagonists:

Leader (Sam Sterns)

Other Characters:

Larry
Alice
Gamma Base Soldiers
Glenn Talbot (Mentioned)

Races and Species:

Humans

Realities:

Earth-616

Locations:

Earth
- North America
  - United States of America
    - Texas
      - Garland
    - New Mexico
      - Gamma Base
    - New York State
      - New York City
        Manhattan
        Lower East Side
        Rooms to Let
- Auschwitz (Mentioned)

Items:

Doc Samson's electro-key

Vehicles:

Synopsis for "The Curing of Dr. Banner!"

Reprint of the 1st story from
Incredible Hulk #223

The Hulk is bounding through Texas where he interrupts a romantic picnic between a couple named Larry and Alice by landing flat on his face. When the Hulk gets up, Larry tries to smash a massive tree branch on the brute but this does nothing. Suddenly, the Hulk starts slowly reverting back into Bruce Banner. When the transformation is finally complete, Banner realizes that the gamma rays in his body must have worn off and he is now cured. Happy as can be, he makes the ill-advised decision to kiss Alice on the cheek. Jealous, Larry punches Banner, which comes as a shock to Bruce. Even though he has been harmed and was momentary angry, he didn't transform into the Hulk, confirming his theory that he is cured.

Meanwhile, at Gamma Base, Doc Samson leads General Ross and some soldiers to the locked door to the secured lab where they believe the mysterious John Doe has holed up since he went missing. Activating the lock, Samson walks in and is shocked by what he sees inside, but he is blasted back outside. The soldiers open fire into the room and then rush in despite the protests by Samson. No sooner have the soldiers have entered the lab does a blast door close down and some unseen force shocks them all into an inert state. Samson rips the door off the hinges and he and General Ross enter to find that the Leader is back, and that he intends to take over Gamma Base, then the world.

Back in Texas, Larry and Alice drive Bruce to a nearby airfield where Banner hopes to get a lift back to Gamma Base. After the couple departs, Banner finds a pilot and he is surprised that it is none other than Spad McCracken. McCracken recognizes Banner and, fearing the Hulk, he tries to flee. Banner cannot convince McCracken that he is cured, so he is forced to tackle him. Spad is still not willing to help Banner out, as the last time he did it cost him a plane. However, the wily pilot changes his mind when Banner tells him that there is money involved. While in New York City, the landlord that owns the Rooms to Let apartment building is unhappy about the damage caused by the Hulk's recent battle there. He demands that the superintendent, April Somers, pay out the money. She cannot afford it, and when Jim offers to pay for the damages he realizes that he doesn't have enough to cover the damages either. However, salvation comes in the shape of Kropotkin the Great, who has just returned home after winning it big at gambling and pays off the landlord for the damages and sends him on his way. After explaining his newfound winnings, Kropotkin also is forced to pay for the back rent he owes April. This doesn't do much to phase the portly magician, who has hatched a new scheme and asks Jim Wilson to assist him with his plans. With nothing else to do and nowhere to go, Jim agrees to accompany him.

Meanwhile, Spad McCracken has flown Bruce to New Mexico, where they are now approaching the airspace near Gamma Base. When the military calls in to demand why they are violating the no-fly zone in the area, Bruce takes the radio and announces himself. Much to their surprise, they are allowed to land and only a single captain is sent out to greet them on the landing strip. The captain takes the pair to the lab and on the way they can't help but notice that everyone appears to be in a zombie-like trance. Once they enter the darkened laboratory, they are suddenly blinded by lights. Once their eyes have adjusted to them, they discover that the Leader has Doc Samson and General Ross as his prisoners, the first part of his plan to take over the world.

Appearing in 3rd story

Synopsis for 3rd story

Synopsis not yet written

Notes

This issue reprints the first half of Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man #86 and the second half of Incredible Hulk #223.

Links and References

References