Spider-Man (UK) Vol 1 582

Spider-Man has finally agreed to show the Black Cat where he lives and what his secret identity is. When he takes Black Cat to his apartment, she is shocked that it's a borderline slum apartment and not some garish mansion or secret base. He explains that he came from a humble upbringing and explains his origins and why he became Spider-Man, to begin with after gaining his powers. Explaining his purpose is that of duty as opposed to fame or thrill-seeking he unmasks and reveals himself as Peter Parker. Gazing upon the man behind the mask, the Black Cat is horrified and asks Peter to please put his mask back on.

Peter is disappointed to find that the Black Cat loves Spider-Man and not Peter Parker, but he puts his mask back on anyway much to Felicia's joy. Felicia then suggests they swing into the night and bolts out the window instead of the skylight. Peter follows after her upset that she would compromise his secret identity in such a brazen way. When he finally catches up he has her promise not to betray his secret identity again, but suggests to Peter that he would embrace who he really is: Spider-Man. Peter considers the situation for the moment as the Black Cat is the only woman he's loved that loved him as Spider-Man, not Peter Parker, and how recently he enjoys being Spider-Man more than being Peter Parker.

They are interrupted when they head a gunshot followed by a scream. Spider-Man goes toward the disturbance asking the Black Cat to stay behind but she follows him anyway. They a young couple who have just been mugged, the man having been shot. Getting the direction that the muggers went from his woman, and with an ambulance arriving to take the wounded away, Spider-Man and the Black Cat chase after the crooks.

The two work together to bust up the muggers and as they fight think to themselves how much they love one another. When the battle is over they express their love. Suddenly Felicia grows faint, still recovering after her release from the hospital, and Spider-Man suggests going back to his place. Felicia refuses and suggests hers, digging the knife deeper for Peter who is still uneasy about her love of his Spider-Man identity over his Peter Parker one. Wanting to have some kind of happiness in his life, Peter decides to forget about it and embrace what he has and swings off to Felicia's apartment. As he does, the phone at his place begins to ring.

Appearing in "Follow the Leader!"

Reprint of the 1st story from
Incredible Hulk #224

Featured Characters:

Bruce Banner

Supporting Characters:

Antagonists:

Leader (Sam Sterns) (Appears in flashback)

Other Characters:

Gamma Base Soldiers
Kurrgo the Planet Master (Only in recap)
Humanoids (Only in recap)
Avengers (Mentioned)
Fantastic Four (Mentioned)
- Thing (Ben Grimm) (Mentioned)
Adolf Hitler (Mentioned)
Nick Fury (Mentioned)

Races and Species:

Humans
Robots
Xantha (Only in recap)

Realities:

Earth-616

Locations:

Earth
- North America
  - United States of America
    - New Mexico
      - Gamma Base
    - New York City (Mentioned)

Items:

Gamma Ray Projector (Main story and flashback)
Hulk Robot
Electro-Wave Matter Transporter (Only in flashback)
Auto-Medic Capsule (Only in flashback)
Gamma Control Harness

Vehicles:

Clay Quartermain's jet fighter
Murder Module

Synopsis for "Follow the Leader!"

Reprint of the 1st story from
Incredible Hulk #224

Samuel Sterns (Earth-616) from Incredible Hulk Vol 1 224 001

The Leader has Bruce Banner, Doc Samson, General Ross and Spad McCracken as his prisoners. He laughs maliciously as he details the events that led to his resurrection. When last the Hulk encountered the Leader, it was as a pawn of the alien known as Kurrgo the Planet Master. The Leader was believed killed during the episode, but he used his electro-wave matter transporter to teleport to his secret headquarters, half a world away. He was still physically paralyzed, however, and he had to use his enhanced intellect to purge the gamma radiation from his body. As Sam Sterns, he was able to overcome the paralysis until such a time that he could expose himself to a second dose of gamma radiation, transforming him back into the Leader.

As the Leader continues to gloat, Doc Samson manages to break free of his bonds. He rushes towards the Leader, but a mental block - one of several that the Leader has placed into Samson's mind - prevents him from actually attacking him and he falls to his knees. The Leader then slaps Samson across the face just to demonstrate how weak he is.

Suddenly, the Leader discovers that Clay Quartermain's jet is approaching Gamma Base. Seeing Quartermain as a potential reservoir of top secret S.H.I.E.L.D. secrets, the Leader leaves the room and heads towards the airfield.

Because of the Leader's mental block, Samson is unable to leave the base. However, he can free Ross and Banner from their restraints. Samson realizes that only the primitive mind of the Hulk can hope to overcome the Leader's mental powers. Banner, though, absolutely refuses to become the Hulk again. Another option presents itself: They decide to make use of the military's remote controlled Hulk Robot.

Outside, the mind-controlled army personnel surround Clay Quartermain's jet. Clay is escorted into General Ross' office, where the Leader uses his abilities to paralyze him from the neck down. Suddenly, the Hulk Robot smashes through the wall and heads toward the Leader. The Leader cannot understand why Banner would intentionally expose himself to gamma rays again. He races out to a hanger, where he climbs aboard, and activates, the Murder Module.

The Hulk Robot gives chase and effortlessly plows through a squad of armed soldiers. The Murder Module straddles over the top of it and begins kicking at the Hulk Robot. The Hulk Robot rockets into the air toward the control cabin and begins pounding at the glass dome at its top. The Leader, realizing that this is not the Hulk, pushes a button and a wave of electrical energy shakes the Hulk Robot free, sending it plummeting to the ground, where it breaks into pieces. The Leader now realizes that his opponent was a robot and, in a fit of rage, begins blasting at its scattered pieces with the Module's death-ray.

Unfortunately, the destruction of the Hulk Robot generates a great amount of electrical feedback, which surges back into its control harness, greatly injuring Banner. Samson rushes to his side and shockingly laments, "Bruce Banner is dying!"

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 #87 and the second half of Incredible Hulk #224.

Links and References

References