If the Technomancers have it, then that's bad news to begin with -- But if Osborn wants it, then that's enough to convince me that he just shouldn't have it! 
Appearing in "Acquisitions"
Sensational Spider-Man #32
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
Other Characters:
- Technomancer Corporation
- Maegis Hamilton Cromwell (First appearance)
- Aunt Anna
- Ryan Sawyer (First appearance)
- Brotherhood of the Scriers
- Alison Mongrain
- Joe Robertson
- Jill Stacy (Referenced)
- Kaine Parker (Mentioned)
- Aura (Ann Herd) (Mentioned)
- Daily Bugle (Referenced)
Races and Species:
Locations:
- Earth
- North America
- United States of America
- New York State
- New York City
- Manhattan
- Aleister Building
- National Bank
- Queens
- Queensboro Bridge (Referenced)
- Manhattan
- New York City
- New York State
- United States of America
- Europe
- North America
Items:
- Fragment of "Rites of the Five"
- Spider-Man's Suit and Web-Shooters
Synopsis for "Acquisitions"
Sensational Spider-Man #32
Norman Osborn has come to the Aleister Building, headquarters of the Technomancer Agency, where he meets with Hamilton Cromwell a Fifth Degree Maegis and a member of the organizations elite Dark Chamber. Osborn has come to discuss an ancient mystical artifact called the Rites of the Five. Cromwell explains that the rituals that are conducted with these artifacts channels powerful but dangerous magic. However, for the five different stones to tap into these mystical energies they require a spindle. However, the Spindle went missing in Istanbul sometime in the 12th century. That's when Norman Osborn reveals that he found it. Shocked, Cromwell asks to see the spindle and compares it to his own fragment of the Rites. He confirms the Spindle's authenticity and warns Osborn that to use the Rites of the Five is nothing short of insanity. When Norman offers to buy his fragment of the Rites, Hamilton refuses and orders his Neomancers to escort Osborn and his men from the building. On the way out, Greg Herd asks Norman what the point of this expedition was if Hamilton was not willing to sell. Osborn tells Greg not to worry as this was merely a reconnoitering mission.
A few blocks away, Spider-Man is heading home after taking a number of crime photos for the Daily Bugle. However, he has to stop when his spider-sense warns him of a crook that is about to rob someone using an ATM machine. Although the victim is a very muscular man, the thief has the advantage as he is carrying a gun. When Spider-Man uses his webbing to pull the weapon, the would-be victim tells Spider-Man that he can handle things from here and the web-slinger decides to leave the man to give the crook a beating. Back at the Parker home, Mary Jane is busy with her studies when her Aunt Anna tells her that she has a phone call. As it turns out, it's Mary Jane's old model Ryan Sawyer. Mary Jane is excited to hear from him and is interested to hear that he may have some new modeling work lined up for her. However, her mood is soured when Ryan asks how her new baby is doing. Mary Jane tells Sawyer that she will talk about it over lunch the next day and quickly ends her phone call and begins contemplating a return to modeling.[Continuity 1]
Back in the city, Spider-Man is still trying to head back home when he spots Overdrive running through the city. He isn't really interested in knowing what Norman Osborn's new errand boy is up to, but decides to look into it when he notices Overdrive breaking into the Technomancer building.[Continuity 2] Using his ability to negate all forms of technology, Overdrive is able to get past the security systems and armed guards in the building. However, before Overdrive can recover the section of the Rite of Five, Spider-Man snatches it away, knowing that whatever Norman Osborn wants it for would be nothing but trouble. However, Overdrive wants the fragment because it can help his wife Aura, whom he blames for being seriously injured during their previous attempt to capture him.[Continuity 3] However, Overdrive uses his powers to snatch the fragment from the wall-crawler and then tries to flee. The web-slinger attempts to chase after him but Overdrive reactivates the security systems.
However, the Neomancers corner him in a room with giant stasis vats containing monstrous creatures. Overdrive then uses his powers to free the creatures to slow up both the soldiers and the web-slinger. While Spider-Man is busy subduing the creatures, Overdrive manages to escape. Later, Overdrive hands over the fragment to Norman Osborn at his office. Instead of being paid, Greg petitions Norman to allow him to be involved in the mystical gathering Osborn is organizing. When Greg explains that he wants to try to use the ceremony to heal his wife, Norman decides to allow him to take Cromwell's place due to his selfless reasons. After Greg leaves, Norman is visited by one of his Scriers who tells his master that they succeeded in recovering the "package" from Alison Mongrane.[Continuity 4] Osborn is pleased that his plan is all coming together. When asking about the Mongraine woman, the Scrier explains that she has fled to France. At that very moment, in Paris, Alison Mongraine is trying to keep a low profile when she is found by Joe Robertson.
The Gathering of Five continues in Amazing Spider-Man #440...
Appearing in "A Hot Time in the Old Town"
Amazing Spider-Man #440
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
Other Characters:
- Morris Maxwell (First appearance)
- Norman Osborn
- Scrier
- J. Jonah Jameson (Mentioned)
Races and Species:
Locations:
- Earth
- North America
- United States of America
- New York State
- New York City
- Manhattan
- Maxwell's Pawnshop
- Manhattan
- New York City
- New York State
- United States of America
- France (Mentioned)
- North America
Items:
Synopsis for "A Hot Time in the Old Town"
Amazing Spider-Man #440
This story continues from Sensational Spider-Man #32...
Spider-Man arrived in the city after hearing reports that the Molten Man is going on a rampge. This surprises the wall-crawlers as he believed that his old foe had gone straight.[Continuity 5] When he first encounters Molten Man, Spider-Man discovers that Raxton is in some kind of trance, walking directly in a straight line smashing through anything that stands in his way. Molten Man walks through a wall and activates the building's sprinkler system. As the water hits him, it turns in to scalding hot steam, forcing Spider-Man to clear out the building instead of continuing his pursuit. Once the civilians are safe, Spider-Man returns only to find that the Molten Man has somehow vanished.
Meanwhile, Norman Osborn pays a visit to Morris Maxwell, the owner of a pawnshop, another owner of one of the shards of an artifact called the Rites of the Five. Morris is well aware that Osborn is looking to gather the pieces once more as his own fragment has been "speaking" to him. Maxwell warns Osborn that of all the power offered by a Gathering of Five there is a risk of insanity or death. despite this, Osborn intends to complete the ceremony seeking to gain untold power.
Meanwhile, Spider-Man has backtracked to figure out what happened to the Molten Man, discovering that he has escaped by melting through the floor of the building and escaping into the sewers. He begins following the steam generated by the heat of Molten Man's body reacting with the sewage water. However, as he gets closer, the wall-crawler quickly discovers that the heat is too intense to continue and is forced to flee the sewers. Changing tactics, Spider-Man returns to the surface and uses a map to try and figure out where Raxton was going and pinpoints that he is heading to the pair.
There, Joe Robertson and Alison Mongraine have just arrived after fleeing from France.[Continuity 6] As they try to make their getaway, the Molten Man comes crashing out of the ground to try and stop them. Seeing that Raxton is after Alison, Joe tries to stop him with a crowbar, but the weapons has no effect and he is swatted aside. Before Joe can be harmed, Spider-Man arrives and intervenes. To protect himself from the Molten Man's extreme heat by webbing up his hands. As the two battle it out, the warehouse they are fighting in begins to catch fire. Although Robertson insists they stay and find a way to help the wall-crawler, Mongraine insists that they get out of there so they can find Peter Parker. With no other choice, Joe is forced to leave Spider-Man to fend for himself. By this point, the flames caused by the Molten Mad compromise the wooden floors of the warehouse sending them both falling into the water below. Driven back by boiling steam, Spider-Man once again loses all trace of the Molten Man when he is sucked into the propellers of a passing boat. Although he isn't sure if the Molten Man survived or not, Spider-Man is certain he knows who his employer was.
Observing this battle is one of the members of the Brotherhood of Scriers who reports the Molten Man's failure to his master, Norman Osborn. Norman tells his minion to confirm if the Molten Man is dead or alive and get back to him. He then continues his conversation with Morris Maxwell about the Gathering of Five. Maxwell once again warns Norman that the power offered by the gathering is not always what it seems. Still, even at the risk of madness or death, he wants to continue gathering the fragments needed for the ceremony, knowing that others needed for the ceremony will also be willing to take those risks as well. ... The Gathering of Five continues in Spider-Man #96.
Appearing in "The Gathering of Five part 3 of 5: Web of Despair"
Spider-Man #96
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Green Goblin (Norman Osborn)
- Creep (First appearance)
Other Characters:
- Alison Mongrain
- J. Jonah Jameson
- Joe Robertson
- NYPD
- Nitro (Robert Hunter) (Referenced)
- Aunt Anna (Mentioned)
- Kraven the Hunter (Sergei Kravinoff) (Mentioned)
- Scrier (Mentioned)
- Thor (Odinson) (Mentioned)
- John Jameson (Mentioned)
- Marla Madison-Jameson (Mentioned)
Races and Species:
Locations:
Items:
Vehicles:
Synopsis for "The Gathering of Five part 3 of 5: Web of Despair"
Spider-Man #96
- Synopsis not yet written
See Also
Links and References
References
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