Marvel Database
Register
Advertisement

Appearing in "Homesick"

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

Antagonists:

Other Characters:

  • Mule (First appearance)
  • Mattie (First appearance)
  • Mamie Muggins
  • Alan Latta (Name only)
  • NYPD

Races and Species:

Locations:

Items: Vehicles:

  • Cargo ship

Events

Synopsis for "Homesick"

Recalling how it bonded to Peter Parker, the symbiote posing as Spider-Man's black suit ponders if it can call Earth its new home. Earlier in the evening, Spider-Man had interrupted a shipment of assault rifles at the waterfront district, the dock workers watching him pummel the criminals while complaining that he was disrupting their work. One of the workers, a man nicknamed Stripes, dismisses the possibility that's Spider-Man and is mocked by his coworkers for not knowing that Spider-Man acquired a mysterious new black suit. A dock-worker nicknamed Mule snidely remarks that with Spider-Man on the scene the police won't be far behind, spelling trouble for Stripes. An obese dock worker intervenes and says that the police will put the place on lockdown and keep them from getting any work done, suggesting getting out of there while they still can; Mule remarking that since Stripes is getting paid under the table he figured Stripes wouldn't want the police in his face.

A mile out to sea, a cargo ship transports more illegal weapons to New York City. At the docks, Spider-Man webs up the criminals; but as he web-swings away his costume suddenly fires a web-line towards a tower crane. As he struggles to regain control of it, he leaps out over the East River; firing a web-line too late to get himself back to dry land. Wondering why his costume is suddenly acting up, Spider-Man is relieved that its shapeshifting is still functional and arrives at his apartment just in time for his landlord to come calling for the rent, passing off the smell as a cooking experiment gone wrong. One shower later, Peter decides he's too exhausted to make his date with Black Cat, feeling like he hasn't slept in days. The moment he falls asleep, the symbiote leaves its perch on his chair and prepares to cover him... only for him to suddenly wake up. The symbiote quickly returns to the chair and Peter doesn't notice anything amiss, deciding that since he can't sleep he may as well go back out on patrol. Apprehending a woman on a motorbike fleeing police after robbing a jewelry store, Spider-Man notes that far from exhausting himself he's high on adrenaline. Forming a mallet-head out of its biomass, the symbiote bashes Peter upside the head and then takes control of his unconscious body.

A pair of robbers attempting to break into a store via a back-alley entrance are terrified when Spider-Man web-swings overhead... then confused when he doesn't bust them, wondering if it's his night off. Black Cat notices Spider-Man and calls out to him, demanding to know why he stood her up. The symbiote silently regards her, making her wonder what's wrong. It hisses at her, Felicia jokingly remarking that while she finds it kinky she's the one with the feral motif - only for the symbiote-controlled Spider-Man to web-swing away while she's not paying attention.

At the docks, the workers resume unloading crates only for Symbiote Spider-Man to arrive and attack. Stripes watches his co-workers get knocked out, stating that he thought his days of fighting Spider-Man were over and that this was an honest job; but that Spider-Man just attacked his friends. Unveiling himself as the Sandman, Stripes - aka William Baker - attacks Symbiote Spider-Man, furiously berating him for messing up his life even when he tries to go straight. Sandman mocks Symbiote Spider-Man's attempt to web him up, saying Spider-Man should know by now that that doesn't work as he smashes him with a mace-head. Sandman forms a massive hammer out of both his arms, remarking that it's too bad Spider-Man's being so quiet as he would've liked to hear his old enemy's last words; but Symbiote Spider-Man evades. Sandman disperses and reforms as a giant, burying Symbiote Spider-Man under several shipping containers. As he wonders if he finally did Spider-Man in, the symbiote separates from its host and turns the tables on Sandman with its own amorphous shapeshifting abilities - entering into his body and exploding him from the inside-out. Spotting a piece of meteorite amidst the wreckage that reminds it of its old home, the symbiote retrieves Spider-Man from under the shipping containers and returns him to his bed.

Awakening confused as to how he got home and why his body is wracked with pain, Peter remarks that he sometimes wishes his costume could speak to him before remarking that it doesn't matter in the end, since at the very least he's home.

Appearing in "Catfight"

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

Antagonists:

Other Characters:

Races and Species:

Locations:

Items:

Vehicles:

Synopsis for "Catfight"

  • Synopsis not yet written

Appearing in "Sand Blasted"

Reprint of the 1st story from
Untold Tales of Spider-Man #3

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

Antagonists:

Other Characters:

Races and Species:

Locations:

Items:

Synopsis for "Sand Blasted"

Reprint of the 1st story from
Untold Tales of Spider-Man #3

A pair of police officers open the back of their paddy wagon to check on their prisoner and are shocked to discover that he has escaped. This comes as a shock to them as they figured that Sandman was under wraps after he was defeated in his recent battle with the Human Torch.[Continuity 1] With the Sandman on the loose again, they wonder who will be able to stop him. At that same moment, Spider-Man is literally jumping for joy because he finally mustered up the courage to ask Betty Brant out for a date. His mind thinks back to earlier that day, just after Spider-Man had defeated the Vulture, who was on a rampage at the offices of the Daily Bugle.[Continuity 2] Hiding behind a desk with Betty, Peter managed to ask Betty out on a date. After he left the Daily Bugle offices, Peter discovers that his injured arm has completely healed and he no longer needs to wear it in a brace. His thoughts are interrupted by the sounds of gunshots and screams. His spider-sense draws the wall-crawler to a nearby bank that is being robbed by the Sandman.

Sandman surprises Spider-Man when he explains that he has no grudge against Spider-Man for his last defeat at his hands and asks the web-spinner to look the other way.[Continuity 3] When Spider-Man refuses to let him get away with his crime, Sandman lashes out violently. The Sandman easily pummels the wall-crawler, leaving him laying on the ground while he escapes. As Spider-Man recovers from the beating, one of the officers on the scene tries to arrest him. Fearing getting unmasked, Spider-Man quickly escapes by scurrying down a nearby manhole. As he flees through the muck and sludge of the sewers, Spider-Man wonders if other heroes have to suffer these sorts of indignities. The next morning, Peter gets dressed for the day, being cautious of the bruises that cover his body. Seeing that Peter is pale, Aunt May begins to worry. As Peter makes another excuse as to why he doesn't look well, he thinks about how he hates lying to his Aunt even if he is doing it to protect his double identity.

When Peter arrives at school he passes by Flash Thompson and his friends. Flash is boasting about how he thinks Spider-Man will eventually capture the Sandman. When Tiny asks Peter what he thinks about Spider-Man's recent defeat, he walks past the group without saying anything. Taking this as an insult, Jason Ionello shoves Peter into the locker. Due to his injuries sustained fighting the Sandman, the sudden shock to his injuries causes Peter to blackout. He later wakes up in the nurse's office. When she tries to convince Peter to go home for the day, Parker says he's fine and rushes out of the office. Having seen the bruises on his body, the nurse would have suspected the boy was being abused at home but knows better since Peter lives with his elderly Aunt. She chalks it up to the boy not wanting to be seen as a roughneck given his reputation. After school, Peter goes to the Daily Bugle where he turns in his photos of the Spider-Man/Sandman battle to J. Jonah Jameson. As Jameson tries to come up with a suitable headline, Peter hates himself for selling photos that make Spider-Man look bad. However, he has no choice since because he and Aunt May need the money. As he walks out of Jonah's office, Peter wonders if he should give up being Spider-Man since he was defeated by Sandman before, and fears that it might happen again. On his way out he is approached by Betty Brant who asks if they are still on for their date on Friday. Seeing how miserable she looks, Betty asks Peter if he's okay. He loses his temper on her, sarcastically telling her that life is peachy before storming out of the office.

Over the next few days, the Sandman begins a string of robberies. Thanks to his sand powers he is able to evade capture from the authorities. His crime spree eventually gains the attention of the Avengers, prompting Giant-Man, the Wasp, and Iron Man to also try looking for the villain. Meanwhile, Peter Parker remains on the sidelines, becoming more and more depressed that he can't do anything about it. When Jason Ionello tries to flick a paperclip at Peter in class, Liz Allen stops him, telling him to stop bullying Parker. By Friday, Peter's bruises have all but faded and he is back in perfect health, just in time for his date with Betty Brant. However, when they go out for dinner, Peter is lost in thought. Noticing that something is troubling him, Betty gives him a pep-talk that convinces him to get over his self-doubt, relating to someone she knew that gave up on himself.[Continuity 4] Inspired to go back out and find the Sandman, Peter pays for their dinner and tells her that he has something that he needs to do.

Searching the city, Spider-Man eventually comes across the Sandman as he making his escape from Grabois Aerospace Laboratories. Their battle sends them crashing into the main lab. There, Spider-Man dodges the Sandman's blows and begins switching on one of the massive turbines. As the machine whirs to life, the Sandman realizes that he is going to be sucked into the device. His final words to Spider-Man is a warning that this indignity has now made things personal. Just then, the Sandman is sucked into the turbine and the particles of his body are sprayed across the city. Surprisingly, the scientists are relieved that Spider-Man saved them even though the turbine was damaged, as it will cost less to fix it than pay the Sandman protection money. Although he thinks this will reflect positively on him in the press, the very next day Peter is upset to see the Daily Bugle accusing Spider-Man of helping the Sandman to escape. Adding insult to injury, Jonah is still gloating about it when Peter goes to the Daily Bugle to ask Betty out on another date. She tells him to hold on for a moment and transfers Jonah an incoming call from his son John. Taking the call, Jonah is shocked by what John has called to tell him. John Jameson assures his father that what he has told him is true and he will be coming to New York in a few weeks to begin arrangements for his startling revelation.

Appearing in "He Who Laughs Last...!"

Reprint of the 1st story from
Amazing Spider-Man #176

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

Antagonists:

Other Characters:

Races and Species:

Locations:

Items:

Vehicles:

Synopsis for "He Who Laughs Last...!"

Reprint of the 1st story from
Amazing Spider-Man #176

Following Spider-Man's battle with the Hitman, the wall-crawler returns J. Jonah Jameson to his office. The publisher is less than thankful about Spider-Man's rescue attempt, and Spider-Man literally gives Jameson a spin after he chews out Spider-Man, before leaving.

The next morning, Peter awakens to find that his arm is completely healed, he decides to go see his Aunt May and finds a note on her apartment staying that she's participating in a Grey Panthers protest. Going to meet up with her there, Peter witnesses Aunt May get into an altercation with a police officer, when she suddenly has a heart attack and passes out. Throwing the cop aside, Peter comes to her aid and he eventually leaves with her in an ambulance. At the hospital, Mary Jane arrives to comfort Peter and to check in on Aunt May.

After learning of Aunt May's condition, Peter and Mary Jane visit with her briefly before departing. On his way home, Peter happens upon Barton Hamilton's office and finds it in shambles. Figuring that Harry may have reverted to his Green Goblin persona, Peter decides to seek out his friend as Spider-Man.

At the apartment shared by Flash Thompson and Harry Osborn, Flash returns home to find the place trashed and the Green Goblin present. Believing that it's Harry, back in his Goblin guise, Flash tries to talk sense into him when Spider-Man shows up. This leads to a fight between the Green Goblin and Spider-Man. The fight takes a turn for the worse when the Goblin grabs Flash Thompson and throws him out the nearby window.

Appearing in "A New Assassin From Beast Road"

Reprint of the 1st story from
Spider-Man J #1

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

  • Detective Flynn (First appearance)
  • Jane Marie (First appearance)
  • Harold Osborn (First appearance)

Antagonists:

  • Lord Beastius (First appearance)
  • General Wasperus (First appearance)

Locations:

Items:

Synopsis for "A New Assassin From Beast Road"

Reprint of the 1st story from
Spider-Man J #1
  • Synopsis not yet written

Solicit Synopsis

The bi-monthly action begins with an all-new feature-length tale starring Spider-Man's alien costume and guest-starring the Sandman!

Peter Parker would love nothing more than to get a good night's sleep, but his sleek, symbiotic suit has plans of its own...and no one is gonna get in its way!

Also - A bonus all-new 10-page story featuring a special surprise guest!

PLUS - A heaping helping of classic Spidey stories!

Notes

See Also

Links and References

References


Cite error: <ref> tags exist for a group named "Continuity", but no corresponding <references group="Continuity"/> tag was found

Advertisement