At a demonstration on radiation, high-school student Peter Parker was bitten by an irradiated spider, from which he gained the arachnid's incredible abilities. When a burglar killed his beloved uncle Ben, a grief-stricken Peter vowed to use his great powers in the service of his fellow man, because he had learned an invaluable lesson: With great power, there must also come great responsibility.

Standing on a rooftop, Peter Parker is holding the amulet of Quantai in his hand. He has his Spidey-gear on, because he still isn't sure whether the amulet is good or evil. But at least it has allowed him to speak with uncle Ben once. Just as he is putting on the amulet..

Spider-sense, tingling!

Doing a nimble backflip, Spider-man evades a biokinetically loaded card which destroys that section of the roof where he was standing. Clearly, he was not alone..

"Hold it right there, homme!", shouts an unknown man.

Standing on the other side of the roof is a red-eyed man, wearing a long coat and under it, some kind of an armor. He has also a belt with a large X in it. One of the x-men.. Gambit.

"What's your problem, pal? I thought the X-men were the good guys!", yells an annoyed Spider-man.

"Nothing personal, mon brave, but I need that amulet. You can either surrender it to me right away, or I can take it by force."

"I don't know why you want it so badly, and frankly, I don't care. It's a dear memory of someone special to me and that means that I am not going to give it to some lie-cheat-steal -guy with a bad french accent."

"As you wish. En garde!", cries Gambit and hurls another loaded card at Spidey, which he deftly dodges.

"Not a chance, bread-sticker!", rags Spidey as he uses his web to pry Gambit's staff out of the mutant's reach. However, Gambit manages to load Spidey's slinged web with some energy. Just as the amazing Spider-Man is about to reach for the staff, his web goes boom. Spidey falls down.

"Touché!", cheers Gambit.

But just as he is reaching for Spider-man's utility belt, where the amulet was tugged..

"BOO!", screams Spidey and delivers a devastating blow right in Gambit's stomach.

"URGH!", groans Gambit as he is knocked off balance by the relative strength of a spider.

"You're not taking this amulet from the friendly neighborhood Spider-man. As much as I love a good fight, you're not offering it. And besides, it wouldn't be your style anyway.", says Spidey as he gets ready to leave.

"Wait! Maybe we could reach an agreement..!", starts Gambit.

"I doubt that, but what do you have in mind?"

"Let's play some blackjack. If I win, I get the amulet."

"And if I win? I get a new Spidey-outfit? Well.. I kinda like this one, since the black costume reminded me from the alien that now possesses Eddie Brock and.."

"Non! I have this marvelous sapphire, which I eh- found from the street. It is very valuable, and I've heard you got some debts to pay."

"Sorry, but money can't buy off this amulet. And I know you would cheat in the blackjack anyway."

"That's just nonsense! I have never-", begins Gambit.

"Wait..! Duck, now!", screams Spidey as Gambit barely evades a yellow beam of pure energy!

"Merde! What in the world..?"

"We are not alone.. and that surge of energy looked all too familiar to me."

"A clever conclusion, insect.", says a metallic voice.

"Ohh.. gimme a break!", says Spidey.

Behind them,. stands a man dressed in a metallic armor and a green cape. Both heroes recognize him instantly. He is the ruler of Latveria.

"I have come for the amulet of Quantai."

He is Doctor Doom.