Peter webbed to the top of the torch.
"What's happening?" Peter asked.
"They're starting to come through, and I can't stop 'em!" Strange said.
"There's gotta be something we can do! Can't you just cast the spell again? But the original way, before I screwed it up."
"We're too late for that. They're here! They're here because of you. A beat as this lands on Peter. Then-"
"What if everyone forgot who I was?"
"What?!"
"They're coming here because of me, right? Because I'm Peter Parker? So cast a new spell, but this time make everyone forget who Peter Parker is. Make everyone forget... me."
"No."
"But it would work, right?"
"Yeah, it would work. But you gotta understand that would mean that everyone who knows and loves you, we..." Strange said and caught on. "We'd have no memory of you. It would be as though you never existed."
"...I know." Peter said. "Do it." he said resolved.
Strange reluctantly nodded, his heart breaking for Peter.
"You better go and say your goodbyes. You don't have long." Strange said
"Thank you, sir." Peter said and moved to leave.
"Call me Stephen."
Peter stops, moved by the gesture.
"Thank you, Stephen."
Strange smiled.
"Yeah... still feels weird he said and Peter smiles back.
"I'll see you around."
As Peter swung off, Strange choked back emotion.
"So long, kid." he said.
Then he looked to the sky, the Multiverse unfolding and began to cast the new spell.
At the shield Webb-Verse Peter held Raimi-Verse Peter up on his feet when Peter swung down to meet them.
"Hey! Uh... I think this is it. I think you're about to go home." Peter said.
"Okay." Raimi-Verse Peter said.
"All right." Webb-Verse Peter said.
"Um, look, I, uh... thank you! I just want to- I want you- I want to tell you that... I really don't know how to say this, I-" Peter said.
"Peter..."
"I want you to know that I'm-"
The other two Peters smile.
"You know. It's what we do." Raimi-Verse Peter said.
Peter smiled.
"Yeah. It's what we do. Um... Right, I gotta find Ned and MJ." Peter said and moved off, then quickly turned back and hugged them. "Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you." he said and pulled back. "I guess... I guess I'll see you."
"Same." Raimi-Verse Peter said.
There was a final smile between the three.
As Peter ran off, Raimi-Verse Peter winced.
"You're in so much pain, huh?" Webb-Verse Peter said.
"I am." Rainier-Verse Peter said.
"Yeah."
Step one, you say we need to talk
Peter swung over the pedestal to MJ and Ned. MJ sighed with relief.
"You're okay!" she said and they had a group hug.
Then Peter pulled back and took them in.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
"Yeah, we're okay." MJ said and he noticed a cut above her eye.
"Oh my God, you're bleeding." he said and held her face in his hand and inspected her cut.
"No, I'm fine. I'm okay."
"Are you sure?"
"I'm fine. I promise."
"Okay. Okay..." he said relieved.
"Um... we should go, right?"
He struggled to find the words. Then echoing thunder came from above. The new spell was quickly progressing.
"You're gonna forget who I am." he said.
"...What?" Ned asked.
"Forget who you are - what are you talking about?" MJ asked.
"It's okay. I'm gonna come and find you, and I'll explain everything." Peter said and MJ and Ned's faces fell as they realized. "I'll make you remember me, and it will be like none of this ever happened. Okay?"
"Okay, but what if that doesn't work? What if- What if that doesn't work? What if we can't remember you? I don't want to do that. I don't- I don't want to do that." she said panicking.
"I know, MJ. I know."
"But, what- Is there not something we can do? We can't come up with, like, a plan or something, you know? There's always something we can do?" she asked but he shook his head.
"There's nothing we can do." he said.
"But it'll be okay." he said reassuring.
MJ tried to catch her breath, as Ned's eyes brim with tears.
"You promise?" Ned asked.
"Yeah, I promise." Peter said and they did a bittersweet version of their special handshake.
Then Peter pulled Ned into a hug.
"I'll come find you, okay?" Peter said.
"I know you will." Ned said and they released from the hug.
Then Peter turned to MJ.
"You better. If you don't, I'm just gonna figure it out. I've done it before, I can do it again." MJ said.
"I promise I'll fix this." he said.
"I really hate magic." she said and he laughed with a small knowing grin.
"Yeah, me too." he said and she took him in.
"I love you."
"I love-"
"Just wait. Wait and tell me when you see me again."
"Sure."
Ned looked to the sky and heard more rumbling as the new spell took effect.
Then Peter turned to MJ and they didn't have much longer...
Then he pulled her into a kiss and the magic swirled above them, just as it did when the original spell was first cast in the Sanctum. They locked in embrace.
Then Peter and MJ, reluctant to let go.
Peter made the first move and stepped back, jumped up on a ledge. But before he webbed off, he glanced up at the Statue of Liberty where Strange, his new spell nearly complete, nodded his own goodbye.
Then Peter looked back at MJ. The spell was about to hit her, but she managed to mouth one last "I love you."
He walks, you say sit down, it's just a talk
The next day Peter read aloud to himself from a hand-written note.
"Hi, my name is Peter Parker. You don't know me, but I... uh. Hi, my name is Peter Parker, and you don't know me, but you-" he read and stopped outside the donut shop.
Now with holiday decorations and Christmas lights he entered and found MJ, talking and laughing with an older customer.
Then MJ turned, looked up at him and waved. He was taken aback until he realized she was waving at Ned, who had just entered behind him.
"Hey!" Ned said to her and walked past Peter and sat at the counter.
"One sec." MJ said to Ned. "Can I help you?" she asked him.
"Hi, um, my name is Peter Parker. And I..." Peter said and lost his nerve. "Would like a coffee, please."
"Okay, no problem, Peter Parker." she said and went to the coffee pot, she chatting with Ned and handed over a free donut. "Donut for my fellow engineer."
"Oh... Wait, what?" Ned asked.
"MIT, they're the Engineers. The Mascot."
"Oh, right, right, right. I should probably know that." Ned said. "Look at you with the school spirit!"
"Tell anybody, I will deny it."
"Oh, right, right..." he said and looked back at his phone, scrolling.
Peter smiled happy to see them and that they got in.
Then MJ slid him his coffee with We Are Happy To Serve You. written on it.
"Peter Parker." she said but got no reply. "...Peter Parker?" she said and he broke his concentration from Ned and turned to her. "Your coffee."
"Right. Thank you." he said.
"Mmm-hmm."
"Um... are you excited for MIT?"
She was confused at first then realized he overheard them.
"Oh. Uh, right, yeah. Uh..." she started. "Yeah, actually, I am excited which is weird 'cause I don't really get excited about things. I kind of expect disappointment-"
"-'Cause then you'll never actually be disappointed. Right?" he said and she had a flicker of déjà vu on her face, then, recovered.
"Uh, yeah. Right. It's just, um- I dunno, it just kinda feels different this time for some reason."
This gave him a pause about her new life. Somewhat dazed, he paid for the coffee.
"Um, what I was-" she started and brushed back her hair.
Then he saw a Band-Aid above her eye from her injury from the Statue of Liberty.
"You okay?" he asked looking at it.
"It doesn't really hurt anymore." she said. "Is there anything else?" she asked and he paused but shook his head and smiled.
"Uh... no." he said and tucked his note back into his pocket. "Thank you."
"No problem."
Then he took his coffee, looked over at Ned, then back at MJ.
"I'll uh... see you around." he said and walked out the door.
He smiles politely back at you
The next day was a cold winter day and Peter stood at a cemetery before May's grave and set down a flower.
WHEN YOU HELP SOMEONE, YOU HELP EVERYONE.
A figure approached - Happy. It's clear he doesn't recognize him.
"How'd you know her?" Happy asked.
"Through Spider-Man. You?" Peter said.
You stare politely right on through
"Same." Happy said and they stared at the grave for a minute. "I lost a good friend a while back." he said. "Felt like this." he said. "It hurts 'cause they're gone. And then it hurts all over again because you remember what they stood for, and you wonder, "Is all that gone too?"
"No, it's not gone. Everyone that she helped... they'll keep it going."
"You really think so?"
"I know it." Peter said. "Take care of yourself, okay?"
"Yeah. Nice to meet you." Happy said and Peter nodded, then walked away, leaving Happy to pay his respects.
Some sort of window to your right
Later that night Peter was packing things up and headed to his new apartment.
"Not the best apartment but this should be good enough for now." he said.
Then he double checked to make sure he had everything and nodded.
"Looks like we got everything."
He saw four things. Two he needed and two he kept.
Then he sighed and started grabbing everything then headed to his apartment.
As he goes left, and you stay right
While he went there he thought about when he first started being the hero.
"I don't know what I'm gonna do with the rent and other stuff I have to pay for, but I'll think of something."
Between the lines of fear and blame
Later he was at his new apartment.
"Rent is due on the first of the month. Don't be late." the landlord said while Peter carried a box into a studio apartment.
Then he turned on the light, took in the barren space. His new home. A fresh start.
He opened a box containing a GED test study manual, set out his personal effects, including the LEGO Emperor figurine from the Death Star set he and Ned built and rebuilt many times together.
You begin to wonder why you came
When he was done packing he grabbed the thread he needed and the sewing machine.
Then he took out a measuring tape, pen and piece of paper.
Then he measured his arms and marked that, then his legs and marked it, then his chest and marked it, his stomach and marked it, his hands and marked it, his neck and marked it, feet and marked them then his head and marked it.
"OK. Looks like that's all set." he said and took another piece of paper.
He started drawing what he wanted it to look like.
Half an hour later he was cutting out the way he wants it to.
Then he started sewing it.
He looked at the picture every few seconds to make sure he was doing it the way he wanted it.
When he was done he looked at it and nodded.
"Alright, looks good. Now I just have to try it on." he said, started putting it on and looked in the mirror. "Alright, feels fine and looks fine." he said and took it off.
Where did I go wrong?
Later he was looked out the window and saw snow falling on New York.
Then he turned to his Spider-Man mask on the bed and grabbed it.
Then he followed a New York police precinct app on his phone.
"4-3 Edward, do you need EMS assist?" Precinct 1 said.
"Uh, negative, Central. We're gonna need a car tow." Precinct 2 said.
In BG, Spider-Man slid up the window and leapt outside.
A few minutes later he flipped and rolled across a snowy roof in a blue and red suit.
Then he leapt and soared over the Rockefeller Christmas tree with a newfound sense of freedom.
Liberated from having to juggle two lives.
Peter Parker is no more, but Spider-Man lives on.
I lost a friend
Peter rode up on an elderly Kawasaki rumbling, coughing and sputtering. On the back, a hotbox with the Mineo's logo. Peter leapt off and ran into the pizzeria.
Then a pager beeped.
When he got there he hurtled into the shop, out of breath, frantic and yanked the pager from his pocket.
"Sorry! Mr. Aziz, I'm sorry." he said and Mr. Aziz hung up the phone and the beeping stopped.
"Twenty-one minutes ago, in comes an order from the high-quality law firm of Foehn, Harmattan & Buran for seventeen extra large deep-dishwasher pizzas. In eight minutes, I am defaulting on the Mineo's twenty-nine minute guarantee. Indeed numerous banners and signs proclaim the sacred number." Mr. Aziz said. "Then not only will I be receiving no money for these pizzas, I will lose the customer forever to Pizza Yurt. And they are killing me already."
"Why didn't you send Salim?" Peter asked.
"Salim was deported yesterday. I have no hope but you. You must make it in time." Aziz said and started thrusting pizzas at Peter, stacking them in his arms until we couldn't see his face anymore. "You are a nice young man, Peter, but you are not dependable. This is the last chance I can give you. You must cross forty-two blocks in seven and one half minutes. Or your ass is to be fired." Mr. Aziz said
Peter checked the big Mineo's clock. It's 5:44.
Then Peter ran to his bike and dumped the pizzas into the hotbox.
Climbed on and kicked it but got nothing so he kicked it again and got nothing.
"I don't believe this!" he said.
Aziz watched, contemplating suicide while Peter kicked it once more and it started. Then he went slobbering off.
In the street Peter halted and looked at his watch. 5:47.
A van had collided with a Town Car. The drivers were on the street, shouting and threatening each other. The passenger got out, too. The three men came to blows.
Peter popped up onto the sidewalk then an old lady in a wheelchair came out of nowhere and Peter hit the brakes.
Swerves. The bike stalls. He kicks wildly at the starter: dead. And it's 5:48.
He leapt off the bike and with a mighty heave wrenched the hotbox right off the back of the motorcycle, snapping bolts, twisting metal. Then he ducked into an alley.
A few seconds later he was at lower Manhattan swinging toward the Woolworth Building. One-handed, since the hotbox was tucked under his left arm. At the end of each arc he free-fell until he shot the next strand of web.
Below, two boys chased each other and a basketball into the street and a car was coming right at them.
Peter's spider sense tingled and he looked down; saw the trajectories of car, ball and boys, pure vectors of physics plotted against the air: collision.
Then he heaved the hotbox away and it arced heavenward. With his hand now free, he shot a strand of web.
A lasso of web encircled the boys and yanked them toward the opposite side of the street setting them on their feet.
The car squealed past, horn blaring.
The boys, dazed and the basketball shot in, a web-slung chest pass. One of them caught it. They look up at the sky.
Peter caught up to the hotbox as it hurtled earthward, past him. Snagged it with a web and dragged it back up. The Woolworth Building loomed and Peter snagged its pinnacle and arcs around it, circling in.
A few seconds later he was at Woolworth building law offices and rushed in with the stack of pizzas. Out of breath, kind of wild looking with a big, silly grin on his face.
"Pizza time!" he said and set the pizzas on the desk.
The receptionist stared at him, then at the pizzas disgust. Peter looked and saw a gob of webbing on the top box and sheepish scraped it off.
"Sorry." he said.
Later Peter strut in, grinning.
"Mr. Aziz! I'm back! I-" Peter said and Aziz whirled on him.
"You are fired, that is what you are. The pizzas arrived three minutes late! Peter, the twenty-nine minute guarantee is a promise. I know a promise means nothing to you, but to me it is serious." Aziz said.
"It's serious to me, too, Mr. Aziz. Honestly. Please, I need this job, please give me another chance." Peter said but Aziz shook his head so he gave up.
Somewhere along in the bitterness
When he got home he looked at the paper for something and saw up from the front page of the Daily Bugle, which he studied intently before the bite.
"I was thinking of something in photography before the bite." he said and saw what happened a few months ago.
Peter turned around to watched a news broadcast about last week's attack in London.
"An anonymous source provided this video. It shows Quentin Beck, aka Mysterio, moments before his death. A warning, you may find this video disturbing." the news reporter said.
"I managed to send the Elemental through the rift, but I don't think I'm gonna make it. Spider-Man attacked me for some reason." Beck said in the video. "He has an army of weapon zed drones, Stark technology. He's saying he's the only one who's gonna be the new Iron Man, no one else,"
"Are you sure you want to commence the drone attack? There will be significant casualties," EDITH said.
"Do it. Execute them all," they heard Peter's voice say.
MJ looked at the screen incredulously. Then the news reporter came back on the screen.
"This shocking video was released earlier today on the controversial news website ." he said.
Then J Jonah Jameson appeared on the screen.
"There you have it, folks, conclusive proof that Spider-Man was responsible for the murder of Mysterio." he said. "An interdimensional warrior who gave his life to protect our planet, and who will no doubt go down in history as the greatest superhero of all time," he said. "But that's not all, folks. Here's the real blockbuster. Brace yourselves; you might want to sit down."
Then Beck appeared back on the screen.
"Spider-Man's real—Spider-Man's real name is—Spider-Man's name is Peter Parker!" he said and a picture of Peter appeared on the screen.
"What the f—" Peter exclaimed, bringing his hands to his head.
Then he shook his head and sighed.
"Looks like this is the best I got." he said and put down the paper.
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Up on a rooftop, a web shot into the corner of a building cornice, holding the camera in place.
A red and blue webbed glove reached into the frame and selected a shutter setting.
Through the viewfinder a camera's eye view of the rooftop was looking slightly down over the city. The word "automatic" flashed in red in the corner of the frame.
Suddenly Peter came swinging into frame, right toward the camera, dangling dramatically from a web strand. The shutter clicked, the image froze , changed to an action shot of Spider-Man.
Had I known how to save a life
The next day Peter was at Daily Bugle in Jameson's office with the photo with Jameson's hand flipping past it, to another, and were all good shots, swinging shots, flying shots, web-shooting shots and more.
Jameson looked up, trying to hide his enthusiasm while Peter stood across his desk.
"Your ad mentioned a reward?" Peter said.
"Where'd you get these?" Jameson asked.
"If I tell you that, you'll send your own photographer next time. I want a job."
"No jobs! Free lance, Perky, best thing in the world for a man your age, don't get tied down! I'll give you a hundred bucks for the lot." Jameson said and turned to and leave his office with Peter following.
A few minutes later they walked fast through the newsroom and Peter struggled to keep up.
"A hundred?!" Peter said.
"Deal!" Jameson said and held out his hand.
"No! Five hundred!"
"Two!"
"Four!"
"You win. Hoffman. HOFFMAN!"Jameson said and Hoffman looked up from his cubicle. "Cut a check to Peter Porker for three hundred dollars, less taxes-"
"It's Parker, P-A-R-" Peter said to Hoffman.
"-social security, and voluntary contribution to that charity my wife likes."
"Sir, if you could just put me on the payroll, see, I really need the insurance I'd get with a full-time job, my aunt has this condition she-"
"Insurance?! What are you, a photographer or a claims adjuster?! What happened to hard drinking and Australian bush hats and lying to foreign women? Stick around, Kid, I'll make a journalist out of you, hell, HOFFMAN!, remind me to send him some Christmas meat, NOW GET ME MORE PICTURES!"
The next day The Daily Bugle was played one of Peter's dramatic shots of Spider-Man, over the headline:
SPIDER-MAN: HERO OR MENACE?!
exclusive photos!
Let him know that you know best
It had been a year since everyone forgot about Peter Parker and Peter was heading for the Flatiron Building, with the big Daily Bugle sign. Circling in, alighting on its roof.
Jameson's mug steamed the very air around his head shimmers.
"Parker, you're fired!" Jameson said.
A few minutes later he was in his office tossing a stack of photos at Peter.
"Dogs catching Frisbees in the park... Some fat old geezer playing chess... Autumn leaves." Jameson said.
"I was thinking maybe the Bugle could show another side of New York for a change–-" Peter said.
"Parker, if I believed for one second those pictures were an accurate reflection of this town, I'd hang myself from the top of the Chrysler Building. I don't pay you to be a sensitive artist! I pay you because for some reason that psycho Spider-Man will pose for you."
"Well, it's like I told you, Mr. Jameson. Spider-Man won't let me take any more pictures of him. He says you only use them to slander him. You've turned the whole city against him."
"A fact I'm very proud of! Having that lunatic around has weakened the moral fiber of New York! The police are demoralized! The citizens lazy! Now get your pretty little "portfolio" out of my face before I go into a diabetic coma!"
"Mr. Jameson, please. You can't fire me. Even working two jobs I can barely make tuition, and Aunt May's social security doesn't amount to..."
Jameson mimed tying a noose around his neck, threw his head back, thrust his tongue from his mouth and Peter folded.
"What if-all right, what if I did have a shot of Spider-Man?" Peter said and reached into his knapsack and took out a manila folder.
Then he slid out a fantastic shot of Spider-Man saving a nun from an oncoming meat truck. Jameson eyed it hungrily.
"It stinks. I'll give you three hundred." he said and reaches for it but Peter snatched it back.
"No. There's no way I can sell you this shot... until you agree to run more balanced coverage of Spider-Man." Peter said.
"I take my journalistic responsibility to present balanced coverage very seriously Parker, you know that. Fine. I'll give you our. I'll nominate him for a goddamn medal, Parker. You have my word."
"Five."
"That's outrageous." Jameson said. "Done." he said and Peter let go of the photo, then sat a moment knowing he made big mistake. "All right, you've wasted enough of my precious time, Parker. Get lost."
"Time. Right." Peter said and snapped out of it and looked at his watch.
Then he leapt to his feet, grabbed his knapsack, and ran out.
'Cause after all, you do know best
Peter was walking into Daily Bugle city room, toward Jameson's office and stopped when he saw through the partition his aquanaut Harry and Jameson, talking urgently. On the door behind the man, Peter saw his old costume.
The sight shocked him and he walked up to Betty desk.
"You back on the job?" Betty asked.
"I'm hoping to be." Peter said.
"You sure know how to pick your moments."
"You change your mind?!" Jameson said.
In Jameson's office Jameson and Harry were face to face.
"You can't promise a ten million dollar reward and then change your mind! I've stoked the greed and bloodlust of eight million people to a fever pitch! You're just going to turn your back on that?"
Harry was strangely cool.
"I've found a more effective means of obtaining my end." Harry said.
"Yeah? And what is that?"
"You'll know soon enough."
"Oh, really? Tell me this, Osborn... How do I know that you aren't Spider-Man? Eh? Maybe this whole reward thing was just an elaborate dodge. And now that's things are getting a little hot for you, you want to call it off! Your father was a strange character, I always thought so. Maybe you're a little strange, yourself."Jameson said jabbed that his finger at Harry. "Now go home, and leave the running of a public smear campaign to the people who really know what they're doing."
Harry grabbed the finger and crumpled it in his fist and Jameson snatched it back, wincing.
"You're just a grandstanding hack, Jameson! You don't know what it's like to want revenge so bad you can taste it!" Harry said and stalked out, brushed past Peter who reached out to him.
"Harry? Harry, what's going on?" Peter asked.
Harry whirled, furious, about to strike. The wire lattice embedded in the safety glass of the partition casts a grid of shadow across Peter's face; it looked like webbing.
Harry peered at Peter, fixedly, then turned and walked out.
Jameson turned to Peter, sucking on his sore finger and Peter eyed the costume.
"Jesus, Parker, how many times do I have to fire you?" Jameson asked.
Try to slip past his defense
Jameson was at his desk, on the phone. People were coming and going and the old Spidey suit hung in a nice class case.
"Any sign of him? No?" Jameson asked.
From the boarded-up skylight Jameson looked up.
A foot smashed through the wood, splintering it, and then Peter, stocking cap over his face, landed in front of his desk and went over to the case, shattered it then reached in and took the suit and held it up.
"What the hell do you think-" Jameson started but was cut off.
"It makes you look fat." Peter said, fired a web up out of the skylight, gave it a jerk, and then sailed out after it.
Without granting innocence
It had been two years and Peter was at home looking at pictures of him, Ned and MJ.
He had been getting better at working at the Bulge Daily and gotten plenty of good pictures.
He was outside looking at a picture of himself.
He had been being the hero and looking after Queens for four years now.
He was a sophomore in New York community college and top of his year.
He'd look at Ned and MJ now and then on night patrol and go to Donut every time MJ is working.
He had been alone still but would now and then be asked to help what's left of the Avengers if asked by SHIELD.
The real Fury was back from his vacation and had talked to Peter about what happened on vacation.
After being in space he hadn't forgotten he's Spider-Man but told him he wouldn't tell anyone who he is.
He had offered him a job at SHIELD but he said no. He's fine being a photographer and Spider-Man.
It had been pretty quiet for the past few weeks but he knew it was going to be hard soon.
"I want to get back together as friends and a girlfriend, but I can't risk them getting hurt again." he said shaking his head.
Then he heard the radio go off.
Lay down a list of what is wrong
"All cars. All cars in the vicinity of 54th and 6th Ave, please report. Crane out of control. Approach with caution." Radio Policeman said.
"Let's get 'going." Peter said.
"Oh my God. Seven Atom to central. That crane . It's bigger than we thought. We're gonna need a major mobilization right away." a cop said.
"Shut it down at the generator! Now!" Crane operator said.
"Okay, Gwen, I've got a secret: It's my copier! What is that thing doing in my background?" a photographer said.
"Captain Stacy, they got some kind of short up there! They can't shut down the crane!" Cop 2 said.
"Get Edison on the phone. Have them kill the power of the whole block." George said.
"Are you all right?" Gwen asked.
"It's coming back!" a photographer said.
"Oh my God. It's Gwen!" Eddie said.
"What? What's she doing up there?" George asked.
"I don't know. I just saw her last night. She said she had a modeling gig."
"Who are you?"
"It's Brock, sir." Edward Brock Jr. I work at the Daily Bugle. And I'm dating your daughter."
"You OK?" Peter asked.
"Yeah. I'm fine. Thank you." Gwen said.
"Hey, Spidey, hold on. Bugle needs a photo." Eddie said.
"Thank God you're okay."
"Daddy!" Gwen said.
The things you've told him all along
"Hey. I'm the new guy." someone said.
"New guy?" Peter asked.
And pray to God he hears you
"From now on, I'm gonna be taking shots of you for the Bugle. So smile! Are you smiling?" Eddie said.
"Where's the other guy?" Peter asked.
"Peter Parker? Yeah, um, look, between you and me. The guy's kind of an amateur. Have you noticed, his stuff makes you look a little... bloated. Just a little chunky."
"Okay..."
"Don't have to worry about that anymore, buddy."
And I pray to God he hears you
"Dazzle me." Jameson said.
"Just a little something the boys in the Ad department and I whipped up. As you know, circulation of the Bugle has been pretty good. Though not as good as the New York Times or the Daily News or the Post or several other smaller..." Hoffman said.
"Get on with it, moron! What?"
"Your blood pressure, Mr. Jameson. Your wife told me to tell you to watch the anger." Betty said.
"You tell my wife... Thank you."
"So, I propose this campaign: "DAILY BUGLE", that's obvious. "IT'S HIP, IT'S NOW", I came up with that one. "IT'S WOW" - that's actually Eric's. "AND HOW!" - that's me again." Hoffman said.
"Time to take your pill. Not that one. Not that one. Drink plenty of water." Betty said.
"Thank you. Continue." Jameson said.
"He's busy."
"Oh, no, I'm just here to talk to you, babe." Eddie said.
"What's that smell?"
"That's a little something called "Nice 'n' Easy". What's on you?"
"It's called "Go Away"." Betty said.
"That is the dumbest idea you've ever had. You have had some daunting..." Jameson said.
"Blood pressure. Hey, where are you going?"
"Who are you?"
"You hired him last week. Freelance." Robbie said.
"I did? What's that smell?"
"Brock, sir. Edward Brock Jr. Wow, I really like that shirt. Here. It's a crane accident. Check out the light source." Eddie said.
"He likes my shirt."
"Hey, Betty." Peter said.
"Hey, Pete. You better get in there. A new guy. He's trying to sell some Spidey photos." Betty said.
"Uh. Thanks."
"Parker! You're late! Maybe too late. Bruckner here beat ya to it." Jameson said.
"It's Brock, sir. Edward Brock Jr." Eddie said.
"I got you this." Peter said.
"But he got me this." Jameson said.
"Wait. How'd you get that? I didn't see you. How'd you get that high?" Eddie said.
"Climbed. Nearly fell off a flagpole." Peter said.
"A flagpole?"
"Which one do we use? I like Bernstein's." Jameson said.
"It's better." Robbie said.
"Cheaper, too. Congratulations, son. We'll use your shot and pay you 50 bucks."
"Uh all right, JJ. I'm your man. I know more about what makes a good picture than any photographer in this town. See, photography, it's not just about no offense, flagpoles. Whatever. It's about lighting. Composition. Drama. I want a staff job, sir. I have a girl that I intend to marry, and I have this stupid little dream of working with one of the greatest newspaper editors of our time. J. Jonah Jameson." Eddie said.
"Well, we do have an opening. Johnson quit, remember?"
"You fired him." Robbie said.
"Whatever."
"Wait a minute. I know what makes a good picture, and I've been here for a long time. If there's a staff job, Mr. Jameson, I think I deserve it." Peter said.
"He's right, Jonah. Peter's been with us for years. He's done a great job." Robbie said.
"You want a staff job, and you want a staff job. Anybody care about what I want?" Jameson asked.
"I do." Hoffman said.
"Shut up. Get out. I want the public to see Spider-Man for the two-bit criminal he really is. He's a fake. He's full of stickum. Catch him in the act. "Spider-Man with his hand in the cookie jar". Whoever brings me that photo gets the job. What are you waiting for, Chinese New Year? Go, go, go!"
"I'm on it, boss." Eddie said.
"You'll never get that shot." Peter said.
"We'll see."
And where did I go wrong?
"Wow Buddy, love the new outfit. This is exactly what I need to scoop Parker. Give me some of that web action Eddie said.
"Seeya, chump." Peter said.
"What the hell?!"
I lost a friend
"Cheers to the new staff photographer!" someone said.
"I just got lucky. This is so wonderful for you." Eddie said. "Well, you might wanna tell JJ to make a little more wall space." he said then saw Peter. "Wow, good morning. It's a beautiful day, huh? What was it you said, I'll never get that picture? There's your hero."
"I never thought he'd really do that." Peter said.
"See? Right there, you made a judgment call. You gotta see it as it is."
"It's funny you should say that, 'cause I was looking through some old photos, and looks very, uh similar."
"Okay. Well, I gotta get back to work."
"You're trash, Brock."
"Excuse me?"
"Your picture is a fake."
"Parker, you are such a boy scout. When are you gonna give a guy a break?"
"You want forgiveness? Get religion."
"What's going on here?" Robbie asked.
"Are you guys all right?" Betty asked.
"Yeah, no, we're just horsin' around." Eddie said. "Look, I'm begging you. If you do this, I will lose everything. There's not a paper in town that will hire me."
"You should've thought of that earlier." Peter said.
"What are you doing, Peter?" Robbie asked.
"Show this to the editor. Tell him to check his source next time."
"It's a fake! Empire State Photographic Department confirms it."
"Pack your things. Get out of my building." Jameson said.
"I was just trying..." Eddie said.
"You're fired!"
"You know we're gonna have to print a retraction now." Robbie said.
"I haven't printed a retraction in 20 years!"
Somewhere along in the bitterness
"Your shots are so good." Betty said.
"Thanks, I used to take pictures at school for the paper." Peter said.
"Peter Parker! Peter..."
"Parker! Miss Brant, that's not the position I hired you for!" Jameson said
"Black-suit Spider-Man. Peter, these are incredible. We gotta have these Jonah." Robbie said.
"Thanks." Peter said.
"I'll pay you the usual rate." Jameson said.
"OK. Thanks." Peter said.
And I would have stayed up with you all night
"It's Brock, Sir. Edward Brock Jr. I come before you today humbled and humiliated to ask you for one thing. I want you to kill Peter Parker." Eddie said.
Had I known how to save a life
"I want him dead." Eddie said.
As he begins to raise his voice
"Look! He seems to have come out of nowhere to answer the prayers of the city, just when all hope seemed to be lost." Jennifer said.
"Spider-Man? They're gonna kill us both." MJ said.
"I'm gonna get you out of this."
"Watch out!"
"Hey, Parker." Eddie said.
"My God. Eddie?"
"Oh, my spider-sense is tickling. If you know what I'm talking about."
"We can find a way to settle this."
"You're so right. I'm thinking humiliation. Kinda like you humiliated me. Do you remember? Do you remember what you did to me? You made me lose my girl. Now I'm gonna make you lose yours. How's that sound?"
"Hold on, MJ! MJ."
"It's hard to believe what's happening. The brutality of it. I don't know how he can take any more." Jennifer said.
"This can be a tragic day for the people of New York. It could be the end of Spider-Man." Hal said.
"Awesome!" Boy 1 said.
"Wicked cool!" Boy 2 said.
You lower yours and grant him one last choice
"Parker! Parker, where... I need a photographer! Hey, kid. You want a job?" Jameson said.
"Why would I want a job? I'm just a kid." a girl with a camera said.
"All right, how much for the camera?"
"One hundred bucks."
"A hundred bucks? All right, you little prick. Here."
"What the..."
"Film's extra."
Drive until you lose the road
"MJ!" Peter said and went after her."Got you!" he said and looked at her. "You Okay?"
"Yeah." MJ said.
"Good."
Or break with the ones you've followed
"Never wound what you can't kill." Eddie said.
"Eddie, this suit, you gotta take it off!" Peter said.
"Oh, you'd like that, wouldn't you?"
"I know what it feels like to hurt people. It feels good with some. But you'll lose yourself. Let it go."
"Never wound what you can't kill." Eddie said.
"Eddie, this suit, you gotta take it off!" Peter said.
"Oh, you'd like that, wouldn't you?"
"I know what it feels like. It feels good. The power. Everything. But you'll lose yourself. Let it go."
"I like being bad. It makes me happy."
"Peter, what are you doing?" Eddie asked and Peter started banging things. "No!" he said and was gone.
"Eddie!"
He will do one of two things
It had been a week and Peter had just gotten home from work and patrol.
He was having dinner right now and thinking about what happened with Jameson after the summer break.
He will admit to everything
"This shocking video was released earlier today on the controversial news website ." NY reporter said.
"There you have it, folks: conclusive proof that Spider-Man was responsible for the brutal murder of Mysterio! An inter- dimensional warrior who gave his life to protect our planet, and who will no doubt go down in history as the greatest superhero of all time. But that's not all, folks. Here's the real blockbuster. Brace yourselves, you might wanna sit down." Jameson said.
Or he'll say he's just not the same
Peter was on the bridge clutching MJ, swung frantically.
"All this time, people looked up to this boy and called him a hero. Well I'll tell you what I call him: Public Enemy #1." Jameson said.
And you'll begin to wonder why you came
At Daily Bugle news desk.
"SPIDER-MENACE!" Jameson said.
There was a "WANTED FOR MURDER" sign with Peter's alarmed face. Over that, someone had given Peter devil's horns and graffitied in bright red ink: "CRIMINAL!"
FLASH! The image turned black - a photo-negative - and slides towards the upper righthand corner of the screen to reveal J. Jonah Jameson at news desk.
"Governments around the world launch investigations into the murderer known as Spider-Man!" he said.
The onscreen graphic changes to Peter's school photo next to a pair of handcuffs and a headstone that reads: "MYSTERIO."
"A.k.a Peter Parker! A.k.a. The Web-Headed War Criminal-"
Jameson's news desk was a cheap digital backdrop in a cluttered, conspiracy theorist's apartment.
"-Who for years has been terrorizing the decent citizens of New York."
There were various newspaper and magazine covers.
- THE NEW YORK DAILY NEWS: The school photos of Peter, MJ, and Ned have been photoshopped into mug shots under a headline that reads, "TRIO OF TERROR: PARKER'S CRONIES REVEALED!"
- TIME MAGAZINE: An illustration of Spider-Man as a crying baby in a diaper under a headline that reads, "IRON MAN JR? HOW DID A RECKLESS TEENAGER BECOME TONY STARK'S HEIR APPARENT?"
- IN-TOUCH WEEKLY: Half of Spider-Man's mask over half of Peter Parker's face. The headline reads, "WORLD EXCLUSIVE! TWO FACED - HOW PARKER MAINTAINED HIS DUPLICITOUS DOUBLE LIFE AND WHY HE CAN'T BE TRUSTED."
"Well now this city, and the world, see him for what he truly is!"
An amateur phone camera footage of Spider-Man being doused with green paint as someone yelled.
"Murderer! Mysterio forever!" a Mysterio fanatic said.
Where did I go wrong?
In Daily Bugle control room Daily Bugle employees in a TV control room watched as Jameson wrapped up a segment.
"But the fact remains, Spider-Man is a menace! We'll be right back..." he said on screen.
In the studio he was behind a desk in a professional news studio.
He gestured to a bottle of vitamins at his side.
"...After a brief word from Daily Bugle Supplements. The only other daily fix you need." he said.
"And we're out." the producer said.
Then Jameson answered his phone.
"What?" he asked.
A Daily Bugles lackey sat in a parked car watching a truck from the shelter pull away.
"I got eyes on him. He's with his aunt, some guy I don't know." he said into the phone.
"You sure?" Jameson asked on the phone.
"They're just leaving the shelter."
"Okay, don't lose him!" Jameson said and eagerly walked away.
I lost a friend
Later at Happy's condo Daily Bugle a van screeched to a halt. Jameson got out and approached the Daily Bugle Lackey.
"Well? Where is he?" he asked.
"Uh, he's inside." Lackey said and pointed.
"And yet here we are, outside. Did you not hear me say, "Don't lose him?!""
"Yes, sir, I-"
"I want incriminating footage of Spider-Man. I already called Damage Control. They're on their way."
Just inside the truck, Lizard's eyes narrowed as he overheard.
"And so it begins." he said.
"The place is about to be swarming with cops!" Jameson said.
Somewhere along in the bitterness
At the condo Jameson directed his cameraman.
"Up here, he's up there!" he said pointing.
"Doc Ock climbs away, disappearing into the night." the news camera said.
"It's the guy from the bridge!" Jameson said.
And I would have stayed up with you all night
The shelter truck rocked violently and Lizard exploded out of the hole, cut open and ran off.
"...Did you see that?!" Jameson asked.
Police and bystanders scrambled for cover as Electro and Sandman took to the wind and flew off.
Had I known how to save a life
Then Jameson saw Peter.
"Now I've gotcha." he said.
Where did I go wrong?
At Times Square the bag of broken cures on the ground, pelted by heavy rainfall.
Later.
"Tragedy." Jameson said. "What else can I call it? What more need be said?"
Meanwhile Peter was on a rooftop, watching the news play on a giant screen in Times Square devastated.
"Saw it with your own eyes. When will people wake up and realize that everywhere Spider-Man goes, chaos and calamity ensue. Everything Spider-Man touches comes to ruin. And we, the innocents, are left to pick up the pieces." Jameson said on the screen. "J. Jonah Jameson reporting. Good night... and God help us all."
I lost a friend
At New York Jameson went live.
"Ladies and gentlemen, the Bugle tip line has just received a call from none other than the fugitive known as Spider-Man! Fresh from his rampage in Queens. So Peter Parker. What pernicious propaganda are you peddling?" he said.
"Just the truth." Peter said.
"Oh sure..."
On a TV in a restaurant window Peter appeared live on The Daily Bugle, FaceTiming with Jameson.
"The truth is... that this is all my fault." he said.
"Hmm!" Jameson said.
The broadcast played across giant video billboards in Times Square.
"I accidentally brought those dangerous people here."
At the Daily Bugle studio Jameson was at his anchor desk.
"Well, he admits it!" he said.
At a construction site Peter stood amidst scaffolding and plastic sheeting continuing his FaceTime with Jameson.
"And if those people are watching... just know that I really did try to help you. I mean, I could have killed you-" Peter said and held up the Box. "-At any given moment. But I didn't. Because my Aunt May taught me that everyone deserves a second chance. And that's why I'm here."
"And where is "here" exactly?"
"A place that represents second chances."
Peter was on top of the Statue of Liberty.
Construction scaffolding engulfed the statue. Its oxidized copper now restored to a golden luster. The iconic torch concealed a gigantic Captain America shield.
"The Statue of Liberty?! Good God, folks, he's about to destroy another national landmark!" Jameson said.
"But world, if you're watching-" Peter started but was cut off.
"Believe me, the world is watching-"
"Wish me luck. Your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man could really use some." Peter said and hung up.
Somewhere along in the bitterness
As the morning sun rose over Lady Liberty.
"It's been a few weeks since the fiasco on the Statue of Liberty-" Jameson said.
A few weeks later at the Daily Bugle studio Jameson reported live from his desk.
"-And Spider-Man's cultists continue to contend that the vile vigilante is a hero! Well, if he were a hero, he'd unmask himself and tell us who he really is! Because only a coward conceals his identity. Only a coward hides his true intentions!" he said.
At the Donut Shop Peter walked down the street.
"Rest assured, ladies and gentlemen, this reporter will uncover those intentions come hell or high water." Jameson said.
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Then he thought about all the times he took pictures and then the last time before he started working for Jameson.
Had I known how to save a life
Peter caught the eye of the Tour Guide and gestured to his camera.
"For the school paper?" he said and she nodded.
A few students around him rolled their eyes, one or two mutter "Geez but he ignored them, raised the camera to take a picture. Behind him, a popular kid bumped his elbow on purpose and ruined the picture and other kids laugh.
Peter raised the camera again, got bumped again. He turned around, gave a glare. The Popular Kid stepped forward, threatening. A voice muttered from nearby.
How to save a life
The tour group had given up on the mystery of the missing spider and was following the her, heading off for the next part of the lab. Liz lingered behind for a moment, by herself, and Peter swallowed.
"Can I take your picture? I need one with a student in it." he said and she hid a smile. "Right there, this is good." he said and raised the camera as she posed in front of the glass.
He kept snapping pictures.
"You're photogenic." he said.
"That's what my agent tells me." Liz said.
How to save a life
Then he sighed.
"At least I have a job." he said. "I may not love it but I enjoy working with photography." he said.
Then he looked at his camera, shrugged, grabbed it and went to take pictures for fun.
Where did I go wrong?
He headed to the park to take pictures of animals and kids playing games.
He smiled and thought about all the fun he had with Ned when they were little.
He saw the days he was more of a nerd before Spider-Man came, bullied, took pictures for the school paper and more.
"I really hope I made you all proud." he said.
A few hours later he went to grab some dinner.
I lost a friend
The next day Peter was at work and double checking his camera was taking pictures.
He saw it was all set and counted down the time.
A few seconds later he saw the camera snap.
"I really deserve a raise." he muttered and got back to work.
Somewhere along in the bitterness
When he was done he was on his way to Jameson with a fresh batch of pictures.
When he got there he saw Jameson talking to someone and groaned.
"Not again." he said.
"Don't worry, he's being fired after not getting anything good." Betty said smiling.
"Oh thank god. I barely have enough for my rent. Never mind food." he said relieved.
"Really?"
"Yeah. My landlord raised the rent last month. Up to $300."
"Ouch."
"You have no idea."
Then he went to the office.
"Parker! There you are. Anything good?" Jameson asked.
"Yeah. He was busy this week." Peter said and handed him the pictures.
Jameson looked at them and nodded.
"Good." he said
Peter nodded and left.
Betty watched him and knew he deserves more.
Then she looked at Jameson and got up.
Then she walked in and he looked at her.
"What?" he asked.
"You really should either promote Peter or at least raise his pay check." she said.
He looked at her.
"What?"
"He takes perfect pictures of everything you ask for, told me his rent was raised to $300 and only makes $400 and has been doing this for three years."
He sat there in silence.
"Fine. I'll do it tomorrow." he said and she nodded.
And I would have stayed up with you all night
The next day he was opening the door and saw people looking at him as if he was hiding something.
"What?" he asked and they shook their heads.
'I don't feel my spider sense going off so I don't think it's something like that.' he thought and headed to the office.
When he got outside he saw Betty trying not to smile.
"Hey Betty." he said.
"Hey Peter." Betty said.
"What's going on? Everyone is acting weird today."
"You'll see."
He looked at her suspicious but nodded and went in the room.
"I have new pictures." he said.
Jameson looked at him and took the pictures and looked at them.
"Good. Now sit down. We need to talk." Jameson said.
Peter sat down with his heart pounding a little nervous.
"What is it?" he asked.
"You're promoted. And going up to $600."
Peter sat there in shock then came back and smiled.
"Thank you!" he said.
"Yeah yeah, office is right next to Betty." Jameson said and Peter nodded smiling. "Now get to work!" he said and Peter went to his new office.
He stopped right outside Betty's office and looked at her.
"You all knew. You were just hiding it and happy for me after taking pictures for you for the past three years. Didn't you?" he said and she nodded smiling.
"Yup." she said.
Peter smiled and shook his head.
Had I known how to save a life
A month later Peter was on patrol when he saw Fury looking at him.
"Can I held you?" he asked.
"I have a mission for you along with an offer." Fury said.
"Which is?"
"If you join the Avengers again I'll pay you." Fury said and Peter looked at him in shock.
"I'm listening." he said slowly.
"For this you need to go to Wakanda. Princess Shuri needs help with something in her lab. I heard you're pretty good at this kind of stuff. And I'm sure as a thank you she'll give your suit an upgrade."
Peter stood there and thought.
He knew he was right and his suit had some work needed.
Then he sighed.
"Fine. Just let me call Jameson and tell him I have some family business and need some time off." he said and Fury nodded.
Then he picked up his phone and called.
"Hi. I just got a call and my aunt told me she was sick and needed help. So I'm gonna need a break." he said. "Thanks. I don't know when I'll be back but hopefully it'll be quick."
Then he hung up and looked at Fury.
"You good?" Fury asked and Peter nodded. "Good. Now let's go."
Then they headed to SHIELD and headed to Wakanda.
Where did I go wrong?
The next day they were in Wakanda with T'Chacalla.
"Welcome to Wakanda." he said.
"Thanks." Peter said. "So, Fury said you needed some help with something in the lab?"
"Yes. I would like to know who you truly are. And I'm sure no one here will tell people who you are."
Peter stood there quietly then nodded.
"OK." he said and slowly took off his mask. "My real name is Peter Parker."
"I've heard about Richard and Mary Parker."
"Yeah. Drs. Richard and Mary Parker were my parents. When they died in a plane crash my aunt May and uncle Ben took me in. I used to go to Midtown High. Top of my year. I left a few years ago. I'm really smart enough to go to college by third grade but stuck with my former best friend."
"What happened?" Shuri asked.
"It's a long story. I'll tell you later." he said. "So, uh, what is it you need help with?"
"Come with us to my lab." she said and he nodded and followed her to the lab.
I lost a friend
"I was wondering if you would help me update my suit. After having Stephen make everyone forget I'm Spider-Man I lost the suit Tony made me. Along with Iron Spider. I made the suit I have on myself like my first one. Things are getting harder and I've had to fix or remake this multiple times for the past three years."
They smiled.
"Sure thing. Anything in particular Stark gave you?" Shuri asked.
Peter smiled and told her what was in the one Tony made, the one he made and Iron Spider.
"He made me an AI with the first one and I called her Karen. I can probably make it myself but I know you're way more advanced than us so I thought it'd be better with some help." he said.
"Yes. It'd be better with help." Shuri said. "You'll have to show me what you have going on with it and what you want done."
"OK." he said smiling. "Now, what exactly do you need help with? My past friend Ned is awesome at technology and I'm awesome at science."
"I need help with Bucky's arm."
He nodded and they went to her lab.
While he helped her with Bucky's arm Shuri was shocked and impressed at what he knows.
Somewhere along in the bitterness
When they were done Peter nodded.
"Alright. That should be it." Peter said.
"Thanks for the help." Shuri said smiling.
"You're welcome."
"Lets go give your suit upgrade."
He smiled and took his suit.
T'Challa looked at it and Shuri shook her head.
"You really need an upgrade." she said.
"That's nothing! When I started being Spider-Man I only had sweatpants, a sweater and a mask on! When Tony asked for my help he gave he said I needed a major upgrade and made them. I made my own for the Mysterio fight I had."
"Well, let's get to work!"
He smiled and they got to work.
While they made him a new suit Fury stood there seeing how much like Tony he is.
'He's so much like Stark.' he thought shaking his head.
Half an hour later they were done and Peter was putting it on.
"How's it feel?" Shuri asked.
"Feels good." Peter said.
"Check your AI now."
"Karen?"
"Hello Peter. It's been quite a while." Karen said.
He smiled.
"Yeah it has." he said.
"What are we doing today?"
"Right now we're at Wakanda but will be back in Queens tomorrow and on patrol."
"OK."
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Then he started getting used to having the kind of suit he got from Tony but with vibranium now.
He had made plenty of webs all set and worked on everything he had to. Even though he forgot Bucky helped him readapt to that kind of suit.
Peter was going to keep his other one incase something happened to his new one.
Later he was on the plane home sleeping.
Fury had told him he would pay him next week as planned.
Had I known how to save a life
The next day Peter was in his apartment getting ready for patrol.
"OK. Now that I'm all set and my new suit is done it'll be easier. I get paid by Fury after being an Avenger again so that'll help with my rent and food." he said and got changed. "Now let's go save the neighborhood!"
How to save a life
While he was on patrol he saw people looking at him smiling and looking a little relieved he was in a new suit.
"It'll take some getting used to having a suit like the others but will help me." he said. "What do we have this time Karen?"
"Hello Peter. There's a bank robbery in the middle of Queens."
"Let's do it then." he said and got to work.
How to save a life