Spider-Man: The Darkness Within #4
DUEL TO THE DEATH WITH THE VULTURE!
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"What fantastic power can the Vulture have which makes him so sure he can defeat... Spider-Man?"
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Seriously, to answer that question, he has none. It's all down to gadgets. But, the Vulture has still been a fan-favorite ever since his debut in Amazing Spider-Man #2.
But I'm getting off-topic.
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Amazing Spider-Man #2 is the famous issue in which Peter Parker got his job at the Daily Bugle and fought the Vulture for the first time... Now he will be facing the Vulture again in the alternate timeline of:
Spider-Man: The Darkness Within #3
XXX
For days, a new and ominous danger has menaced the vast city of New York! No man knows where he'll strike next! No one can cope with this new, awesome threat! Without warning, without the slightest sound, he strikes! For this is – the Vulture!
"It's the Vulture!" a man shouted. "He stole my briefcase – with a fortune in bonds! Help!"
"Ive read about him – but never expected to see him!"
"I didn't believe it! I thought he didn't exist!"
"It's impossible! It can't be! How can he fly – withous a sound – without any effort! He's more like a gigantic bird of prey than a human!"
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Meanwhile, J. Jonah Jameson goes on a rampage at the Daily Bugle, for there are no photographs of the infamous Vulture – only an artist's drawing.
When Peter Parker learns of this, he suddenly gets an idea... Magazines pay big money for hard-to-get photos! And I know how to get them!
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As soon as school ends, Peter's Uncle Ben gives him a miniature camera. And then, in the privacy of his room, Peter Parker changes into Spider-Man!
"I'll figure out a way to attach the camera to my costume and then test it out!"
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Well, well! the Vulture thinks to himself. So the Park Avenue Jewelry Exchange is moving a million dollars worth of diamond to their new offices across town, eh? It shouldn't be hard for the Vulture to get his hands on those gems! They'll probably be expecting me to try something, but I'll get those gems in a way that no one would ever suspect! Even Spider-Man wouldn't have a chance of stopping me
And, as the Vulture delivers his message, reading "I shall steal the diamond shipment from under you noses! –the Vulture", to the Daily Bugle, the radio station, and to the police chief himself in a demonstration of his confidence, he fails to notice Spider-Man on a nearby rooftop.
"If these photos of the Vulture come out all right, the should be worth a small fortune!" But, in his eagerness to get a close-up picture the Vulture, Spider-Man carelessly kicks a loose brick...
That sound! There's someone on the roof behind me! the Vulture thinks. I've got to move – fast! As only a vulture can!
And then, the Vulture quickly swoops around behind Spider-Man and, before Spidey's spider-sense can warn him, knocks him out, and tosses him into a nearby water tower, then flies away.
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Meanwhile, inside the tower, the shock of hitting the cold water instantly revives Spider-Man.
The Vulture somehow trapped me inside this water tank! Well, I've only myself to blame for being so careless! I'll just shoot my web towards the top and – oh no! The ejector is empty! I forgot to refill it since I used it last! Can't climb to the top, either – it's too wet and slimy even for me to get a toehold on! Oh, if I get out of here, I swear – the Vulture will pay!
Finally, Spider-Man gets an idea. Using his superhuman muscles, he dives down to the bottom of the tank, squats down, and hurls himself upwards – right out of the tower!
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Later, in Peter's room, he muses his pictures, observing their fine quality. He decides to send them to J. Jonah Jameson himself for a few good laughs... Next, he plans out his revenge...
After refilling his web-fluid, he adds a few extra capsules, just in case. Then, he places it in a belt, where he plans to attach a miniature camera once he gets enough money. The entire contraption fits underneath his shirt. And finally, he creates a small device which may just help him out when he declares war on the Vulture...
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The next day, Peter calls the Daily Bugle and is answered by a Frederick Foswell.
"Sorry," Foswell says, "Mr. Jameson's taken the next few weeks off after the death of his son."
"That's okay, I just want to sell these exclusive pictures of the Vulture..."
And, after a quick visit, Foswell buys the pictures and asks Peter to return with more anytime.
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The next day, Spider-Man perches himself on a building above the diamond exchange, waiting for the Vulture to arrive. Making sure that no one sees isn't easy, and Peter grows impatient. Not only will the police shoot at him if they spot him, but not even the Vulture seems crazy enough to try grab the diamonds with all these cops!
"I wish the Vulture would make a try for those diamonds, Chuck!" an officer says. "We'd nab 'im for sure!"
"Yeah, but he won't show! He's too smart for that!"
"It's all clear! Start bringing the jewels out!"
"Not a sign of the Vulture! He knows he wouldn't have a chance!"
"The sky's clear except for out own chopper up there! Looks like the whole thing was a false alarm!"
"But stay alert anyhow! With a character like the Vulture, you never know what's gonna happen next!" Just then, a manhole cover was lifted and the Vulture peeked through.
"Gentlemen," he jeered, "you are so right! And now I'll take those diamonds!"
"The Vulture! But how -?"
"We expected an attack from above!"
But, even before the Vulture can duck below, Spider-Man shoots two weblines – one to toss away the lid and the other to snag his bird foe.
"Spider-Man!" a policeman shouted. "See, Barney? I told you he was on our side!"
Without a word, Spider-Man tugged and the Vulture flew towards him. Landing a blow to Vulture's jaw, he forced the villain back. But the Vulture recovered and flew up into the air, with Spider-Man still hanging on. Meanwhile, the police and their choppers started shooting at the Vulture, who suddenly noticed the helicopters and planned out the end of Spider-Man!
Quickly and silently, the Vulture flew above a chopper and aimed such that Spider-Man would swung into the helicopter's spinning blades like a ragdoll. But, Spider-Man's spider-sense warned just in time, and he jumped ten feet up the webline.
I need to get closer! he thought, and began to climb up his webbing towards the giant bird-man.
"Not so fast, Spider-Man!" the Vulture shouted and dived underneath a helicopter. This time, he knew that Spider-Man may jump, but he would no longer be able to grab onto anything else.
"Oh no!" an officer shouted. "He's not gonna make it!"
But dying was not exactly very high on Peter's to-do list, as he dove high into the sky. He knew, however, that it was only a matter of time before he fell into the chopper's blades and not even the pilots inside could get it out of the way in time.
"Well, at least he'll die a hero..." and onlooker declared.
Spider-Man shot his webs out and halted the spinning blades. When he fell, they were stationary. He grabbed onto a blade and swung around it, even as the helicopter fell to a nearby abandoned building. Even the chopper exploded, Spider-Man grabbed onto the Vulture, who was right there.
XXX
The above five paragraphs occurred in less than a second. Here is where we're finally seeing the toll of Spider-Man's missing lesson!
So, let's review: he wants revenge on the Vulture for humiliating him, doesn't care who gets in his way, and will now be sure the enormous bird of prey fails to escape. I'll be the first to say it – some hero!
XXX
Spider-Man reached into his belt and grabbed the device which he had created earlier. If I'm right, he thought to himself, then the Vulture flies with use of magnetism! This device will negate that effect, and the Vulture will plummet to his doom! Of course, what fun is that... I'm going to take out the Vulture in the same way he humiliated me...
Spider-Man pressed a button and suddenly, the Vulture began to scream.
"AAAAAAAAAUUUUUUUGGGGGGHHHHHH! WHAT'S GOING ON? WHY CAN'T I FLY? WHY ISN'T IT WORKING ANYMORE!" Spider-Man has the ability to stick to walls... Of course, he can also use the ability to stick to anything... Therefore, he grabs the falling bird out of the sky with his feet and swings away.
There is silence.
"He just killed innocent officers," someone finally said – it was Flash Thompson, "and then saved the Vulture..."
"The Daily Bugle is right! He's a menace! I bet that they're in cahoots and the entire fight was staged to make Spider-Man seem like a hero!"
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Meanwhile, Spider-Man swings over to a nearby water tower and drops the Vulture inside. Spider-Man stands at the only exit and watches as the helpless scavenger drowns below. Spidey then slams shut the tower and swings over to the Daily Bugle to sell some more pictures...
XXX
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NEXT: THE MARTIAN CHRONICLES! 'Nuff said!