Pepper Ann copyright Sue Rose/Disney
Spider-Man copyright Stan Lee and Steve Ditko/Marvel Comics
Tangled Web
Chapter 05: Spider-Man Vs. Tombstone
[Hazelnut Hospital]
Lydia Pearson burst into the Hospital Lobby.
"Where's. My. Sister." demanded Lydia
a nurse at the imformation desk looked at her.
"you must be a relative of our new patie-"
Lydia grabbed the Nurse by her shirt, gripping her tightly.
"WHERE IS JAINIE!"
"calm down, Madame...your sister is FINE, she is resting in room fifteen.
she only suffered a concussion, we were able to properly treat it thanks to Spider-Man's assistance."
Lydia released the nurse, relaxing.
"So...she'll be okay?"
"Yes, we expect her to make a quick recovery."
Lydia exhaled in relief.
"May I...see her?"
"of course."
Lydia then walked off down the hallway.
Lydia opened a door and looked inside.
she saw Jainie laying on a bed, her eye and part of her head bandaged up.
Lydia felt a knot in her stomach.
it PAINED her to see her little sister like this (despite how "annoying" Jainie could be, sometimes)
"j-jainie?"
Jainie opened her visible eye and looked at Lydia.
a smile then appeared on her tired face.
"lydia."
Lydia walked inside the room and approached her.
"oh, jainie...I was so worried!, I thought-"
"yes, I know.
but, I am okay...the doctor said I should make a recovery."
Lydia sat down on a chair beside the bed.
"What happened, Jainie!
I got a call from Jojo saying you were in the hospital!"
Jainie sighed.
"I was...driving to a Gift Shop to buy an anniversary present for Jojo."
Jainie looked down.
"it was...suppose to be a surpise."
"ANYWAY, when I got there...I saw the shop in shambles, burning up.
I saw a tall man in street clothes (a hoodlum no doubt) with chalk white skin.
he...he approached my van, tore the door off.
he...he hit me, his fist felt like concrete."
Lydia narrowed her eyes in anger.
"I felt so light headed...my life flashing before my eyes.
I felt limp body hit the ground (I guess he tossed my out...like a ragdoll)
I...heard my van drive away, the tires screeching.
I then heard a voice...at first, I thought it was Peter.
then, I looked up...and, I saw Spider-Man.
he...he picked me up and brought me here."
Lydia was silent.
Jainie then spoke again.
"Where is Jojo?"
"If I had to guess...still working.
but, he sounded awfully WORRIED about you on the phone."
Jainie sighed softly, resting her head back on her pillow.
"I hope he doesn't go after that Chalk-Faced Man...he looked like a serious PSYCHO."
[Elsewhere]
Spider-Man webzipped onto a rooftop and looked around.
"man, I SERIOUSLY need to start investing my time in developing Tracking Devices." began Spider-Man
"(Sigh) oh, well...until THEN, I'll have to start finding criminals the old fashion way..."
Spider-Man shot a weblines and propelled himself away.
Peter soon arrived to his destination: the burnt Gift Shop.
he figured since THIS was where he first met Tombstone...it would be a good place to start looking.
Spidey approached the Burned down building, surrounded by Police Tape.
"alright, "Stoney"...where did you go?"
Peter walked back to where he originally fought Tombstone.
he then took some steps forward...where he saw black tire tracks on the ground.
since this was ALSO where he found Jainie this must of been where Tombstone stole the van and sped away.
"this is where he got away...now, if only I knew WHERE."
Peter took a moment a thought a bit.
"Hmmm...I wonder.
if my Spider Sense can warn me danger...can I also use it to DETECT it?"
Peter then closed his eyes and focused, TRYING to trigger his Spider Sense.
"come on...work, WORK!"
after a few minutes...Peter felt the "tingling" sensation in his brain.
he felt compelled to look in a certain direction...almost as if SOMETHING was there, somewhere.
Peter figured his Spider Sense was detecting something dangerous in that direction.
he didn't know if it was Tombstone or not...but, it WAS in the same direction that Jainie's van was driven.
Peter grinned underneath his facemask.
"gotcha, tombie."
Spider-Man shot a webline and propelled himself down his Mental Trail
Peter continued to webzip through town, keeping his Spider Sense tuned in and, followed the invisible path that he HOPED would lead him to Tombstone.
Spidey eventually saw something: an overturned Van, left in a ditch by the road.
curious, Peter leapt down near it.
he approached and examined the vehicle.
"no doubt about it...this is Aunt Jainie's Van.
Tombstone must of ditched it and either went on foot...or, stole another car."
Peter huffed.
he didn't want to admit it...but, Tombstone was SMARTER than he thought.
"great...NOW where is he-"
suddenly, Peter's Spider Sense went off as it normally does.
KA-CHIK
"don't mo-"
Peter quickly flipped backwards in the air and, fires webbing at whoever it was behind him in mid-air.
he quite easily wrapped his Would-Be Attacker up like a mummy.
but, after landing and looking at the figure...he recognized who it was: Pepper Ann's Uncle JOJO."
"Officer Diggety?"
Jojo tried to speak but webbing covered his mouth, so...all he could so was mumble.
Peter quickly ran forward and torn the webbing away.
"S-Spider-Man!"
"Officer, what are you doing out here?"
Jojo was soon free.
he exhaled as he brushed the silky substance off his uniform.
"I'm on the trail of a criminal."
Peter smirked under his mask.
"Lemme guess: Tombstone."
"how did yo-"
"OFFICER, you shouldn't be out here.
Tombstone is a dangerous man...I outta know."
Jojo then got angry.
"He's ALSO the S.O.B. who put my wife in the hospital!"
"yeah, and if you go after him then, TWO Diggety's will be in the Hospital, instead of just one."
"BUT-"
Peter placed his hand on his hand, still gripping his gun.
he gently lowered it down and looked straight at Jojo.
"go back to your wife, Officer...she needs you right now.
leave Tombstone to me...with MY powers, I have a chance."
Jojo was silent...then, sighed sharply.
"alright...you win.
just, DON'T go easy on him."
Peter grinned.
"trust me, Diggety...I WON'T."
Spider-Man then shot a webline and webzipped away, leaving Jojo alone.
(("man...i've never SEEN Jojo so angry, before.")) thought Peter, as he webzipped through town
(("come to think of it...I don't think I've EVER seen him angry."))
Peter then landed on the rooftop of a building.
(("but, then again...I can't really blame him.
I felt pretty angry at what Tombstone did to Jainie, TOO."))
Peter then exhaled.
"alright...better get back on the trail."
Peter walked forward and looked out towards the horizion, overlooking the entire town.
"somewhere in this town, Tombstone is hiding...like the RAT he is." began Peter
"a guy that looks the way HE does can't be that hard to find in a town this size!"
Peter shot a webline and zipped away.
Peter once again tuned in on his Spider Sense, focusing on locating any threats nearby.
after what felt like HOURS, Peter soon sensed something nearby...
it felt like more than one person, probably a small group...like a gang.
and, if a Gang was nearby...then one of them HAD to of known about Tombstone.
Peter webzipped over to a nearby building and, stealthly snuck closer to where he sensed the danger.
he looked down into an alley...where five teenagers in raggy looking clothes were.
their were some barrels with some fire buring in them and, the teens were gathered around, who were smoking and sorting through some cash.
"so, how much we make?" said one Teen
"One Grand." replied a girl, who had a "dazed" look in her darkened eyes
"heh!, that outta get us some goods." said another teen
"GET REAL!
after The Big Man takes his cut, we'll be lucky to get ANYTHING!"
just then, one of the teens was suddenly wrapped up in webbing.
once effectivly snared, he fell down on the ground.
the other teens looked up and saw Spider-Man clinging to a wall.
"now, shouldn't you kids be in school?" said Spidey
"IT'S THE BUG GUY!, GET 'EM!" shouted a teen
the teens drew out some guns and fired at Spider-Man.
Spidey quite easily evaded these shots (either due to his Agility, or the TERRIBLE aim the teens had)
"Bug Guy?"...seriously, that's the best insult you got!"
Peter shot weblines, and webbed up their "Gun Hands"
"YOU THINK THIS WILL STOP US!"
Peter's Spider Sense went off...but, it felt different.
"NO, WAIT-"
some of the teens fired their guns.
SADLY, the webbing blocked the bullets and made the gun EXPLODE...knocking them out in shock.
only ONE of the teens were left.
in fear, he turned and ran away.
"oh, no you don't."
Spider-Man shot a webline at the lone teen, snagging him.
he jerked his webline, propelling the teen to him.
Peter grabbed the teen by his shirt leapt up and crawled up the wall with the teen.
once on the rooftop, Peter held the teen over the roof.
the teen was none-the-less...TERRIFIED.
"AAHH!"
"you guys aren't really good at this "criminal" thing, are you?"
"NO!"
Peter groaned at his captive's cowardice.
"oh, show some dignity."
Spidey then brought the teen to his face.
"now...let's talk about TOMBSTONE."
"T-Tomb...stone?"
"I know you guys are "Brain Dead"...but, your not THAT stupid.
even a bunch of Stoners like YOU have to know about a chalk Skinned man running around here."
Spider-Man loosened his grip on the teen...in an effort to scare him a little.
luckily for Peter, the Teen was so "attled", that he didn't have to try TOO HARD.
"AAHH! gasped the Teen
"W-We were SUPPOSE to meet up with Mr. Tombstone tonight.
s-so he could collect the Big Man's cut on our "jobs"
(("the Big Man, again...
who IS that guy?, and WHY is every criminal acting like he's such a Big deal?")) thought Peter
Peter shook his head.
(("stay focused, Pete.
you can investigate the Big Man LATER."))
"When tonight?, WHERE?"
the Teen gulped.
"t-the old Newspaper Building, the Hazelnut Herald!"
"That place has been abandoned since the 1960s." said Spider-Man
"YEAH...The Big Man felt it would make a GOOD hiding place.
though, I hear from the "grapevine" that Big Man has OTHERS in hazeln-GAHH!"
Peter jerked the teen closer to him.
"are you SURE Tombstone will be there?"
"y-yeah!
Tombstone told us to meet him there, HIMSELF."
"good."
Spider-Man then dropped down and clung to a wall.
he slammed the teen against the wall and webbed his body.
"you stay there for awhile...the cops will pick you guys up, SOON."
"s-s-sure..."
Spidey then got closer, staring right at him.
"and, your information had BETTER be good.
because if I find out your lying, I WILL come back...and, you won't like it when I do."
the Teen nodded in fear.
"D-D-DON'T WORRY!
i-it's the truth, I SWEAR Tombstone will be there!"
"he'd BETTER be."
Spider-Man then webzipped away, leaving the teen ALONE.
[Hazelnut Hospital]
a door opened and Pepper Ann and Moose walked into Jainie's Medroom.
Jojo was already there, sitting beside his wife.
"hey, Aunt Jainie!" said Pepper Ann
Jainie smiled, despite her obvious pain.
"Hi there, Pepper Ann...and, Moose."
Moose just waved.
Pepper Ann and Moose approached her.
"we brought you something."
Pepper Ann showed Jainie some flowers, Moose also had some.
"Flowers?
oh, they are just LOVELY!"
Pepper Ann smiled.
she and Moose then laid them down on a table next to her.
"we, uhh...hope you get better."
"oh, don't worry about ME.
the doctor says I'll recover in a week or so."
"how do you feel NOW, dear?" asked Jojo
Jainie groaned as she held her head.
"I have the mother of all headaches, right now...
but, it could of been worse...I suppose."
THUD!
everyone gasped at a loud noise.
they all look and see Spider-Man clung against a window.
"oh, my..." said Jainie
Spidey lightly knocked on the window, tapping the glass.
"lemme in!"
Jojo walked over and opened the door.
Spidey then lept inside the room.
Pepper Ann and Moose were awestruck.
"way COOOOL." said Pepper Ann, her eyes wide
"Spider-Man...did YOU come to wish me well?" said Jainie
"kind of.
I'm actually here to speak to your husband."
Jojo faced Spidey.
"what is it?"
"I have a lead on Tombstone...thought you might be interested."
all was silent.
Jojo then spoke.
"go on..."
"I got word from a "reliable" source that Tombie has several hideout's in Hazelnut...but, he'll be in ONE OF THEM tonight."
"where at?"
"the old Hazelnut Herald building."
"that place hasn't been used in YEARS." began Jainie
"not since the Herald became the GAZETTE and, moved into the new building."
"I know...that makes it an IDEAL hiding place." said Spider-Man
Jojo nodded.
"right, I'll phone the chief and meet you the-"
"no."
"what?"
"inform the police, but YOU are staying here."
"But, I can't-"
"Your place is here, with your family.
Tombstone is TOO DANGEROUS...it's a risk for even ME to face him.
Jojo raised an eyebrow.
"you mean YOUR not sure if you can beat Tombstone?"
"no...when I first met him, he beat me up pretty badly.
the only reason I'M not in the hospital is due to my powers."
Jainie looked down, remembering how HARD Tombstone hit her.
"just inform the police on where to find him.
hopfully, I'll have him stopped by the time they get there."
"but, what if you CAN'T!" said Jainie, who sounded concerned
Spider-Man narrowed his eyes under his mask.
"If I don't survive...
then, the LEAST I can do is tire Tombstone out for the police."
Pepper Ann stared at the Superhero, wide eyed.
"you can't be serious!"
Spider-Man looked at them.
"I'd say I'm "Dead Serious"
but, I'd rather not Jinx myself."
"I don't like this..." began Jainie
"I'm not to crazy about this, either...
but, I won't risk anybody's safety...and, besides: it's MY Responsibility."
Jainie sighed.
"while I commend your dedication, Spider-Man...
I hate to think you putting yourself at risk over what happened to me."
(("(sigh), great, NOW Jainie thinks this is HER fault.")) thought Peter
"it isn't ALL about you, Ma'am.
I can't let what Tombstone did to you...happen to anyone else."
Spider-Man cletched his fists.
"or, WORSE."
Jainie exhaled.
"alright...but, just BE CAREFUL."
Spider-Man nodded.
he turned to leave, but Moose grabbed his pants leg.
Spidey looked down at her.
"can I have you autograph?"
Peter smiled under his mask.
"when I get back...I promise."
Moose smiled.
Peter then exited thru the window.
(("at least...I hope I will."))
once Spider-Man was gone...Pepper Ann spoke.
"that...has got to be...the COOLEST THING that has EVER happened to me!"
Jainie just sighed sharply, her mind on OTHER things.
"I sure hope Peter doesn't follow Spider-Man..." began Jainie
"I know he earns his money by taking his pictures.
but, if he follows Spider-Man to old Herald Building...he could be KILLED."
Pepper Ann looked and Jainie
"aw, COME ON, Aunt Jainie.
Pete isn't STUPID, he knows better than to go near that monster."
"I sure hope so..."
[Elsewhere]
Spider-Man webzipped over to the old Hazelnut Herald building.
it basicly looked like an average factory.
dark, alone with broken windows boarded up.
however, he could see some men with guns standing around it (obviously GUARDS)
"Hmm...looks like this place isn't THAT abandoned.
guess what that creep told me was TRUE, afterall...lucky him."
Peter surveyed the area and began to plan things in his mind.
(("hmm...those sure ain't "popguns")) mused Peter
(("and, I'm not sure I can avoid ALL of them...even with my Spider Agility."")
Peter then shot a webline at the factory's roof.
(("better stay outta sight for now...
BESIDES, I don't want Tombie to know I'm here...YET."))
Peter attached the other end of the webline to the building he was on.
he then stealthly sprinted across the line like a "tightrope"
(("P.T. Barnum...eat your heart out."))
Spidey effortlessly leapt to the roof of the factory.
he sprinted over to a window on the roof and looked inside.
Peter saw several men inside, stacking boxes around the place.
he could ALSO see various weapons scattered around, MOST laying on tables.
curious, Peter carefully lifed a window up to look inside.
he saw that some of the weapons looked like standard guns.
other, however...looked like something out of STAR TREK.
"hmm...that's interesting."
Peter then took out a small camera from his belt.
"well, as long as I'm here I might as well take some pics for the Gazette...or, at LEAST give 'em to the cops as evidence."
Peter turned off the flash, zoomed in and took some snapshots.
once done, he shot some webbing and attached the now TIMED Camera to it.
"now, to find TOMBSTONE."
Peter crawled into the window and began to "wallcrawl" onto the cealing.
he then webzipped onto stacks of boxes, remembering to keep to the shadows, and surveyed the area.
"now...if I were Tombstone (and, I'm sure glad i'm NOT) where would "I" be hiding?"
as if on cue, a door opened and in walked Tombstone.
the chalkfaced man approached his men with a stern face.
"what's up, Tombstone?" said a Man
Tombstone growled.
"I just got off the phone with Hammerhead..." began Tombstone
"Big Man believes that Cops may have gotten wise to our location.
so, he wants us to pack up and move EVERYTHING to our other hideout."
"WHAT!
B-But, we just got settles in!" complained a man
Tombstone glared at him, then approached him.
"then, YOU can stay here and get THROWN IN JAIL!
I have my orders, and if you all know what's good for ya', you'll OBEY them."
"how'd the cops figure out where we are?" asked another man
Tombstone scoffed.
"I'd wager my money that SPIDER-MAN tipped them off."
"THAT...would be a safe bet."
Tombstone and the other thugs suddenly looked up
and, saw Spider-Man hanging upside-down from a webline, in a "yo-yo" like fashion.
"SPIDER-MAN!"
"the ONE and ONLY!"
the men then quickly ran for the many weapons scattered around.
Spidey dropped down to the floor and quickly shot several weblines at them.
"AH-AHH...NO GUNS."
Spidey snagged the men, and jerked them onto the backs.
he then looked and Tombstone and approached him.
"now...it's just YOU and ME."
Tombstone grinned.
"think AGAIN, Hero."
Tombstone snapped his fingers, and summoned several of his men.
"SQUASH HIM!"
the gang began to surround Spider-Man...who calmly took a fighting stance.
"Twenty against One, eh?" began Spidey
"gee, hardly seems like a fair fight: so, I'll TRY to go easy on you guys."
Spider-Man then shot two weblines, snagging two men each.
he yanked the lines, propelling then hapless men towards him.
to which he performed a leaping double kick at them.
"Don't just Stand There!, HE'S MAKING YOU ALL LOOK LIKE IDIOTS!" shouted Tombstone
Spider-Man snagged another man with his webline.
he then jerked and swirled him around (knocking several men down as he did)
Spidey then released the line, tossing the dazed man at another.
Tombstone gripped his face in aggravation.
"oh, for the love of- I'M OUTTA HERE!"
Tombstone then turned and ran for it.
Peter saw then and narrowed his eyes.
"oh, no you DON'T!"
Spider-Man chased after Tombstone.
several of Tombstone's men tried to stop him but, Spider-Man just webbed them to the floor and walls.
he really didn't have time for a fight.
Tombstone climbed up a metal ladder and onto a walkway.
he ran down the catwalk...with Spider-Man hot on his trail.
"TOMBSTONE!"
Spidey shot webbing at his prey, webbing his boot to the metal floor.
but, Tombstone just growled as he tore his webbed-up boot away.
Spider-Man then leapt after him.
but, Tombstone just swiped his backhand at him, viciously striking him.
"GAAAH!"
Spider-Man was flung from the rafter.
but, he quickly recovered and shot a webline at the cealing.
his body only came INCHES from the ground below.
"WHEW!, that was a close one."
Spidey looked up and saw Tombstone climbing up a cealing window.
he was obviously heading for the roof.
[Rooftop]
Tombstone climbed up onto the roof of the newspaper building.
he growled as he overlooked the distant town and the night sky.
CRASH!
Tombstone suddenly looked and saw Spider-Man (who had shot himself thru a window) standing before him.
"You're not going ANYWHERE, Tombie..." said Spider-Man, darkly
Tombstone laughed out loud at this.
"Oh, Really?
and, whose gonna stop me: YOU?
last i checked, you didn't do too well the last time we thought, or have you forgotten the beating you took?"
"i haven't forgotten...just as i haven't forgotten how you assaulted that woman whose van you stole."
Tombstone smirked, scoffing.
"your comin' after me for THAT!"
Spider-Man narrowed his eyes.
"no crime is Too Big...or, TOO SMALL.
whether it's Theft, Murder or Jaywalking: I'm bringing you in."
Tombstone suddenly charged, yelling out as he punched at Spider-Man.
Luckily, Spider-Man evaded the attack which resulted in Tombstone simply punched a hole thru the roof.
Tombstone tore his undamaged forearm out of the ruptured surface and glared at Spider-Man.
"Then, you're in for a Rough Time, "Do-Gooder."
Tombstone then faced Spider-Man.
"do you know WHY I'm called "Tombstone?"
"well, uh-"
"Because AFTER i'm done...a TOMBSTONE is all that's left of ya'." said Tombstone, aggressivly
Tombstone that spat in his hands and rubbed them.
"so...you gonna be a "smart" bug and run away?
or, do i hafta dig you a ditch, and bury you six feet under!"
Spider-Man remained still and silent for a moment.
he then shot a webline at a smokestack.
then, another webline at another.
gripping them tightly, he stepped backwards for a bit...then, stopped.
"i'll send you flowers." said Spider-Man
Spidey then leapt up, propelling himself towards Tombstone.
keeing his legs straight, he performed a flying kick at Tombstone's chest which sent both the inhuman man and Spider-Man flying off the building.
"YAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!"
Tombstone fell and impacted the ground below.
Spider-Man lowed down from a webline and landed on Tombstone's chest.
he crouched down and stared right at tombstone's face.
he was breathing, but otherwise Out Cold.
"That...was for Jainie." said Peter.
CHA-CHIK!
Spider-Man looked and saw some men aiming guns at him.
"hold it right here, spider fre-"
Suddenly, dozens of police cars drove up.
the cars barricaded the area, keeping everyone pinned.
the officers got out and aimed their guns at the men.
"DROP YOUR WEAPONS, NOW!"
the crooks all looked at each other, feeling nervous.
"you'd better do as he says." said Spidey
the man who had his gun pointed at Spider-Man...finally droped his gun.
the others crooks soon droped theirs as well, and put then hands up in defeat.
The police approached them and began to restrain them with handcuffs.
a female police officer looked over at Spider-Man (who was still crouched onto Tombstone.)
Spidey looked up at her...then, she spoke.
"the...chief still wants YOU arrested.
so, you'd better get out of here, we'll take it from here."
Spider-Man was surprised.
but, he quickly stood up and walked off.
"uhh...sure."
Spidey shot a webline and web-zipped away.
the police officer then looked down at tombstone.
she exhaled sharply, then bent down and handcuffed him.
"the chief is just gonna "LOVE" this in my report."
Author Note: Sure took me awhile to get this posted.
Anyway, this is the climax to Spidey vs Tombstone
In which the webhead takes down granite face for assaulting "Aunt Jainie"
I left a few Spidey Tidbits for fans
along with clarifying that Spidey is well loved among the Pearson Family.
So, if "The Big Man" ISN'T Tombstone (like on 'Spectacular Spider-Man') then who is he?
Well, the answer will come soon
along with some other Spidey Drama.