Spider-Man went into the Green Goblin's subway lair in search of something that could help him find Aunt May. He did find something on the Aunt May plan, but almost everything was encrypted.
"Great," he said, "And to think the one class I dropped in high school was cryptanalysis."
While swinging back home, Spider-Man noticed that a robbery was being staged at the mint. When he swung in, however, he found a cloud of smoke surrounding him. He could not see, but he heard the distinct sound of the manganese and brass alloy of which dollar coins are made being loaded into sacks. Spider-Man used his Spider-sense to find his way around the room, but before he could stop one of the crooks, he sensed a fireball being hurled at him. After dodging, he saw the person who threw it at him; a man wearing a scale-covered costume, a cape held on by two blinking eyes affixed to the suit's clavicles, golden gauntlets with intricate art designs on them, and a smoke-filled dome where the head would be on a normal person.
"People of New York," said the man in a powerful, booming voice, "I am Mysterio, an ectoplasmic being from the netherworld. I have come to take over your realm."
"Forget it." said Spider-Man, "Another one like you came around a few years ago with the same goals and an army, easily defeated."
"I am more powerful than any human alive, even the Avengers themselves cannot stop me!" Mysterio sprayed a mist at Spider-Man, which knocks him out, allowing Mysterio and his goons to escape.
Over at Mysterio's secret hideout, Mysterio returned with the coins.
"I have the money, Mason." said Mysterio.
"All 50,000?" said an old man in a lab coat.
"In golden dollars."
"Excellent work, Beck."
"I'm going to ventilate the costume now." Mason put on a gas mask.
"I'm ready." he said. Mysterio pushed a button on his belt, releasing a large cloud of smoke. Once the gas cleared, you could now see that there was a head under the glass semi-sphere. The face was still covered, however, by a black mask with purple glowing parts. Based on the appearance, it looked like it allowed him to breathe despite the smoke and provided some form of ear protection, as well as having some dome cameras in the center of the eye socket. He removed the dome and mask, revealing his true face.
"How go the projects?" said Beck as he removed his gauntlets and cape.
"Well, with the fundings you just brought me," said Mason, "I should be able to accelerate Project: Brain substantially. As for Project: Wraith, that will take more research."
"I will be patient, though I would like it done as quickly as possible. Osborn's death only gives me a small window of opportunity to take over the city."
"I will work as fast as I can."
"Excellent. The sooner the city is mine, the better."
