He wasn't sure where he was, or what rooftop he was looking over. From up high it all looked so peaceful. He'd swung high above the clouds enough times to recognise every single building. Every single park. Even which statues the birds preferred to perch on. It was the strangest thing. The city resembled home, but only vaguely. Where was he? He couldn't answer that. Spider-Man knew two things for sure: One; he was a long way away from New York City, and two; New York rain was never this bad. He sat down against granite, panting. He needed some time to rest. And some time to think.

"Hello there, spider. Come here often?"

Standing behind him was a woman with flowing white-as-snow hair that looked as lively as ever even though it was soaking wet. She wore a black catsuit and a mask that just about hid her true identity.

"Well well. If it isn't miss 'Party Hardy'." He looked back and embraced an old friend. The look in her eyes suggested she wanted more than just a hug. "So, what brings you here?"
Peter and Felicia talked about everything and nothing. She explained to him that this was Wood Oak City and she was visiting a friend out of town. Eventually, Felicia went silent and hugged herself, shying away from him.

"What's wrong, Felicia?"

"I know you don't approve of my choice of lifestyle, but I owe it to you to at least tell you the latest rumblings in the criminal underworld."

He cocked a brow through the mask. "Why's that?"

"You know how we have the Kingpin? This city's kingpin is Mr.X. Him and his organisation pretty much rule the roost around here. Police won't do a thing about it. He's got them all on his payroll."

"Great. As if one city wasn't enough to worry about."

"It's worse than that. He's allied himself with some of your worst enemies. He must have known you'd try to stop him, which is why he kidnapped one of the people closest to you."

"Who, Aunt May?"

"No. Your...your wife. Mary Jane."

The rain fell harder. Now it wasn't only fighting against the darkness to restore peace and justice. Now, he had to save the love of his life. Mary Jane. Things were personal now. Peter Parker despised when his personal life got mixed up with his costumed heroics, and that only gave him further incentive to go out and do what needed to be done. He swung away from the rooftop, leaving Felicia and swinging from the roof. Mr X would pay. Dearly.

Costume completely drenched, Spider-Man spun a web and turned past a street corner. He noticed three individuals. Stood alone, these strangers had faces that spoke to him. Whatever they had been through, he felt as if his own experiences could relate to them. He'd never been one for a team-up, always feeling that protecting the city was his sole responsibility. He wasn't just taking on his own rogues. He was dealing with an entirely new criminal syndicate. And as it was, Spider-Man needed all the help he could get.

"Huh?" The sound of someone landing alerted the three, and they now stood in front of a man wearing red and blue garbs with some of Adam's muscle and his blonde friend's lean physique.

"Hi."

"Who are you? What do you want?" Blaze asked. She was actually the least apprehensive, merely narrowing her gaze whilst Eddie and Axel readied their fists.

"Call me Spider-Man. I want the same thing you all do. To take down Mr.X." Their eyes slightly widened. Everyone in Wood Oak had heard of Mr X even if almost no one had gazed upon his visage. They'd never heard of a Spider-Man however, and at first glance, Axel and Blaze had thought the idea of a vigilante hiding behind a mask was juvenile and downright absurd. Eddie thought it was cool.

"Oh yeah?" Axel questioned, stepping forward. "Ok Spider-Man, what makes you think we need your help? We've done this just fine before."

"Because I've done this kind of thing too. Hundreds of times. And I know some of the guys you'll be up against. Guys the police would never take on, even if they weren't being paid off. Which is exactly why you need my help."

Dismissive, Axel simply shook his head. "I'm not buying it."

"Alright then. How about a little field test? If I can take all three of you on, you have to let me join."

"Fine," the ex-cop said with a smirk. "But it's your funeral."

Much to their surprise, Spider-Man was more than a match for them. He outmanoeuvred them all at each and every turn. Even when Eddie slipped his focus and skated past him, he managed to turn around at exactly the right moment. Soon enough the three were suspended from a lamppost, wrapped up in webbing tighter than any rope.

"Ok. You can join us. Just as soon as you let us down from here!" Axel groaned. He, along with Blaze, would be lying if they said they didn't enjoy letting their fury fly on endless hordes of tackily dressed goons. They'd also be lying if it didn't get a little too overwhelming sometimes.

Axel, Blaze, and Eddie, truly set forth on their citywide crusade against crime. Thwipping alongside them, of course, was Spider-Man.

NEXT: Brawling in The Street!