She-Hulk: I know you clicked on this chapter for a story called 'Spider-Man: Fresh Start' but right now Spider-Man is no more. For at least this chapter; we are going to go with a new protagonist so please bare with us.
Weeks had passed and Halloween had come and went with Spider-Man having not been spotted since that fight with Otto Octavius who had been nicknamed online as 'Doc Ock' as a shortened version of the trending 'Doctor Octopus' nickname. Mayor Jameson said in statements that he was making sure that the Anti-Vigilante Task Force were still on high alert the next time he does decide to appear; but did have glee in talking about his disappearence and seemed to be taking credit for scaring him off.
In John's home; he was waking up in his special enforced bed wearing the attachments that allowed himself be held to Earth's gravity better when he was outside of the special suit. On top of him in her nightwear was his beautiful redheaded wife Mary Jane Watson-Jameson. "Morning tiger; another day for New York's superhero." MJ smirked in a crawling pose on top of her large husband and they both looked like that they would spend more time there if they didn't have a busy day.
They gotten dressed in the bedroom that had photos of them together including one at a recent Halloween Gala that John's Mayor father had put together; John there in his suit carrying Neil on his shoulder and shoulder by shoulder with MJ dressed as a vampire. "Morning Neil; anything planned for today my young lad?" John asked ruffling Neil's hair after going out and finding John in his bedroom playing with the Colonel Jupiter action figure that was coming out but Mayor Jameson arranged for his grandson to be sent his own before they arrive in stores.
I got some ideas for adventures for you that I want to act out; when do you think that you get to fight an alien? You're an astronaut superhero aren't you?" Neil asked and John laughed.
"I am not sure Neil; I for one am welcome to our little blue planet being free of any alien invasions anytime soon." John answered as they came downstairs and John noticed through the open door that MJ was having tea with her Aunt Anna who they had living with them and would babysit Neil when it was needed as they both had busy careers.
Anna had pretty much did more raising her niece than MJ's parents ever did as they spent most of their time fighting and aggression would be taken out on their daughter at the worst of times. Anna had also lent her support to MJ and Neil when John was in the hospital.
"...The girls are still afraid of going out at night because the criminals think that since Spider-Man disappeared, it's safe to go out again. For all that father in law of your's like to badmouth Spider-Man, congratulate himself for scaring him off and promoting his son as a superhero: he seems to be ignorant of the effect of his crusade. I talked to the girls and their families and neighbours have stories of Spider-Man personally helping them out and give words of encouragement to the people he had saved before he gets chased off by the police but John... All he does in this stupid role is take care of the threats and pose for the camera!" Anna ranted and John blinked; Anna had to be exaggerating as the crowds of people loved him and what he saw online.
"I know Aunt Anna and I am scared of John realising this; I am still working on telling him just how worried I am for him! He had this scare of the coma thanks to those spores and his own father capitalises on his condition to turn him into his own personal mascot..." MJ replied and John was shocked by his wife's own words.
Neil looked unsure as to why his father was looking like that listening to the door and John decided to enter and the Watsons pretty much pretended that they had a different conversation. "Neil; you be good for your Aunt Anna, okay?" John told Neil and he answered at once.
Octavius had been hard at work since entering the employ of Fiers and showed off devices for a scheme he had pitched to Fiers and had gotten the approval for; Fiers' sources getting for him the blueprints for Ryker's Island prison. "I have just the plan to increase our numbers and make things difficult and busy for the police. I will be requiring your service Max." Octavius said showing off his plan to gathered members of the crime organisation which included Fiers and Dillon.
Dillon jumped and said "me? This looks like a jailbreak Doc and I can't do that; my thing is staying under the radar and this is going to put me on the radar for sure!"
"This goes off as planned and they will be too busy to bother with you and Doctor Octavius here has told me that the next stage will be beneficial to you Dillon. It will make you so strong that no one can harm you." Fiers assured him and Dillon reluctantly complied as he was certain that if he kept protesting then Fiers would be more 'insistent' about it.
"What about the Mayor's superhero son? His strength and power is no joke..." brought up one of the criminals in the room and Octavius smirked in response.
"Don't worry about him as I have prepared for him." Octavius said in a reassuring voice.
John was at the Daily Bugle Communications building ready for an interview as well as filming for a promotional video; John was by an office cringing at the corny lines that his father's men had written down for them. He ended up hearing a conversation between Robbie Robertson who had became the new publisher and CEO of the Bugle after John's father had become the Mayor and Frederick Fosswell one of the longest running reporters of the Bugle.
"...Are you kidding Robbie? I have to drop this story? I spent so many weeks undercover in the criminal underworld and they were practically celebrating that Spider-Man is gone! They are getting brave and bold again; not only that but the Demons in Chinatown? I heard they have a new boss who is managing to fold all the Chinatown crime groups into the Demons. Are you saying that I can forget about shining a spotlight on them?" ranted Fosswell and John had heard about the Demons once before; a criminal group in Chinatown who sported demon like masks. John wondered what this was about.
John heard Robbie sigh and said "please let me be clear about this Frederic; I would love nothing more than to approve this but the fact of the matter is that Jonah is still the owner of the Bugle and he will veto this if he gets wind of this! I know that things are bad but Jonah won't let any story be published that doesn't conform to his view that his policies are making this city safe and secure! I showed him the poll for the Bugle's audience with the clear majority saying no to whether they feel safe now that Spider-Man is gone; he told me to speak no more of it and to take it down! He ignores the comments that I put to his attention and it's all in one ear and out another one!"
John was speechless wondering if he really was making the difference that he thought he was making and his father said he was; "Here I thought we were done glorifying a mascot that the Mayor picked after the Scorpion but now he was just replaced with his son! Are we doomed to just do puff pieces for that glorified action figure!" Fosswell ranted as he stormed out of the office and John walked away.
"John my boy; here you are!" Mayor Jameson coming up from behind smirking and putting his arm around John. "You ready for your interview and the video?" Jameson asked and John cleared his breath.
"Pops... I overheard one of your guys here Fosswell and he was talking about crime rate rising and the Demons gang in Chinatown making a move with their new leader; perhaps I could provide assistance..." John suggested and Jameson shook his head.
"Son; Fosswell is just too stubborn sometimes and ignore him. Matters like that are for the fine officers on our city's police force to worry about; the 'rising crime rate' is just an exaggeration and propaganda. All you need to do is show that you are here making the average citizen feel safe and to leap into action when one of those freaks dares to show their faces in the city or if there is someone needing to be rescued! Don't let yourself be led astray..." Jameson replied and looked furious as he heard his cell phone.
He stepped aside to answer it and looked shocked but grinned; "You want to do something to help any supposed 'crime rate' problem John? Octavius has finally showed his face again at Ryker's Island; staging a break out. I am sending reporters to come with you as the people will see their hero show how it's done in taking down that 8 limbed Doctor and prevent the crooks in that joint from escaping to terrorise the Big Apple once more!" Jameson told John patting him on the back which made John feel better as it would feel like making a difference.
In the past few weeks Peter did his best to ignore the news he heard about crime rates rising; telling himself to let the authorities take care of it. Plus the mentions in the halls of people missing Spider-Man. He focused on hanging out with his friends, going on dates with Liz and going to the hospital for updates on May as it seemed that her conditioning was worsening but kept being assured that the cure's components are coming together so the infected will be alright.
Martin was paying the bills for the apartment for them and there was a social worker checking up on him until May would be able to leave. Right now Peter and Liz were together looking at this Halloween photo of Peter dressed as Ricochet and Liz dressed in the yellow, white and green costume of Jackpot the star of this corny superhero TV series that had starred Mary Jane Watson early in her modelling career.
"I bet Sally helped you with that suit..." Peter remarked and Liz gave him a look; "I know, just between us..." Peter muttered as Liz snuggled up to him.
Octavius and Dillon had sneaked their way into Ryker's Island and using electricity from Dillon, Octavius used a special device he had created to short circuit the power to the prison and it released the prisoners as Fiers had men sent to break into the evidence lock up, be there to give Beck and Schultz their gear as they helped them and others escaped while dealing with the guards which Octavius and Dillon were easily able to do with the ones that were in their way.
"Mr Lincoln; you shall be free to be feared once again." Octavius told Tombstone as he used a device to break him out of his super enforced constraints in his special cell, Tombstone had a grin at the thought of being free to cause trouble again. Dillon greeted Gargan with a wave as Octavius helped him out of his cell and the special constraints for his tail.
"I believe that animals hunt better when they are in a pack so how about joining the one I am putting together Mr Kravinoff?" Octavius greeted as he broke Kraven out of his special constraints in his cell and Kraven grinned in response looking like a wild animal with his hair. "Last but certainly not least..." Octavius said as he found Toomes who had gotten out of his cell when the cells burst open.
"Otto Octavius; I was rooting for you to rip Osborn apart on the news. I am guessing that you fell victim to him like I had been? This team you are here to recruit me for; count me in?" Toomes greeted Octavius as he joined the 4 others with Octavius.
"My benefactor found your hideout and moved your stuff to our new one." Octavius told him and Toomes looked angry at this but didn't say anything as the six were grouped together and got to the courtyard.
"Why don't you all go back to your cells and I will speak on your behalf to the board about giving you all leniency!" John heroically yelled out as he made himself known. "You were lucky that I wasn't able to get to you last time Doc Ock but now you are not so lucky this time! Plus Gargan; wasn't one humiliating defeat enough?" John asked striking a pose as Tombstone went to fight him and they seemed to be evenly matched.
Octavius used one of his robotic limbs to keep Gargan back from interfering and he then yelled at Tombstone to hold John. "Your 'sinister six' are no match for Colonel Jupiter!" John shouted as Tombstone managed to hold John in a bearhug and Octavius had Gargan then pierce a central component of the suit and had Dillon send a blast of electricity through it and John yelled in pain.
Gargan was smirking saying that he was looking forward to getting even for a long while; "I was the main genius behind putting that suit together and I knew it's weakpoints and the potential strain to your heart and nervous system. Do you feel like a hero still Colonel Jupiter?" Octavius mocked to him in a gloating voice as the six then kicked at the fallen John's head in front of the news camera crew.
"New York belongs to the Sinister Six now; this so called superhero was no match for us!" Octavius yelled out loud deciding that he liked the name that John came up with.
Peter was in the living room shaken as saw on the news about the prison breakout masterminded by Octavius and it was live when he took down John with some electric guy and four other villains that Peter had beaten and put behind bars in the first place. He made his way to his room and to a hiding spot where there was a new Spider-Man suit that he was working on in case his one got too badly damaged; using the same design but better quality fabric.
"Things are going to turn out well... Colonel Jupiter can recover and take care of this and the police will take care off the escaped prisoners..." Peter muttered to himself trying in vain to convince himself as he put the suit back.
Mayor Jameson was shaken as he watched his son badly beaten by Octavius and his 'Sinister Six' with them escaping with who knows how many criminals. He was there at the hospital when they had gotten word that John's unconscious body had arrived and Norman had called saying that he will send men to check up on John and fix John's suit.
He was talking to Robbie and a member off his mayoral staff about how to best spin this to the public (he couldn't afford his emotions stop him from doing his duty after all) when MJ and Anna arrived with a crying Neil. Poor Neil; once again his hero father would be in the hospital and this time he had to have heard or watched his father defeated badly.
"Mary Jane, Ms Watson; I am sorry that we have to experience bad news about John like this once again but I promise that we will get through this as a family..." consoled Jameson only to be met with a strong punch to the jaw from a furious MJ as he was helped up by his security team.
"You pushed him this into this role and I am holding you responsible Jonah! Once or if John recovers; then that's the end of Colonel Jupiter! I won't let him continue to be your little mascot anymore!" MJ snapped at him as Anna covered Neil's ears while glaring at Jameson; MJ looked like the fact that he had his security detail with him and that she needed to focus on her husband's condition were the only reasons that she wouldn't be going to continue pummelling on her father in law.
"Women; am I right Robbie..." Jameson said as they walked away from him and Robbie pushed his phone into Jameson's face; it showed that fail videos using the footage of John at the prison with his defeat were already made and trending.
"I am worried for John make no mistake Jonah and I agree that this is in horrible bad taste by the idiots doing this and the reactions to it but I hope that you wil lnow wake up and get out of fantasyland!" Robbie told Jameson whose frozen face was open mouthed.
Fiers was grinning like a maniac as the newly formed Sinister Six made it to his hideout along with his imprisoned men and criminals that decided to pledge their loyalty to the Gentleman in return for shelter. Octavius had prepared the material to fix up Gargan's suit so it took no time at all, Kraven had decided to shave his fur and Toomes looked at his Flight Tech suit just as he had left it in his hideout. "Your plan worked like a charm Doctor Octavius; with you under my command I shall be the top criminal kingpin in New York City!" Fiers said pouring himself some expensive champagne as Octavius gave him a look. "Something on your mind Doctor?" Fiers asked as Octavius sighed.
"I am most grateful for what you have done for me but I have plans and I think that they will work better if I am not hindered by a boss that I have to answer to. Plus I am a scientist and science keeps evolving; the tactics of normal crime bosses are outdated so perhaps a scientist's approach is needed?" Octavius said as he then used a limb to grab Fiers by the throat and lifted him up and Tombstone stood protectively in front Octavius to stop the bodyguards from reacting. "I think what New York's criminal underworld needs to evolve is not a Gentleman but a master planner..." Octavius said as he used his robotic limb to crush Fiers' neck and tossed his body to the ground.
"Anyone objecting to the change in leadership?" Octavius asked casually and the scared criminals relented. The other members of the Sinister Six didn't seem to have a problem except for the shocked Dillon but he also relented. "Excellent." Octavius smirked.
This had occurred to me as I realised I had been horrible at keep track of how much time has passed and when this would be; some chapters are within days of eachother and some a week apart. I'm not Greg Weisman (I honestly hope that I didn't need to state this for you to realise that he couldn't possibly be writing this) who did a much better job at keeping track of how much time has passed and the changing seasons in Spectacular Spider-Man. Plus for fans of Gargoyles; the first issue of a comics continuation of the show has come out by Dynamite Comics and there next year is going to be a remaster of the Sega Genesis game which should be good for those like me interested in seeing rereleases of older tie in games of media I like.
Yes MJ is older and John's wife and wasn't exactly planned when I was writing the chapters that had John's origin as Colonel Jupiter. Only came to me now as I was struggling to find candidates with the only good one being Jennifer Walters and I decided to go with MJ thanks to that subplot in Spider-Man 2.
