Deep in a secret lair within New York's subway station there was Aaron Davis working at his table; putting on the finishing touches of new gadgets that he had put together. He was a gifted engineer but growing up in a rough neighbourhood, he decided it was best to stay with the people with power who made people afraid and never thought about leaving the criminal lifestyle. Using his personal gadgets from tech that he had stolen and acquired from clients; he put on a costume and gained a reputation as the master burglar and mercenary known as the Prowler.
He had first tangled with New York's super powered vigilante Spider-Man a year after he first showed up; starting a rivalry where he would foil heists and plans of him but they would work together when they had a common enemy. He hated to admit it but he had to admire Spider-Man despite how many times he got in the way of his business; taking care of the dangerous threats out there in the city who could endanger his family (despite the fact that his brother long ago cut ties with him and didn't want his son around him with his wife thinking the same way as her husband) and being a signal of hope and protection for the people of the city.
Plus looking out for the little guy; he wish his neighbourhood had someone like him looking out for them.
Not too long ago he was hired to break into Oscorp's headquarters and steal samples of experiments that they were doing; turns out that they were trying to figure out how to duplicate Spider-Man's powers. He made off with the samples but was worn out by Oscorp's high tech security and ended up bitten by the spider that got out when the container smashed open.
He woke up and felt stronger, more agile, his senses heightened and he could walk on walls. He had Spider-Man's powers but also he found to his shock he could turn invisible and had powers like Electro, seemed like Oscorp wanted to make Spider-Man but better. He was grinning; thinking that he would never have to worry about the webhead catching him again as he was now better than him!
Then came the night when Spider-Man fought his nemesis the Goblin... The Goblin actually killed him and died from his injuries, satisfied that he finally got him in the end.
He was taken aback; he never thought that someday the webhead's luck would finally run out. He took for granted that Spider-Man was out there looking out for the people and taking care of the threats that nothing else could.
The entire of New York seemed devastated and bleak; even his most hardened critic J. Jonah Jameson was solemn with head down as he attended the funeral, quiet and somber as he made his speech talking about their history with both sides of the man. Turns out that under the mask was Peter Parker; a science geek who had only been a teenager when he first put on the mask; while he was fighting rhino men and lizards he was being late for college classes. Aaron wondered what he would have thought after his first encounter with him; if he knew that he was foiled by a 16 year old.
Aaron knew that New York needed Spider-Man but he was dead; who was supposed to replace him? Aaron thought about all the times he let his family down by not letting go of his criminal lifestyle; how he wished he could be a better man. Well New York needed Spider-Man and he was the best candidate.
But first one last heist as the Prowler; breaking into the home of Felicia Hardy-Parker the retired cat burglar known as the Black Cat who was his main rival in the business. He knew the irony that he was doing one more crime in order to start fighting it and it wasn't any better that he was stealing the work of a widow's late husband but he needed the plans. The plans for the mask, the web-shooters and the recipe for the web.
He took the data back to his lair and was able to replicate it easily with his skills; Parker was smart even at a young age.
He looked to the ashes of his Prowler suit that he personally burned and then put on his new suit that was to be a replica of the Spider-Man suit but replacing the red and blue with dark purple and black and with a bright green large spider symbol on it. "The Prowler is dead. Long live Spider-Man." Aaron said as he made his personal exit through the lair and outside to the night sky.
He then shot out the web and slinged up; "I think I must know how Parker felt using the web like these..." Aaron grinned as he made his first web sling and knew who his first target as Spider-Man would be; his former boss.
He made his way to the meat factory that acted as a front for the crime boss Iceberg; said to have his genes tinkered with to make him tougher and more dangerous; most people who have dealt with him insisted that he wasn't human anymore.
Using his new invisibility powers he took care of the guards outside and knew the brick to push to open up the secret entrance to the base of Iceberg's operations. He then found the power console and used his electric powers to short circuit it.
With the power out he made his way through the base and used his strength and webs to knock out the guards wearing winter gear and using his reflexes and 'Spider-Sense' against their blasters which shot out freezing solutions, he knew all about how to counter them as he had actually designed them for use by Iceberg's goons.
"What the hell is going on... Who dares intrudes in my base!" thundered angrily Iceberg with is light blue skin, dark blue hair which was spiked up, tall bulky size and white suit with his goons all looking to him in fear.
"Your friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man; I have been wondering for years... Are you a big fan of Arnold in Batman & Robin?" Aaron asked casually making himself known and grunted internally; how could Parker stand making these stupid jokes?
"Prowler? You are doing this and why are you dressed as Spider-Man?" Iceberg asked and Aaron sighed at being found out; perhaps using his Prowler colors in the new suit wasn't the best idea if he didn't want people to know that Prowler was the new Spider-Man. Aaron went in and started dodging his punches and punched and kicked him hard until he tied in up in a web.
"So seeking to betray me and take over my operations Prowler?" Iceberg grunted as Aaron shook his head; the old him would have but not him.
"No Iceberg; I am here to make sure you face justice and all the other criminals in this city. Plus it's not Prowler; it's Spider-Man!" Aaron retorted as Iceberg started snickering.
"Is this a joke Prowler? I must say it's funnier than your attempt at... Was that a quip?" Iceberg asked as Aaron knocked him out and made an anonymous call to the police and they will find the entrance open and the goons all out with all the evidence that they need.
Aaron got out and started web slinging up and watched from the top of a building but ended up having to dodge as there was someone trying to tackle him from behind. It was a furious Felicia Hardy-Parker in her Black Cat gear; they had crossed paths plenty of times as rival cat burglars. Was never serious.
Until now.
Aaron began dodging her strikes and tried to sling down but she caught him by the neck and they fell down but Felicia landed on her feet (off course) and Aaron managed to barely land on his feet. "I thought that the Black Cat was done... I saw your speech saying that you just want to live your life and raise your kid, making sure he knew what kind of man his father was. A good one..." Aaron said as Felicia glared hard at him.
"Don't talk to me like you actually knew him; you may have fought him before me but you never actually knew or understood him. My son is with his great aunt and I had to bring the Cat back to make sure that you don't disgrace my husband's legacy! The nerve of you Prowler; you not only broke into Peter's things to steal his inventions but you are now going about in his suit with your colors... I can't believe that I ever liked you as a rival!" Felicia snapped and Aaron sighed knowing that she had every right to be angry at him.
"I'm sorry Cat but... I got these powers and I want to do the right thing now... Continue his legacy..." Aaron said as Felicia came in to strike as she was scoffing at his words.
"Oh please Prowler... I know you... I am surprised that you are not making a statement that Peter died a martyr because he was a hero whiel you're still alive because you're a professional!" Felicia scoffed and Aaron hated having his own phrase thrown right back at him. Then came the armed PDNY officers; "Let me handle this... This is personal..." Felicia told them but then came the glaring Captain Jefferson Morales; Aaron's own brother with his gun up.
"Personal for me as well Mrs Parker; you know Aaron I wasn't the biggest fan of Spider-Man but I know that he deserved better than having his legacy tarnished by you running around in his suit." Jefferson said sternly as Aaron could barely look at his brother.
"Aaron please; I know that I have made plenty of mistakes and I know that there are still warrants but... I have his powers and I can do some good... I can fill the hole that his death left behind... New York needs Spider-Man... Please, just give me a chance..." Aaron asked as this really set Jefferson off.
"I have done nothing but give you chances Jefferson that you threw right into my face! All those promises broken and the times you have broke my heart and all the times I tried to excuse you..." Jefferson snapped with tears in his eyes as Aaron put his hands up and his head down low as he activated his invisibility. He took advantage of the confusion to set out a web and get away.
When he was sure he was far enough; he made his way back to his base and looked to his phone. He looked to his phone with the message from his nephew Miles; despite his own brother and sister in law wanting nothing to do with him, he was still cool Uncle Aaron to his nephew. He looked to the message that Miles sent the night Aaron came home with the stolen spider; Miles excitedly talking about winning a lottery to be accepted into Brooklyn Vision Academy which was a damn good school. He wanted to sneak out and tell him in person but he was caught so he was telling him with this message.
Miles a bright good kid with a promising future; to be a better man than his uncle. Aaron mused wondering if Miles was able to sneak out to come and see him; if the spider would bite him instead. He would be a better candidate for Spider-Man than him.
But no use in dealing with what if; he had to deal with what happened. He had the cops after him, his predecessor's widow wanting to hunt him down and now the public will not take kindly to the Prowler taking on the Spider-Man mantle as word will spread and no doubt they will talk to the authorities and press.
Still he had to soldier on and accept that this will be hard; didn't Parker had to continue this responsibility when he had the cops on his tail and when he was being accused of murder. It was on his tombstone 'With Great Power There Must Also Come Great Responsibility'. Well the great power and responsibility was now Aaron's and he will shoulder this burden as he continues from where Parker went off.
This was now curse and burden to take on.
Who was he?
He was Spider-Man.
Waiting on some various Spidey media news: the Cinemacon trailer for Kraven the Hunter (an R-rated Spider-Man related movie should be something), more official news for Spider-Man 2 as in the game and on Wednesday I am waiting and hoping for the game's Free Comic Book Day prequel comic to be available on Comixology.
This comes from the idea that Aaron could have been bitten by the spider that would end up biting his nephew considering he was the one who stole it. He is also using the Purple Reign suit from the Spider-Man: Miles Morales game. Iceberg comes from the 90s Spider-Man cartoon in the episode featuring the Prowler.
