Synopsis
Amazing Spider-Man, The (1963 series) #535 synopsis by
Rob Johnson
Rating:
Peter Parker can't sleep because of the things Tony Stark has him doing for the Superhuman Registration Act. Now he hears on late night news that Stark Enterprises (and Fantastic Four Incorporated) are making loads of money from building a secure facility to house arrested non-Registered. He goes to Stark and demands to see the detention centre.
Iron Man takes Peter to the Baxter Building where he learns that the prison is in the Negative Zone. Reed Richards opens a portal and IM and Peter jet through. Stark gets them through an elaborate security system. He explains that the walls are made of synthetic vibranium. And each cell is custom-designed to counter the powers of its occupant. Those who can be trusted with tech can use virtual reality to ease their confinement.
Peter is reluctantly willing to accept this as a temporary measure. But Iron Man tells him it's the permanent solution. The only way out is to register with the government. Peter objects that this is imprisonment without trial, but Tony replies that there is no alternative. And this jail is outside the US so no defence lawyer, even She-Hulk, can do anything about it.
Back in the BB Peter asks for some time alone with Reed, and asks him why he's doing this. Reed tells him about his eccentric writer Uncle Ted who went up against the House Un-American Activities Commission when Reed was very young. He refused to co-operate with them and went to jail for a while. When he came out he was a pariah, and Reed says it killed him. Peter sees this as the tale of a brave man, but to Reed it's a sign that the law must be obeyed even if you think it's wrong. The law is what keeps us civilised.
Afterwards Stark tells Peter he wants him to go to Los Angeles for a while to help with another project called the 50-State Initiative. He says he'll keep Mary Jane and Aunt May safe while Peter's gone.
Peter sneaks back in to Avengers Tower using his spider-powers to evade the security system. He wakes MJ and May and tells them they've got to leave immediately. He's realised he's backed the wrong side and he's going to have to do something about it.
But he hears a series of booms, and activates his Iron Spider costume as Iron Man comes smashing through walls to get him and carries them both outside.
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