Our story begins with Peter Parker at home, noticing
that a lot of his clothes are now getting too small. Peter just about cleans
out his bank account before deciding to head to the Daily Bugle. Meanwhile, in
another part of town, the Scorpion escapes from jail after getting his suit
back due to feigning insanity, vowing to get revenge on both Spider-Man and
Jameson! Peter reaches the Daily Bugle and finds J. Jonah Jameson talking with
Frederick Foswell about a cat burglar story. Peter decides to get the details
later as he then runs into Betty Brant talking to the newly returned Ned Leeds,
much to Peter’s chagrin. Just then, a police officer stops in to warn Jameson
that the Scorpion has escaped and is likely coming for him. Jameson feigns
ignorance, not wanting anyone to find out that he’s the reason the Scorpion
exists in the first place.
Peter decides to head out to look for the Scorpion
after sensing that Jameson is bluffing about something. Jameson nervously paces
around his office, worrying about what to do, even trying to come up with an
idea to contact Spider-Man. Spidey meanwhile has the idea to swing around in
circles in one concentrated area, in order to draw the Scorpion to him and away
from Jameson. The Scorpion, however, sees Spider-Man but has the opposite idea,
realizing that if Spider-Man is here, then Jameson is alone and defenseless,
and heads to the Bugle to dispose of Jameson first! We then see Jameson’s plan,
having printed a headline claiming that Spider-Man and Scorpion are working
together, in order to force Spider-Man to attack the Scorpion.
After swinging around for a while with no results,
Spidey realizes his mistake and heads to the Bugle to stop Scorpion. Scorpion
meanwhile, enters Jameson’s office and starts destroying the place, as Jameson
runs. Just as Scorpion has Jameson cornered, Spidey arrives through the window
and tackles Scorpion! Spidey and Scorpion continue to trade blows, as
Spider-Man notices that Betty is being comforted by Ned. This causes him to
behave a lot more recklessly, charging in and getting hit back by Scorpion. Spidey
and Scorpion continue to battle until the police arrive, causing Scorpion to
escape out the window, as Spider-Man follows him! Jameson looks around at his
destroyed office, as Ned takes a distraught Betty home.
Spider-Man and Scorpion continue their fight across
the rooftops. Spidey spins some webs into a bola, wrapping up Scorpion’s legs
and one of his arms. Scorpion then uses his tail to propel himself at Spidey,
knocking them both over the edge of the roof. Spidey snags Scorpion with a web
line and swings through the city with him in tow, eventually dropping the two
of them into the Hudson River. With the more limited mobility, Spidey is able
to outmaneuver Scorpion and completely web him up. Scorpion then runs out of
air before Spider-Man, due to Spidey’s stronger lungs, allowing Spidey to drag
him out of the river, defeated.
Peter dries out his costume and returns to the Bugle,
where he finds out that Ned took Betty home. After calling Betty, Ned answers
and says that a friend is staying with Betty, leaving Peter feeling dejected.
In the kitchen, Aunt May suddenly suffers a dizzy spell and falls to the ground,
pretending she just dropped something when Peter walks in. The issue ends with
Aunt May hoping that it isn’t anything serious, not knowing what would happen
to Peter if anything became of her!