Quickly recapping last issue, we see Aunt May fighting
for her life as Curt Connors waits for the serum that might cure her! The
Master Planner’s men wait to ambush Spider-Man, as inside the main lair,
Spider-Man lays helpless underneath tons of heavy machinery, as the room slowly
fills with water! Spider-Man tries moving the heavy weight on top of him, but
it doesn’t even budge, with Spider-Man exhausted from his previous fight.
Spider-Man spots the serum that Aunt May desperately needs, lying just out of reach,
and Spidey thinks about how if she doesn’t make it, it’ll be all his fault, just
like Uncle Ben. This lights a fire in Spidey, determined not to let the past
repeat itself, as he tries once more to lift the weight bearing down on him. As
he pushes with every fiber of his strength, the heavy weight starts to move,
with the strain getting harder and harder to bear with each second. As the leak
letting the water in starts to grow larger, Spider-Man resolves that he can’t
let up even for a second. He knows that anyone can win a fight when it’s easy,
but the true mark of a hero is not giving up, even when all seems lost! With
this resolve, and one last mighty push, Spider-Man finally pushes the immense
weight off of himself, triumphant and free!
Spider-Man rises and finds his leg is hurt but he’s
otherwise in one piece. He procures the serum and hobbles to the exit tunnel,
as the roof finally gives way, water now crashing in. Spidey lets the current
sweep him along the tunnel, avoiding the debris, as he finally reaches the
other side, gasping for air! He’s then suddenly grabbed by two of the Master’s
Planner’s men in diving gear, however pulling out their air hoses forces them
to swim for the surface. Spidey then finds a whole group of the masked men
waiting for him, as they all pile on him, with Spidey fighting back fervently!
Being hurt and exhausted, Spidey lets the goons get some hits in, in order to
regain some of his strength, but starts to find himself getting overwhelmed.
Thinking once more of Aunt May, Spidey refuses to give up, swinging wildly and
blindly, powering through, until he realizes that he’s defeated all of his
foes!
Spider-Man then wearily makes his way back to Doctor
Connors and gives him the serum. As Connors preps the serum, Spidey takes a
sample of his own blood, to test the antidote against once it’s ready. The two
continue to work tirelessly until the antidote is finished, having a positive
reaction to Spidey’s blood! Spidey then rushes the antidote over to the
hospital, where the doctors begin work immediately. One of the doctors tells
Spider-Man that they won’t have any definite results for at least two hours, so
Spidey decides leave Aunt May in their hands, heading out to distract himself.
Spidey heads back to the Master Planner’s hideout, in order to snag some pics
of the defeated goons that he can sell to the Bugle. Spidey contacts
Frederick Foswell, to let him know of the newsworthy story, in order to pay him back for
Foswell helping him last issue. Foswell
arrives and Spidey gives him the whole story, as well as getting some
additional photos.
At the Daily Bugle, J. Jonah Jameson is overjoyed that
the Bugle has the monumental story first, as Peter slowly makes his way there.
Betty Brant once again tries talking to Peter and is shocked to find Peter all
battered and bruised. Peter tells her that it happened while getting photos,
saying that it comes with the job. Betty remembers how her brother liked to
live dangerously and ended up paying for it and can’t handle the same thing
happening to Peter. Betty runs away in tears as Peter realizes with a certain
finality that he’s no good for Betty. Peter shows Jameson the photos he took,
asking for a higher price than usual, needing the money for Aunt May’s hospital
bills. Jameson is surprised at Peter’s forwardness but pays him regardless, as
the photos are actually worth even more! Peter makes his way to the hospital
and is informed that the serum was successful and that Aunt May should pull
through. Peter is overjoyed that he didn’t fail her, letting her know that he’s
with her as she drifts back to sleep. The issue ends with the doctor wishing
that more kids these days could look up to someone like Peter, caring and
devoted, instead of someone mysterious like Spider-Man!