After Spider-Man was defeated by the Kingpin last
issue, he and J. Jonah Jameson are hauled off to the sub-cellar to be disposed
of on the Kingpin’s orders. Spidey and Jameson are cuffed together in the
middle of a large room, as Jameson frantically tries to awaken Spider-Man.
Water then starts to pour from pipes on the walls, slowly filling the room with
water, looking to drown the two, only increasing Jameson’s panic. Spider-Man
then starts to stir, taking stock of their situation and quickly frees himself
from his restraints. Spider-Man then starts to spin his webs, while Jameson
thinks that Spidey’s gone crazy! We then cut to the Daily Bugle, where
Betty Brant and Ned Leeds discover the evidence that something is amiss with Jameson
gone. Joe Robertson tells them he’s phoned the police, and Ned resides to look
for answers, to Betty’s worry.
Back with Spidey and Jameson, Spidey spins his webs
into a big bubble around the two of them, as Jameson continues to struggle.
After enough time has passed, Kingpin orders his men to dispose of the supposed
bodies. As the goons enter the room, they see the huge web bubble, as Spidey
springs forth from it, quickly and easily taking out the goons. Spidey frees
Jameson and they make their way through the halls of the sub-cellar, with
Spidey continuing to talk so Jameson doesn’t lose his nerve. They encounter some
more goons and Spidey stylishly contends with them, telling Jameson to run.
Jameson, however, is frozen with fear, so Spidey resorts to threatening him to
get him to move. This does indeed spur Jameson, however his escape is brief, as
in his panic, he runs right into a pipe, knocking himself out. Spidey, thinking
Jameson has escaped, webs up the goons as he makes his way to the man in
charge.
Speaking of whom, the Kingpin tells Frederick Foswell
of the supposed deaths of Spider-Man and Jameson, and notes Foswell’s shock and
discomfort. Kingpin feels that Foswell will be a threat to his empire, either
being a coward or a double agent, and moves to get rid of him. Spider-Man then
arrives in the nick of time to save Foswell from Kingpin’s wrath, as their
battle begins. We then make a brief cut to the Silver Spoon, where
Flash Thompson has returned from overseas for a visit, as Gwen Stacy and Harry Osborn
welcome him back. Flash tells a bit of his experiences, as Mary Jane Watson
also appears to welcome him back as well, as Gwen calls for an official
celebration for Flash’s return. Back at the action, Spidey makes sure history
won’t repeat itself, by jamming Kingpin’s tiepin with some webbing, while
noting that Kingpin’s grip is strong as a vice! As Spidey and Kingpin continue
to fight, Foswell takes the opportunity to grab a gun from the bar and find out
what happened to Jameson.
Spidey jumps to the ceiling, delivering a huge wallop
to the Kingpin, as the Kingpin instinctively grabs Spidey, taking him down too.
Kingpin is up on his feet in no time, choosing to make a strategic retreat,
assuming that the police will be here any second. Kingpin enters a pneumatic
tube through a secret compartment and triggering a gas explosion to prevent
Spidey from following him. This causes Spidey to have to take the long route,
heading down through the sub-cellar catacombs once more. Meanwhile, Jameson
finally reawakens and runs in a panic, thinking he’s hurt, attracting the
attention of more of Kingpin’s men. Just then, Foswell finds Jameson, ducking
him behind a corner, as Foswell gets shot, taking the bullet meant for Jameson.
Spidey hears the shot ring out, as he makes his way to the scene, easily taking
out the two goons. However, he’s just slightly too late, as Foswell dies from
his injury, with Spider-Man and Jameson both noting that he died a hero. In the
aftermath, Ned Leeds gets there to check on Jameson, who orders a front-page
story chronicling Foswell’s heroic end, giving him the praise he never got in
life. Though condemned once again by Jameson, Spidey admits that he’d do it all
again as he heads home for some much-needed rest.