Starting right off from last issue, Spider-Man has discovered
a plot by the Kingpin to brainwash the city’s leading officials to use for his
personal gain, including Captain George Stacy! Spidey and the Kingpin engage in
a brawl, with Spidey tripping the Kingpin and then trying to apply pressure
with his legs. The Kingpin throws Spidey in a wide arc and Spidey flips around
so as to fly right into the electrical power source, shutting off the equipment
and creating a huge smokescreen. Spidey is rattled from the shock and escapes
while the room is still obscured. Not long after, the Kingpin gets the
equipment working again and completes his brainwashing of Captain Stacy,
putting him under the Kingpin’s control. Mary Jane Watson then frantically runs
up to Gwen Stacy and Harry Osborn, asking if they’ve seen Captain Stacy, so she
can tell him about the encounter she had last issue with Spider-Man. Captain
Stacy then reappears and assures everyone that everything is alright, though
Gwen remains a little skeptical.
Back with Spidey, the electrical shock really did a
number on him, as he finds he’s now seeing double, making it much more
difficult to traverse the city. He wearily makes his way home, while Harry
takes Gwen and her father home, with Gwen concerned about where Peter ended up.
At home, Peter bemoans his situation, distraught over possibly having to face
Captain Stacy if he really is under the Kingpin’s control, especially since
he’s the father of the girl he loves. Peter realizes that this is the first time
he’s admitted to himself that he loves Gwen and finds that he can’t rest. With
his vision improved slightly, he makes his way over to the Stacy residence and a surprised Gwen answers. She leaves to make coffee while Peter tries to test
the waters with Captain Stacy, telling him about the encounter with Spider-Man
he “witnessed.”
When Peter threatens to go to the police, Captain
Stacy takes a swing at him with his cane and Peter instinctively deflects the
blow. However, his strength causes him to knock Captain Stacy to the floor,
just as Gwen walks back in, making her think Peter attacked her father. Peter
can’t explain without exposing too much and Gwen angrily tells him that she
never wants to see him again, leaving both of them heartbroken. Afterward,
Captain Stacy alerts the Kingpin to Peter’s suspicions and the Kingpin orders some
of his men to take care of Peter. The following morning, Peter visits Aunt May
and Anna Watson, while Aunt May notes that Peter seems distressed about
something. It’s at this point that the Kingpin’s men arrive at Peter’s
apartment and trash the place while threatening the indignant Harry Osborn.
Peter returns home and sees the damage, feeling guilty that he’s got Harry
mixed up in all this, while Harry reassures Peter that he’ll stand by him no
matter what.
Peter feels that he needs to act now and heads out as
Spider-Man, even though his vision is still a little shaky. Spidey swings over
to the club and witnesses Captain Stacy leaving with two of the Kingpin’s men.
Spidey follows them to police headquarters and sees that Captain Stacy is
leading them in to steal top secret police files. Spidey sets up his camera and
swings in, tackling the two hoods. Spidey is reluctant to get too aggressive,
not wanting to hurt Captain Stacy, and that reluctance costs him, as the
Captain hits him over the head with his cane when Spidey is preoccupied. The
stunned Spidey hears Captain Stacy’s plan to frame the break-in on him as he
grabs his camera and heads home. At home, Peter finds that the photos prove
Captain Stacy’s alibi false and reluctantly takes them to J. Jonah Jameson at
the Daily Bugle. Jonah excitedly orders a new edition be sent out while Peter
is less enthused, knowing that this will hurt Gwen despite being the right
thing to do. The issue then ends with Gwen indeed seeing the new headline
showing her father stealing police secrets and that it was Peter who took the
photo! To be continued!