While the papers proclaim that Spider-Man is now a
wanted fugitive, the Kingpin plans his escape from prison. He subtly starts to
twist his cell bars, until the time is right to escape! Meanwhile, Spider-Man
vents his frustrations, feeling that nothing has gone right lately. Spidey
feels like it’s not worth it to risk his life every night, only to get hounded
by the press and called a criminal. He tries to figure out what to do with the
tablet he recovered last issue, when he's suddenly fired upon by a lone police
officer. Spidey swings off and decides to just stash the tablet at his
apartment for now. Peter has particular difficulty sleeping, as he can’t get
his various worries out of his head, feeling like he always seems to make
things worse.
The next morning, Pete heads to ESU, where Gwen
notices that he looks particularly worn out. She tells him that the other
students think he’s a coward and asks for an explanation while Peter can’t
think of anything to say. Gwen figured there must be reason he always
disappears and Peter realizes that she didn’t just write him off and really
does love him! However, when Peter still can’t give her an explanation for
where he always disappears to, she starts to wonder if maybe Peter really is
a coward! Meanwhile, Captain Stacy meets with the Dean of the college and
Randy Robertson and the other protestors. Turns out, the Dean was on the
students’ side the whole time and approves the decision to turn the exhibition
hall into a low-rent dorm for needy students. Randy relays the news to his
father Joe Robertson outside, who knew the Dean was on their side the whole
time, giving Randy a lot more to think about.
At the prison, the Kingpin has found the moment to
enact his escape, and finally twists his bars lose from his cell! The Kingpin
easily escapes while promising that he’ll retrieve the tablet from Spider-Man
no matter what! Elsewhere, Spidey decides to try and decipher the mysterious
tablet and heads for an authority on hieroglyphics that he looked up. However,
Spidey finds the police waiting there for him! He’s forced to flee them, while
overhearing that the Kingpin has escaped and decides he’s going to take the
fight to him. Spidey tracks down every lowlife in town, making sure to show
them that he still has the tablet, hoping that the Kingpin will come after him.
Spidey then happens upon a hijacking taking place and
swings down, easily taking care of the crooks. It turns out though, that it was
all a trap that the Kingpin laid for him and the two engage in another fight.
Spidey delivers a powerful kick that stuns the Kingpin but before he can
capitalize on it, J. Jonah Jameson and Ned Leeds drive up upon the scene,
getting right in Spidey’s way. While Spidey is blocked by Jameson’s car, the
Kingpin’s (still unseen) wife drives up on the other side, allowing the Kingpin
to escape. Spider-Man flips out on Jameson, pouncing down on him and actively
trying to scare him. This works too well, as Jameson suddenly passes out from
the fear and Spidey realizes he had a heart attack! Spidey swings off,
realizing he only made things worse yet again and must contend with the
possibility that he just proved Jameson right; that he’s just as dangerous as
Jameson always said he is!