Phil Sheldon’s book on the Marvels has been published and it is a best-seller. The
heroes are popular again but the cynical attitudes towards them continue. Phil,
getting older and more tired, hires an assistant, Marcia Hardesty to help with
the photos. And still, the Fantastic Four save the world from Galactus a second
time but they are evicted from their home. Phil is concerned but there is no
one to share his fears. Then he decides to balance the scales—and prove
Spider-Man innocent of the murder of George Stacy. He gets notes on the case
from Robbie Robertson and interviews Luke Cage, not taking time to wonder why
Cage doesn’t want his picture in the papers. Phil interviews witnesses who
claim to have seen Spidey kill Stacy yet the police aren’t after Spidey for
murder: they know Doctor Octopus is the real killer but they can’t charge him
without a statement from Spider-Man. Phil confronts J. Jonah Jameson over his
hostility toward Spider-Man; he interviews Doc Ock in prison and he refuses to
admit to anything. Phil is starting to think his project has hit a dead end
until he meets Gwen Stacy who now believes Spider-Man was not responsible for
her father’s death. From her he realizes that it doesn’t matter if anyone
criticizes the Marvels; they aren’t here to earn approval but to protect innocents
like Gwen. And this gives him the idea for a new book, a serious examination of
the role of the Marvels in society…
…and
then Gwen Stacy is kidnapped by the Green Goblin. Phil is a witness and he
follows them to the bridge where Spider-Man arrives to battle the villain…and
Gwen Stacy dies. Phil is shattered: the Marvels failed and she died. Sinking
into his depression he decides to retire, suggesting that Marcia take over the
book and documentary. To commemorate the moment, he has Marcia snap a photo of
him with Doris and the paperboy, a nice normal kid named Danny Ketch….