Peter Parker heads home from London to New York, his
mind full of his failed trip to see Gwen. Deciding the trip wasn’t a total
loss, Peter heads to the Daily Bugle as soon as he lands to show Robbie the
photos he got. It’s only once Robbie is looking at them that Peter realizes
that Robbie might also wonder about what Peter and Spider-Man being in London
at the same time must mean. However, Robbie doesn’t raise any questions and
Peter leaves, wondering just how much Robbie truly suspects. The next day, Harry
invites his roommate to the theater that night, where Mary Jane is performing
in her very first off-Broadway play! Peter reminds Harry that he’s broke but
Harry offers to pay, to Peter’s embarrassment. Not one to let up, Harry also
pushes Peter into accepting his father’s standing job offer, telling Peter
he’ll let his dad know he’s on his way. Peter switches to Spider-Man and
reminisces about the true reason he’s been hesitant about the job offer:
Norman’s secret history as the Green Goblin!
Deciding he may as well give it a shot, Peter heads to
Norman Osborn’s company and is quickly let into his empty office. Peter then
hears Norman conversing with his doctor in an adjoining room, causing Peter to
worry about how much Norman could be remembering. Norman tells Peter to figure
out a schedule that he could work part-time and even offers to pay for him to
attend MJ’s show that night. With more things now on his mind, Peter runs into
Aunt May and Anna Watson on their way to see a show, noting that Aunt May looks
happier than he’s seen her in months. Peter then hears some police sirens going
off and decides to investigate the situation as Spider-Man. Spidey quickly
arrives on the scene to find a young man stoned out of his mind on drugs! After
the youth steps off the roof he’s on, Spidey quickly catches him and sets back
on solid ground, where the police successfully resuscitate him!
Spidey mulls over the situation he just got involved
in, wishing there was more he could do to combat the drug epidemic. Not long
after, Peter arrives early for the show, to find Mary Jane, Harry, and Norman
waiting for him. Harry mentions the crazy coincidence that his dad used to own
this very building that’s now acting as an off-Broadway showplace. Mary Jane
greets Peter a little extra enthusiastically, flirting with him much more
overtly than usual despite her relationship with Harry, which both Peter and
Harry are quick to notice. Just after, Randy arrives, the last of their little
group, having just heard about Spider-Man’s rescue of the drugged-out man.
Randy espouses his frustrations with the drug scene, feeling it’s unfairly
labeled as a “black problem.” He and Norman get into a spat when Randy says
that Norman should be doing more to fight it. Norman tries the normal defense
that it’s not his responsibility and Randy counters that since he’s rich and
influential, that makes it his responsibility!
The others break the fight up and quickly head inside,
where Mary Jane’s show is about to start. All worries are forgotten as everyone
inside is captivated by MJ’s performance. Then, at Intermission, Peter and
Harry both notice Norman acting strangely and Peter’s spider-sense warns him
about a particular door. Peter continues to watch Norman throughout the rest of
the play and determines to come back later to check out the door. After the
show, everyone goes their separate ways, with Harry still concerned about his
father. Speaking of whom, Norman feels compelled to return to the theater and
enter the room he was drawn to. Meanwhile, Peter switches to Spider-Man and
spots Norman returning to the building, entering with a key he subconsciously
knew he had. With a bad feeling about everything, Spidey rushes to follow
Norman inside and finds his worst fears confirmed! Norman Osborn has become the
Green Goblin once again, and he’s not going to let Spider-Man leave alive! To
be continued!
Give that special marvelite a timely gift