Back to GatefoldIssue #13 by Mike Exner III
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"BETWEEN A FROG AND A HORN PLACE"
Previously in the Amazing Spider-Man: Spider-Man was barely able to survive an attack from mutant hunting robots known as Enforcers, insistent upon destroying New York. After surviving the assault, the web-head made his way to the Bugle for a confrontation with Ben Reilly, who revealed he was headed to Baltimore to rekindle his life. Using information Ben had dug up, Spidey headed to Oscorp to confront the Rose Goblin. But all Spider-Man found was the recently slain bodies of Ryan Jent and Chaos. More perplexed than ever, the web-slinger headed back to his hotel room, while Norman Osborn watched from the shadows.
The Amazing Spider-Man swung through the city, gracefully swinging from one web-line to the next. He passed buildings where amazed onlookers shouted out to him. Some cheered him, others cursed him, but Spider-Man didn't have an ear for any of them. The recent happenings that had occurred in his life were almost too horrible to be considered real.* His wife, Mary Jane was presumed dead on an airplane crash. His clone, Ben Reilly had mysteriously shown back up in his life after Peter had thought him dead. The penthouse he'd shared with his wife had been destroyed by a madwoman known as the Rose Goblin that had seemingly disappeared off the face of the earth. He was living in a motel room that he could barely even afford. The Rose Goblin's ally, Joannah Wilkins also known as the symbiote monster Chaos, and the president of Oscorp Industries Ryan Jent were both dead. The news stated that Jent had killed Chaos and then himself but Spidey had his doubts about that.
[*See past issues for details - Will]
The Daily Bugle came within Spider-Man's view and he headed in its direction. He was strapped for cash and he needed to get back to work. Mary Jane and Peter had squandered the money they'd had when she was modeling and there was barely enough to cover the destruction of the penthouse. The renovations to the Bugle seemed to be proceeding smoothly enough. Spidey didn't chance landing on the roof and having some construction worker witness his change to Peter Parker. He leapt down to the alley adjacent to the Bugle and changed amidst the garbage. As Peter Parker he walked out of the alley and up the steps into the lobby.
He took the elevator up to the offices that contained the newsroom of the Daily Bugle and entered into a war zone. Staff were scattered everywhere trying to coordinate themselves and get their jobs done. Jonah was nowhere in sight but Robbie was there issuing commands and glancing at whatever came his way as he walked back and forth across the room.
Peter approached Robbie cautiously, hoping the editor in chief of the Daily Bugle could help him out with some kind of story. Peter didn't care if he was photographing bunnies in the park today, he just needed a job, any job. He slinked up behind Robertson and lightly tapped him on the shoulder. Robbie whirled around, doing an excellent job of impersonating Jonah with the way he glared at Peter. Peter suddenly felt a lump in his throat. He hadn't been to the Daily Bugle for a photo assignment in over a month since his wife had signed her lucrative modeling deal. Robbie's face soon changed to one of concern as he recognized the person standing in front of him.
"What are you doing here, Peter?" asked Robbie and waved away four people who were frantically trying to grab the editor's attention. "You should be at home with family, not around here with the vultures. Nobody's bothered you about Mary Jane's death as far as a story goes have they? You name the person and I'll personally deal with it."
"Thanks, Robbie. But really… that's not why I'm here," said Peter and he couldn't help but lightly smile at the overprotective attitude Robbie was emanating. With all the chaos around him, Robbie was still able to take a moment for his friends. "I'm actually hoping you might have a job for me. Most of the money MJ made as a model we wasted and the rest of it went to covering the damages done to the penthouse. Until Mary Jane comes back I've got to get back to work just to make ends meet."
Peter kept his eyes glued to the floor for most of his speech but Robbie was staring intently at him. Peter had said until Mary Jane came back. He was obviously having a rough time coping with his loss. Robbie wasn't sure if work was what the young man needed but he knew that for him, long hours at the Bugle usually kept his mind occupied and sometimes kept him sane. Even though it cost him at times as far as his wife Martha was concerned.
"Alright, Peter. I suppose I do have an assignment I can gi…" Robbie started but he was suddenly cut off by a strong slap to his back. Peter and Robbie both looked around and standing there was a young black man about Peter's age dressed in baggy but stylish clothes with long dreadlocks hanging in his face. He spoke haltingly and seemed out of breath.
"Hey, Pop… long time no see. I know you said for me not to come around while you're grinding away at the job but I was visiting with Mom and she said I had to ask you if I needed money so here I am," the guy was practically hopping from foot to foot as if eager for Robbie to slap the money in his hand so he could be on his way. Robbie wasn't obliging him.
"Peter, I don't believe you've ever met my son Randy," Robbie said and stepped to the side so that Peter and Randy could face each other. Peter nodded in Randy's direction and Randy did the same so Robbie continued, completely ignoring his son's question. "Peter, we've recently gotten reports that the Rhino is downtown causing some sort of disturbance and that he's pinned there with police. Head down there and take some pictures and we'll see about staffing you on a more regular basis."
Robbie turned around and began walking away and Randy started to follow but suddenly Robbie whirled around again and spoke. "As for you, Randy. I'm not lending you any money and I suggest that the next time you decide to move into an apartment you pick a roommate who doesn't have a criminal record," and with that Robbie sped off into the deluge of Bugle staff who quickly surrounded him.
Peter looked back towards Randy who had his head hung low as if he'd just been reprimanded for getting caught with his hand in the cookie jar. Peter knew that Spider-Man was needed downtown but everything Robbie had said to Randy had given him an idea.
"Um, Randy?" Pete said and Randy looked up at him with a mildly irritated look. Peter wasn't sure if his idea was such a good one but he figured that any kin of Robbie Robertson couldn't be too bad and he spoke quickly so as not to lose his nerve. "My name's Peter Parker and I'm a friend of your dad's. I know you don't really know me, but I recently ran across some bad luck and I'm basically homeless. If you're interested I'd be willing to move in with you and share the rent for as long as you needed me to until you find a better situation or just get sick of me."
Randy's face didn't look at all encouraging to Peter so he continued.
"I think your father can vouch for me and I've just now gotten a job here at the Daily Bugle that'll bring in money. Honestly, I'm living in a crappy motel room and I need a place to stay and if you're Robbie's son I really don't think there'll be a problem with us getting along," Peter said in what he hoped was his nicest most amiable voice. Randy seemed to regard Peter with a little less suspicion and reached his hand out towards Peter.
"It's Peter right?" he said as Peter took his hand and they shook. Peter nodded and Randy took a long hard look at him. "You've got a deal Peter. I'll talk to my dad about you but I don't really think there'll be a problem either. You seem like a pretty stand up kinda guy and I appreciate you being honest. There's just one thing we've got to discuss."
"What's that?" said Peter and it was his turn to look suspicious. He certainly hoped he hadn't made a mistake in judgment and Randy was some kind of weird freak with crazy rules. Randy seemed to understand exactly what Peter was thinking and he beamed a comforting smile.
"Don't worry, it's nothing weird or strict. It's just that Peter is too formal sounding. It's gotta be Pete from now on. Deal?" Randy asked and Peter smiled back. He'd come to the Bugle hoping to find a photo job so that he'd have some money to find a more stable place to live and in one fell swoop it seemed as though he'd solved both of his problems. Randy seemed cool and Robbie appeared to be eager to help Peter out with his financial troubles. After everything that had happened over the past few days, Peter didn't hesitate.
"Deal," Peter said and Randy patted his shoulder with his hand and the smile never left his face.
"Ok, I know you gotta go handle that photo assignment and all, so I'll just leave the address with my dad and you can pick it up when you get back. I hope you don't miss the Rhino cuz of me because we really need that check and…" but Randy cut himself off and Peter noticed he was staring at something behind him. Peter turned around, but all he could see was the staff busily working on one thing or another.
"Who is THAT?" asked Randy and pointed past Peter's nose to the secretary's desk in front of J. Jonah Jameson's office. Sitting there typing furiously at her computer with a pencil lightly being chewed in her mouth was Glory Grant.
"Oh, that's just Glory. She's the publisher's secretary," said Peter casually but he could tell that Randy was captivated as he was practically drooling on the Daily Bugle's linoleum.
"Do you know her?" Randy asked and he was poking Peter in the sides as if he wanted him to move out of the way so he could get at her. Peter laughed despite himself. It was like Randy was a little kid. Peter liked him already.
"Yeah, we're pretty good friends actually," replied Peter and Randy grasped him by his shoulders and whirled him around.
"You have to hook me up," Randy said matter of factly and Peter laughed out loud again. He couldn't believe how affected Randy was by Jonah's secretary. "I'm not joking, Pete. If you do this for me I swear no matter how much of a freak you are I'll never kick you out of the apartment. Mi casa es su casa for life, baby."
Peter was seriously enjoying himself and even though he knew that Glory was more into the clean cut, business type of guy, he couldn't resist Randy's determination.
"Ok, ok, I'll see what I can do," said Peter and Randy immediately broke out into his beaming smile again. "But it's got to be later, Randy. I have to get downtown so I can get pictures of the Rhino. No pictures, no rent-check. Comprende?"
"You're the best, Pete," said Randy and almost seemed to dance as he moved away from Peter in the direction that Robbie had headed earlier. "I know we're going to get along great. I'm gonna go talk to my dad right now so you get out there and get that money my man. Show up at the apartment at about eight tonight and I'll have everything all ready for you to move in."
Peter wanted to tell Randy that it wasn't necessary for him to take any time in making space for Peter's stuff because he didn't have any but Randy had already turned and danced into the hustle and bustle of the Bugle. Speaking or even yelling to him would have been pointless so Peter simply turned around himself and headed for the door to the elevator. He smiled and waved to Glory as he passed and she gave a brief wave back. Peter actually felt good as he entered the elevator. He had a feeling things were finally starting to go his way. Soon he'd start trying to find the Rose Goblin so he could figure out if she was the one who staged Mary Jane's disappearance or not and in the meantime he could live with Randy and try to play matchmaker with him and Glory. Peter quickly made his way back to the alley and shed his civilian clothes. As Spider-Man he made his way up the side of the Daily Bugle building to the roof. Construction workers on their lunch break watched as he leapt off the building and swung away.
Daredevil gripped his grappling cable tightly and swung through the air with ease. His mind was clouded with the happenings of the past day. He'd witnessed a miserable man's suicide that he felt partially to blame for and something or someone, he didn't know which one, had confronted him in his own apartment.* Whatever or whoever it had been had known things about him. It rooted into his thoughts and pulled forth dark desires and fears that Daredevil never knew were there. Daredevil could handle that maybe, but Matt Murdock couldn't. So he stayed behind the crimson mask and swept through the concrete canyons of New York on a mission to find Doctor Strange and the Defenders who he knew were his only hope.
[*In Defenders #5 - Wiley Will]
His senses mapped the city in front of him in startling detail. Despite his blindness he noticed things that even people with perfect vision let filter past. He focused those senses on his general vicinity and his goal of precise movement and ignored everything else, mentally blocking it out. Traveling through the city with his senses acutely picking things up as he usually, instinctively did, Daredevil could be a hundred feet in the air, racing past an alley below and hear the whispers of a drug deal going down. Now though he merely moved towards Doctor Strange's Sanctum Sanctorum trying to hold on to an air of indifference and purpose even though it was against his very nature as a hero.
Suddenly an explosion rocked Daredevil, and he knew if he'd been focusing with his senses it would have nearly shattered his eardrums. He flipped around with his cable in hand and landed on a nearby rooftop. He turned his head in the direction the blast had originated from and, after focusing his senses, could hear the screams of civilians and curses of the police. Something big was plodding around downtown, Daredevil could feel the faint vibrations of whatever it was, and the police were trying to stop it but it didn't appear they were having much luck. Daredevil frowned and turned his head toward the direction he had been headed. He had to get to Doctor Strange but he couldn't avoid his responsibility. He fired his grapple wire and began his journey in the direction of the fumes and flames.
Spider-Man heard the explosion too. He was closer than Daredevil when it happened and it had nearly made him lose the web-line he'd been swinging from. He angled his body in a new direction and slowed his velocity until he swung right onto the window of a skyscraper. He clung to it and ignored the secretary screeching for him to go away. The explosion had jolted him but he knew just by looking at the smoke beginning to rise that it had to be coming from downtown. The Rhino must have caused it.
Spidey fired another web-line that clung to a building close by and unattached himself from the window on which he was resting much to the relief of the frantic secretary. He gave her a little wave as he began to swing towards the direction of the blast but suddenly his spider-sense went off. He turned his head towards where his spider-sense directed it but all he saw was a green blur headed right for him. Spidey tried to twist on his web-line and angle his body out of the way but whatever was aimed for him hit him right in the back and the force of the impact jerked his line from his hand.
As he fell, Spidey managed to turn his body so that he could look up at what had hit him. When he saw what it was he sighed and fired two web-lines. One connected with the building he hoped to angle his descent towards so he wouldn't go splat on the ground and the other connected with the flailing form of the fabulous Frogman.
Spider-Man managed to keep both Frogman and himself from hitting the ground and with the wanna-be hero in tow, climbed up the side of the building to the roof where he dropped Frogman right on his butt.
"Hey, is that any way to treat a fellow super-hero trying to do you a common courtesy?" said Frogman as he got shakily to his feet rubbing his butt and dusting himself off with his gloved hands.
"Explain how running into me in mid-air and nearly causing both of us to fall to our deaths in considered doing me a courtesy, Eugene," said Spidey in a firm tone of voice. In truth he was amused and a little glad that his longtime friend Eugene Patilio was here. He just wasn't about to let Eugene know it.
"C'mon, Spidey. You're not supposed to use my real name. It's Frogman when I'm in the union suit ok?" Frogman said in a whiny tone of voice and Spider-Man couldn't help but smile. He was wearing his mask and hid it however and continued to use his firm tone of voice to berate Frogman.
"Can it, Eugene. What are you even doing here? Aren't you supposed to be going to college in Iowa or Idaho or something like that?" asked Spidey and his tone was becoming lighter. He couldn't help it. The ridiculous costume, the way Eugene balanced on his jumping coils. It was just too much.
"It's Indiana, and I've transferred back to New York. I'm planning to take classes at Empire State University now. I wanted to be closer to home. And closer to the action," Frogman said and that was the last straw. As soon as Eugene mentioned action Spidey buckled over with laughter. Eugene looked confusedly at Spidey as he guffawed for nearly two minutes non-stop. As soon as Spidey seemed about to regain his composure he looked up and broke into fresh peals of laughter.
"This really isn't the time or the place for laughs, Spidey. There's obviously something going on downtown and we've got to investigate," said Frogman and Spidey knew he was right. Eugene may have been a bungler and his gimmick for super-heroics left a lot to be desired but the threat of Rhino finally tapered Spidey's chuckles.
He remembered the last time he'd met up with Eugene. Eugene's father had powered up the frog-suit - Spidey nearly lost it again thinking about the name - and his father hadn't fared too badly. Spidey hoped Eugene had taken some time to learn a few of his father's tricks. Fighting the White Rabbit and the Walrus was one thing, but the Rhino was no pushover. This was a whole new ballgame.
He considered telling Eugene to stick here but he knew it'd be pointless. Eugene would either argue incessantly or pretend to agree and then follow Spidey anyway. Spidey considered webbing him to the roof but the thought of Eugene yelling at him for it almost made him break out into laughter again and he decided against it. He needed to be in possession of all his faculties when he faced the Rhino and a mental picture of Eugene webbed to a roof was sure to distract him.
Eugene was apparently not waiting for Spidey anyway. Frogman jumped off the roof to the next one with a grace that Spidey found a bit unbelievable. After all, this was the guy that had just run into him headfirst. At any rate, Spidey shot a strand of webbing and swung after his friend, hoping that Eugene wouldn't do anything that was going to get himself hurt.
Alex O'Hirn, more commonly known in criminal circles as the Rhino, was growing very impatient. He'd simply come downtown to nab a refrigerator for his mother. Mrs. O'Hirn was the type of woman who appreciated material things and she often dismissed her son's use of violent tactics to acquire them for her with the phrase - boys will be boys. Well, Rhino was learning the hard way that the boys in blue will be the boys in blue too as the police had been keeping him pinned down for the last hour and a half by blasting some sort of gas canisters at him. He felt disoriented and weak after the first one hit him square in the chest but the cops were unaware of it and still too wary of him to try and venture around the two overturned cars Rhino was using as a barrier. Rhino wished one of them would try something. He'd cut whoever tried in half with his horn and throw the pieces back to the whole lot of 'em.
Rhino had been sitting on his rump for over an hour breathing the foul stuff that wouldn't put him to sleep but only made him feel sluggish when finally he couldn't take it anymore. He'd taken his hands and driven them straight into the ground. If he couldn't get through the cops in the condition he was in then he'd get around them, or rather, he'd get under them. It didn't take long for him to run into pipes and he smashed into them as fiercely as he'd tore into the asphalt. Gas erupted from the pipes as Rhino twisted and ripped them and flames from the burning cars Rhino had trashed caught the gas and a huge explosion rocked the area. Rhino was tossed to the very spot he was laying at now and had finally managed to struggle to a sitting position. He felt better but the cops had begun shooting the gas again and he was really starting to get angry.
"Excuse me sir, I was wondering if it'd be ok if you got up so we could get to fighting," a voice said from above him and as Rhino gazed up he could have sworn that a huge frog was perched on the car talking to him. Rhino squeezed his eyes shut and shook his head wearily and when he opened them the frog was standing in front of him. He wondered dimly what the hell was in the gas the cops were shooting.
"You see, Mr. Rhino… you've caused quite a lot of property damage and I've really got to insist that you get up so I can take you into custody," the giant frog continued and Rhino frowned. This was definitely the weirdest thing that had ever happened to him but whether this frog was a figment of his imagination or not it was really starting to bug him. Rhino labored to his feet and took a lazy swing at the giant frog but it easily danced out of his reach.
Suddenly Rhino saw stars as something hard and heavy connected with his head. He hit the ground and rolled slowly to a sitting position and what he saw started to make him angry. There was Spider-Man standing next to the giant frog. Here Rhino was fighting with the frog and Spider-Man had to come and sucker punch him. It was really insulting.
Spider-Man hadn't wanted Eugene heading down to the Rhino before him but it had been tough to catch up and he still needed to set up his automatic camera. Hopefully it had picked up shots of that shot to the Rhino. Rhino looked dazed and confused but he was still getting up. Spider-Man spread his feet and tensed his body, ready for anything.
"I ain't sure if youse guys are real or not but that hurt," said the Rhino as he struggled to his feet. Just as his head stopped spinning and Spider-Man and the frog came back into focus Rhino felt a sharp pain in the small of his back and once again he was eating pavement. Another voice echoed above him and Rhino thought it sounded somewhat familiar.
"Hello, Spider-Man. It looks like I wasn't really needed here after all," said the voice and Rhino turned around and gazed up at the form of Daredevil standing over him. Spider-Man and the big frog walked towards Daredevil and Spidey shook DD's hand.
"I'm glad you showed up anyway, DD. It's good to see old friends," said Spider-Man and then gestured towards Frogman. "This is my friend Frogman. I know the name sounds corny and I suggested Frogger but he just wouldn't listen to reason."
"Be quiet, Spidey. It's a real honor to meet you, Daredevil. You're one of the reasons I got into the crime fighting business in the first place. Well, you and Spider-Man here," Frogman said and Rhino couldn't believe that the giant frog was actually a super-hero. What kind of weird freak would use a frog as a gimmick? It made his head hurt. In fact, Rhino's whole head was pounding with a tremendous amount of pain that was only growing sharper as the seconds ticked by.
"Don't be fooled, DD. He gives that same speech to every super-hero we run across," Spidey said, poking his elbows sharply into Frogman's ribs. "He made us stop by Four Freedoms Plaza on the way here to personally thank the Fantastic Four for all their great work and give them a lifetime supply of flies."
"He's just kidding, Mr. Daredevil sir. Cut it out Spidey or I'm gonna make you eat flies for breakfa…" said Frogman but his sentence was cut short by a deafening howl from beneath them. The Rhino shot to his feet, screaming at the top of his lungs and lashed out with his fists, connecting with both Spider-Man and Daredevil which flung them into the middle of the street, unconscious. Rhino was still stumbling but foam was flying from his mouth and he was babbling in a rage filled voice.
"The pain in my head. Make it stop! Make it STOP!" the Rhino screeched and didn't even seem to take notice of Frogman. Eugene gazed out into the street at Spidey and Daredevil. Both were slumped in awkward looking heaps on the ground and Frogman doubted they'd be of much help to him. It was up to him to take the Rhino down.
"Surrender now, Rhino! Or I'll be forced to subdue you with the flailing fists of my namesake," said Eugene, trying to sound brave. He knew that power wise he was no real match for the Rhino and he'd have to use his head if he was going to live through this.
Rhino snapped his head in the direction of the frog-guy. He couldn't believe this joker was actually threatening him. And what made it worse was the corny line he used. Flailing fists? Was he serious? Rhino's brain still seemed to be pushing at the sides of his skull. He was really going to enjoy turning this clown into mush.
"Pal, I don't know what you think you can do in that funky outfit of yours… but you just made the biggest mistake of your life," the Rhino said and charged Frogman. Eugene was barely able to leap over Rhino and the lumbering mound of muscle rammed into one of the overturned cars instead. The car skidded more than twenty feet before it came to rest and Eugene tried to fight the shaking in his body. If the Rhino had connected with that shot Frogman would have been nothing more than a green smear. How did Spidey do this day in and day out?
Frogman wasn't about to quit though. He knew Spidey would never have run from a fight and he wasn't going to either. He was determined to prove himself as a hero. Rhino charged again and this time Eugene tensed his muscles. His father had made modifications to the suit. There was an exo-skeleton that enhanced his strength and a computer guidance system that controlled his leaps. He could do this. He could beat Rhino.
Rhino bore down on the punk and this time instead of leaping up like a blasted jumping bean, the frog-guy crouched low to the ground. Before the Rhino knew it he was flat on the ground again. The punk had grabbed one of his legs and tripped him!
Frogman dusted himself off with pride. The satisfying thud of Rhino hitting the ground made him feel nearly euphoric. Rhino was beginning to stir but Eugene felt the confidence rising within him. He clenched his fists and approached Rhino from behind. There was no way he'd let Rhino gain the upper hand again.
Rhino turned around to face where he figured the frog-guy would be and immediately received a pop in the nose for his trouble. His eyes watered from the force of the blow and he couldn't believe how hard this yahoo hit. The next punch came quicker than the first and connected with his jaw. Rhino began to see stars. He swung wildly but hit nothing but air. Another blow smashed into his chin and Rhino saw nothing but darkness as he fell backwards to the ground.
When Spider-Man regained consciousness he was leaned against the curb of the street. Daredevil was a few feet away from him rubbing the back of his head and shaking out the cobwebs. Spider-Man looked across the street and saw the Rhino in special restraints being led into a police van. Frogman was standing nearby speaking with police officers who were clustered all around him. Frogman glanced in Spidey's direction and when he saw he was awake ran over to him.
"Spidey! You're ok! You and DD both had me worried for a while there," Eugene said as Spidey got slowly to his feet. His head was still a little fuzzy but what was really stopping his thought process was the fact that apparently Eugene had defeated the Rhino.
"Eu.. I mean, um, Frogman. You beat the Rhino all by yourself?" Spidey asked and Frogman simply nodded vigorously. The act of it was so comical that Spidey burst out laughing just as an equally puzzled Daredevil approached.
"It appears you owe our young friend here an apology, Spider-Man" said DD and Spider-Man stopped laughing and looked over at Daredevil. "It seems that today he was more of a hero than either of us."
Daredevil reached out and took Frogman's hand in his. He shook it firmly and Eugene nearly swooned. He couldn't believe that Daredevil had just referred to him as a genuine hero.
"I've got to go, son. I've got pressing concerns at the moment that can't wait another minute, but if you ever find yourself in Hell's Kitchen… look me up," Daredevil said and he pulled out his billy-club and fired the grapple to a flagpole above his head. He reeled himself up and then acrobatically flipped off of it and was soon out of sight, heading back in the direction of Doctor Strange's Sanctum Sanctorum.*
[*Why is DD heading to Doc Strange's you ask? Check out Defenders #6 if you want the scoop - Will]
"Don't see the guy for months and not even a goodbye kiss. The nerve of some people," Spidey said and Frogman laughed.
"You crack me up, Spidey," Frogman said and patted him on the shoulder.
"No, listen Eugene. Daredevil was right. I'm constantly making fun of you and discouraging you from my line of work but you did a great job today and you deserve all the credit in the world," said Spider-Man as he began walking to the base of one of the buildings intending to scale it. "I really can't express how grateful I am that you were here today. I'm honored to call you my friend."
"Jeez, Spidey. I don't know what to say. I think that just might be the nicest thing anyone's ever said to me before," said Eugene as he clung to Spidey's back. Spider-Man made his way up the front of the building quick as lightning and when they got to the roof Frogman let go and Spidey turned to face him.
"I want to share something with you, Eugene. Something I've only shared with a few people over the years. I don't think there's anyone else more deserving than you to know…" said Spider-Man as he pulled off his mask revealing his face to Frogman. "That my real name is Peter Parker."
Aunt May and Jill Stacy entered the offices of the Daily Bugle searching for Peter. It had been days since the news reporting the death of Mary Jane and neither of them had been able to find Peter anywhere. They'd called Robbie and he'd assured them that Peter was fine after the incident at his penthouse and that Peter was staying at a motel somewhere. Unfortunately Robbie didn't know the name or number of the place and finally Aunt May had grown tired of waiting. Jill Stacy accompanied her as she stormed her way towards Robertson, the Bugle staff parting for her like the Red Sea before Moses.
"Mr. Robertson, I insist you tell me where I can find my nephew right now!" said Aunt May in a tone of voice that would have made the toughest man flinch. Robbie wasn't about to argue with the woman and opened his mouth to tell her about Peter's photo assignment when suddenly a voice interrupted him.
"Aunt May, what are you doing here?" said Peter from behind her and Aunt May whipped around and rushed to embrace him. Eugene stood next to Peter kicking at the ground aimlessly with his foot as Peter's aunt showered him with affection while the entire Bugle staff looked on.
"Don't you guys have anything better to do? Like work for example," said Peter and Robbie clapped his hands together sharply driving everyone away and back to their work. Aunt May's happy face suddenly turned stern and it was Peter's turn to flinch.
"Peter Parker! How dare you disappear for days after all that's happened! You gave poor Jill such a fright," Aunt May said and grabbed Peter's cheeks with her hand almost hard enough to hurt.
"Not to mention your aunt," said Jill from behind Aunt May and Peter nodded his head. He honestly felt horrible for all that he'd done but he'd been practically obsessed with finding the Rose Goblin and resolving that entire situation.
"I know, Aunt May… Jill. I'm sorry for not calling or dropping by but I've been so busy lately with trying to figure things out in my head. Mary Jane's disappearance is all I've been thinking about," said Peter and barely noticed the concerned looks on both Jill and Aunt May's faces. "I promise I'll never abandon my friends or family again."
"Hush, Peter… hush. That doesn't matter now. All that matters is that we're here now. Together," said Aunt May and hugged Peter tightly. Peter introduced Eugene to both Aunt May and Jill and Eugene seemed particularly flustered by Jill. He could barely look at her directly. Eugene was saved by the timely intervention of someone clearing their throat nearby.
"Now may not be the time, Peter. But Robbie asked me to find out if you got those pictures of the Rhino," said Ben Urich as he approached the gathering of people with a young Asian woman walking alongside him. Peter tossed Ben the roll of film and Ben pocketed it. "Speaking of photos, have you met the Bugle's latest employee, Angela Yin?"
"No, I haven't," Peter said and reached out to shake the girl's hand. "Nice to meet you, Angela."
"Angela is our newest staff photographer. I'm sure you two will get along great," Ben said, handing Peter his check, and then half turning back towards the way he'd come muttered. "I'm off to give these pics to Robbie folks. Nice meeting you all."
Ben walked off with Angela trailing closely behind. Peter wasn't sure he liked the sound of competition but he certainly liked the feel of a crisp check in his hands. He'd been able to retrieve his camera right after telling Eugene all about his secret identity. They'd had a lengthy talk about the things Peter had gone through over the past week and Peter felt a lot better. He just needed to get it off his chest with someone and he knew he hadn't made a mistake in revealing himself to the fabulous Frogman. He knew Eugene could be trusted and would be a good friend to him.
Peter took a second to look around at the people with him. Aunt May and Jill were smiling and Eugene just seemed happy to be in the presence of Jill. Somehow the scene seemed perfect to Peter and he took out his camera. Jill protested and Aunt May fussed over Eugene's hair for a few seconds but eventually Pete got the shot. He knew he would cherish it for years to come.
Next Issue: Fun and games are all well and good but it’s time for Spidey to get serious as that buxom babe with biceps, the one and only Stunner makes her presence felt at the New York Museum of Natural Art. She’s not there to admire the pieces though. She wants one for herself. And who’s that portly fellow in the background with the metal arms you ask? I’ll give you three guesses but you’ll only need one. Plus, Peter moves in with Randy Robertson and the return of Smoke the cat!
The Amazing Spider-Man swung through the city, gracefully swinging from one web-line to the next. He passed buildings where amazed onlookers shouted out to him. Some cheered him, others cursed him, but Spider-Man didn't have an ear for any of them. The recent happenings that had occurred in his life were almost too horrible to be considered real.* His wife, Mary Jane was presumed dead on an airplane crash. His clone, Ben Reilly had mysteriously shown back up in his life after Peter had thought him dead. The penthouse he'd shared with his wife had been destroyed by a madwoman known as the Rose Goblin that had seemingly disappeared off the face of the earth. He was living in a motel room that he could barely even afford. The Rose Goblin's ally, Joannah Wilkins also known as the symbiote monster Chaos, and the president of Oscorp Industries Ryan Jent were both dead. The news stated that Jent had killed Chaos and then himself but Spidey had his doubts about that.
[*See past issues for details - Will]
The Daily Bugle came within Spider-Man's view and he headed in its direction. He was strapped for cash and he needed to get back to work. Mary Jane and Peter had squandered the money they'd had when she was modeling and there was barely enough to cover the destruction of the penthouse. The renovations to the Bugle seemed to be proceeding smoothly enough. Spidey didn't chance landing on the roof and having some construction worker witness his change to Peter Parker. He leapt down to the alley adjacent to the Bugle and changed amidst the garbage. As Peter Parker he walked out of the alley and up the steps into the lobby.
He took the elevator up to the offices that contained the newsroom of the Daily Bugle and entered into a war zone. Staff were scattered everywhere trying to coordinate themselves and get their jobs done. Jonah was nowhere in sight but Robbie was there issuing commands and glancing at whatever came his way as he walked back and forth across the room.
Peter approached Robbie cautiously, hoping the editor in chief of the Daily Bugle could help him out with some kind of story. Peter didn't care if he was photographing bunnies in the park today, he just needed a job, any job. He slinked up behind Robertson and lightly tapped him on the shoulder. Robbie whirled around, doing an excellent job of impersonating Jonah with the way he glared at Peter. Peter suddenly felt a lump in his throat. He hadn't been to the Daily Bugle for a photo assignment in over a month since his wife had signed her lucrative modeling deal. Robbie's face soon changed to one of concern as he recognized the person standing in front of him.
"What are you doing here, Peter?" asked Robbie and waved away four people who were frantically trying to grab the editor's attention. "You should be at home with family, not around here with the vultures. Nobody's bothered you about Mary Jane's death as far as a story goes have they? You name the person and I'll personally deal with it."
"Thanks, Robbie. But really… that's not why I'm here," said Peter and he couldn't help but lightly smile at the overprotective attitude Robbie was emanating. With all the chaos around him, Robbie was still able to take a moment for his friends. "I'm actually hoping you might have a job for me. Most of the money MJ made as a model we wasted and the rest of it went to covering the damages done to the penthouse. Until Mary Jane comes back I've got to get back to work just to make ends meet."
Peter kept his eyes glued to the floor for most of his speech but Robbie was staring intently at him. Peter had said until Mary Jane came back. He was obviously having a rough time coping with his loss. Robbie wasn't sure if work was what the young man needed but he knew that for him, long hours at the Bugle usually kept his mind occupied and sometimes kept him sane. Even though it cost him at times as far as his wife Martha was concerned.
"Alright, Peter. I suppose I do have an assignment I can gi…" Robbie started but he was suddenly cut off by a strong slap to his back. Peter and Robbie both looked around and standing there was a young black man about Peter's age dressed in baggy but stylish clothes with long dreadlocks hanging in his face. He spoke haltingly and seemed out of breath.
"Hey, Pop… long time no see. I know you said for me not to come around while you're grinding away at the job but I was visiting with Mom and she said I had to ask you if I needed money so here I am," the guy was practically hopping from foot to foot as if eager for Robbie to slap the money in his hand so he could be on his way. Robbie wasn't obliging him.
"Peter, I don't believe you've ever met my son Randy," Robbie said and stepped to the side so that Peter and Randy could face each other. Peter nodded in Randy's direction and Randy did the same so Robbie continued, completely ignoring his son's question. "Peter, we've recently gotten reports that the Rhino is downtown causing some sort of disturbance and that he's pinned there with police. Head down there and take some pictures and we'll see about staffing you on a more regular basis."
Robbie turned around and began walking away and Randy started to follow but suddenly Robbie whirled around again and spoke. "As for you, Randy. I'm not lending you any money and I suggest that the next time you decide to move into an apartment you pick a roommate who doesn't have a criminal record," and with that Robbie sped off into the deluge of Bugle staff who quickly surrounded him.
Peter looked back towards Randy who had his head hung low as if he'd just been reprimanded for getting caught with his hand in the cookie jar. Peter knew that Spider-Man was needed downtown but everything Robbie had said to Randy had given him an idea.
"Um, Randy?" Pete said and Randy looked up at him with a mildly irritated look. Peter wasn't sure if his idea was such a good one but he figured that any kin of Robbie Robertson couldn't be too bad and he spoke quickly so as not to lose his nerve. "My name's Peter Parker and I'm a friend of your dad's. I know you don't really know me, but I recently ran across some bad luck and I'm basically homeless. If you're interested I'd be willing to move in with you and share the rent for as long as you needed me to until you find a better situation or just get sick of me."
Randy's face didn't look at all encouraging to Peter so he continued.
"I think your father can vouch for me and I've just now gotten a job here at the Daily Bugle that'll bring in money. Honestly, I'm living in a crappy motel room and I need a place to stay and if you're Robbie's son I really don't think there'll be a problem with us getting along," Peter said in what he hoped was his nicest most amiable voice. Randy seemed to regard Peter with a little less suspicion and reached his hand out towards Peter.
"It's Peter right?" he said as Peter took his hand and they shook. Peter nodded and Randy took a long hard look at him. "You've got a deal Peter. I'll talk to my dad about you but I don't really think there'll be a problem either. You seem like a pretty stand up kinda guy and I appreciate you being honest. There's just one thing we've got to discuss."
"What's that?" said Peter and it was his turn to look suspicious. He certainly hoped he hadn't made a mistake in judgment and Randy was some kind of weird freak with crazy rules. Randy seemed to understand exactly what Peter was thinking and he beamed a comforting smile.
"Don't worry, it's nothing weird or strict. It's just that Peter is too formal sounding. It's gotta be Pete from now on. Deal?" Randy asked and Peter smiled back. He'd come to the Bugle hoping to find a photo job so that he'd have some money to find a more stable place to live and in one fell swoop it seemed as though he'd solved both of his problems. Randy seemed cool and Robbie appeared to be eager to help Peter out with his financial troubles. After everything that had happened over the past few days, Peter didn't hesitate.
"Deal," Peter said and Randy patted his shoulder with his hand and the smile never left his face.
"Ok, I know you gotta go handle that photo assignment and all, so I'll just leave the address with my dad and you can pick it up when you get back. I hope you don't miss the Rhino cuz of me because we really need that check and…" but Randy cut himself off and Peter noticed he was staring at something behind him. Peter turned around, but all he could see was the staff busily working on one thing or another.
"Who is THAT?" asked Randy and pointed past Peter's nose to the secretary's desk in front of J. Jonah Jameson's office. Sitting there typing furiously at her computer with a pencil lightly being chewed in her mouth was Glory Grant.
"Oh, that's just Glory. She's the publisher's secretary," said Peter casually but he could tell that Randy was captivated as he was practically drooling on the Daily Bugle's linoleum.
"Do you know her?" Randy asked and he was poking Peter in the sides as if he wanted him to move out of the way so he could get at her. Peter laughed despite himself. It was like Randy was a little kid. Peter liked him already.
"Yeah, we're pretty good friends actually," replied Peter and Randy grasped him by his shoulders and whirled him around.
"You have to hook me up," Randy said matter of factly and Peter laughed out loud again. He couldn't believe how affected Randy was by Jonah's secretary. "I'm not joking, Pete. If you do this for me I swear no matter how much of a freak you are I'll never kick you out of the apartment. Mi casa es su casa for life, baby."
Peter was seriously enjoying himself and even though he knew that Glory was more into the clean cut, business type of guy, he couldn't resist Randy's determination.
"Ok, ok, I'll see what I can do," said Peter and Randy immediately broke out into his beaming smile again. "But it's got to be later, Randy. I have to get downtown so I can get pictures of the Rhino. No pictures, no rent-check. Comprende?"
"You're the best, Pete," said Randy and almost seemed to dance as he moved away from Peter in the direction that Robbie had headed earlier. "I know we're going to get along great. I'm gonna go talk to my dad right now so you get out there and get that money my man. Show up at the apartment at about eight tonight and I'll have everything all ready for you to move in."
Peter wanted to tell Randy that it wasn't necessary for him to take any time in making space for Peter's stuff because he didn't have any but Randy had already turned and danced into the hustle and bustle of the Bugle. Speaking or even yelling to him would have been pointless so Peter simply turned around himself and headed for the door to the elevator. He smiled and waved to Glory as he passed and she gave a brief wave back. Peter actually felt good as he entered the elevator. He had a feeling things were finally starting to go his way. Soon he'd start trying to find the Rose Goblin so he could figure out if she was the one who staged Mary Jane's disappearance or not and in the meantime he could live with Randy and try to play matchmaker with him and Glory. Peter quickly made his way back to the alley and shed his civilian clothes. As Spider-Man he made his way up the side of the Daily Bugle building to the roof. Construction workers on their lunch break watched as he leapt off the building and swung away.
Daredevil gripped his grappling cable tightly and swung through the air with ease. His mind was clouded with the happenings of the past day. He'd witnessed a miserable man's suicide that he felt partially to blame for and something or someone, he didn't know which one, had confronted him in his own apartment.* Whatever or whoever it had been had known things about him. It rooted into his thoughts and pulled forth dark desires and fears that Daredevil never knew were there. Daredevil could handle that maybe, but Matt Murdock couldn't. So he stayed behind the crimson mask and swept through the concrete canyons of New York on a mission to find Doctor Strange and the Defenders who he knew were his only hope.
[*In Defenders #5 - Wiley Will]
His senses mapped the city in front of him in startling detail. Despite his blindness he noticed things that even people with perfect vision let filter past. He focused those senses on his general vicinity and his goal of precise movement and ignored everything else, mentally blocking it out. Traveling through the city with his senses acutely picking things up as he usually, instinctively did, Daredevil could be a hundred feet in the air, racing past an alley below and hear the whispers of a drug deal going down. Now though he merely moved towards Doctor Strange's Sanctum Sanctorum trying to hold on to an air of indifference and purpose even though it was against his very nature as a hero.
Suddenly an explosion rocked Daredevil, and he knew if he'd been focusing with his senses it would have nearly shattered his eardrums. He flipped around with his cable in hand and landed on a nearby rooftop. He turned his head in the direction the blast had originated from and, after focusing his senses, could hear the screams of civilians and curses of the police. Something big was plodding around downtown, Daredevil could feel the faint vibrations of whatever it was, and the police were trying to stop it but it didn't appear they were having much luck. Daredevil frowned and turned his head toward the direction he had been headed. He had to get to Doctor Strange but he couldn't avoid his responsibility. He fired his grapple wire and began his journey in the direction of the fumes and flames.
Spider-Man heard the explosion too. He was closer than Daredevil when it happened and it had nearly made him lose the web-line he'd been swinging from. He angled his body in a new direction and slowed his velocity until he swung right onto the window of a skyscraper. He clung to it and ignored the secretary screeching for him to go away. The explosion had jolted him but he knew just by looking at the smoke beginning to rise that it had to be coming from downtown. The Rhino must have caused it.
Spidey fired another web-line that clung to a building close by and unattached himself from the window on which he was resting much to the relief of the frantic secretary. He gave her a little wave as he began to swing towards the direction of the blast but suddenly his spider-sense went off. He turned his head towards where his spider-sense directed it but all he saw was a green blur headed right for him. Spidey tried to twist on his web-line and angle his body out of the way but whatever was aimed for him hit him right in the back and the force of the impact jerked his line from his hand.
As he fell, Spidey managed to turn his body so that he could look up at what had hit him. When he saw what it was he sighed and fired two web-lines. One connected with the building he hoped to angle his descent towards so he wouldn't go splat on the ground and the other connected with the flailing form of the fabulous Frogman.
Spider-Man managed to keep both Frogman and himself from hitting the ground and with the wanna-be hero in tow, climbed up the side of the building to the roof where he dropped Frogman right on his butt.
"Hey, is that any way to treat a fellow super-hero trying to do you a common courtesy?" said Frogman as he got shakily to his feet rubbing his butt and dusting himself off with his gloved hands.
"Explain how running into me in mid-air and nearly causing both of us to fall to our deaths in considered doing me a courtesy, Eugene," said Spidey in a firm tone of voice. In truth he was amused and a little glad that his longtime friend Eugene Patilio was here. He just wasn't about to let Eugene know it.
"C'mon, Spidey. You're not supposed to use my real name. It's Frogman when I'm in the union suit ok?" Frogman said in a whiny tone of voice and Spider-Man couldn't help but smile. He was wearing his mask and hid it however and continued to use his firm tone of voice to berate Frogman.
"Can it, Eugene. What are you even doing here? Aren't you supposed to be going to college in Iowa or Idaho or something like that?" asked Spidey and his tone was becoming lighter. He couldn't help it. The ridiculous costume, the way Eugene balanced on his jumping coils. It was just too much.
"It's Indiana, and I've transferred back to New York. I'm planning to take classes at Empire State University now. I wanted to be closer to home. And closer to the action," Frogman said and that was the last straw. As soon as Eugene mentioned action Spidey buckled over with laughter. Eugene looked confusedly at Spidey as he guffawed for nearly two minutes non-stop. As soon as Spidey seemed about to regain his composure he looked up and broke into fresh peals of laughter.
"This really isn't the time or the place for laughs, Spidey. There's obviously something going on downtown and we've got to investigate," said Frogman and Spidey knew he was right. Eugene may have been a bungler and his gimmick for super-heroics left a lot to be desired but the threat of Rhino finally tapered Spidey's chuckles.
He remembered the last time he'd met up with Eugene. Eugene's father had powered up the frog-suit - Spidey nearly lost it again thinking about the name - and his father hadn't fared too badly. Spidey hoped Eugene had taken some time to learn a few of his father's tricks. Fighting the White Rabbit and the Walrus was one thing, but the Rhino was no pushover. This was a whole new ballgame.
He considered telling Eugene to stick here but he knew it'd be pointless. Eugene would either argue incessantly or pretend to agree and then follow Spidey anyway. Spidey considered webbing him to the roof but the thought of Eugene yelling at him for it almost made him break out into laughter again and he decided against it. He needed to be in possession of all his faculties when he faced the Rhino and a mental picture of Eugene webbed to a roof was sure to distract him.
Eugene was apparently not waiting for Spidey anyway. Frogman jumped off the roof to the next one with a grace that Spidey found a bit unbelievable. After all, this was the guy that had just run into him headfirst. At any rate, Spidey shot a strand of webbing and swung after his friend, hoping that Eugene wouldn't do anything that was going to get himself hurt.
Alex O'Hirn, more commonly known in criminal circles as the Rhino, was growing very impatient. He'd simply come downtown to nab a refrigerator for his mother. Mrs. O'Hirn was the type of woman who appreciated material things and she often dismissed her son's use of violent tactics to acquire them for her with the phrase - boys will be boys. Well, Rhino was learning the hard way that the boys in blue will be the boys in blue too as the police had been keeping him pinned down for the last hour and a half by blasting some sort of gas canisters at him. He felt disoriented and weak after the first one hit him square in the chest but the cops were unaware of it and still too wary of him to try and venture around the two overturned cars Rhino was using as a barrier. Rhino wished one of them would try something. He'd cut whoever tried in half with his horn and throw the pieces back to the whole lot of 'em.
Rhino had been sitting on his rump for over an hour breathing the foul stuff that wouldn't put him to sleep but only made him feel sluggish when finally he couldn't take it anymore. He'd taken his hands and driven them straight into the ground. If he couldn't get through the cops in the condition he was in then he'd get around them, or rather, he'd get under them. It didn't take long for him to run into pipes and he smashed into them as fiercely as he'd tore into the asphalt. Gas erupted from the pipes as Rhino twisted and ripped them and flames from the burning cars Rhino had trashed caught the gas and a huge explosion rocked the area. Rhino was tossed to the very spot he was laying at now and had finally managed to struggle to a sitting position. He felt better but the cops had begun shooting the gas again and he was really starting to get angry.
"Excuse me sir, I was wondering if it'd be ok if you got up so we could get to fighting," a voice said from above him and as Rhino gazed up he could have sworn that a huge frog was perched on the car talking to him. Rhino squeezed his eyes shut and shook his head wearily and when he opened them the frog was standing in front of him. He wondered dimly what the hell was in the gas the cops were shooting.
"You see, Mr. Rhino… you've caused quite a lot of property damage and I've really got to insist that you get up so I can take you into custody," the giant frog continued and Rhino frowned. This was definitely the weirdest thing that had ever happened to him but whether this frog was a figment of his imagination or not it was really starting to bug him. Rhino labored to his feet and took a lazy swing at the giant frog but it easily danced out of his reach.
Suddenly Rhino saw stars as something hard and heavy connected with his head. He hit the ground and rolled slowly to a sitting position and what he saw started to make him angry. There was Spider-Man standing next to the giant frog. Here Rhino was fighting with the frog and Spider-Man had to come and sucker punch him. It was really insulting.
Spider-Man hadn't wanted Eugene heading down to the Rhino before him but it had been tough to catch up and he still needed to set up his automatic camera. Hopefully it had picked up shots of that shot to the Rhino. Rhino looked dazed and confused but he was still getting up. Spider-Man spread his feet and tensed his body, ready for anything.
"I ain't sure if youse guys are real or not but that hurt," said the Rhino as he struggled to his feet. Just as his head stopped spinning and Spider-Man and the frog came back into focus Rhino felt a sharp pain in the small of his back and once again he was eating pavement. Another voice echoed above him and Rhino thought it sounded somewhat familiar.
"Hello, Spider-Man. It looks like I wasn't really needed here after all," said the voice and Rhino turned around and gazed up at the form of Daredevil standing over him. Spider-Man and the big frog walked towards Daredevil and Spidey shook DD's hand.
"I'm glad you showed up anyway, DD. It's good to see old friends," said Spider-Man and then gestured towards Frogman. "This is my friend Frogman. I know the name sounds corny and I suggested Frogger but he just wouldn't listen to reason."
"Be quiet, Spidey. It's a real honor to meet you, Daredevil. You're one of the reasons I got into the crime fighting business in the first place. Well, you and Spider-Man here," Frogman said and Rhino couldn't believe that the giant frog was actually a super-hero. What kind of weird freak would use a frog as a gimmick? It made his head hurt. In fact, Rhino's whole head was pounding with a tremendous amount of pain that was only growing sharper as the seconds ticked by.
"Don't be fooled, DD. He gives that same speech to every super-hero we run across," Spidey said, poking his elbows sharply into Frogman's ribs. "He made us stop by Four Freedoms Plaza on the way here to personally thank the Fantastic Four for all their great work and give them a lifetime supply of flies."
"He's just kidding, Mr. Daredevil sir. Cut it out Spidey or I'm gonna make you eat flies for breakfa…" said Frogman but his sentence was cut short by a deafening howl from beneath them. The Rhino shot to his feet, screaming at the top of his lungs and lashed out with his fists, connecting with both Spider-Man and Daredevil which flung them into the middle of the street, unconscious. Rhino was still stumbling but foam was flying from his mouth and he was babbling in a rage filled voice.
"The pain in my head. Make it stop! Make it STOP!" the Rhino screeched and didn't even seem to take notice of Frogman. Eugene gazed out into the street at Spidey and Daredevil. Both were slumped in awkward looking heaps on the ground and Frogman doubted they'd be of much help to him. It was up to him to take the Rhino down.
"Surrender now, Rhino! Or I'll be forced to subdue you with the flailing fists of my namesake," said Eugene, trying to sound brave. He knew that power wise he was no real match for the Rhino and he'd have to use his head if he was going to live through this.
Rhino snapped his head in the direction of the frog-guy. He couldn't believe this joker was actually threatening him. And what made it worse was the corny line he used. Flailing fists? Was he serious? Rhino's brain still seemed to be pushing at the sides of his skull. He was really going to enjoy turning this clown into mush.
"Pal, I don't know what you think you can do in that funky outfit of yours… but you just made the biggest mistake of your life," the Rhino said and charged Frogman. Eugene was barely able to leap over Rhino and the lumbering mound of muscle rammed into one of the overturned cars instead. The car skidded more than twenty feet before it came to rest and Eugene tried to fight the shaking in his body. If the Rhino had connected with that shot Frogman would have been nothing more than a green smear. How did Spidey do this day in and day out?
Frogman wasn't about to quit though. He knew Spidey would never have run from a fight and he wasn't going to either. He was determined to prove himself as a hero. Rhino charged again and this time Eugene tensed his muscles. His father had made modifications to the suit. There was an exo-skeleton that enhanced his strength and a computer guidance system that controlled his leaps. He could do this. He could beat Rhino.
Rhino bore down on the punk and this time instead of leaping up like a blasted jumping bean, the frog-guy crouched low to the ground. Before the Rhino knew it he was flat on the ground again. The punk had grabbed one of his legs and tripped him!
Frogman dusted himself off with pride. The satisfying thud of Rhino hitting the ground made him feel nearly euphoric. Rhino was beginning to stir but Eugene felt the confidence rising within him. He clenched his fists and approached Rhino from behind. There was no way he'd let Rhino gain the upper hand again.
Rhino turned around to face where he figured the frog-guy would be and immediately received a pop in the nose for his trouble. His eyes watered from the force of the blow and he couldn't believe how hard this yahoo hit. The next punch came quicker than the first and connected with his jaw. Rhino began to see stars. He swung wildly but hit nothing but air. Another blow smashed into his chin and Rhino saw nothing but darkness as he fell backwards to the ground.
When Spider-Man regained consciousness he was leaned against the curb of the street. Daredevil was a few feet away from him rubbing the back of his head and shaking out the cobwebs. Spider-Man looked across the street and saw the Rhino in special restraints being led into a police van. Frogman was standing nearby speaking with police officers who were clustered all around him. Frogman glanced in Spidey's direction and when he saw he was awake ran over to him.
"Spidey! You're ok! You and DD both had me worried for a while there," Eugene said as Spidey got slowly to his feet. His head was still a little fuzzy but what was really stopping his thought process was the fact that apparently Eugene had defeated the Rhino.
"Eu.. I mean, um, Frogman. You beat the Rhino all by yourself?" Spidey asked and Frogman simply nodded vigorously. The act of it was so comical that Spidey burst out laughing just as an equally puzzled Daredevil approached.
"It appears you owe our young friend here an apology, Spider-Man" said DD and Spider-Man stopped laughing and looked over at Daredevil. "It seems that today he was more of a hero than either of us."
Daredevil reached out and took Frogman's hand in his. He shook it firmly and Eugene nearly swooned. He couldn't believe that Daredevil had just referred to him as a genuine hero.
"I've got to go, son. I've got pressing concerns at the moment that can't wait another minute, but if you ever find yourself in Hell's Kitchen… look me up," Daredevil said and he pulled out his billy-club and fired the grapple to a flagpole above his head. He reeled himself up and then acrobatically flipped off of it and was soon out of sight, heading back in the direction of Doctor Strange's Sanctum Sanctorum.*
[*Why is DD heading to Doc Strange's you ask? Check out Defenders #6 if you want the scoop - Will]
"Don't see the guy for months and not even a goodbye kiss. The nerve of some people," Spidey said and Frogman laughed.
"You crack me up, Spidey," Frogman said and patted him on the shoulder.
"No, listen Eugene. Daredevil was right. I'm constantly making fun of you and discouraging you from my line of work but you did a great job today and you deserve all the credit in the world," said Spider-Man as he began walking to the base of one of the buildings intending to scale it. "I really can't express how grateful I am that you were here today. I'm honored to call you my friend."
"Jeez, Spidey. I don't know what to say. I think that just might be the nicest thing anyone's ever said to me before," said Eugene as he clung to Spidey's back. Spider-Man made his way up the front of the building quick as lightning and when they got to the roof Frogman let go and Spidey turned to face him.
"I want to share something with you, Eugene. Something I've only shared with a few people over the years. I don't think there's anyone else more deserving than you to know…" said Spider-Man as he pulled off his mask revealing his face to Frogman. "That my real name is Peter Parker."
Aunt May and Jill Stacy entered the offices of the Daily Bugle searching for Peter. It had been days since the news reporting the death of Mary Jane and neither of them had been able to find Peter anywhere. They'd called Robbie and he'd assured them that Peter was fine after the incident at his penthouse and that Peter was staying at a motel somewhere. Unfortunately Robbie didn't know the name or number of the place and finally Aunt May had grown tired of waiting. Jill Stacy accompanied her as she stormed her way towards Robertson, the Bugle staff parting for her like the Red Sea before Moses.
"Mr. Robertson, I insist you tell me where I can find my nephew right now!" said Aunt May in a tone of voice that would have made the toughest man flinch. Robbie wasn't about to argue with the woman and opened his mouth to tell her about Peter's photo assignment when suddenly a voice interrupted him.
"Aunt May, what are you doing here?" said Peter from behind her and Aunt May whipped around and rushed to embrace him. Eugene stood next to Peter kicking at the ground aimlessly with his foot as Peter's aunt showered him with affection while the entire Bugle staff looked on.
"Don't you guys have anything better to do? Like work for example," said Peter and Robbie clapped his hands together sharply driving everyone away and back to their work. Aunt May's happy face suddenly turned stern and it was Peter's turn to flinch.
"Peter Parker! How dare you disappear for days after all that's happened! You gave poor Jill such a fright," Aunt May said and grabbed Peter's cheeks with her hand almost hard enough to hurt.
"Not to mention your aunt," said Jill from behind Aunt May and Peter nodded his head. He honestly felt horrible for all that he'd done but he'd been practically obsessed with finding the Rose Goblin and resolving that entire situation.
"I know, Aunt May… Jill. I'm sorry for not calling or dropping by but I've been so busy lately with trying to figure things out in my head. Mary Jane's disappearance is all I've been thinking about," said Peter and barely noticed the concerned looks on both Jill and Aunt May's faces. "I promise I'll never abandon my friends or family again."
"Hush, Peter… hush. That doesn't matter now. All that matters is that we're here now. Together," said Aunt May and hugged Peter tightly. Peter introduced Eugene to both Aunt May and Jill and Eugene seemed particularly flustered by Jill. He could barely look at her directly. Eugene was saved by the timely intervention of someone clearing their throat nearby.
"Now may not be the time, Peter. But Robbie asked me to find out if you got those pictures of the Rhino," said Ben Urich as he approached the gathering of people with a young Asian woman walking alongside him. Peter tossed Ben the roll of film and Ben pocketed it. "Speaking of photos, have you met the Bugle's latest employee, Angela Yin?"
"No, I haven't," Peter said and reached out to shake the girl's hand. "Nice to meet you, Angela."
"Angela is our newest staff photographer. I'm sure you two will get along great," Ben said, handing Peter his check, and then half turning back towards the way he'd come muttered. "I'm off to give these pics to Robbie folks. Nice meeting you all."
Ben walked off with Angela trailing closely behind. Peter wasn't sure he liked the sound of competition but he certainly liked the feel of a crisp check in his hands. He'd been able to retrieve his camera right after telling Eugene all about his secret identity. They'd had a lengthy talk about the things Peter had gone through over the past week and Peter felt a lot better. He just needed to get it off his chest with someone and he knew he hadn't made a mistake in revealing himself to the fabulous Frogman. He knew Eugene could be trusted and would be a good friend to him.
Peter took a second to look around at the people with him. Aunt May and Jill were smiling and Eugene just seemed happy to be in the presence of Jill. Somehow the scene seemed perfect to Peter and he took out his camera. Jill protested and Aunt May fussed over Eugene's hair for a few seconds but eventually Pete got the shot. He knew he would cherish it for years to come.
Next Issue: Fun and games are all well and good but it’s time for Spidey to get serious as that buxom babe with biceps, the one and only Stunner makes her presence felt at the New York Museum of Natural Art. She’s not there to admire the pieces though. She wants one for herself. And who’s that portly fellow in the background with the metal arms you ask? I’ll give you three guesses but you’ll only need one. Plus, Peter moves in with Randy Robertson and the return of Smoke the cat!