Webspinners #7 synopsis

the plot: Flash Thompson has just found out that Peter Parker has asked his girlfriend to the prom. Said girlfriend, Liz Allen is actually looking forward to going to the prom with Peter. Peter Parker himself is tanning outside, having skipped school for the first time. Peter's girlfriend, Betty Brant is stuck in a dead-end job at the Daily Bugle as J. Jonah Jameson's secretary, and is currently talking her way out of having to get Jameson's glasses out of a toilet. The sinister Sandman, now deteriorating after coming into contact with Peter's science experiment, makes his way out of prison. And Peter continues to work on his tan, wondering exactly what his classmates are thinking about Peter's absense. And that's just the first page!

The troubled couple, Flash and Liz, have now met with each other to discuss things. Liz tries to talk, but Flash holds back. Liz starts to leave when Flash threatens Peter, and walks off, consealing his own pain. Peter, meanwhile, has made his way to the Daily Bugle, to surprise Betty with flowers. Betty, who wishes she hadn't left school when she did, accompanies Peter to a park for lunch. Peter apologizes for the other day, and begins to mention the upcoming prom, when Betty's eyes light up and begins talking about what dress she'll wear to the prom when she and Peter go together. Peter doesn't have to heart to tell her he already agreed to go with Liz, and unfortunatly makes a second date for the prom. Though for all of Peter's problems, they pale to those of the Sandman, whose body continues to fall apart.

The problem of having two prom dates now takes up Peter's concentration when he's in a study session with Mr. Del. Mr. Del reminds Peter that they've fallen behind, but Peter gets up and leaves anyway. On his way out of the school though, Peter runs into Flash Thompson, literally. Flash warns Peter that he'd better uninvite Liz to the prom, but surprisingly, Peter stands up to Flash and tells him flat out that he's taking Liz to the prom. Final. Flash whispers to Peter to back down, but he won't. So Flash walks off but challenges Peter to a "Bridgewalk". A Bridgewalk, its explained, is an unprotected length of bridge that several students have died trying to cross. Peter is surveying the bridgewalk when Blake shows up and commends Peter on "showing some backbone for a change." Blake leaves but tells Peter to come to his after party, "it's gonna be killer..."

That night, as Aunt May observes, Peter is down. Two unbreakable dates, a rampaging supervillain and a potentially deadly challenge. Aunt May brings up the prom as the news story about the Sandman airs on television. Peter rushes off telling Aunt May whatever she thinks is best, prompting Aunt May to give her neighbor Anna Watson a call: Peter is going to take Anna's neice Mary Jane to the prom! Now in his Spider-suit, Peter confronts the Sandman who proceeds to pummel Spidey. Liz, at home tries to talk to Flash over the phone, but is hung up on. Betty practices her dancing with her young nephew Daniel, and is delighted to get her second chance to "go to the ball." Flash has decided to take out his rage on Peter by destroying his science project and smashes it with a baseball bat and steals the notes.

Back in the fight, Sandman goes on about how he's falling apart and needs Spidey's help, but when he learns the chemicals he was doused with were untested he goes over the edge and it's only by covering Sandman with fire exstinguisher chemicals that Spidey stops him. Peter rushes back to Midtown High to get his notes to create an antidote, when Mr. Del tells him that his experiment was wrecked and Peter knows right away that Flash is behind it. Peter tackles Flash during football practice, and tells him that he's going to go along with the bridgewalk. And if all this wasn't enough, that night at home as Peter tries to recreate his notes, Aunt May tells him that she's arranged his prom date...with Mary Jane. Peter's responce to it all: "Kill me now."

continue to the Webspinners #9 synopsis

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