the plot: As one-time Spider-Man Ben Reilly reflects on a time when he was in college and very much in love with the gorgeous Gwen Stacy, we're taken back to an era where Harry Osborn fawned over the elegible Mary Jane Watson, where Police Captain George Stacy and his good friend Robbie Robertson tried to figure out the link between Peter Parker and Spider-Man, where Norman Osborn insanely tried to make a man out of his son Harry and where Kraven the Hunter was alive and well and out to get severence from Osborn.

It all started when Norman had hired thugs to come after Harry and the gang at the Coffee Bean, a local gangout for ESU students. However in the seedy bar where the thugs met up, a contact for Kraven the Hunter overheard what was transpiring and told Kraven who went after Harry to get at Norman, who owed Kraven for having cheated him in the past.

In the end the thugs are taken out, Kraven gets away and George Stacy realizes that Peter is Spider-Man and that he needn't worry about Gwen's safety since she's in good hands. Kraven confronts Osborn, who offers the Hunter a cash settlement and a place in his empire. Kraven leaves, but Osborn remarks that Kraven's a fool not to take a place with him. And the Stacys...George died saving the life of a small boy, about to be crushed by falling debris, and Gwen died in a fierce battle between Spider-Man and Osborn's criminal alter-ego, the Green Goblin. Ben remembers all this and knows that because of Gwen's death he's never been able to fully commit to anyone since. And as he webslings off he thinks that maybe it's time that changed.

the plot: In a second story a recently married Spidey, still wearing his symbiotic suit, takes out a couple of thieves before returning home to his new bride. Meanwhile a mysterious figure standing over Peter's Uncle Ben's grave destroys his tombstone. The next day Peter is introduced to new reporter Ken Ellis, who Peter is partnered with and sent to cover a murder in a Russian community. Meanwhile a group of SHIELD agents storm a warehouse full of gun smugglers to stop a terrorist named the Deadmaker before he attacks an innocent old woman and her nephew. The old woman in question: May Parker, who is being watched through her living room window by the Deadmaker at that very second.

The next day at the Bugle, Robbie congratulates Ellis on a great story, though the adulation is short-lived when the SHIELD unit leader behind the gun bust, arrives at the Bugle to tell Robbie that because of that story May and Peter Parker are going to die. Later in their apartment as Newlyweds Peter and Mary Jane settle down for the night, Peter's spider-sense goes off and he sends MJ into the bathtub to hide and has to deal with a missile aimed at their apartment. But as the first missile is stopped another is launched, just as Mary Jane amits a scream from inside their house. Peter has to make the decision of saving a city block from destruction, instead of his wife.

Peter returns home and is told that no blood was found, that being the good news. The SHIELD unit leader from before introduces herself to Peter as Cru, short for Cruella, a nickname given to her from her unit. Taking Peter aside, Cru tells him about Gregori Anatolovich, a Hydra double agent with the code name Deadmaker. While the clues would lead all to believe that Anatolovich has returned, he died eleven years ago as Cru informs. Meanwhile in the house owned by Peter Parker's parents years before, Mary Jane and Aunt May, both being held captive are introduced to their kidnapper, the new Deadmaker, Gregori Anatolovich's son.

After stopping by Aunt May's house and Uncle Ben's destroyed tombstone to find Aunt May and Mary Jane, Peter goes to the last place with the Parker name on it, Richard and Mary's old house, where MJ and May are found. Deadmaker and Spidey take their fight to the rooftops as Spidey reflects on the problems his parents past have had on him, and how his life as a hero may have similar effects if he has children. The fight has now gotten to the George Washington Bridge and Deadmaker is losing energy. Spidey relates to him that he's lost a lot too; a woman he loved, the closest thing he's ever had to a father and his own parents, but still has family and a wife, and he's moving on. Deadmaker, weak and tired finally gives up when asked what he has to show for all his loss. A tired, disjointed Deadmaker is left on top of a pillar, musing about having nothing. Spidey tells him he is what he makes himself as he swings off.

Peter spends the next day with his family, Aunt May and Mary Jane, as a new tombstone is set up for Uncle Ben. Peter tells May that their "till death do us part" vow isn't very accurate. May replies by telling Peter that love cannot be parted by anything, and marriage, like family is forever. To which Peter thinks, he wouldn't have it any other way.

send all email to John Cage
this page is best viewed at 800x600, so you can see everything.