The Night of The Prowler!

Swinging through the city, Spider-Man is lost in thought, thinking over the past couple of days. When he stops to call Gwen, he's hassled by a man who wishes to use the phone booth that he's using. When the man realizes that Spider-Man is using the booth, he runs off scared. Alas, it's for naught, because when Peter asks Gwen to meet with him, she tells him she's busy, Pete completely unaware that she has Flash Thompson over for a visit. Web-Slinging back to the apartment he shares with Harry Osborn, Peter has to wait outside while he waits for Harry to get off the phone with Mary Jane and retires for the night before re-entering his apartment.

Peter tries to study but finds that he cannot get Gwen off the brain, and decides to go and see her anyway, coming up with an excuse for his visit. However, along the way, he spies Gwen with Flash Thompson when he walks past the Coffee Pot Cafe. Unaware that she's seeking advice about Peter and his secret, Peter assumes that the two of them have become an item and storms off. When two tough guys try to give him trouble, he unconsciously brushes them off with his spider-strength before he realizes what he's done, and rushes home.

Meanwhile, Hobbie Brown, a young African-American inventor who has to work as a window cleaner to support himself and his girlfriend is cleaning the Daily Bugle Building. However, J. Jonah Jameson comes and asks him why he's been daydreaming at one window for so long. Hobbie's racist boss enters the room and the trio gets into an argument about Hobbie's job (Jameson siding with Hobbie.) Eventually, Hobbie gets his fill and quits. Finally fed up with his constant struggles to make ends meet when he has such a brilliant mind, Hobbie converts specially made talons and fluid shooters which he created for his window cleaning job into instruments for crime and makes a costume. Thus, the Prowler is born.

As Peter unsuccessfully tries to get a loan from J. Jonah Jameson, the Prowler attacks the Bugle building in order to score some publicity. When Peter's spider-sense warns him of the Prowler's presence, he decides that he doesn't have time to change into Spider-Man and goes to find out what's going on. He finds the Prowler in the process of stealing the payroll bag from one of the officers. Peter tries to stop the Prowler, but Jameson suddenly enters the room to see what all the commotion is. Peter is now in a dilemma because any feat of strength could possibly tip Jameson off to his secret identity.

Recurring Characters

Spider-Man, Gwen Stacy, Flash Thompson, Harry Osborn, J. Jonah Jameson, Joe Robertson, Powler, Mindy McPhearson

Continuity Notes

• Spider-Man recalls how busy the past while has been with the Lifeline Tablet and the Lizard. A brief explanation of the events of Amazing Spider-Man #75-77.