Nick Peron

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Amazing Spider-Man #100

Nick Peron

The Spider or the Man?

Credits

Spider-Man is patrolling the streets of Manhattan looking for crime. Just when he thinks it is going to be a quiet night, he spots a bank robbery in progress. Spider-Man quickly stops the crooks. After wrapping them up in webbing, Spider-Man leaves them for the police. As he observes the arrest, he wonders what it will take for the people of New York to stop seeing him as a criminal. Swinging away, the wall-crawler comes to realize that being Spider-Man isn't as thrilling as it once was. Watching New Yorkers milling about in the streets he envies them for the normal lives that they live. Returning to his apartment, Peter decides that he wants to spend the rest of his life with Gwen Stacy. With the constant danger of being Spider-Man, he decides that in order for Peter Parker to have a life, Spider-Man must die. Peter then gets to work to create a serum that will strip him of his spider powers. Once complete, Peter drinks the potion and instantly begin getting dizzy. With his head pounding, Peter decides to go to bed and try to sleep it off.

Peter begins to dream, his first thoughts are of how he feels guilty for the death of his Uncle Ben. How, with his Aunt now a widow, he was forced to find a source of income to help support himself and his aunt. To this end, he ended up getting a job as a freelance photographer for the Daily Bugle, whose publisher -- J. Jonah Jameson -- often uses Peter's photos to discredit and demonize Spider-Man. He then recounts how his romance with Betty Brant was lost due to his alter-ego, and how she eventually became engaged to Ned Leeds. However, he now loves Gwen Stacy. He thinks about how Gwen blames Spider-Man for the death of her father.

In this dream, Spider-Man calls out into the sky, asking why he has to constantly live a life of tragedy. Suddenly, he hears a familiar voice calling out for help and begins traveling the rooftops to help. Suddenly, he is attacked by the Vulture who swoops in from the skies. Although the villain has the element of surprise, Spider-Man is easily able to incapacitate his longtime enemy. As the Vulture falls to the ground, Spider-Man snares him with a web line, but no sooner has he done this that he is whipped in the face by the Lizard's tail. Spider-Man struggles with the Lizard, wrapping webbing around the man-monster's mouth. He then flees his new attacker to try and find the person calling for help. He is then attacked by the Green Goblin, who Spider-Man knocks off his glider. Moments later, he is attacked by Doctor Octopus. Like with the other foes, Spider-Man knocks out Doctor Octopus and continues on his trek across the rooftops. He is then attacked by the Kingpin, but despite the villain's great strength, Spider-Man defeats him in hand-to-hand combat.

Spider-Man reaches the voice and is surprised to see the spirit of George Stacy floating in the air. George tells Spider-Man that he knows that Spider-Man is really Peter Parker. He emplores Parker to keep his powers to continue fighting against the forces of evil. His final words is that Peter is Spider-Man, and therefore not entitled to a normal life, which is a blessing and a curse. Suddenly, Peter wakes and realizes that it was all a dream. He begins regretting drinking his formula without testing it first as his sides have become incredibly itchy. Removing his sweater, Peter is shocked to discover that he has grown four additional arms in his sleep.

Recurring Characters

Spider-Man

Continuity Notes

Peter's dream covers a number of key moments in the life of Spider-Man: