The Rules of the Game!

Peter Park is finding it difficult to believe that Flash Thompson is actually the Hobgoblin, even though he unmasked the villain himself. Although Flash was his tormenter in high school, Peter recalls how Flash started the first Spider-Man fan club. Eventually, the pair put their pasts behind them and became good friends. Even though Thompson has had his share of personal problems, he still can't bring himself to accept the apparent truth. Suddenly, Mary Jane comes rushing into Peter's apartment, she came as soon as she read the news about Flash. She demands that he does something, and asks if he really had something to do Flash's capture before he can answer the phone rings. It's Matt Murdock, who sounds terrible. Fearing that Peter's phone may be tapped, Murdock asks Peter to meet him. Soon, Peter arrives at a rescue mission in Hell's Kitchen, where Sister Maggie takes him to see Murdock. Peter is shocked to see the Daredevil, and successful lawyer Matt Murdock living in a shelter. When Peter asks what happened, Matt explains that the Kingpin somehow discovered that he was really Daredevil, and has been doing everything in his power to destroy his life. He then warns Peter that the Kingpin might also know that he is secretly Spider-Man. When Peter suggests that Matt fight back in his capacity as a lawyer, Murdock explains how the Kingpin had him disbarred and has turned every organization against him.

Matt explains that he is getting his strength back, but Parker is the only person he can truly trust. However, Murdock warns Peter against going after the Kingpin at this time because he wants to be the person to bring him down. Murdock demands that Peter promise him, and Parker reluctantly agrees. After he leaves, Peter feels bad for Murdock, as he has never seen someone fall so hard. However, regardless of his promise to Murdock, Peter decides to find out if the Kingpin has somehow discovered his own identity as well. Slipping into an alley, Peter changes into Spider-Man and swings toward the Kingpin's skyscraper.

Soon at the Kingpin's lair, the master criminal declines to hear the Arranger's latest reports so he can do some paperwork of his own. Once in his office, he hears the sound of Spider-Man webbing up his door in the darkness. He tells Spider-Man to come out and tell him what the hero wants. Spider-Man tells the Kingpin that he has seen the current state Daredevil is in and he is not happy. The Kingpin plays coy, denying any responsibility for Daredevil's misfortunes suggesting that the heroes obsessions with him have drove him mad. When the Kingpin tries to reach for his cane, Spider-Man webs it to the side of his desk, knowing that it has hidden weapons inside.

The Kingpin assures Spider-Man that he is way out of his league and that the hero actually is more of a help but a hindrance. The Kingpin then reaches for the phone, but Spider-Man quickly blocks his hand. He then begins moving toward the secret exit, telling Spider-Man that he helps weed out petty criminals for ones that are viable in his organization. Before he can make his escape, the wall-crawler blocks Fisk's path. The Kingpin then explains that Spider-Man serves his needs, that everytime the hero saves the city he is ensuring that money continues to flow into the Kingpin's pockets. He then muses that Spider-Man is so helpful, he should put him on the payroll. This angers the wall-crawler but his warnings to stop pushing are ignored, as the Kingpin knows that Spider-Man will not strike him first. Spider-Man realizes that he made a mistake coming to see the Kingpin and thinking of him like some common thug. The wall-crawler then concludes subtle means will not stop the Kingpin. When he is asked to leave, Spider-Man then leaps out the window and swings away, warning the Kingpin that one day he will make a mistake and when that day happens he will be there.

When the Kingpin sits in his chair, he discovers that Spider-Man had placed webbing on the seat, making him stuck. The Kingpin calls his secretary and orders that he not be disturbed for the next two hours, under penalty of death. Alone with his thoughts, the Kingpin wagers that if anyone will make a mistake first, it will be Spider-Man.

Recurring Characters

Spider-Man, Matt Murdock, Mary Jane Watson, Kingpin, Arranger, Sister Maggie

Continuity Notes

• Although the world at large thinks Flash Thompson is the Hobgoblin, the true identity of the villain is actually revealed in Spider-Man: Hobgoblin Lives #3.

• Peter recalls how Flash started a Spider-Man fan club. That was in Amazing Spider-Man #17.

• Matt Murdock and Peter Parker know each others identities since Daredevil figured it out in Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man #110.

• Murdock recounts how the Kingpin recently ruined his life, those events occurred in Daredevil #227-228. What Matt doesn't know is that he was sold out by his former girlfriend Karen Page.

Cry of the Wendigo:

• The depiction of the orginal twin towers at the site of the World Trade Center, seen in the New York City skyline in this story, should be considered a topical reference per the Sliding Timescale of Earth-616.

Cry of the Wendigo

Spider-Man is running through a frozen wasteland, stalked by some creature that he can't see in the darkness. The bitter cold numbs the hero to the bone and eventually, he becomes frozen to the spot. He hears the howl of the massive beast that is coming his way. Suddenly, Peter Parker wakes up to discover it was all the dream, and the strange howling he heard was just the wind. The radio reports that a massive cold front has come down from Canada, bringing blizzard conditions. Peter suddenly notices why it is so cold in his apartment, he had left his window open and the arctic air is blowing into his bedroom. Peter figures that has been shaken up after seeing Matt Murdock and confronting the Kingpin. Deciding to go web-slinging, Peter changes into Spider-Man and ventures out into the wind and snow.

Meanwhile, uptown, a diplomat named Askwith and his family are outside enjoying the weather. Suddenly, a van pulls up and armed men grab Mr. Askwith's daughter. They tell the girl's parents that they will be in contact soon with their ransom demands. As they drive away, one of the kidnappers asks if they are sure they can get the ransom they ask for. Their leader is certain they will, if not by Mr. Askwith, then his government as they take care of their diplomats. Unfortunately for these kidnappers, the entire incident was observed by Spider-Man and he swings down to stop them before they can get too far away. When the hero lands on the roof of the van, the kidnappers swerve the vehicle to try and shake him off. They manage to do so, thanks to the icy roof of the vehicle, but they skid out of control and crash into a lamp post. Spider-Man quickly recovers and sees the little girl emerging from the wreck. Spider-Man tells the girl that he will return her to her parents and carries her off.

The kidnappers, however, are not ready to give up the girl and chase the wall-crawler through the ever-strengthening blizzard. Spider-Man runs for cover as he needs time to recover from the crazy. However, he begins to lose consciousness. The little girl warns Spider-Man not to sleep, relating to an old Native American story about people who fall asleep in the snow become victims of the Wendigo. When the wind begins to howl, the little girl fears that it is the mythical creature and suggests they run. However, Spider-Man's spider-sense is going off as he hears the footprints of the would-be kidnappers catching up with them. Before he can act, one of the men strikes Spider-Man from behind, knocking him out again. Spider-Man quickly recovers and saves the girl from the kidnappers again. As they make their way back from where they came, they are confronted by the leader of the kidnappers, who just freed himself from the wreckage. He pulls a gun on them, but Spider-Man webs the barrel shut. As the hero carries the girl away, the man pulls a second gun. However, before he can fire, massive green hands reach out from the blowing snow, cutting off his screams in a wail of the wind.

Spider-Man gets the girl back to her parents just as the police have finished rounding up the kidnappers. The girl tells the wall-crawler to get home quickly before the Wendigo gets him. Back at his apartment, an exhausted Peter Parker falls quickly to sleep as the wind continues to howl outside. As Peter sleeps, the spirit of the Wendigo leaves New York City in the blizzard that brought it there.

Recurring Characters

Spider-Man

Continuity Notes

• The depiction of the orginal twin towers at the site of the World Trade Center, seen in the New York City skyline in this story, should be considered a topical reference per the Sliding Timesscale of Earth-616.