Brighter Lights… Bigger City

Some say Peter Parker and Mary Jane were too young to get married. Others say Peter the science geek was the luckiest man alive marrying Mary Jane, a supermodel. Regardless of the logistics the pair still love each other very much.[1] This evening they both find themselves apart, Spider-Man fighting crime and Mary Jane at a fashion engagement, both wishing they could be together. Mary Jane’s thoughts are interrupted when her security detail lets her know that Jill Stacy is there to see her. When Jill enters, Mary Jane tells her about her recent trouble with a stalker and how her agent hired extra security. When Jill asks what Peter thinks of all of this, Mary Jane admits that she hasn’t seen Peter since she got back home because the calls keep coming to the house.[2] When she suggests Jill talk to Peter for her, Jill shoots down this idea, telling Mary Jane that she can’t keep avoiding her husband. When Jill continues to press Mary Jane about what’s wrong, Mary Jane won’t talk. That’s when the phone beings to ring and when Jill goes to answer it, Mary Jane tells her to let it ring and suggests they leave right away.

At that moment, Spider-Man has arrived on the roof of the Daily Bugle, his mind on all of his recent problems. On top of everything else, he’s less than pleased to know that Venom is back in town.[3] Changing into is civilian clothes, Peter goes into the office where Ben Urich tells him that J. Jonah Jameson is looking for him. Surprisingly, Jameson is in a good mood and ushers Peter into his office. There he meets with Joe Robertson and Clarice Bernhard — the Bugle’s fashion and living editor — who hopes they can get Peter’s wife to give an exclusive interview for the paper. Peter agrees to ask his wife so long as he gets to shoot the photos for the piece. A short time later, Mary Jane and Jill return to her dressing room after mobs of fans forced them to come back in. Once there Mary Jane is shocked to see that her stalker wrote a warning on the mirror telling her that she will soon be his and her husband will be dead. Outside, Peter is attempting to get inside but the security detail guarding the door does not believe Parker when he says he is Mary Jane’s wife. That’s when Peter hears sirens that are getting closer to their location. He then spots Mary Jane and Jill being escorted out of the building but Mary Jane can’t hear Peter calling her name over the sirens and screaming fans. Suddenly, Peter’s spider-sense begins going off and he forces his way through the throng and pushes Mary Jane out of harm’s way. Reacting to the situation, security carts Mary Jane away while Peter is held at gunpoint. His spider-sense screaming out in alarm, Peter quickly yanks the guards away as an armored car smashes through the window of the hotel lobby. Once the vehicle screeches to a halt, the mutant known as the Blob smashes his way out.[4]

While the police ineffectually try to stop the Blob, Peter slips away to change into Spider-Man, cursing himself for not being able to leave this scene to be with his wife. Although Spider-Man shoots webbing into the Blob’s eyes, the Spider-Man is easily overpowered and tossed to the ground. The Blob then attempts to crush the wall-crawler’s head. Spider-Man manages to free himself by punching through the ground and falling into the subway tunnel below. This also causes the Blob to get his foot stuck. Swinging back up to the surface, Spider-Man then bursts one of his web-shooter cartridges causing the Blob to be gummed up in a huge mass of web-fluid incapacitating him. With the danger over, Spider-Man swings after the limo that sped away with his wife on board.

Up the street, Mary Jane’s limo is caught in traffic when suddenly there’s a series of explosions around the vehicle. When Mary Jane tries to exit the car she sees that her Stalker has left a message on a banner for her to see which reads “You Belong to Me”". That’s when Spider-Man swings by and carries Mary Jane away, telling her that he will take her someplace safe.

This story is continued in Peter Parker: Spider-Man #11…

Recurring Characters

Spider-Man, Mary Jane Watson, Jill Stacy, Blob, Stan Hardy, Terry Kwan, J. Jonah Jameson, Joe Robertson, Stalker

Continuity Notes

1. Peter and Mary Jane are referred to husband and wife here. However, years later, their marriage is erased from existence by Mephisto in Amazing Spider-Man #545. As such they should be considered a common-law couple here.

2. Mary Jane has been harassed by a stalker since Peter Parker: Spider-Man #5

3. Venom returned to New York and fought Spider-Man in Peter Parker: Spider-Man #9-10

4. The Blob mentions a number of his recent activities:

   • He mentions being a member of the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants during the Hunt for Xavier story arc. That took place in Uncanny X-Men #362-364 and X-Men (Vol. 2) #82-84.

   • He also mentions his recent clash with Machine Man which took place in X-51 #1-2.