Amazing Spider-Man #537

Mar 25

Mar 25 Amazing Spider-Man #537

The War at Home Part Six

At dawn, Peter Parker wakes up in the motel room that is now his home and goes out for the morning paper. On the front page is a story about his open challenge to oppose the Super-Human Registration Act.[1] On his way back to his room, Peter bumps into one of the prostitutes that work at the motel. Recognizing Peter from the day he first checked in, she notices that he resembles the photo of Spider-Man in the newspaper and decides to call one of her friends to tell her that her big payday has finally come in.

Meanwhile, news that Spider-Man has defected from the pro-registration heroes has reached Captain America who sends the Human Torch out to find Spider-Man and bring him into the fold. By this point, Peter is having a meal with Mary Jane and Aunt May, telling them that he plans on laying low, Mary Jane tells him that it might not be that easy. When Peter looks out the window he sees that the Human Torch has written a message in the sky in flames asking for Spider-Man to meet with him.

At that same moment at Rykers Island, the Kingpin has a visit from his lawyer who has informed him that they have located an individual they spoke about recently.[2] To specify who he is talking about, the lawyer has drawn a picture of a spider on his legal pad. The Kingpin is pleased and tells his lawyer to move forward with their plan of paying this person the “bonus” they talked about, saying to spare no expense. He does say that if the intended individual isn’t home to accept the package, that any member of his family will do.

Elsewhere, Captain America and Falcon are walking through an alley talking about Cap’s attempt to recruit Spider-Man. Falcon is concerned that he is a spy for Tony Stark, but Captain America saw the unvarnished truth when Peter Parker addressed the public and denounced the Super-Human Registration Act and is convinced that Peter is on the level. Despite Falcon’s continued concerns, Captain America meets with Spider-Man. Cap admits that Spider-Man was brave for his public announcement but his warnings about the civil rights violations were ignored by the media in favor of the controversy of Spider-Man defecting. Now that he is being just as vilified as Captain America is now, Peter asks Steve how he deals with it. Cap relates to a time when he was a child he read he was particularly inspired by what patriotism means from the words of Mark Twain. Quoting Twain, he says that in a republic what is right and wrong is determined by the convictions of the individual.[3] Cap concludes his speech by saying that he refuses to support an unjust law and doesn’t care how many people in the media or the government support it, he intends to fight an unjust law. Peter is impressed and starts making jokes again until Captain America suggests they get back to the others before it’s too late.

Meanwhile, the Kingpin’s lawyer meets with a hitman who has been hired to assassinate Spider-Man.[4] When asked by the lawyer how he became one of the best assassins in the city, the hired killer says he leaves no evidence behind. With that, he shoots the lawyer and sets his car on fire. Then disguised as housekeeping, the hitman knocks on the room where the Parkers have been staying. He asks Mary Jane if they could use some fresh towels and after he’s done he plants a device on the top of their door. The hitman then goes across to the building across the street and sets up a his sniper rifle and waits for Peter Parker to go back home.

At that moment, Spider-Man and Captain America have reunited with the rest of the anti-SHRA movement and are moving through the sewers. Captain America says that Spider-Man joining their side is great timing as they are preparing their big strike against Tony Stark’s forces. Still, Captain America is concerned about what they don’t know and how that could work against them. Spider-Man is certain that there isn’t a thing that Captain America hasn’t already thought about. As he is saying this, Spider-Man is unaware that his loved ones are in the sights of a sniper bent on killing him.

Recurring Characters

Spider-Man, Mary Jane Watson, Aunt May, Anti-SHRA heroes (Captain America, Human Torch, Punisher, Falcon, Vision, Living Lightning, Luke Cage, Ultragirl) Pro-SHRA heroes (Iron Man, Mister Fantastic, “Yellowjacket”, Ms. Marvel, She-Hulk), Kingpin, Jack Martino (unidentified)

Continuity Notes

Peter originally supported the Super-Human Registration Act in Civil War #1, even going to far as to publicly reveal his secret identity in Civl War #2/Amazing Spider-Man #533. Peter realized that the Act trampled all over people’s civil rights in Amazing Spider-Man #535. He then publicly denounced the Act and said he would fight it last issue.
The Kingpin has been incarcerated since he was defeated by Daredevil in Daredevil (vol. 2) #50.
I’m paraphrasing here. The quote is taken from Letters from the Earth if you want to read the original source.
Unidentified here, the assassin is identified as Jake Martino in Amazing Spider-Man #539.