Amazing Spider-Man #690
Natural State
Even though he has been reverted to human form, the Lizard is now working to try to change back to his true form. He has used the Lizard formula to change Max Modell into a lizard creature in order to find a way to beat the cure he has been subjected to. In order to keep his work a secret, “Connors” cuts off the arm that grew back after injecting himself with the formula. Leaving the lab, Carlie Cooper reminds Connors that he is not to leave her sight and Bella Fishbach offers the use of her lab for continued work, much to “Curt’s” delight.
Blocks away, Spider-Man is fighting with Morbius the Living Vampire. When Morbius bites the web-slinger it gives him more justification to end his existence. That’s when he is visited by Madame Web who has come with him with a dire warning. She says something is happening at Horizon Labs that will put his destiny on the path of ruin and despair.
At that moment, at Shadowland, the Kingpin is in the middle of a training session and places at call to Tiberius Stone, his mole within Horizon. The Kingpin expresses his disappointment that Tiberius hasn’t been able to produce the the spider-tracer jammers that he promised to bring. Tiberius promises that he’ll produce results soon and is disturbed when he overhears the Hobgoblin offering to eliminate him if he fails. Fearing for his life, Tiberius breaks into Max’s office to reset the security system to get access to lab #7 to get the rest of the designs. However, the process is taking too long and he begins searching Max’s office until he finds hard copies. Relieved, Stone takes the plans and flees, leaving the security shut down running in the process.
As Tiberius is calling the Kingpin back with hood news, Bella Fishbach and Curt Connors are working in his lab. The Lizard is distracted by Bella’s music but she is able to come up with an enzyme to enhance the formula. When she tells him that she doesn’t test on animals, Curt knocks her out from behind to use her as a guinea pig instead.
Back on the rooftop, Spider-Man continues to fight Morbius, ignoring Madame Web’s warnings that he needs to get back to Horizon Labs right away or he will not be able to avert disaster. Madame Web knows that Spider-Man is pushing himself like this because he blames himself for Silver Sable’s death. She tries to convince him that Sable is still alive, but he refuses to stop fighting Morbius because if he leaves the vampire will feed on somebody.[1] At Horizon Labs, the Lizard’s second attempt to return to his true form has failed, necessitating another arm amputation. He has moved on to Grady Scraps for advice and finds himself enjoying the food that Grady offers.
By this point, Spider-Man has webbed up Morbius for the authorities and uses his Avengers credentials to get them to call in a superhuman containment unit and three pints of blood to keep Morbius under wraps. Before heading back to Horizon Labs one of the officers on the scene lends Spider-Man his uniform jacket since his costume is in tatters. Back at the lab, Connor’s latest attempt is another failure and as Uatu Jackson comes knocking at the lab door, he is cutting off yet another new arm. Answering the door, Uatu asks Curt if he’s been avoiding him. The Lizard is reminded so much of Billy due to the youth’s age, but fights off the feelings this brings up and agrees to let Jackson help him with his formula.[2] Uatu suggests that they play video games to unwind saying that it often helps him come up with ideas for his own experiments. The Lizard is impressed by the video game and ultimately is inspired by the concept of video game power-ups and realizes that he could use Mutant Growth Hormone to make his formula work.
Leaving Uatu’s lab he is confronted by Carlie Cooper who just notices that Curt Connors is missing his left arm instead of his right. The Lizard realizes that he screwed up and cut off the wrong arm and tries to flee, prompting Carlie to draw her gun and order him to flee. At that moment, in Max Modell’s office the security system finishes deactivating opening all the locked doors all over the lab unleashing all the scientists that have been turned into Lizards. Out in the lobby, Hector Baez tries to reassure Sajani Jaffrey after she was bitten by Morbius earlier that day.[3] That’s when the lizard creatures come pouring into the lobby prompting Hector to activate the special containment system that was built into the facility.
That’s when Spider-Man arrives on the scene and manages to come crashing in through the window before the entire building is sealed up. Elsewhere, Carlie Cooper continues to chase Curt Connors until she is ambushed by Max Modell, Grady Scraps, and Bell Fishborn, who have all been transformed into lizard-creatures. Connors manages to slip into a nearby closet and prepares to inject himself with his latest version of the formula. However, the Lizard pauses because after all the human experiences he had this day he wonders if this is actually what he wants to do after all.
Recurring Characters
Spider-Man, the Lizard, Morbius the Living Vampire, Max Modell, Grady Scraps, Bella Fishbach, Sajani Jaffrey, Uatu Jackson, Hector Baez, Carlie Cooper, Madame Web, Kingpin, Hobgoblin, The Hand, Tiberius Stone
Continuity Notes
Silver Sable seemingly died helping Spider-Man stop Doctor Octopus from killing all life on Earth in Amazing Spider-Man #687. She did indeed survived as will be explained in Amazing Spider-Man (vol. 5) #33.
Billy Connors was killed by the Lizard in Amazing Spider-Man #631.
Sajani mentions how she was also recently turned into a spider-creature during Spider-Island. See Amazing Spider-Man #666-673.
