Amazing Spider-Man (Digital) #4
The Private Life of Peter Parker Part Four
Lelia, Becky, and Emma are three high school students that decided to turn around their low popularity by promoting the ideals set by Spider-Man. Their volunteer time at the FEAST Center and Spider-Man inspiration got them a front page story on the Front Line. Soon, the three “Spider-Girls” have become a media sensation, appearing on the various programs to talk about how Spider-Man has inspired them to do the right thing. Peter Parker watches the news unfold impressed that the girls are doing such a good job to boost his alter-ego’s popularity. He’s not the only one who has been watching however. The agent representing Teri Hillman, a reality TV star, suddenly gets inspiration from watching the news story. Elsewhere, the new villain named Spectrum is furious that the Spider-Girls have stolen the media spotlight away from his recent attack on Union Park. Mayor J. Jonah Jameson also faces a steam of uncomfortable questions from the media. He still insists that Spider-Man is a criminal. He soon calls a meeting with his Anti-Spider-Man Squad and tells them to capture Spider-Man no matter what, as he is convinced that the web-slinger is somehow paying these “Spider-Girls” to promote him. When Captain Gannon tries to point out that they have no evidence to prove that, Jameson doesn’t care to hear it and tells them to do their job or he’ll fire them all and find a new team. Once Jameson leaves, Captain Gannon tells his squad that he wants every Spider-Cam up and running by sundown so they know where Spider-Man is when he resurfaces.
At Kearny High School, Leila and her friends are discovering that their media attention is paying off. The kids at school are paying more attention to them. Some of them decide to start volunteering at the FEAST Center as well, while in class they are getting picked for the book drive over their rival, Meg Ridgeway the most popular girl in school.
While at his apartment, Peter finally makes good on his half of the money for a recent paint job being done to his apartment. His roommate, Michele Gonzales, surprises him by giving him some of his money back. She tells him that the original price was just a quote and the painters got the job done. She also gives him his money back since she feels like she steamrolled him into accepting the work. Peter is even more surprised when Michele explains that she was inspired to do the right thing after reading about the Spider-Girls in the Front Line. When Peter also admits that the Spider-Girls have inspired him, Michele admits that Peter always seems to do something right when she is about to write him off. However, she warns him that he’s still on probation with her
Later, while web-slinging as Spider-Man, Peter considers the situation with him and Michele and considers the Spider-Girls good for him. He also wonders if there is any romantic potential between him and Michele, but decides that he’s getting too dramatic and decides to focus on his patrol. At that same moment, the Anti-Spider-Man Squad picks up Spider-Man’s location through the Spider-Cams installed all over the city. That’s when the web-slinger remembers about the Spider-Cams and, remembering where the main junction box is located, uses his webbing to overload the system. After the Spider Cams have been shut down, the web-slinger goes about his patrol busting petty crooks all over the city.
Later that evening, Captain Gannon arrives at the junction box with a city repairman who tells him it will take until the end of the month to repair everything. Learning that Spider-Man was responsible for the shutdown, Captain Gannon declares war on the web-slinger.
Recurring Characters
Spider-Man, Spectrum, J. Jonah Jameson, Michele Gonzales, Leila Goldberg, Becky, Emma Paley, Teri Hillman, Meg Ridgeway
Topical References
Michele Gonzales says she was quoted at $1200 as the cost to have painters repaint the living room of their apartment but it actually cost $1000. She originally told Peter he owed her $600 and she later accepts $400, giving him $200 back. All of these dollar figures should be considered topical considering inflation and the fact that everything in New York City is expensive as hell.
Peter’s debating over a possible romance with Michele Gonzales makes him sound like a character from Desperate Housewives.
