Trust Issues

Peter Parker and Anna Maria Marconi have been invited over for dinner at Aunt May and Jay Jameson’s place. As usual, Anna Maria’s cooking impresses everyone. This leads to May asking when Peter and Anna are going to think about getting married. This leaves Peter wondering how to explain the situation, as he can’t just tell his Aunt that Anna Maria’s relationship was actually with Otto Octavius when he was in control of Peter’s body.[1] Anna Maria takes control of the situation, telling May that they have just broken up, explaining that they decided to keep a professional relationship now that they are working together at Parker Industries. May accepts this but is disappointed that Peter let another great woman slip away from him.

After dinner, Peter and Anna Maria are heading back to Parker Industries. Along the way, she points out that there is a way to navigate the drama that Spider-Man brings into his life without stressing over keeping his secret identity. She then suggests that Peter web-sling them to Parker Industries, saying it would be faster than taking a cab. Peter is reluctant to do so but she convinces him to do it, assuaging his concerns that people might connect Peter Parker with Spider-Man.

While at Parker Industries, Sajani Jaffrey airs her concerns over Parker Industries’ latest project, a new prison for super-villains. Clayton Cole, however, believes in the project since Peter Parker hired him despite his criminal career as the Clash.[2] That’s when the head of security comes into the lab to report that the security system is glitching. That’s when Peter and Anna Maria pop in. Sajani is annoyed that nobody texted her that Parker came in but that’s when Anna reveals that they came in through a secret entrance in Peter’s lab, that he is building tech for Spider-Man again, and that she and Peter just broke up. This all annoys Sajani who is furious to learn that Parker has been keeping secrets from her again.

As this bickering continues, nobody is aware that the cause for the security glitch is the Ghost, a master of corporate espionage. He has been hired by Alchemax to shut down Parker Industries so they lose their bid with the Department of Corrections. The Ghost finishes shutting down all forms of communication and locking down the facility, then takes down the security guard. He then seizes control of the prototype security devices Parker Industries has built for their prison. Announcing his presence, the Ghost then sets these security drones to attack the staff. Peter Parker tries his best to keep his employees safe without revealing his identity. That’s when he remembers that the Living Brain is in the room with them and orders his robotic assistant to protect everyone while also forcing open the door trapping them inside.

As everyone evacuates, Sajani Jaffrey learns from Anna Maria that their nano-tech project, which they have continued in secret, is being stored on the robot.[3] She quickly rushes off to the security lab. There she offers the Ghost a deal: If he spares everyone’s life, she will show him how to destroy the prison designs as she never backed the progress. Unfortunately, Sajani does not account for the fact that the Ghost operates to destroy corporations because he is homicidally against them.

Hearing Sajani scream, Peter Parker slips away to change into Spider-Man. Rushing to the security room, he arrives just in time to see the Ghost plunge his intangible hand into Sajani’s chest.

Recurring Characters

Spider-Man, Ghost, Aunt May, Jay Jameson, Anna Maria Marconi, Sajani Jaffrey, Clayton Cole, Living Brain

Continuity Notes

1. Otto Octavius took over Peter’s body from Amazing Spider-Man #698 until Superior Spider-Man #31. During that time he started dating Anna Maria. When Peter took his life back and explained things to Anna Maria in Amazing Spider-Man (vol. 3) #2, they both agreed to break up.

2. Spider-Man stopped the Clash early on in his career. See Amazing Spider-Man (vol. 3) #1.1-1.5 for details.

3. See Amazing Spider-Man (vol. 3) #6 for more on Sajani’s secret project.

No Take Backsies

Two years ago, Felicia Hardy was hosting a party to show off a long lost Renoir that she managed to steal. Today, that same painting is on display in the home of Regina Venderkamp, who recently purchased a lot of Felicia Hardy’s possessions at a private auction.[1] Suddenly, the lights go out briefly, and when they come back on Regina discovers that the painting has been taken and someone had scratched the word “mine” on the wall it hung on.

Regina is furious that the Black Cat is stealing back all the things she won in an auction and gets her security force to check her living room and finds it empty. Against the orders of her security detail, Regina rushes upstairs where the Black Cat is waiting for her. The thief explains that she wanted to teach Venderkamp a lesson for taking what was once hers. When security tries to shoot her, the Black Cat takes them down quickly by using her bad luck powers to cause the chandelier to fall on them. She then tags Regina with a knock out dart, wanting to play with her prey for a little longer.

When Regina wakes up she finds herself tied up at the Black Cat’s hideout where she proudly displays all of the items she stole back from Regina. However, there is one item missing and she asks where it is.

Later that evening, Aunt May and her husband, Jay Jameson, are admiring the statuette they managed to win at the auction they attended earlier. The pair had just finished having dinner with Peter Parker and Anna Maria Marconi. May expresses her concern that Peter might not settle down and start a family before she dies. Jay reminds her that she is healthy and there is plenty of time for that. They then curl up on the couch to watch television unaware that the Black Cat is currently casing the place through the living room window.

Recurring Characters

Black Cat, Regina Venderkamp, Aunt May, Jay Jameson

Continuity Notes

1. Felicia’s possessions were all confiscated by the police when she was busted by the Doc Ock controlled Spider-Man in Superior Spider-Man #20.