Cat Scratch Fever

Police have arrived at the scene of the Museum of Natural History where one Doctor Treyman has seemingly been murdered. Arriving on the scene is Detective Jonas Fogg who asks what happened to the mangled body and is informed that it had been partially eaten. His concerns that a cannibal killer is elevated when he’s told that Treyman was attacked by some kind of animal. A saliva test came back confirming that whatever did this to the scientist was some kind of reptile. This fills Fogg with dread again, pointing out that the museum also employs Curt Connors, who just so happens to have a history of being turned into a giant lizard.[1] Connor’s presence is confirmed after a fingerprint search, and his office in the basement is deserted. Grimly, Officer Fogg asks his fellow officers if anyone happens to have Spider-Man’s cell phone number.

Meanwhile, Spider-Man is racing to Curt Connor’s home after getting a panicked call for help as Curt was trying to prevent a transformation into the Lizard. Sure enough, when he enters the apartment he is ambushed by the Lizard. After fighting the creature off, Spider-Man is shocked to discover that there is another, smaller, lizard creature. Distracted by this new arrival, Spider-Man leaves himself open to the Lizard’s attack. The web-slinger kicks the Lizard at his companion sending them tumbling into the hallway of the apartment building. Realizing that the two Lizard’s could harm the other tenants, Spider-Man goes out and taunts them into following him outside. Seriously injured and with the two Lizards on his trail, Spider-Man realizes that he’s in a bad way. Climbing up to the top of the building, he is relieved to find the Black Cat is waiting for him. Stumbling to the ground, Spider-Man tries to warn Felicia of the coming danger but she is too busy making jokes to listen. That’s when the Lizard gets up onto the roof and ignoring Spider-Man’s warnings to stay away, Felicia leaps at the villain, belting it across the face. When the Lizard responds by hitting the Black Cat from behind with its tail, Felicia merely shrugs off the blow and asks for another.

Meanwhile, at Stark Tower, Mary Jane answers the buzzer and is surprised to see that John Jameson has come over. He tells her that he came to return the scarf she accidentally dropped at the Daily Bugle. Concerned about the surprise visit, Mary Jane is about to tell him to leave it with the front desk when Aunt May hears who she is talking to and invites John upstairs. The invitation puts a large almost disturbing smile on John’s face. Seeing that Mary Jane is concerned, May asks what’s wrong, but Mary Jane admits that she doesn’t know why but she’s been on edge ever since she last heard from Peter and he stopped answering his phone. She becomes even more concerned when she learns that the rest of the New Avengers are away from the tower.[2] Down in the lobby, John Jameson notices that the man at the from desk has been drinking on the job and suddenly attacks him. At that same moment, the Vermin returns to the trash invested alleys that he considers home. Growing hungry, he happens upon a john that is about to beat on a prostitute who stole his stash of money. However, before he can rape her, Vermin attacks him from behind.

Back on the rooftop, Spider-Man is starting to recover from his injuries and can’t believe that the Black Cat is holding her own against the Lizard and loving every minute as if some kind of primal urge has taken over her. Before he can pull the two combatants apart, Spider-Man is attacked from behind by the smaller lizard. That’s when two of the neighbors come up to the roof with a rifle. Before Spider-Man can do anything, the man with the gun aims and fires at the smaller lizard he is struggling with. Seeing this angers the Lizard who turns his attention to the newcomers. Prompting Spider-Man to web up the barrel of the gun and tell them to hide. However, while the Lizard is distracted, the Black Cat gets a good slash in and begins cutting the Lizard to pieces. Before he can stop her, she then kicks him off the roof before snapping out of whatever trance has overcome her. Spider-Man rushes to the edge and attempts to catch the Lizard with a web-line but misses. The Lizard hits the ground hard, but still gets up and escapes into the sewers. Spider-Man then begins reprimanding Felicia for her bloodlust, although she is disorientated and doesn’t remember what happened. That’s when the tenant with the gun tells them that the lizard he shot needs medical attention. When Spider-Man and the Black Cat go to check on them, Spider-Man is shocked to discover that the second lizard was Billy Connors.[3]

Recurring Characters

Spider-Man, the Lizard, Black Cat, Mary Jane Watson, Aunt May, John Jameson, Vermin, Jonas Fogg, Billy Connors

Continuity Notes

1. Detective Fogg goes over how Connors lost his arm and developed a formula that turned him into the Lizard. This was all detailed back in Amazing Spider-Man #6.

2. May mentions that Jarvis is visiting his sister on Long Island. The woman she thinks is Jarvis is actually a Skrull spy as we’ll learn in Secret Invasion #1. He replaced the real Jarvis prior to New Avengers #1.

3. This story states Billy is 13 years old at the time of this story. However, in Spectacular Spider-Man (vol. 2) #11 it is stated that he was 10 years old. Since that comic was published in 2004 and this one was published in 2006, it seems as though they aged him according to the length of time between publications. However, the statement in Spectacular Spider-Man (vol. 2) #11 wasn’t accurate to begin with as Sensational Spider-Man (vol. 1) #24 states that he was 12 years old at the time of that story. I accept the age provided in Sensational Spider-Man #24 because it’s the first time Billy’s age is ever stated and it tracks with the Sliding Timescale which depicts him as a very young boy when he first appears in Amazing Spider-Man #6. As such, Billy’s listed age in this story should be considered incorrect. Per the sliding timescale, Billy would actually be considered about 15 years old at the time of this story as it has been three years of Marvel Time between Sensational Spider-Man #24 and this story.