Hunter’s Moon

After Billy Connors has been shot, Spider-Man and the Black Cat rush him to the Baxter Building to get the help of Mister Fantastic of the Fantastic Four. Although Reed Richards and his wife Sue were about to go out, they agree to help Spider-Man. Reed quickly sets up his bio-bath device so that it can heal the boy’s wounds. Reed does a quick examination and confirms the boy is not in any mortal harm. He then recognizes Curt Connor’s regenerative formula in the boy’s DNA and correctly deduces that this is Curt’s son, Billy. While the men are examining the Connors boy, the Black Cat asks where the rest of the Fantastic Four are. Sue tells her that Ben and Johnny are out by the South Street Seaport dealing with one of the Mole Man’s creatures.

Reed wonders the return of the Lizard and the appearance of one of the Mole Man’s creatures are somehow related. Sue points out that there have also been a outbreaks of violence all over the city. That’s when the Black Cat mentions that she has been acting out of character herself. Richards finds this all very interesting and decides to run some tests on both Spider-Man and the Black Cat while they wait for Billy to completely heal.

While at Stark Tower, Mary Jane Watson and Aunt May are waiting for John Jameson to arrive from the lobby. Mary Jane, however, has had an uneasy feeling of dread the whole night and the fact that none of the New Avengers are around hasn’t helped. When the elevator to their apartment opens, Mary Jane is ambushed by John, who has transformed into the Man-Wolf once more. Mary Jane evades his opening lunge and orders May to stay in the kitchen while she tries to reach John’s humanity and talk him down from attacking her. This fails, and just before the Man-Wolf can attack Mary Jane, Aunt May enters the room and smashes a kettle full of hot tea over the Man-Wolf’s hed. As the creature reels in pain, Aunt May drags Mary Jane into the relative safety of the kitchen. At that same moment, Spider-Man suddenly sits up from the examination table as he senses that there is trouble at home. Getting up, he tells Reed to continue examining the Black Cat and Billy while he goes to check on his family. At that moment, back Stark Towers, Aunt May tells Mary Jane that she activated the security systems the moment John entered the building and is surprised they haven’t responded yet. As if on cue, the robots come crashing into the apartment and attempt to incapacitate the Man-Wolf with tranquilizer darts. After a few direct hits, the Man-Wolf collapses to the ground and returns to human form. That’s when Spider-Man arrives and asks why there is a naked man in their living room.

Meanwhile, in the sewers, the Lizard is still recovering from injuries sustained while fighting the Black Cat. His mind swirls with memories of his human counterpart, Curt Connors. He remembers how Connors returned home after seeing the stone with a revelation, instead of curing himself of becoming the Lizard, he had to make Billy like him. Visiting the boy in his room, Curt tells Billy to remain calm as he injected him with the regenerative formula that first turned him into the Lizard. Reliving this memory causes the Lizard to unleash a massive bellow that is heard by the Vermin who is lurking elsewhere in the sewers. The two creatures then separately decide to go on the prowl for new prey.

Back at the Baxter Building, Felicia Hardy decides that she is not going to wait around for Spider-Man to come back and after putting on her costume, leaves the Fantastic Four’s headquarters without telling anybody. Back at Stark Tower, Peter Parker is being informed about what happened as Mary Jane patches up his injured shoulder. Mary Jane points out that they both she and May have been acting strangely, like everyone else in the city, recounting how she pulled a knife after getting mad at Peter earlier while May fearlessly attacked the Man-Wolf. This confirms to Peter that this all must be connected and fears that Curt Connors has been feeling it the worst of them all and decides to go back out looking for him, despite the fact that he’s been injured. When Mary Jane raises her concerns over Peter’s safety, he shows her that he is putting on the new costume that was designed for him by Tony Stark, setting Mary Jane at least a little more at ease.[1] Spider-Man then decides that he’s going to need the help of a psychic and decides to pay a visit to his old ally Madame Web.[2] When he arrives, Web tells Spider-Man that he has arrived right on schedule.

Recurring Characters

Spider-Man, the Lizard, Black Cat, Mary Jane Watson, Aunt May, Man-Wolf, Vermin, Fantastic Four (Mister Fantastic, Invisible Woman, Human Torch, Thing), Billy Connors, Madame Web, HERBIE

Continuity Notes

1. This new costume was designed for Peter by Tony Stark and given to him in Amazing Spider-Man #529.

2. Spider-Man recounts how the last time he went to the X-Men for psychic assistance they told him that his Aunt May was dead. He is referring to the events of Marvel Knights: Spider-Man #6 when he enlisted the aid of Marvel Girl to help find Aunt May who had been missing since Marvel Knights: Spider-Man #1. As revealed in Marvel Knights: Spider-Man #12, May was actually buried alive in Ben Parker’s grave, so she was kind of right.