A Good Ol’ Fashioned Rodeo

Kaine wakes up in his hotel room and has a feeling that something horrible is happening. It’s not Aracely, even though she is floating upside down in her room. It’s not Spider-Man, who he sees on TV fighting Screwball and the Trickster.[1] It’s also not reports of a gang war in the area. Looking in the mirror he sees the Other reflected back at him and even this is not the problem.[2]

That’s when his friends Wally Layton and Donald Meland arrive and tell Kaine that they are going to a rodeo. Aracely is excited to go, but Kaine wants nothing to do with it. Despite his protests however, the managed to drag Kaine down to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo at the local stadium. Kaine isn’t impressed and his friends try to get him into the festivities. Aracely takes interest in a cowboy named Wyatt Taft and uses her powers to learn about his interest. Kaine suddenly has a change of heart when they are joined by Annabelle Adams and is taken aback by how attractive she looks in her rodeo attire. She is happy to see Kaine and hugs him, saying that she is glad he is there. He sarcastically says that makes one of them and this upsets her and she runs off before she begins to cry in front of him. Aracely, Wally and Don all scold Kaine for how he reacted, pointing out that she likes him and order Kaine to go after her.

On the rodeo grounds a reporter named Trevor Knoll is doing a story on the rodeo for the local news. He spotlights how Wyatt Taft has just been engaged to marry Daisy Schilling. Although he acts excited during the report, when its over Knoll wishes he could be covering more exciting news stories.[3]

By this time, Kaine has caught up to Annabelle and tries to explain to her that a relationship couldn’t work because of his past. She doesn’t buy that, telling him that she has her own dark past as well. However, they are interrupted by Ray, a large man who is Annabelle’s ex-boyfriend. She is not happy to see him because he hasn’t left her alone since they broke up. Kaine tells Ray to back off but when things start getting violent he begins backing down for fear that he will become the Other again and murder this guy.

Suddenly, the arena begins to shake as the Armadello crashes the rodeo.[4] Clearly drunk, Armadello begins trying to show that he could be in a rodeo by chasing after a bull. Apparently, he used to date Daisey Schilling and is upset to hear that she is engaged to marry another man. Seeking to win her back, the massive armor plated goon has gotten drunk and crashed the rodeo. When he spots Daisey he tries running to her, but he is ambushed by the Scarlet Spider. As Kaine fights his opponent, he realizes that he is upset and that he came all this way over a girl. At first, this reinforces Kaine’s ideas that people like them can’t be happy until Daisy comes running to the Armadillo, having decided to take him back. The crowd erupts in cheers as the two kiss. The Scarlet Spider is absolutely dumbfounded by this situation. Capturing all of this is Trevor Knoll and his camera man. The news anchor decides that Kaine is his story now and becomes determined to find out who he really is.[5]

With the battle over, Kaine changes out of costume and catches up with Annabelle who is being dragged out of the stadium by Ray, who insists that they need to talk and get back together. Kaine confronts Ray and knocks him out with a single punch. Annabelle then thanks Kaine by kissing him. Sensing this with her powers, Aracely decides that this is the best rodeo ever. As the rodeo comes to an end, Kraven the Hunter and his daughter Ana — who were watching in the crowd — decide to leave. Kraven tells his daughter that they will begin their hunt soon.[6]

Two days later, Annabelle is at work when she is approached by Courtney Johnson, one of her co-workers. The hotel had received a letter for a K. Parker and she hasn’t been able to figure out which one of her guests it is intended for. Annabelle asks to have it, saying she can probably find out through her job as the hotel bartender. The letter is from Madame Web warning Kaine that there is a dangerous woman coming his way and that she will kill everyone he knows and loves if he doesn’t leave Houston immediately.[7] Reading this, Annabell decides to burn the letter instead of giving it to Kaine.

Recurring Characters

Scarlet Spider, Armadillo, Aracely Penalba, Wally Layton, Donald Meland, Annabelle Adams, Daisy Schilling, Kraven the Hunter, Ana Kravinoff, Courtney Johnson

Continuity Notes

1. Spider-Man’s battle with Screwball and the Tricker is documented in Superior Spider-Man #6.

2. The gang war is regarding how the Lobo Cartel clashed with a street gang called the Sharks. See Scarlet Spider (vol. 2) #13-15. This is also when Kaine became the new host for the Other.

3. The reporter mentions a story involving a guy named Clutch. This is the second time that Clutch is mentioned . The first time was in Scarlet Spider (vol. 2) #12.1. However, this is a plot thread that is dropped after the series ended after 25 issues. As I write this in November 2020, this plot thread has not been.

4. Wally states here how the Armadillo used to be a member of the Rangers until he got fired. First appearing in Captain America #308, the Armadillo was originally a villain. However, following Civil War #1-7, he registered with the Super-Human Registration Act and was put on the Rangers when it became one of the 50-State Initiative as seen in Avengers: The Initiative #2.

5. Except he doesn’t as we don’t see Noll again for the rest of the series run. Another plot line that is dropped. I highly doubt this one is ever going to be followed up.

6. Kraven will go after Kaine in Scarlet Spider (vol. 2) #21-23.

7. Madame Web had this premonition in Scarlet Spider (vol. 2) #6. He letter was received by the hotel in issue #12. She is warning Kaine of the coming of Shathra, whom Kaine will fight in issues #24-25.

Topical References

• The hotel Kaine is staying in is identified as the Four Seasons Hotel in Houston, Texas. This should be considered topical since the Four Seasons is a real world company.

• Likewise, the stadium where the rodeo takes place is identified as the Reliant Stadium. This is topical because the stadium has since changed corporate sponsors and is currently (as I write this in November 2020) called the NRG Stadium.

• An animal rights protest is being held outside of the rodeo and is identified as being held by PETA. This again is a topical reference since it is referring to a real-world animal rights organization.