Spectacular Spider-Man #258
Man of the People
While attempting to rescue Tabriaz Chaliz — daughter of the ambassador of Sufandi — Prodigy ends up clashing with Mad Jack and Conundrum. The pair somehow manage to grow to gigantic size and tower over Prodigy. Leaping out of the way, Prodigy (secretly Peter Parker) thinks about how he developed this new alter-ego after a bounty was placed on Spider-Man’s head forcing him to fight crime incognito[1] and his recent pledge to rescue the ambassador’s daughter. As he evades the giant’s swipes, Prodigy explains that he is getting involved to right a wrong. Somehow, his foes continue to grow even bigger and Mad Jack eventually manages to grab the hero and tosses him into his flaming jack o’ lantern mouth.
While at the Sufindian Embassy, Hazram Chaliz thanks his friend Norman Osborn for being there for him. Norman once again pledges whatever help the ambassador needs to get his daughter back. When Norman’s assistant, Flash Thompson, asks if he can count on Prodigy to succeed, Norman is confident that the hero will rescue the girl. Osborn, thinking to himself, as begins plotting to exploit the seemingly naive newcomer and use him against Spider-Man, completely unaware that Prodigy is actually his long time enemy.
Back at the scene of the battle, Prodigy falls through a seemingly endless pit of flame. As he struggles he recalls his last encounter with Mad Jack as Spider-Man[2] and remembers how he can mess with his mind and how it seems that the Conundrum has similar abilities. He then decides to rely on his spider-sense to tell him what is real and what is an illusion. Managing to leap free of this illusion, Peter reminds himself not to get too absorbed in his new identities that he forgets to use his spider-powers. Realizing that their illusions no longer work on Prodigy causes Mad Jack and Conundrum to become concerned. When Prodigy subdues them, Mad Jack puts the kidnapping of Tabriza entirely on Conundrum and then orders his cat Maguire to attack Prodigy. While the hero is busy trying to get the cat off his face, Mad Jack manages to teleport away. Prodigy then quickly nabs Conundrum who explains that he didn’t even want the girl, merely to claim the Hand of Mumthazi a ruby of incredible power and offers to share that with Prodigy. The hero is unwavering by this offer and beats him into submission. Emerging from the rundown building, Prodigy is greeted by the police and Billy Walters from the Daily Bugle. Prodigy turns Conundrum over to the authorities. When Conundrum attempts to do a disappearing act, Prodigy closes his eyes and relies on his spider-sense and easily knocks out the villain before he can use his illusions to escape. Prodigy stops to give a few words to Billy for his report, but as to leave to recover Tabriaz from Conundrum’s hideout.
There, the hero manages to solve the puzzles needed to reveal the cage and when he frees Tabriza she kisses him in thanks. That’s when Mad Jack teleports into the hideout. He has come for the girl and offers Prodigy the Hand of Mumthazi in exchange. However, before any further negotiations can be had Mad Jack is shot in the back by one of Norman Osborn’s armed bodyguards. Norman explains that he and his men came here after getting info from Billy Walters at the Bugle. Although Prodigy doesn’t like the idea that they killed Mad Jack, he quickly agrees to Norman’s logic that the ruby could have been a powerful threat in order to maintain Norman Osborn’s trust in Prodigy.[3] The very next day, Norman Osborn holds a press conference outside the Daily Bugle to congratulate Prodigy for all this help. Asked to address the audience, Prodigy makes a startling revelation. Showing the crowd a Spider-Man costume, Prodigy states that he found it and other evidence that suggests that Jack or Conundrum were posing as Spider-Man and were likely the ones responsible for the attacks on Norman Osborn and the murder of Joey-Z and promises to turn this evidence to the authorities.[4] Flash is relieved that Spider-Man could be cleared of any wrongdoing but this surprise revelation angers Norman Osborn as it threatens to undo all of his carefully laid plans. After the press conference, Prodigy heads home thinking about the stunt he pulled. While he usually wouldn’t use such unethical means to clear Spider-Man’s name, he has to do something to undo the dirty handed tactics that Norman Osborn has used to ruin his reputation.
Back at home, Peter tells everything to Mary Jane, and they have a good laugh over how they played Norman Osborn, particularly since they had to publish a front-page story announcing Spider-Man has been cleared of all charges.[5] Still, as tempting as it is, Peter as decided to retire the Prodigy costume since he has been Spider-Man for so many years that is the only costume identity he feels he can totally identify with. Putting on his Spider-Man costume, Peter tells Mary Jane that she is stuck with Spider-Man, something which she has no problem with whatsoever.[6] While in Norman Osborn’s office, Norman meets with Mad Jack, who is alive and well. Although Prodigy interfered with this scheme, Norman is pleased that it still worked out so that the nation of Sunfind indebted to him. He then pays Jack for a job well done and recalls how when they first met Jack had told him to go to Hades. Jack quips tat he figures that Osborn would have thought of it as a compliment. Considering it for a moment, Norman agrees and starts laughing manically.
Recurring Characters
Spider-Man, Billy Walters, Mary Jane Watson, Norman Osborn, Jack O’Lantern/Mad Jack, Conundrum, Flash Thompson
Continuity Notes
The bounty was put on Spider-Man’s head after he was framed for the murder of Joey-Z in Spider-Man #88. Following the Spiderhunt arc, Spider-Man has been disguising himself as other heroes.
Spider-Man fought this new version of Jack O’Lantern/Mad Jack in Spectacular Spider-Man #247.
Although Prodigy assumes that Mad Jack was killed here. Osborn likely had Jack shot to cover up the fact that he has been in Norman Osborn’s employ since Spectacular Spider-Man #241. However, Jack is not dead and will return (as Mysterio) in Amazing Spider-Man (Vol. 2) #8. The whole Mad Jack/Mysterio connection is explored in Spider-Man: Mysterio Manifesto #1-3.
Norman Osborn has been working on ruining Spider-Man’s reputation. First, he goated the wall-crawler to attack him in Spectacular Spider-Man #250 and recorded the attack. He later framed the wall-crawler for the murder of Joey-Z in Spider-Man #88.
Spider-Man will further clear his name when he captures the person who really killed Joey-Z in Spider-Man #92.
Peter and Mary Jane are referred to as husband and wife here. However, years later, their marriage is erased from existence by Mephisto in Amazing Spider-Man #545. As such they should be considered a common-law couple here.
Mad Jack told Norman Osborn to “Go to Hades” in Spectacular Spider-Man #248. Kind of a weak insult, I think we can probably blame that on the CAC.
