Spider-Man #92
Stuck in the Middle With You!
There is a bounty out for Spider-Man, and after learning that his enemy the Trapster is also a target of Norman Osborn, the wall-crawler has taken on a new identity in the hopes of befriending the villain and getting the evidence he needs to clear his name.[1] The Trapster is sitting in his hideout when a gang of mercenaries arrives to eliminate him. However, the villain has been expecting them and has coated the floor with a powerful epoxy. Telling the hired guns that they are trapped they are then ambushed by the Trapster’s new ally, Dusk. After the danger has passed, the Trapster thanks his new friend for the help and suggests they go out for a beer. Dusk tells him that he has personal business to attend to. When Dusk tells the Trapster that he’s going to see a girl, the Trapster understands and bids him farewell.
In Queens, Mary Jane and her Aunt Anna are spending a quiet evening together. Anna talks about missing Florida but is happy to be helping out Peter and Mary Jane.[2] That’s when Peter, still in his Dusk costume, sneaks into the house and signals Mary Jane that he is home. Saying she forgot one of her textbooks upstairs, Mary Jane rushes up to the bathroom where Peter is taking already taking a shower. When Mary Jane points out that he has been taking a lot of showers recently, he admits that it may have to do with the fact that he feels dirty working with the Trapster as Dusk. However, he is doing so on Arthur Stacy’s advice that “befriending” the Trapster would be the easiest way to clear Spider-Man’s name.[3] That’s when Mary Jane brings up money, as they are stretched pretty thin. Peter dismisses her suggestion that she do something to bring money in, telling her that he’ll go ask J. Jonah Jameson for more assignments. With that, an exhausted Peter Parker goes to bed.[4]
The next day at Empire State University, Peter gets into an argument with Paul Stacy over the quality of work. That’s when Professor Howard pulls Peter aside to express his own concerns over Peter’s grades. He tells Peter to get whatever personal problems under control so he can focus on his work or leave the project. That’s when Norman Osborn interrupts the conversation to put in a good word for Peter to Professor Howard. Unable to say or do anything about it, Peter has to push down his anger and accept Osborn’s compliments. Peter can’t believe how easily Norman Osborn has managed to twist public opinion to his benefit.[5] Bitterly thanking Norman for his assistance, Peter thinks about how he will get his revenge.
Later that night, Spider-Man pays a visit to Arthur Stacy dressed up as Dusk and is fitted with a wire so they can get evidence that the Trapster killed Joey-Z to frame Spider-Man. When Jill comes in to tell her father about how Paul stopped taking his medication, Dusk slips into the shadows so he is not seen. Paul interrupts the discussion telling them not to meddle in his affairs and that he is going to do what he wants. When Paul storms out, Jill changes the subject to her father’s investigation into Spider-Man’s connection to the death of Joey-Z. She hopes that it can provide some clues to what Spider-Man’s involvement in the death of her cousin Gwen.[6] Arthur tells his daughter to let go of her obsession and that she should take it easy since she is still recovering from a gunshot wound.[7] After Jill leaves, Spider-Man offers his aid, but Arthur reminds the wall-crawler that he has enough of his own problems to deal with and that when those are dealt with, then maybe he will consider getting Spider-Man’s help.
Later, as Dusk, Spider-Man helps the Trapster take down some thugs hired by Norman Osborn to eliminate the Trapster. When the Trapster asks Dusk why he is going after Osborn, and why he wears a mask, Dusk says he does not wish to speak of it. The Trapster figures this means that whatever it is, it was bad. Later the pair are sitting in the bar. There the Trapster begins talking about his life, admitting that with all of his troubles he should have stuck with being a chemist. The two can relate over how a single event totally changed their lives.[8] Dusk begins asking the Trapster if he has any regrets and he starts to confide in his new friend but then changes the subject, deciding that they should go out and have some fun. Arriving outside a facility on the Upper West Side, the Trapster uses his solvents and glues to cut through the outer wall. After knocking out the guard they go into the main office where they find Norman Osborn talking to somebody. The Trapster sneaks up behind Norman and makes his presence known. Norman nonchalantly dismisses the person he is speaking with so he can address the intruder.[9] Insulted by being called Paste Pot Pete, the Trapster tries to attack Norman but his guards quickly surround him with weapons drawn. This is when Dusk reluctantly leaps in to help his would-be ally. After Dusk takes care of the guards, the Trapster loses his temper and begins wrapping up Osborn in paste intending to suffocate him to death as he did with Joey Z. Not wanting to be a party to murder, Dusk stops him. This causes the two to come to blows, and in the middle of the fight the Trapster admits to killing Joey Z under Osborn’s orders. Dusk incapacitates the Trapster and by this time, Norman has freed himself. Unaware that this is really his greatest foe, Osborn commends Dusk on his fighting ability and tells him to call if he ever needs work and walks out.
When Dusk checks the recorder he discovers, to his dismay, that it was smashed during the fight. When the Trapster comes around, he asks Dusk why he stopped him from killing Norman Osborn and laments how he is certainly a dead man now. Dusk then convinces the Trapster that there is another way to get back at Norman Osborn that doesn’t involve killing him. Later, the Trapster turns himself in and at a press conference admits that he killed Joey Z and that Spider-Man had nothing to do with it. Watching this from home, Mary Jane asks why the Trapster didn’t give up Osborn’s name. Peter explains that by not naming Norman, the Trapster now as a bargaining chip to keep himself alive.
Recurring Characters
Spider-Man, Norman Osborn, Trapster, Mary Jane Watson, Anna Watson, Arthur Stacy, Jill Stacy, Paul Stacy
Continuity Notes
Spider-Man has had a bounty on his head after Norman Osborn hired the Trapster to frame him for the murder of Joey-Z in Spider-Man #88. As Dusk, Spider-Man befriended the Trapster last issue after learning that the villain was responsible for killing Joey-Z.
Anna moved in with Peter and Mary Jane in Web of Spider-Man #127 after the “death” of May Parker. Everyone thinks May died in Amazing Spider-Man #400. However, as revealed in Spider-Man #97, she is still alive and has been a prisoner of the Green Goblin this whole time.
Paul Stacy suggested that Spider-Man go undercover and befriend Trapster last issue.
Mary Jane makes mention of the fact that she used to be the “wage earner” in their marriage. Some facts:
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.
Mary Jane used to support both herself and Peter with money from her modeling career. This was until she was blackballed out of the industry by Jonathan Caesar in Amazing Spider-Man #314.
Norman Osborn revealed that he was still alive in Spider-Man #75. Since Spectacular Spider-Man #250 Norman has been using his influence to convince the public that he was not the Green Goblin and ruin Spider-Man’s public image.
Gwen Stacy was murdered by the Green Goblin in Amazing Spider-Man #121.
Jill Stacy was shot in Spider-Man #87.
The Trapster’s man-to-man brings up memories of how Peter got his spider-powers in Amazing Fantasy #15.
Norman insults Trapster by calling him Paste Pot Pete. This was the original name that Peter Petruski used when he began his career as a criminal in Strange Tales #104. He later changed his name to the Trapster in Fantastic Four #38, however he never lived down his original identity.
