Spider-Man Unlimited (vol. 2) #2
Tests
While on his lunch break, Peter Parker has gone out as Spider-Man to enjoy marking his student’s recent science tests in the sunshine.[1] When he wonders why he never thought of this before, a window washer suddenly falls past him, forcing him to drop the papers so he can leap down and save his life. Spider-Man manages to fall fast enough to catch up with the window washer to grab him and swing to safety. Once on the ground, the window washer thanks Spider-Man for saving his life because he was the only one looking after his sister’s niece after her parents passed away.
With the danger over, Spider-Man then goes swinging around the block recovering the scattered tests that he dropped. Unfortunately, one paper — one belonging to a student named Jordan who just got his first A — ends up drifting into the city dump. Despite the fact that the dump reeks, Spider-Man recovers the test so he can see the look on Jordan’s face when he sees that he managed to get an A on the test he studied so hard for.
Recurring Characters
Spider-Man
Continuity Notes
At the time of this story, Peter Parker had just recently started a new job as a science teacher at Midtown High in Amazing Spider-Man (vol. 2) #31.
Topical References
Spider-Man tells the window washer that he’ll get him to the bottom faster than the New York Mets, because the Mets are a real-world baseball team.
Making Contributions
Mary Jane has a role in a horror film and in a scene that involves the killer attacking her character as she sleeps, the actor playing the villain ruins the scene by accidentally sneezing in her ear. The directors decide to wrap things up for the night since their movie doesn’t involve a serial killer with the sniffles. As Mary Jane gets some water and puts on a bathrobe, she is approached by a woman named Marcie Johnson, the publicist for the movie and she asks if Mary Jane would do an interview with Eddy Camden, a personality from a popular Hollywood entertainment program. After taking the time to put on some normal clothes, she sits down for her interview.
When asked about her role, Mary Jane tells Eddy that she is playing the role of Emerson Ness, the wife of Trevor Ness, the descendant of Elliot Ness and his own war against organized crime led by Maxwell Capone, who just happened to be related to the legendary mobster Al Capone. When asked if it was difficult to connect with a part like the one she is playing. Thinking about her husband’s job as Spider-Man, she responds by saying that she could mesh with the role because she admires someone who always does the right thing. Although she is answering a question about her film role, she is really talking about how Peter puts his life on the line as Spider-Man.[1]
After the interview, Mary Jane leaves the studio for the day and watching all the fevered egos and predatory producers she wonders what she is even doing as part of this world. As she gets into a limo and drives past a crowd of screaming fans, she wonders what all the fuss is over her, she’s just an actress when Peter is the one who gets things done. She wonders when the last time he was thanked for saving a life and finds her own celebrity to be ridiculous. On the ride home, her limo driver tells her that they have to take a detour due to a battle between Spider-Man and the Rhino on the bridge. Unable to help herself, Mary Jane turns on the television to see what is happening. Luckily, Spider-Man defeats the Rhino, but Mary Jane reminds herself that Peter is still alive this time. By the evening Mary Jane is pretending that she is asleep when Peter finally returns home. The pair go through their routine, Peter downplays the danger he was in, and Mary Jane pretends to believe him. However, this time, Mary Jane decides to tell Peter that she saw the news footage of his battle with the Rhino, so there is no mincing words this time.
When Mary Jane confides that she feels useless when Peter is the one out saving the world, he tells her that she helps in her own way. Often, when it seems Spider-Man is about to be defeated its thoughts of Mary Jane and how he wants to make the world a better place for her. Mary Jane is touched, and she decides its time for a little romance instead.
Recurring Characters
Mary Jane Waston, Spider-Man, Rhino
Continuity Notes
Peter and Mary Jane are referred to as husband and wife here. However, not long after this story, their marriage is erased from existence by Mephisto in Amazing Spider-Man #545. In the altered timeline, Peter and Mary Jane are engaged instead of married, but I doubt that would change the sentiment of what she is saying here.
Topical Reference
Eddy Camden is specifically identified as being part of Access Hollywood. a long-running entertainment news program that began its long run in 1996. It should be considered topical because it is a real-world program.
Trevor Ness and Maxwell Capone are referred to as the great-grandson of Elliot Ness and grandson of Al Capone, respectively. This should be considered topical as the Sliding Timescale moves forward it would become impossible for someone to be the grandson/great-grandson of these historical figures and still be alive.
Mary Jane’s limo is decked out with a CRT television. This should be considered topical since these are obsolete.
