Web of Spider-Man #116
Crescendo
While trying to defend Betty Brant from FACADE, Spider-Man has been stunned by one of his bio-blasts. As the wall-crawler tries to recover from the blast, he is completely at the mercy of FACADE. However, before the armored killer can eliminate the wall-crawler, he is saved by Betty Brant who arrives with a gun and begins shooting the foe. Although this doesn't damage FACADE, it distracts him long enough for Spider-Man to get to safety. Before FACADE can harm Betty, Spider-Man ambushes him again, forcing FACADE to retreat. Before his foe can flee the scene, Spider-Man manages to tag FACADE with a spider-tracer.
Time passes, and Spider-Man watches over the funeral being held for Lance Bannon.[1] He thinks about how he should return home to his wife and check on Aunt May, but as "the Spider" he insists that he needs to be here.[2] Among the mourners are Lance Bannon's parents, his fiancee Amy Powell, as well as members of the Daily Bugle including J. Jonah Jameson, Joe Robertson, Ben Urich, and Cole Cooper. Seeing how Amy's roommates are there to support her, Cole decides to say a few words. The funeral is crashed by Archer Brycer and his butler Victor. Seeing this, Betty Brant tells them that their arrival here is in poor taste. Bryce is not the only uninvited attendee, as Detective Sloan Chase takes this opportunity to try and question John Jameson. Seeing the detective causes J. Jonah Jameson to lose his temper, interrupting Cole's eulogy in order to berate the officer. Betty excuses Jonah for him, saying that they are all vulnerable to their emotions following the death of Lance Bannon. This recent outburst prompts Amy and Lance's parents to leave since the rest of the funeral is ruined.
Later, at the Daily Bugle, Betty Brant gives Detective Chase her files on the FACADE investigation. This includes a list of suspects that suggest a financial motivation linked to the theft of the FACADE armor during the Macro Science gala.[3] It's as they go through their files that J. Jonah Jameson admits that his son John lied about their alibis about being together. He admits that he went home by himself, leaving his son John without an alibi.[4] As they try and figure out who FACADE is, the killer comes flying toward J. Jonah Jameson's office in order to kill them all. However, Spider-Man is there to stop him before he can smash through the window. The wall-crawler knew where to find FACADE thanks to the spider-tracer he placed on the villain earlier. As the two fight atop the Daily Bugle, Spider-Man deduces a way to defeat FACADE. Using his webbing, the wall-crawler forces FACADE's fists together as he charges up another bio-blast. This causes feedback that seriously damages FACADE's armor. After the killer falls to the ground, Spider-Man rips off the armor's chest in order to get at the pilot inside. Unfortunately, the armor has a defense mechanism that shocks Spider-Man. When he is woken up later by Betty Brant, the person piloting the FACADE armor had fled before anyone could find out who he really was.
With the killer escaped, Betty, Jonah, and Detective Sloan agree to redouble their efforts to find out who FACADE really was. Not being much of a detective, Spider-Man leaves them to it and leaves the scene. That night, the mystery killer pays a visit to Lance Bannon's grave. He can't believe the irony of the situation. Even though nobody will be able to tie him to the FACADE murders, it was Lance Bannon's death that led to the destruction of his armor, leaving him a hollow facade after all. While at a hospital in Forest Hills, Mary Jane watches over Aunt May, hoping that her husband Peter eventually arrives to be with them. At that moment, a mysterious man arrives at the hospital, coming to check on May Parker. However, when Peter finally arrives, this man decides to flee the scene before he is identified by Peter.[5] However, Peter Parker is not ready to face the reality of his civilian life and leaves soon after. While at a nearby payphone, the mystery man calls the hospital and is advised that Aunt May is in stable condition.
Recurring Characters
Spider-Man, Mary Jane Watson, Aunt May, J. Jonah Jameson, Joe Robertson, Betty Brant, FACADE, Sloan Chase, Ben Urich, John Jameson, Amy Powell, Cole Cooper, Archer Bryce, Ben Reilly (unidentified)
Continuity Notes
Lance Bannon was murdered by FACADE in Web of Spider-Man #114.
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. In addition to this, Aunt May had just recently suffered a stroke in Amazing Spider-Man #391, prompting Peter to renounce his civilian identity in following issue.
The FACADE armor was stolen in Web of Spider-Man #113
Jonah and John were both at the Daily Bugle just prior to the murder of Lance Bannon, as seen in Web of Spider-Man #115.
This mystery man is the long-lost Spider-Clone, as revealed next issue.
