In Amazing Spider-Man #1003, we learn that J. Jonah Jameson doesn’t like three things. One, he really hates it when Peter Parker doesn’t answer his calls. For three weeks, Jameson leaves a series of calls for Parker. He warns him that he’s going after Spider-Man again to boost the ratings of his podcast, demanding what happened with his fight at Rand, offering his help after Aunt May has her “stroke”.
Speaking of his podcast, another thing Jonah doesn’t like is when his producer Norah Winters tells him what he should talk about. She wants him to label Spider-Man a menace again, but that’s hard for him to do now that he knows who Spider-Man is now. Third thing is Jonah really doesn’t like his co-host Hermes Crenshaw.
In the middle of a show, Winters bursts in, demanding the guys to check their phones. Everyone is horrified by the breaking news coming out of Russia.
A Post-Armageddon World
To give a quick recap, General “Thunderbolt” Ross (Red Hulk) went rogue and created an army of Hulks to tear through Latveria and Symkaria. Former Captain America David Colton destroyed the world’s nuclear stockpile in response, giving Russia the opportunity to fire their nukes at the United States.
The Avengers managed to stop the nukes, but they couldn’t stop Ross. Now a living bomb, Red Hulk detonated in the Russian city of Plesetsk, killing over nine thousand people.
Across the globe, fear turns into blind rage towards superhumans.
And J. Jonah Jameson does his part to fan the flames, regardless of whether that was his intent. Jonah and Crenshaw return to their broadcast, saying they’re sorry for the loss of life. Jonah mentions that Ross was a quality military man who served his country admirably until his hunger for power made him a monster. He keeps going as he says the world is broken and “will not be fixed by those who traded their humanity for power.” Meanwhile, views for his podcast go up to 10 million, 20 million, 25 million views.
New York City Reacts to Armageddon Aftermath
At a memorial for the victims of the Plesetsk blast in Madison Square Park, a blonde man’s rage towards superhumans boils over as he shouts “All the time…our pain is their fault!” One man wearing a green jacket steps up to defend people with powers, saying that he was saved from falling out of a 747 thanks to Captain Marvel. It isn’t long until everyday citizens start turning on each other. People start wearing “No More Capes” buttons. Shouting matches break out in public between superhero supporters and angry mobs.
At City Hall, Mayor Luke Cage is cornered by Secretary Brooke, who’s pushing Cage to crack down on superheroes. Brooke warns Cage that the public is terrified and blames all superhumans for what happened in Russia. Brooke predicts Cage will soon be “Man of the Unemployed,” and notes he can’t escape the shadow of Plesetsk. He suggests Cage send a strong message by doing more than talking about the sins of other superhumans. Later, Cage holds a press conference to reassure New Yorkers that they are safe. He announces an expansion of law enforcement powers led by the Department of Damage Control.
Tensions Boil Over
Back in his apartment, Peter Parker and his alien roommates Raelith (Rae) and Glitch watch the news unfold. Peter feels guilty because Tony Stark asked him to join the mission in Russia, but he stayed behind. Now, thousands are dead, and his city is tearing itself apart.
Peter swings through Manhattan to keep an eye on things with Rae joining him. Atop a building with a camera setup, Spider-Man and Rae spy on Aunt May and the man who took her from Peter, Cormac Crane (Ravage). Until Peter can figure out how to undo the effects of the mind wipe Cormac used on May, they’re at a stalemate. He’s playing stalker just to see his beloved aunt while Cormac plays the loving son.
Rae offers to kill Cormac, a request Peter doesn’t acknowledge at first.
“You didn’t say no,” Rae points out.
“No, of course not,” Spidey says. “We don’t do that…I don’t do that.”
A Moment of Peace
Before things get violent at the memorial, some web is shot to separate the protestors.
Spider-Man is perched. on the memorial statue. He jokes about hearing the crowd from Midtown and wondering if they were giving out Knicks tickets, before noticing the protest signs. Instead of fighting, he introduces the crowd to Rae. He explains that where Rae is from, you aren’t allowed to express your feelings, whereas New Yorkers have big feelings but still manage to get along. He reminds them that what happened in Russia was the result of “people with powers…in power.” The crowd has a right to be scared and angry but turning on each other isn’t what makes New York City great, not when “the perfect target for all those feelings is right in front of us.”
Spider-Man jumps down from his perch and holds out his hands. ”Come on, guys. Let’s show ’em how we do it here.”
His plea actually works. The blonde man and the guy in the green jacket stand down. The anger fades and the crowd joins hands around the candlelight memorial as white doves fly overhead. For a single moment, Spider-Man brings peace back to the park.
Jonah Pays the Price
Still on the air Jonah says wiping every one of these false “angels” from the earth would be a great start. “All of them, Jonah? Even guys like Spider-Man?” Crenshaw asks.
After a pause, Jonah declares that Spider-Man doesn’t get a pass because he tramples on the civil rights of “some other super-powered idiots from time to time.”
Later that night, Jonah is walking down a dark alley after a long day. Feeling victorious about his record-high podcast ratings, he calls Peter’s phone. He leaves a voicemail mocking that he got real work done while Peter swung around the city in his “red-and-blue pajamas”. He also offers to buy him a steak dinner at the Four Seasons.
At that moment, a shadowy figure wearing a dark suit, a blue mask, and white hair drops down from above. The mystery attacker shoots thick webs that wrap Jonah up like a mummy and tape his mouth shut.
The attacker snickers that Jonah picked the wrong “Spider-Daddy” to talk trash about, leaving Jonah trapped in the dark as his phone screen disconnects.
