Chapter Text
We open with our hero swinging into a street fight between a group of cops and a gang of crooks. Their leader emerges from a hole in the wall of a building behind the crooks. Their leader being Herman Schultz aka The Shocker.
Shocker: Outta my way, boys. Time to crank up the volume!
Shocker blasts the civil servants back along with the car they were ducking behind. In the distance, someone is running along the side of a building. A certain someone garbed in red and blue. A van approaches and Shocker approaches.
Shocker: Load up the cash, guys.
Shocker notices a cop moving around and shoots another shock wave at the cop. The cop gets pulled out of the way by a web line, much to Shocker's confusion, and then Shocker's gang gets kicked to the curb by the arrival of Spider-Man (who is now wearing the classic suit from Marvel's Spider-Man PS4/PS5).
Spider-Man: Sorry but I can't let you tak this money unless you've made a withdrawl.
Shocker: Withdrawl this, Web For Brains!
Shocker blasts at Spidey, who dodges at the last second before webbing Herman's feet to the ground and following with a swing kick to the face. Peter leaps over Shocker and trips the guy up. Shocker blasts at Peter, who dodges by web retreating to the side of a building. Shocker prepares another blast but Peter quickly webs Shocker's vibro gauntlets, causing a lot of feedback and knocks the villain out. Peter webs Shocker up before fleeing the scene.
Spider-Man: You're welcome, Officers!
Peter swings away and quickly grabs a camera placed far down the street. Peter swings over towards The Daily Bugle when he gets a call from Aunt May.
Spider-Man: Hey, Aunt May.
Aunt May: Peter, where are you?
Spider-Man: I'm just on my way to The Daily Bugle to hopefully sell a couple of pictures.
Aunt May: Oh? Where did this idea come from?
Spider-Man: Uh, Randy gave me the idea and figured I oughtta give it a shot. Hey, if it doesn't work out, I can-.
Aunt May: Peter, you are a terrible liar. If you're worried about the bills, you can just say so. I don't need you worrying-.
Spider-Man: I think it's right that I worry because, well, I wish to help you however I can and this is my best and only shot.
Aunt May: Very well. Just ring me to let me know if you get the job.
Spider-Man: Will do. Love you.
Aunt May: Love you too.
Peter hangs up and starts changing into his civies before entering the fire escape of The Daily Bugle building. Once inside, Peter sees everyone is in a frenzy. Peter shrugs before making his way towards Jameson's office. Inside said office...
Jameson: One simple task! Just the one! Photos of Spider-Man within the week and nobody managed to get any shots of any kind?! Not even a selfie, whatever that is!
Eddie: Boss, we've all been trying for weeks-.
Jameson: Maybe you didn't try hard enough!
Robbie: It's true, Jonah, and no one has produced a single photo.
Peter: Excuse me-.
Ned: On top of that, The Globe is beating us in the stands because of rumours that The Avengers are possibly reforming again.
Peter: I may have-.
Jameson: I do not need rumours or excuses or even people claiming that they've seen The Loch Ness Monster! What I need right now are photos! Photos of Spider-Man on my desk right-!
Peter, fed up with being ignored, then produces photos of Spider-Man’s fight with the crooks and Shocker from earlier and places them on Jameson's desk to the amazement of everyone in the room.
Peter: Would those suffice?
Jameson looks at every single photo at least twice over before looking at the teen in slight amazement.
Ned: How the hell did you manage this?
Peter: I've always had a good eye for these things. I just lucky to be in the area.
Ned: That one is a little blurred but the rest are decent, at best.
Jameson: Let's se them again. Crap. Crap. Crap. Crap. Supercrap.
Jameson stops at a photo of Peter's swing kick to Shocker's face.
Jameson: Take that. It's going to be tomorrow's front page. Not bad, Kid. I'll give you $100 for all of them.
Peter: That's a bit much.
Jameson: Okay, $200 and not another cent. You want a job?
Peter: I, uh...
Jameson: How old are you?
Peter: Seventeen, sir.
Jameson: You go to school?
Peter: I do. Midtown High.
Jameson: Then I can give you the freelance position and all you do is get me photos of this masked weirdo.
Peter: Weirdo...?
Jameson: That's what I said, Kid. You got a name?
Peter: Peter Parker.
Jameson: Right, Parker, I expect another photo in seven days. What are you waiting for, Chinese New Year? Go go go!
Everyone vacates the office and Eddie approaches Peter.
Eddie: Hey, name's Eddie. Eddie Borck
Peter: Peter.
Eddie: I know. I was in the office. How'd you get those shots?
Peter: Like I said, I have a good eye.
Eddie: Ever thought about maybe collaborating with someone?
Peter: Thanks but I prefer to make my own way.
Jameson: Brock, remember to get me that interview with that Modell guy! The world needs to hear from that menace to society.
Eddie: Will do, Boss.
Peter: You're going to Horizon? I could get Max to set up a private interview.
Eddie: How would a kid like you do that?
Peter: Because I intern at Horizon Labs.
Eddie: ... Go on.
Sometime later, Peter arrives back home and is greeted by Aunt May.
Aunt May: A little late tonight, Peter.
Peter: Sorry, Aunt May, there was a traffic jam. I promise I'll be on time tomorrow. Did I keep you waiting long?
Aunt May: Not at all. Anna Watson next door came by with her niece. You should meet her, Peter. She's a lively and lovely girl.
Peter: Tempting but I have a lot on my plate right now with school, Horizon, The Daily Bugle, and Home-. Ugh... I forgot about Homecoming and I don't even have a date.
Aunt May: I thought you were going with this Lian girl.
Peter: I haven't heard from her in days since the accident and I'm not allowed on ESU's campus. Not to mention her friends are too busy with their projects with Dr Octavius, Conners, and Jaffrey.
Aunt May: Don't give up. I know you'll find a solution. Wait, you work for the bugle now?
Peter: Freelance photographer.
Aunt May pulls Peter in for a hug.
Aunt May: I am so proud of you. Tell me everything right now. Is that Jameson as big of an asshole in person?
Peter: Honestly, it's hard to tell right now.
They go inside as we fade to early the next morning in the lab of Curt Conners. Martha walks in and notices the lab is in a messed up state. A few claw marks are along the wall and the computer monitor is cracked among other things.
Martha: Curt, is everything okay?
???: Hssssssss...
Martha: Who's there?
The sound of hurried footsteps can be heard but Martha can't pinpoint exactly where they are. Then drool hits the top of her right shoulder. She looks up to see a man sized lizard growling at her softly. This is The Lizard, based on his appearance in TV's Spider-Man/Spider-Man The New Animated Series. Lizard drops down as Martha runs into the lab screaming her head off. Lizard growls at her before dropping down to confront her. It recognises her and backs away. artha hasn't got the time to ask any questions as Grady walks in.
Grady: Dr Conners, what was that noise?
Martha: Grady, run!
Too late, Lizard spots Grady and leaps over to tackle the boy into the hallway. Lizard snarls at the frightened lad before stopping itself from harming Grady. Lizard runs towards the front entrance and smashes through the door and crawling across the streets to the shock and fright of many before making it's way into the sewers. Martha gets helped back to her feet by Grady, who has a massive scratch mark across his left arm.
Grady: You okay, Mrs Conners?
Martha: Yes, Grady, just shaken.
Max: What happened in here?
Grady: It was a creature, Max. It looked like a giant lizard.
Otto: Preposterous. You are clearly in shock.
Martha: I know what I saw, Otto. It was huge. Bigger than a person-.
Max: Well, whatever it was, it's gone now and you're all safe. That's all I'm concerned about.
Otto thinks to himself before noticing a camera lying beside the damaged monitor. Meanwhile, at Midtown High, our hero is working away at a Math solution while Flash throws a football at the studying hero, who catches it without looking up before placing it in the ground.
Mr Warren: Mr Thompson, is there a problem?
Flash: No problem, sir.
Mr Warren: Good. Now, hurry up or else you and Miss Allen will fail this course.
Flash nods before giving his girlfriend a sorry look. Liz just gives hi a glare before returning to work. Meanwhile, in the girls' bathroom, a toilet is dragged down, leaving a huge hole for The Lizard to climb out. A couple of girls in the bathroom scream and run out of the room. Lizard roars loud enough to make the whole school go on alert. A Gym Instructor arrives before smacking the fire alarm.
Instructor Bench: What the hell are you?!
Lizard: ROOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!
Lizard whacks the guy across the face, sending him flying down the hallway, and our monster climbs up the stairway. Over with Mr Warren, he evacuates his class towards the second stairway.
Mr Warren: Stay calm.
Lizard arrives and roars at a class on his left side. Lizard turns after sniffing the air a couple of times before glaring at Peter.
Peter: Run.
Randy: Run?
Peter: RUN!!!
The group starts running away and Lizard roars before giving chase. Lizard pounces on Mr Warren but goes after the class. Peter opens the door just as Harry trips on the stairs. Lizard spots Harry and leaps towards him. Harry kicks at Lizard but Lizard slashes Harry's arm and sends the boy down the upper hallway. Lizard lunges again... only to get whacked in the face by Peter's right foot. The two run as Lizard tries to recover. Peter gives Harry over to Gwen before closing the doors.
Randy: Dude, what are you-?
Peter: Get everyone to safety. I'll distract this guy.
Gwen: PETER!
Peter: Hey, you want me? Come and get me!
Peter sprints down the lower hallway and Lizard follows closely behind him. The monster manages to catch up and trip up our hero, sending him sliding into the gym. Lizard enters and discovers Peter has disappeared. It starts sniff around while Peter, sticking to the roof, changes into his costume. Our hero drops down and web kicks Lizard into a wall. It recovers and glares at Peter.
Spider-Man: Hey, Scaly, you got a hall pass?
Lizard: ROOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA-!!!
Peter webs Lizard's mouth shut before running over to land an uppercut followed by a kick and a left hook. Lizard attempts to slash at Peter but our hero dodges every blow. Peter climbs onto the wall and Lizard chases after him, attempting to knock Peter down but missing the mark every time. Soon, Lizard gives up and tackles Peter, causing them both to hit the ground. Peter attempts to recover but gets whacked across the face with Lizard's tail before getting pinned to the ground under Lizard's feet. Lizard prepares to kill Peter but stops and sniffs the hero's scent. The eyes of the creature widen slightly at recognizing the scent of Peter Parker.
Lizard: P... P... Paaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrkeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr...
Spider-Man: What? What are you?
Before Lizard can give any answers, it climbs the wall and smashes out a nearby window. Lizard runs across the roof to the shock and confusion of the arriving police officers. Peter gets up slowly just as the police barge in.
Officer DeWolffe: FREEZE!
Peter leaps to the walls and climbs out after Lizard while the cops shoot at him.
George Stacy: Hold your fire! No point in shooting because he can dodge everything we throw at him. DeWolffe, see if anything was stolen. Carter, search the area. I'll check on the students.
Outside, Peter quickly meets up with the class. Gwen punches the guy on the shoulder before pulling him in for a tight hug.
Gwen: Don't scare us like that.
Peter: No promises.
Randy: Dude, you could've been killed.
Peter: Better me than the whole school.
Gwen: Peter...
George Stacy: Everything okay here?
Gwen: Dad!
Peter goes over with Randy to Harry, who's being cared for by the school nurse.
Harry: Peter, thanks for that.
Peter: No problem. Anything for a friend.
Harry: What was that thing?
Peter: I don't know. Whatever it was, it's gone now.
Randy: You would've been gone with it as well, Smart Guy.
Peter: Randy, I' fine and so is the rest of the school. At least consider that a win.
Randy: ... Alright, as long as you don't do it again.
George Stacy: Mr Parker, Gwen tells me you fought the creature. Any ideas what it was?
Peter: It definitely looked like a giant lizard. A man sized one and, I know that sounds crazy-.
George Stacy: Kid, we fought off an alien invasion twice thanks to The Avengers. Nothing is crazy these days.
Flash: Hey, Parker, did you piss yourself when it went after you?
Gwen: Haunted House, Flash! Haunted House!
Flash: I already said not to bring it up, Gwen!
Gwen: Lay off Peter and I'll consider it.
Flash glares at Gwen before walking off. We fade to Otto hooking up the camera to his computer before attempting to see what was recorded on Curt's camera. The video is mostly blurry and the sound isn't working.
Otto: Curt, what were you doing?
Then what Otto sees next is Curt's arm growing back after the good scientist injects The Lizard Formula into his right arm. Then what Otto sees next shocks him to his core. Meanwhile, Lizard arrives at an abandoned subway junction below the sewers before climbing into an empty train. Lizard sits in complete darkness as we fade to black.