Spider-man Database

Friendly Neighborhood Spider-man Issue 19

Cover scan uploaded on Apr 10, 2007 by WallCrawler

Synopsis:

Submitted by: WallCrawler on May 15, 2007

The issue opens with a flashback to a janitor cleaning up, apparently after Mysterio's attack on Midtown High, who finds someone hiding in the A.V. room. It turns out to be the principal of the school who was hiding throughout the debacle. He asks the janitor if the danger is over. The janitor responds with a swift stab of his split mop handle. He tastes the blood from the handle, and realizes that he's going to have to clean it up.

"Fortunately that's going to change." He claims.

In the present, we join Spider-man (wearing Spider-man 2211's helmet), Sandman, and Dennis, their driver, as they follow the directions of the helmet as it directs them to the man who killed the Spidey from 2211, a man who looks very not unlike Ben Parker. Meanwhile, we find out that Sandman's dad, the man accused of killing that Ben Parker lookalike, has had his sentence moved up to midnight that night, based on reports that Spider-man and Sandman have teamed up to break him out of jail.

Elsewhere, we see Flash Thompson and Betty Brant on their way home from their date that was ruined by a strange apparent hallucination on Betty's part. As they argue about the night, Betty sees "Miss Arrow", the nurse at Midtown High, watching them from the side of the road. Betty's state of mind causes them to crash right into the back of a police car. As she gets out, Betty claims that they were distracted, but Miss Arrow has vanished. As they are taken into custody, a line of spiders makes it's way toward the sewers.

Rejoining Spidey, Sandman and Dennis as they reach their destination, Peter is astounded to find out that the murderer is in Midtown High! Asking for confirmation, the helmet claims that the "Murderer of previous arachno-operator is within apprehension range" and asks him to "select preferred method of justice to be administered." Spidey tells the helmet to use "Poetic Justice" which is quickly accepted by the helmet. Jumping into action, Spidey is quickly apprised of the situation as the helmet tells him that there are eleven thousand two hundred and nine life forms in addition to the target. Startled by this revelation, Peter yells, and attracts the attention of... Roger, the principal of the school. Of course, we know Roger is dead, but Spidey doesn't. The helmet confirms Roger as the designated target, however, and tells Spidey to employ it to administer justice. He hesitates to do so, however, but Sandman presses the advantage. Roger fires the shotgun he's carrying, but is quickly enveloped by Sandman.

Sandman tries to contain him while Spidey tries to figure out the situation, but suddenly Sandman is hit by... Sandman? Spider-man asks Sandman's duplicate assailant who he is, but he turns into Spider-man from 2211, and attacks Peter. He takes the helmet and throws it out the window. As it lands, Dennis, still waiting in his van, sees it land. Back inside, Spidey 2211 turns back into Roger, the principal, who goads Spidey into guessing who he is. Finally Peter figures out that it's the Chameleon from 2211, who reveals that he escaped along with the Hobgoblin.

We cut to Sandman's father, being walked down the corridor toward the electric chair. Back in Midtown High, Spidey and Sandman piece together the events behind the murder of alternate Uncle Ben. Spidey asks Chameleon 2211 what kind of person could do that, to whit Chameleon turns into his apparent "real" form, a demonic looking dragon man, asking them "When did I ever say I was a person?" As the headpiece is affixed to Sandman's dad's head, Dennis rushes into the fray with Chameleon 2211 wearing the Spidey 2211 helmet. As Sandman and Spidey fight Chameleon 2211, he mentions how his ability to blend in was so good that he never even triggered Spidey's spider-sense, and mentioned that it's also blind to "hers". Managing to choke out a few words with Chameleon 2211's hands around his throat, Spidey registers this claim. Just then, Dennis throws the helmet, Spidey snags it with a webline, and yanks it onto Chameleon 2211's head, telling it to administer justice. At that precise moment, the helmet administers "poetic justice" as Sandman's father is electrocuted. When the police remove the head electrode, half of the prisoner's head looks not unlike Uncle Ben.

Back in Midtown High, Sandman is reunited with his father, with the helmet having transported him there in Chameleon 2211's place. As they explain the situation to him, from the ventilation system, a pair of eyes watch: Those eyes belonging to Miss Arrow.