Spider-Man : The Story of a Hero

New York — Manhattan — Evening

The city was burning.

From high above Manhattan, Spider-Man swung between the buildings, watching in horror as chaos consumed New York.

Everywhere he looked, there was nothing but violence and destruction.

Criminals were running in every direction.

Civilians were trying to flee.

Apartments were being looted.

Homes were being ransacked.

The entire city seemed to have descended into a full-scale urban war.

Suddenly, his attention was drawn to a scene that sent a chill down his spine.

In the middle of the street, a woman was clutching a baby against her chest while a man approached her threateningly.

— P-Please leave us alone! I... I have a baby!

The criminal displayed a sick smile.

— I don’t give a damn about your baby! What I want... is you!

Without the slightest hesitation, he ripped the child from his mother’s arms and threw him into the air.

A heart-wrenching scream escaped the young woman.

But before the worst could happen, a red-and-blue figure shot across the street like lightning.

Spider-Man caught the baby in midair.

In the same motion, he delivered a powerful kick to the criminal.

The man was launched several meters away and crashed heavily onto the ground, screaming in pain.

Still holding the child in his arms, Spider-Man immediately approached the mother.

— Are you alright, ma’am? he asked reassuringly. Here, take your baby. I think he wants to be back in his mother’s arms.

He helped her to her feet and returned her child.

— Get out of here. Find a group and take shelter. Okay?

The woman immediately nodded.

— O-Okay! Thank you... thank you so much!

She hugged her baby tightly and ran off.

On the ground, the criminal spat blood before lifting his head.

When he recognized Spider-Man, a twisted grin spread across his face.

— No way... look who it is: Spider-Man himself! I thought you were just a legend!

Then he got back to his feet and shouted at the top of his lungs:

— HEY! COME LOOK! SPIDER-MAN’S HERE!

The reactions were immediate.

From alleyways.

From sidewalks.

From destroyed stores.

Everywhere around him, criminals turned their heads.

Then they converged on him.

Some carried metal bats.

Others had knives.

Others held broken bottles.

The boldest ones had only their fists.

But they all shared the same hatred in their eyes.

New York — The Stacy Apartment — Gwen’s Bedroom — Several Minutes Earlier

A few minutes earlier... Spider-Man had brought Gwen home.

After reaching the Stacy apartment, he had landed outside her bedroom window and quickly helped her inside.

— Peter, what are you doing?!

— Gwen, it’s really dangerous out there and your father told me to bring you home, so stay here, okay?

— No! I want to come! I want to help!

— Gwen, stop! This isn’t the time! People are in danger and I refuse to let anything happen to you!

Peter’s firm tone immediately silenced her.

He regretted it the moment the words left his mouth.

But he didn’t have time to apologize.

— If there’s a problem, anything at all... call me. Okay?

Gwen lowered her eyes before finally nodding.

— Okay... be careful, Peter.

— I promise.

Then he disappeared through the window.

Back in the present, the crowd of criminals continued to grow around him.

One man pointed an accusing finger at him.

— Hey Spider-Man! Remember me? You locked me up for assault and I did years because of you, you piece of shit!

Another stepped forward.

— Me and my buddies got two years! Remember?!

He pointed at the two men standing beside him.

Spider-Man crossed his arms.

— Sorry guys, but I tend to forget the little pieces of trash I send to prison.

Silence fell.

Faces tightened.

Jaws clenched.

The anger rose all at once.

Then someone shouted:

— GET HIM! KILL HIM!

The horde rushed him.

Spider-Man took a calm breath.

— Here we go.

The fight erupted immediately.

Bats came crashing down.

Knives sliced through the air.

Fists came from every direction.

But his Spider-Sense warned him constantly.

He dodged.

Jumped.

Pivoted.

Counterattacked.

Every movement seemed perfectly calculated.

A punch.

A kick.

A throw.

A web.

Then another.

And another.

The criminals fell one after another.

— COME ON, MOVE YOUR ASSES! ARE WE GONNA GET HIM OR WHAT?! one of them yelled.

Spider-Man immediately grabbed the man by the head.

Then slammed his face violently into the ground.

The man collapsed.

Unconscious.

Silence gradually returned.

The criminals still standing began to back away.

Their rage had turned into fear.

In the middle of the street, Spider-Man stood alone.

Surrounded by dozens of enemies.

And yet...

He was the one in control.

He swept his gaze across the crowd.

Then calmly asked:

— Well...? Who’s next?

Oscorp — Norman Osborn’s Office — Evening

From the top of Oscorp Tower, Norman Osborn silently observed the chaos ravaging New York.

Through the enormous windows of his office, the glow of the fires illuminated the city like countless scars in the night.

A faint smile crossed his face.

— Here we are, Tombstone. I imagine you’re enjoying the show from wherever you are. I’m sure that, safe and warm, you’re watching all this chaos unfold.

The door to his office suddenly opened.

One of Oscorp’s private security agents hurried inside.

— Sir! Several criminals are trying to get into the building. What do we do? If they get through the front door—

Norman didn’t even take his eyes off the city.

— Kill those who try to enter.

The guard froze for a moment.

— They’re criminals, he continued. Most of them already have extensive criminal records, I assume. Killing a few pieces of trash won’t be a problem. You can always claim self-defense. So do what needs to be done.

— Yes, sir.

The guard was about to leave when Norman spoke again:

— One thing: Harry is in his room, correct?

— Yes, sir. Two men are stationed outside his door and he won’t be leaving. But if he needs anything, he only has to ask.

— Good. You may go.

The man gave a slight nod before leaving the room.

The door closed.

Norman was alone again.

For a few seconds, he simply stared at the burning city.

Then he spoke once more.

— Spider-Man...

His voice was calm.

Thoughtful.

— At first, I didn’t know what to think of you. But seeing all of this, I’m starting to ask myself some questions.

His gaze hardened slightly.

— My goal was to create an army of super-mercenaries for my own purposes, but if someone can defeat my creations... then perhaps I chose the wrong test subjects?

He paused.

— If I set this plan in motion, it wasn’t without reason. Creating an army only makes sense if it can surpass an opponent.

An almost unsettling smile appeared at the corner of his lips.

— So let’s consider all of this a decisive test.

His eyes drifted toward the horizon.

— If you emerge victorious from this battle, you may very well become my next... and greatest test subject.

Oscorp — Harry Osborn’s Room — Evening

Inside his secured room, Harry Osborn was lying on his bed.

Dark.

Worried.

In front of him, the television was broadcasting a special evening news report.

— Good evening, New York.

The reporter appeared aboard a helicopter flying over Manhattan.

— We are currently flying over the city, and here is what has happened over the past few hours: Ryker’s prisoners have escaped by unknown means and have flooded the city. New York is in complete chaos: assaults, looting, fires...

The report was being broadcast everywhere.

At the Stacys’.

At the Connors’.

In apartments.

In homes.

Every resident who had remained indoors watched the situation in horror.

— Message to everyone: stay in your homes. And if that’s not possible, seek refuge in a hospital, a police station... anywhere, but get to safety—

Suddenly, the image distorted.

The screen crackled violently.

Then went black.

The helicopter had just been attacked.

Harry immediately sat up.

— This... this is really fucked up!

Without wasting a second, he grabbed his phone and dialed Peter’s number.

New York — Manhattan — Evening

At the same moment, Spider-Man was racing through Manhattan at full speed.

His phone vibrated.

Harry.

He answered immediately.

— Peter?! Dude, have you seen what’s going on?!

— Hey Harry. And yeah... I’ve seen it.

— Dude, it’s total chaos! Where are you?

— I’m at home. What about you? You okay?

— Yeah, I’m fine. I’m locked in my room and my dad refuses to let me go outside.

— And that’s a very good thing. Considering the situation...

A second vibration interrupted the conversation.

Aunt May.

Spider-Man grimaced.

— Uh, sorry Harry, I gotta go. We’ll talk later. And whatever you do, don’t go outside!

— I couldn’t even if I wanted to. And you be careful too!

The call ended.

Peter immediately answered the second one.

While landing on the roof of a building.

— Hello, Aunt May?

— Peter! Peter, where are you?! Stay home, okay?! It’s chaos out there!

— I’m not at home, Aunt May, but I—

— WHAT?! THEN WHERE ARE YOU?!

Peter instinctively pulled the phone away from his ear.

— My ears...

— Calm down! I’m at Harry’s!

— Harry? Harry Osborn?

— Yeah!

— Okay, that’s reassuring. Stay there!

— What about you? You haven’t gone home yet?

— No... I was about to leave work when everyone started running. My coworkers told me to go home. As soon as I found out what was happening, I called you right away!

Peter clenched his teeth.

— Damn... I’d rather know she was at home...

— And are you safe over there?

— Yes, we’re safe...

Suddenly.

A deep rumble echoed through the phone.

Then screams.

A lot of screams.

Peter immediately stood up.

— Hello?! Aunt May?! What are those noises?! Why is everyone screaming?!

On the other end of the line, May had approached the windows with the other employees.

And what she saw froze her in place.

Rhino.

The massive creature was charging into the building’s foundations.

Again.

And again.

As if he were trying to bring it down.

— Oh my god... he... he’s trying to...

— What?! Who’s doing what?! What’s happening?!

Peter’s voice was trembling with worry now.

— He... He’s trying to bring down our building!

The screams intensified.

Then the call was abruptly cut off.

— Aunt May?!

No response.

— AUNT MAY?!

Still nothing.

Peter tightened his grip on the phone.

— Shit!

He immediately put it away.

His heart was pounding.

— If I head there now, I’ll be there in a few minutes!

And without wasting a single second, Spider-Man launched himself across the rooftops of New York.

New York — The Thompson Apartment — Evening

Inside the Thompson apartment, the entire family was gathered in the living room.

Their eyes were fixed on the television as they watched the nonstop news coverage.

The images being broadcast were alarming.

All across the city, police officers were clashing with armed criminals.

Fires were ravaging several neighborhoods.

Cars were burning.

Gunshots echoed through the streets.

New York seemed to be slowly descending into chaos.

Seated in his armchair, Harrison Thompson watched the footage carefully.

Then he turned toward his son.

— You see that, Flash? You see what the cops are doing to protect the city?

Flash immediately stiffened.

— When you turn eighteen, you’ll join the army and become a man, a real man! You shouldn’t even be here. You should be out there making yourself useful, to your city... and to me, your father!

Flash lowered his eyes.

— I know, Dad... Sorry.

His father’s gaze hardened even further.

— Make yourself useful and get me a beer.

Without protesting, Flash got up and headed toward the kitchen.

From the couch, his little sister watched him silently.

— Flash...

A deep sadness crossed her face.

A few moments later, Flash returned with a bottle.

He handed it to his father.

Harrison practically snatched it from his hands without even thanking him.

Flash stood still for a second.

Then turned around.

And left the living room.

Once inside his room, he gently closed the door behind him.

The noise from the television immediately became more distant.

He lay down on his bed.

Pulled out his phone.

Then opened a group chat with Liz and Sally.

— You girls there?

The reply came almost immediately.

— Oh, Flash! Hi! wrote Liz.

— Yeah, we’re here. Where else would we be? Outside maybe? replied Sally.

— Sally, don’t start...

Flash rolled his eyes.

— Always as cheerful as ever, I see.

— Shut up...

A small smile appeared on his face despite himself.

Then Liz continued more seriously:

— So... what do your parents think about all this? Because mine are completely freaking out. They’re even talking about leaving the city!

— What? Seriously?! That’s overreacting...

— You think they’re ”overreacting”...? You’re talking like all of this is nothing...!

— Well, it’s New York, isn’t it? Crazy stuff is always happening here. My parents are a little scared, sure, but they’re okay. Besides, there’s the police, and the army will step in if necessary.

Flash remained silent for a few seconds before typing his own response.

— Anyway... there’s no need to worry.

Liz replied immediately.

— Why do you say that, Flash?

— Because he’s here.

A moment of silence followed.

— Huh?

— ”He’s here”? Who are you talking about?

Sally understood immediately.

And it seemed to annoy her.

— Pff... never mind, Liz. He’s talking about Spider-Man again. Flash, you seriously need to stop with him.

But Flash didn’t back down.

— I know you think I’m crazy, but I swear... I can feel it. Thanks to him, everything’s going to be okay!

— Yeah, sure...

— W-We’ll see, I guess...?

The conversation ended there.

Flash locked his phone.

Then placed it on his nightstand.

Lying on his bed, he stared at the ceiling for several seconds.

Despite the chaos.

Despite the fires.

Despite the fear spreading across the city.

He still believed.

— I know he’ll stop all these criminals and the city will go back to normal.

A slight smile appeared on his face.

— He’s a hero. My hero.

His fingers tightened slightly around his blanket.

— And one day... I’ll be just like you, Spider-Man!

New York — May Parker’s Workplace — Evening

A few minutes later, Spider-Man arrived on the scene at full speed.

The sight before him immediately tightened his chest.

Dozens of panicked civilians had gathered in the streets.

Several police vehicles surrounded the area.

And most importantly...

The building where Aunt May worked was leaning dangerously.

Every second seemed to bring it closer to collapse.

Without wasting a moment, Spider-Man leaped into the air.

He crashed through a window in an explosion of shattered glass and entered the building.

Panic reigned inside.

Men and women were screaming.

Some were crying.

Others were frozen with fear.

— S-Spider-Man?!

Everyone turned toward him.

As if his appearance had suddenly brought hope back to life.

— Quick! Over here! I’m going to get you out!

Without waiting any longer, the employees rushed toward him.

Spider-Man quickly spun a massive web connecting the window to a sturdy wall several floors below.

A sort of improvised zipline.

As they began evacuating, only one thought occupied his mind.

— Where are you, Aunt May...?

He quickly grabbed an employee passing nearby.

— Excuse me! Are there still people left in the building?

— On the fifth floor, I think! Other than that... I think that’s everyone!

— Alright, thanks! Hurry and get down!

Without wasting another second, Spider-Man climbed at full speed.

A few moments later, he reached the fifth floor.

And his eyes immediately scanned the room.

Then he saw her.

Aunt May.

An immense wave of relief washed over him.

— Thank God! There she is!

— Look! It’s Spider-Man!

— You came to save us?!

— Yes! I’m going to get you out of here!

He smashed through another window.

Then set up a second zipline.

The employees began evacuating one after another.

Eventually, only one person remained.

Aunt May.

Spider-Man approached her.

— Are you alright, ma’am?

May raised an eyebrow.

— Ma’am? I’m not that old, you know?

— Oh, uh... sorry!

— Even now, she’s keeping her sense of humor. That’s definitely a Parker.

A few moments later, she reached the ground safely.

Spider-Man watched her descend.

Then his attention was drawn by a sinister sound.

A crack.

Then another.

The building had finally given way.

— WATCH OUT! THE BUILDING IS GOING TO COLLAPSE! EVERYONE GET BACK!

The police officers immediately started shouting.

The crowd instantly panicked.

Screams erupted all around him.

Spider-Man realized he only had a few seconds left.

He immediately sprang into action.

One web.

Then another.

And another.

At incredible speed, he began running along the walls of the building while wrapping dozens of web-lines around it.

The webs coiled around the structure like a giant spiral.

Finally, he anchored everything to a sturdier building directly behind it.

Then he gritted his teeth.

— Come on... COME ON!

The building continued to lean.

More.

A little more.

Then...

It stopped.

Spider-Man let out a sigh of relief.

But it lasted only a second.

Suddenly, screams drew his attention.

He sharply turned his head.

And his blood ran cold.

Below, a figure was calmly walking through the chaos.

Dr. Octopus.

One of his mechanical arms was firmly holding Aunt May captive.

She struggled as much as she could.

— Hey! Who are you supposed to be?! Let me go!

Otto surveyed the destruction around him.

Then a slight smile appeared on his face.

— Looks like Rhino did quite a number on this place.

Spider-Man froze.

— No...! Aunt May!

TO BE CONTINUED.