"Today, marks the first anniversary of the first confirmed sighting of the so-called: "Spider-Man", confirmed to be part of the returning wave of 'super powered persons' phenomena that have reappeared across the globe the past couple of years, one of many, and among the first of New York's costumed crime fighters. Some call him one of our city's cultural icons, as synonymous with New York as a piece of Thin Crust Pizza or the Yankees; a hero trying to help our city. Others are calling him a vigilante and criminal. With us on Sunrise in America are three New Yorkers whose opinions you've probably heard before if you know anything about Spider-Man: Martin Li Founder and CEO of both Journey, an Online Book, Music, and Movie Storefront; and the F.E.A.S.T Project a humanitarian charity taking care of New York and Newark's less fortunate; the Junior Republican Senator from New York Robert Kelley; and the Editor and Chief of the Daily Bugle and President of New World Publishing, J.Jonah Jameson," the voice of April Maye blares from the television in the corner.
To be honest you weren't watching it, and never did, but the sound kept you awake and in rhythm when you did mind numbing tasks like repairing and reloading your web canisters and Spider-Suit. Still, this time you stopped. Li and Kelly were pretty big cheerleaders of you, but Jameson wasn't to put it mildly. He got on your nerves, big time, but hey sometimes you just had to pick at a wound!
:
Sure enough, before Maye could properly lead the conversation, Jameson's rugged, scratchy voice beats everyone to the punch. "He beats people up and ties them up with that goop of us, so what do you mean 'some people call him a vigilante and criminal', what else would you call a person who assaults people and takes the people into his own hands. No, the only question about this so-called 'Spider-Man' is whether he's a threat or menace!'
Martin Li tugs on his tie, giving out a nervous laugh. "Aren't we being a little dramatic here? Him intervening in a gangland shootout and stopping that those bankrobbers from getting away in the car got a lot of airtime, to be sure, but even your magazine has far more photos, blurry as they are, of him saving people from fires, car accidents, and falls by a much wider margin. I actually know the exact numbers, do you Jameson? I mean it's your paper…"
Jameson grumbles about having a general idea and it not mattering, but you can't piece together, even after Li gives him a chance, only to see him scramble instead, continuing after pulling out a paper. "Spider-Man has been confirmed as being involved in the forceful apprehension of two dozen criminals in a total of ten incidents, and suspected involvement in forty one criminals arrests in eighteen incidents. He has been confirmed or suspected at over a hundred rescue operations: everything from helping people to the hospital or at car wrecks to saving people from burning buildings and collapsing bridges. That's a five to one ratio; every sign of a person just doing some community and civic service like the volunteers at my soup kitchens and homeless shelters, just a little more risky."
"Let me add to that: everyone in this country has the right to place a criminal under citizen's arrest," Senator Kelly adds firmly. "Nearly every police report and eye witness says Spider-Man doesn't start with violent force and everyone says he only dishes it out when civilians are already under attack."
"Most is not all," Jameson says, voice now totally clear. "And we have no idea he if he is Mutant American, is using gadgets, or his gifts are the result of nuclear fallout of some kind, but we also might be very well armed when using force. We don't know that; The so-called Spider-Man certainly isn't telling us…"
Kelly glares at Jameson, "I think it's unfair to accuse Spider-Man of being a mutant."
"I think it's bigoted to think Spider-Man being a mutant is the problem with his whole masked vigilante deal. Heck, I'd say Charles Xavier is rightfully righting up a complaint about suggesting mutants might be right wing fanatics…" Jameson starts.
Li raises his hands in surrender, "Let's just say if Spider-Man is a mutant, and while that is a distinct possibility it isn't remotely proven or even suspect at this point, that has nothing to do with his actions. Whether you consider it activism like Senator Kelly and me, him being a Mutant American doesn't really matter to the morality of this."
Jameson nods vigorously, and so does Kelly, but you could see him every so slightly grind his teeth. That would make all the difference in the world to someone like him.
"Peter, it's time for breakfast and then school," an elderly and warm voice says. "Are you still building that computer?"
"....just a minute…" you says, quickly throwing your web-shooters and outfit into your Simpsons book bag shaped like Bart's head. "And it's called a PC if you want to be technical, I just want to be able to play Fallout 2."
The voice laughs, "Well I'm glad you kept active throughout your summer. Young man like you shouldn't be cooped up in his room away from the sun and world, but if he does it should be in the autumn and winter when it's cold…" their voice trails off to themselves.
This was it, September 6th of 1998, your senior year at Midtown Magnet High School. Your first year here was terrible, your second and final (yeah scholarships and skipping a couple years) was going to be great. The Old Peter Parker was dead; Long Live the Spider-Man! No more bullying, no "Puny Parker" or "Kiddo"; you'd make Flash and Hobbie Brown stuff it, and even get Sally Avril to go out with you no sweat.
———
"Sally Avril, the cheerleader?" Harry asks, arms crossed, huge smirk on his face. "Really?"
You smirk, "Yeah, I stand no chance with Liz Allan, you got to be realistic about these things."
Ned shakes his head, smiles even wider than Harry's. "That's what every girl likes to hear, that they are your second choice. The runner up."
"The type of thing that totally woos them and stops them from throwing food and water bottles at your face when you get a question right in chemistry," Harry chuckles, elbowing Ned in the ribs. "Remember how she only stopped doing that because there was that pie at lunch and Hobbie said that Sally cre-"
"Stop! I mean it, this year is different!" You say, slapping your rock hard abs and then flexing your right bicep. "I started getting ripped at the end of last year, and now look at me! Perfection!"
Harry Osborn and Ned Leeds were your best friends at Midtown Magnet Technical High School. Oh sorry, Midtown Academy of Science and Technology. A preparatory school for New York's richest and brightest teenagers (sometimes either or, or sometimes both), that primes them for elite colleges like Columbia, Harvard, MIT and Empire State. For someone like you whose family is broke with a capital B, they were a godsend because they were also your only friends. Very few students really understand why you couldn't join them on their skiing trips or join them in Spring Break in Paris or some party town in Mexico, but they would be more understanding if you were on the football or baseball team or at the very least had a car.
Ned Leeds was like you, except not working class and just had two solidly middle class parents: a mother who worked for the Daily Bugle as a science and technology reporter and a father who worked for the government as a civil engineer. Heavy set Asian American who also didn't come from money and got here on the same scholarship you did? You better believe he was a bully magnate, probably worse than you. He was pretty cool and you'd still hang with him otherwise, but you really had to stick together here or you'd both be hung out to dry.
Harry Osborn was different; he might not be from the richest family, you think he might be, but it was close enough not to matter. Norman Osborn was in the first graduating class almost thirty years ago now and his endowments helped put Midtown's name on the map. Harry was far from the worst student here, he was on the honor roll, but even outside of the funds they got years from Norman that kept the lights on, he was the most famous alumni outside of Tony Stark and Dr Ted Sallis, or Victor Von Doom but uh while they hang his picture up and gave him a big special golden plaque, no one likes mentioning the the dictator for obvious reasons. So there was Harry who drives around in a car worth more than most people make in a year with a fancy Italian name, who has summer and winter homes in all the right places, but isn't a brain like you or Ned, nor is he the ace of the baseball team. He isn't a star in the theater program and Harry doesn't embarrass himself, but doesn't dress in the right way. Harry has plenty of hangers on, but they barely understand his love for Dungeons and Dragons and Dune, and don't understand a syllable about the Book of the New Sun or A Song of Ice and Fire book series he has been reading. He was just some short, scrawny nerd wearing designer clothing in a slightly incorrect way no one really notices outside of having someone to snowboard with occasionally
Outside of you and Ned.
So you were going to cut the two of them a bit of a break for pointing and laughing at you like a pair of baboons. Starting to strurt over to the cheer squad, you start strutting your stuff, flapping out your jean jacket and putting on your most winning smile. When Sally started swooning over you, you wouldn't even rub it in their faces. Too much, anyway. You'd be too busy rubbing…
"Hey watch this," Flash whispers to Hobbie Brown, you think, before belting a football from across the far side of the hallway.
You had to admit it, he had a canon for an arm. There was a reason he (and Hobbie and Kong) had turned a rich kids' joke of prep football team into a serious competitor for state championship over the past four years. Having the drop on you there was zero doubt he gotten a good crack at the back of anyone's skull. So instead of dodging it, you lean down and pretend to tie your shoes. The entire hallway bursts into laughter as the football slams into Sally's chest knocking her over, and as her arms fail, taking down Glory Grant and Cindy Moon with her like a bunch of bowling pins.
Flash looks horrified, as Hobbie Brown bails at lighting speed, but even you are chuckling until you see Sally get up, her hair now an overused broom and the look on her face as she glares at you and Flash. It looks scarier than any thug armed with a shotgun in your humble opinion.
"I am so sick of both of you and your middle school crap! I have no idea why Liz Allen puts up with you, let alone thinks your sweet, but if you show up the Silver Spoon Cafe tonight with her and ruin my date with Robbie with this nonsense, I'll tell her your special shampoo wasn't for that type of lice!" Sally says, shaking her raven black hair side to side, nose snorting as she collects her books and pushes right through you. "And Parker, you should really wear a mask or something; seeing your ugly face is almost enough to knock me clean over by itself!"
You and Flash stand there stunned as the laughter grows louder but now directed at the two of you. Thunderous, powerful stuff that makes it feel like it's making the room shake. Thunder contained in the wing of a school.
"Thanks a lot dweeb, I'm not going to forget this!" Flash growls, pointing at you before lifting up his book bag and prowling towards whatever class he had in the morning.
Harry puts a friendly hand on your shoulder, "Yeah, looks like Sally's fallen for you."
"Ha-Ha," you say statically. "Great one, you get that from your grandfather or something?"
Alrightie, today didn't start off like you wanted, but this was far from the only thing on your list. The rest of your senior year was going to get better.
Right?
Question: Who was murdered by those burglars almost a year ago, today?
[] Uncle Ben, the man who warned you with Great Power comes Great Responsibility
[] Aunt May, the mother you never had, yet did.
What is Peter's schedule for the Second Week of September? This will help decide the events that pop up. You have Four Actions to choose at this stage, and during important Events, this will narrow down and become more specific to deal with what's going on at that moment.
Social Stuff
[] Hang out with Harry after school, he needed some help with Advanced Chemistry 401 anyway
[] Hang out with Ned after school, you were both building computers but he was doing something special.
[] Try out for the Drama Club, they were casting for Dracula this year just in time for October.
[] Try out for the Football Team, hey it was a little unfair...but that was the Parker luck reversing itself for a change!
[] Join the School Paper. Nerdy, but gives you something do outside of Science Club
[] Explore New York a little bit.
[] Go to the skatepark, go the movies or the arcade. Just do you for a little bit.
Caped Crusadering
[] Patrol in Queens
[] Patrol in Brooklyn.
[] Patrol in The Bronx
[] Patrol in Manhattan
[] Patrol in Staten Island
[] Practice using your Powers and Skills
[] Do some investigating online.
[] Improve your Spidey suit: You Currently don't have the money or gear for this.
[x]Write-in.
Life Stuff
[] Try looking for a Part Time Job. You need the cash
[] Study. You had a scholarship, you need to maintain it; plus it would help with the Caped Crusading. It got you those web-shooters after all
[] Do your classwork. You had a scholarship, you need to maintain it. Crucial actually.
[] Stay after class and take notes with your biochemistry Professor Jonas Harrow. He seems to like you and be taking you under his wing