Chapter Summaries

Magneto showed Logan the gene splicer beneath Genosha and explained how it was protected, unaware that Ms. Apocalypse and Max Dillon had already infiltrated the vault and begun modifying Max. Meanwhile, Peter searched Hammer Port for signs of Max and ended the day with Wanda, who had obtained tickets to Dazzler’s concert through Pietro.

• Magneto revealed the gene splicer to Logan and said he could detect anything abnormal in the metal vault.
• After Magneto and Logan left, Ms. Apocalypse and Max Dillon grew to normal size inside the vault using Pym Particles.
• Ms. Apocalypse placed Max and a modified electric eel in the gene splicer to give him the ability to absorb electricity, expecting him to cause a disturbance in Genosha.
• Peter found no sign of Max while exploring Hammer Port with Wanda and saw mutants openly displaying their powers.
• Wanda returned with tickets to Dazzler’s concert and said Pietro had obtained them.

Peter and Wanda watched Sonic’s concert from a small platform that Peter and Venom created on the venue wall, while the New Mutants struggled with the crowds below. As Wanda reflected on Genosha’s mutant community, Peter’s Spider-Sense stirred and he noticed the spectators looking toward an unexpected disturbance.

• Peter rescued Wanda from the packed concert crowd and used Venom’s wings to take her to a platform Venom formed on the venue wall.
• Peter and Wanda settled on the platform and discussed his symbiote suit after Wanda recognized the giant Spider-Man from the symbiote invasion.
• Dani Moonstar struggled with the crowds, so Kitty Pryde led her out while the other New Mutants stayed behind.
• Sonic began performing, filling the night with colorful light effects as Peter and Wanda watched from above.
• Wanda admired how many people lived in Genosha and wondered if they had created a mutant paradise, while Peter sensed something was wrong and looked toward the spectators.

Max Dillon completed his secondary mutation and became a vastly more powerful Electro, draining Genosha’s power grid. Peter, Wolverine, Wanda, and the New Mutants subdued him temporarily, but Electro remained dangerous and Magneto was nowhere to be found.

• Wanda sensed a battle and took Peter toward the royal palace as Kitty and the New Mutants received Logan’s message.
• After six hours of Vita-Ray exposure, Max Dillon completed his secondary mutation, broke out of Magneto’s safe, and began absorbing electricity from Genosha’s power grid.
• Magneto sent Wolverine to deal with Electro and launched him into the air with a Fastball Special, but Electro blasted Wolverine back down.
• Peter caught Wolverine with a web and joined the fight, binding Electro with insulating webbing while Wanda and the New Mutants pinned him down with their powers.
• Peter helped Wanda restrain Electro and asked whether Moonstar could stop him from using his abilities, while Logan explained the limits of her telepathy.
• Peter realized Magneto would be best suited to contain Electro, but Magneto had disappeared.

Magneto fought Ms. Apocalypse and her X-Men clones at the vault, but Mr. Sinister’s plan succeeded when Red Devil escaped with the shrunken gene-splicing device. Magneto emerged to find the thief fleeing toward Manhattan.

• Magneto sensed five enemies inside the vault and confronted Ms. Apocalypse and four clones modeled after the original X-Men.
• Magneto blocked Ms. Apocalypse’s psychic attack and destroyed the Beast, Cyclops, Iceman, and Angel clones with his magnetic powers.
• Magneto stabbed Ms. Apocalypse through the brain and descended into the vault to search for the gene-splicing device.
• Red Devil arrived with Mr. Sinister and escaped with the device while Magneto crushed Mr. Sinister.
• Magneto left the vault and saw a streak of lightning fleeing toward Manhattan.

Peter and Wanda tried to stop Electro from destroying Genosha, but Electro exploded and awakened as a being of living lightning. As Magneto thanked Peter for saving lives, the newly reborn Electro flew toward Manhattan in search of electricity.

• Wanda warned Peter that Electro was absorbing more energy and might explode, so Peter had her throw him high into the sky, away from Genosha.
• Electro regained control and tried to unleash his electricity on the island, but Peter used himself as bait while Venom wrapped around Electro and redirected his lightning upward.
• Peter and Venom fought Electro in midair and dragged him down, but Electro released a blinding burst of heat and exploded.
• Electro re-formed as a humanoid made of lightning, realized he was desperately hungry for electricity, and flew toward Manhattan.
• Magneto caught Peter as he fell, thanked him for helping Genosha, and criticized Logan and the New Mutants for their lack of maturity.

Peter returned to Avengers Tower with Pietro after Max Dillon escaped Genosha as living lightning and headed for Manhattan. Hank learned that Max had drained Genosha’s power without reaching his energy limit, while Max continued toward the Arc Reactor, warned by Ms. Apocalypse not to face Magneto.

• Magneto restored Genosha’s power and arranged for Pietro to take Peter to Manhattan while Logan stayed behind to speak with him.
• Pietro carried Peter to Avengers Tower at extreme speed, where Peter introduced him to Janet and Hank and explained that Max was heading for the Arc Reactor.
• Hank asked about Max’s energy capacity after Peter described how he had drained Genosha’s electricity and transformed into living lightning.
• Max considered returning to Genosha for more power, but Ms. Apocalypse warned him away from Magneto, so he continued toward Avengers Tower and Manhattan’s power grid.

The Avengers prepared to stop Electro by cutting Manhattan’s power and having Spider-Man use a new bioelectric suit to drain him. As Electro neared the city, Tony finished the suit and ordered New York’s power shut off.

• Tony explained that Electro could absorb and release electricity but could not absorb the electricity he released himself, and the team planned to weaken him by shutting off the power.
• Hank and Peter worked on a suit designed to store Spider-Man’s bioelectricity and strip Electro of his electrical energy, while Hank warned that dispersing Electro’s electrons could kill him.
• Janet began shutting down the Arc Reactor, Quicksilver reported that hospitals and major projects had been evacuated, and the Pentagon confirmed it had shut down its own projects.
• Tony finished the suit design and had J.A.R.V.I.S. start printing it as Quicksilver arrived at his estate to collect it.
• With Electro nearing Manhattan, Tony confirmed the Arc Reactor was shut down and ordered New York to cut the power.

Electro desperately searched New York for electricity after the city’s power was shut off, while Peter and his allies lured him into a trap. The chapter ended with Peter draining Electro again at the Baxter Building.

• Electro flew across Queens and drained electricity from residents’ devices and generators as Gwen subdued robbers near a hospital.
• Peter donned the anti-Electro suit and let Electro attack him, then used the suit to drain Electro’s electricity and force him to flee.
• Peter pursued Electro at supersonic speed while Tony restored contact and urged him to capture Electro again.
• Electro saw the Baxter Building lit up and charged toward its power facility, where a silver-haired boy had generated electricity by running on a hamster wheel.
• Peter grabbed Electro at the Baxter Building and drained his electric current again.

Spider-Man and Quicksilver pursued Electro with a plan to drain his electricity, but Electro fled to Manhattan and took a child hostage. After Spider-Man severed Electro’s arm and saved the child, Electro appeared to trigger a desperate final attack in Times Square.

• Electro escaped the Baxter Building, and Peter pursued him in the Speed Suit while Quicksilver raced ahead.
• Tony Stark confirmed the suit could reach Mach seven and warned Peter to watch for an enemy self-destruct.
• Quicksilver lured Electro into a motel with another hamster wheel, where Peter tore more electricity from him.
• Electro returned to Manhattan, grabbed a child, and demanded that the city restore its power.
• A second Spider-Man wearing the Speed Suit severed Electro’s hand and caught the child, while Peter revealed himself beside Quicksilver.
• Electro laughed as a flash of light swept across Times Square.

Otto Octavius demonstrated the controlled Electro to the President and Pentagon officials, securing interest in the Super Soldier program despite concerns about provoking mutants. Back in his laboratory, Otto began rebuilding Electro and planned to assemble a team to keep Spider-Man occupied and ruin Norman Osborn’s Savage Force Project.

• Otto Octavius presented the modified Electro battle to President Matthew Ellis and Pentagon officials as proof that the gene splicer could produce controlled Super Soldiers.
• President Ellis showed interest in the potential military savings but refused Otto’s request to reclaim development rights for Norman Osborn’s Savage Force Project.
• Otto returned to his Lower Manhattan laboratory and used a device to begin reconstituting Max Dillon after his self-destruction.
• Otto revealed that Nathaniel Essex had planted the suggestion that Electro should self-destruct if he could not escape, so Spider-Man would be distracted while Otto pursued revenge.
• Otto reviewed potential members for his Sinister Six, including Mysterio, Scorpion, Rhino, Jonathan Drew, and Curt Connors, and planned to make Norman Osborn’s project fail.

After Electro’s defeat, Tony restored New York’s power and discussed the Avengers’ growing need to prepare for future threats. Worried that war might come before they were ready, he considered using J.A.R.V.I.S. to command the Iron Legion, while Steve reaffirmed that the Avengers would face defeat together if necessary.

• Tony and the New York City Government restored New York’s power, with Stark Industries set to provide free residential electricity for the second half of 2012.
• Pietro left after his brief mission, and he invited Spider-Man to visit Genosha as Tony and Steve discussed recruiting more Avengers.
• Tony let the exhausted Peter stay overnight in the tower because his internship schedule kept him from returning to New York.
• Tony asked Steve what to do if war began before the Avengers were prepared, and Steve advised holding the line and protecting industrial centers to buy time.
• Tony considered using J.A.R.V.I.S. as the command center for the Iron Legion instead of further developing Ultron.
• Steve declined Tony’s offer of an Iron Patriot suit and told him the Avengers would stand together, even if they lost.

Captain Stacy drove Peter and Gwen to school, where Gwen revealed she had been the Invisible Hero who knocked out thieves and asked Peter about another date. Peter then answered his classmates’ questions about fighting Electro, while the class learned that Osborn Industries would host a technology tour in December.

• Captain Stacy dropped Peter and Gwen off at school and explained that she still handled incidents on the road despite becoming a captain.
• Gwen told Peter she had secretly helped stop thieves as the Invisible Hero, and Peter warned her that her power did not make her physically invisible.
• Gwen asked Peter when they could go on another date, while Venom gave Peter confusing advice about mating rights.
• Peter told Gwen and his classmates that he had fought Electro in a supersonic suit powered by his bioelectricity.
• The teacher announced that Osborn Industries would invite the freshmen on a technology tour in December.

Peter attended Osborn Industries’ military tech expo with Gwen and grew suspicious when Norman Osborn hosted an unusual display but did not approach him. Peter asked Harry to investigate Norman’s recent activities, then secretly headed for Norman’s office as Spider-Man.

• Peter and Gwen arrived at Osborn Industries for a student tech expo, while Harry, Amadeus, and Cindy were absent.
• Norman Osborn personally welcomed the students to an exhibition focused on military support technology, including drones, power armor, and a hover platform.
• Peter suspected the expo was arranged to attract his attention and called Harry to investigate Norman using the Avengers system linked to J.A.R.V.I.S.
• Peter told Gwen he had Spider-Man work to handle, turned invisible, put on the Symbiote suit, and crawled toward Norman’s office.

Peter overheard General Ross pressuring Norman Osborn to hand over the Savage Force Project, while the Pentagon expanded its influence in Osborn Industries. After Ross left, Norman asked Peter to secure help from the Avengers, especially Tony Stark.

• Peter eavesdropped on Norman Osborn and General Ross discussing the Pentagon's bid to acquire the Savage Force Project and push for human experimentation.
• Harry told Peter that the Pentagon had bought shares in Osborn Industries and become its fifth-largest shareholder.
• Norman resisted Ross's pressure, arguing that Savage Force research was too precise for mass production, and their meeting ended badly.
• Peter worried that Pentagon pressure could make Norman force Dr. Connors into human experiments and create Lizardman.
• Gwen messaged Peter about a situation that might need a master thief, so Peter decided to contact Black Cat for help.
• Norman welcomed Peter after General Ross left and asked for the Avengers' help, especially Tony Stark's.

Peter told the Avengers about Norman Osborn’s proposal to buy shares in Osborn Industries before the Pentagon could take control of the Savage Force Project. He then brought Gwen to see Dr. Connors’ experiments, where they learned the modified lizards harmed themselves and saw an aggressive lizard-like monkey.

• Norman asked the Avengers or Stark Industries to buy Osborn Industries shares before the Pentagon could acquire them, and offered to buy them back or negotiate over Stark’s ownership.
• Peter said he would bring Norman’s proposal to the Avengers, especially Tony Stark, and asked to see Dr. Connors’ research.
• Peter and Gwen entered Osborn Industries’ experimental floors with internship certificates and observed the modified creatures.
• Dr. Connors explained that the modified lizards killed ordinary lizards and attempted suicide when only one remained.
• Dr. Connors showed Peter and Gwen a lizard-like monkey from a new round of primate experiments.

Peter and Felicia investigated a possible connection between Osborn Industries and the Pentagon after learning that the Pentagon had pressured the company and begun buying its falling stock. They infiltrated Norman's office, but a violent shockwave from below interrupted their search.

• Peter told Tony about Norman Osborn's proposed agreement with Stark Industries, and Tony took over the business matter.
• Peter called Felicia to arrange a meeting at Osborn Tower, then slipped out after Aunt May told him to go to bed.
• Peter told Felicia that the Pentagon had modified a mutant using stolen Osborn Industries electric eels and was now pressuring the company while buying its stock.
• Peter and Felicia broke into Norman's office and disabled its alarms so they could search the locks and computer.
• A violent shockwave from below struck as Peter and Felicia were about to begin their search.

Doctor Octopus broke into Osborn Industries’ laboratory to frame Norman Osborn by transforming Dr. Connors into a lizard monster. As Connors mutated, Otto discovered that Jonathan Drew’s genetically modified spider was missing and faced the towering creature.

• Dr. Connors finished inspecting the laboratory and was attacked by Doctor Octopus as he tried to leave.
• Doctor Octopus used the laboratory’s old security code to make a vial of failed lizard serum and revealed his plan to frame Norman Osborn.
• Doctor Octopus injected lizard serum and replicated Erskine Serum into Connors, then used Vita-Rays to accelerate his mutation.
• Doctor Octopus searched Osborn Industries’ computer records and discovered that Jonathan Drew’s genetically modified spider was missing.
• Connors transformed into a gigantic reptilian monster and confronted Doctor Octopus.

Peter investigated a laboratory shockwave and found Dr. Connors transformed into a gigantic Lizardman after Doctor Octopus accelerated his mutation with the Erskine Serum. Lizardman escaped into the sewers, while Peter defeated Otto and discovered he had activated dormant red symbiotes.

• Peter left Norman's office to investigate strange flashes at Dr. Connors's laboratory and found Lizardman attacking Doctor Octopus.
• Doctor Octopus admitted he had used the Erskine Serum to intensify Connors's transformation and planned to use the monster against Osborn.
• Peter tried to stop Lizardman, but Connors tore free of the symbiote covering his back, fell from the building, and escaped into New York's sewers.
• Peter told Black Cat to contact the Avengers and protect Dr. Connors's family, then returned to stop Doctor Octopus from fleeing.
• Doctor Octopus revealed red symbiotes on his mechanical tentacles, but Peter cut the tentacles with the Dragonfang Sword and Venom extracted the symbiotes.

Peter and the Avengers failed to track the healed Lizardman through the sewers, and Peter feared Connors would spread his serum across New York. Felicia suggested hiring a professional hunter to catch him, reminding Peter that one of the world’s best hunters was already in New York.

• Peter defeated Doctor Octopus, left him for the NYPD and Black Cat, then pursued Lizardman into the sewers with Venom.
• Venom lost Lizardman’s trail at a sewer junction, and Peter worried Connors would seek out his family or try to create more of his kind.
• Peter and Felicia discussed the risk that Connors would build a device to disperse Lizardman serum throughout New York.
• Peter explained that he could make a neutralizing serum but needed time and first had to capture Lizardman.
• Felicia suggested finding a professional hunter, and Peter realized New York had one of the best hunters in the world.

Peter worried that Doctor Curt Connors might spread a serum across New York and decided to seek help at the Charity Ball. As Peter walked Gwen to school, he told her he needed to reveal his identity to Sheriff George, leaving her shocked.

• Peter considered the danger of a citywide Lizard serum outbreak and worried that Thor had returned to Asgard.
• Peter asked Aunt May if he could help at the Charity Ball, and Uncle Ben urged him not to shoulder everything alone.
• Sheriff George told Gwen that Doctor Octopus had broken into an Osborn Industries building and created a five-meter-tall monster.
• Gwen admitted to Sheriff George that she was trying to date Peter, and her father teased her while wishing they might become in-laws.
• Peter waited outside Gwen's house and, on their way to school, said he needed to tell Sheriff George his true identity.