The towering Kraven knew Manhattan Axe, of course, but Eddie Brock in the corner made him deeply uncomfortable.
Over the past day, his family and Max had suffered too much at the hands of these so-called media.
It was as if they had become the "culprits" behind all the trouble, as if every disaster had been their fault.
The man who had put two people in the hospital had become a hero, while the police who had arrested the "hero" were branded his accomplices...
Kraven, who hated the media more than ever, was about to drive Eddie Brock away...
When Max, in the neighboring hospital bed, saw Alvin dressed like a cowboy, he excitedly sat up.
The electrician, whose face was ugly and disfigured, spoke in a hoarse, excited voice. "Y-you're Principal Alvin...
You're my idol. I believe in you..."
Kraven frowned as he helped the excited Max sit steady. "What's gotten into you? We all know what the media are going to say about us...
We should..."
Max took his new friend Kraven's hand. A blissful smile spread across his ugly face. "No, no, that's Principal Alvin. He said he came to help us.
I believe him..."
Max looked at Alvin, who was smiling, and grinned, showing his gapped front teeth. He said excitedly, "My name's Max. Max Dillon. I grew up in Hell's Kitchen, in the 28th precinct..."
Alvin froze for a moment. He walked up to Max, politely nodded to Kraven, who still seemed a little displeased, then gently pressed down on Max's shoulder to signal that he shouldn't move around.
The Corpse-Eater Vine emerged from the floor and climbed the bedpost, then discreetly sank its roots into Max.
Alvin was about to say something when the vine detached itself from Max, as if some force were