The absence of Spider-Man in the first issue is addressed on page one of this one:
A very Immonen-looking Spidey.
Fury notes to himself and us that not many people know he’s still alive, or back on this Earth, so anyone gunning for him has to be pretty interesting, but the big red guy attacking him ain’t talking as Fury is smashed around town. Fury’s about had it when a jet of flame engulfs his assailant.
Johnny has just spotted what’s happened to the Baxter Building. But he’s not alone, Ben is still on the case, leaping back up to try to get into the building again. He out maneuvers the tentacles this time, but only succeeds in catching a ride on one. Luckily, Johnny whips past him and into the building.
Sue is able to contain the original whatever that grew all this mass, and it all kind of dissipates. Johnny asks what Sue and Ben did, but Sue says they didn’t do anything. She thinks this was an attack targeted not at them, but at the building itself. She thinks they need to find Reed.
While Jessica is watching the news about the attacks, she notices a shadow under the door, and soon, another of those big Green Lantern lookin’ guys is blowing up her apartment. When she escapes, it seems to teleport away.
Uh-oh! This one’s pretty action-packed, ya know? Not the usual “people standing around talking” start to most events in this period.