Help. Girl, help. Possibly the most generic cover of the generic cover era. This issue begins with a teacher very angry with Peter Parker for skipping his class. MJ makes up a lame excuse for him, but then the principal comes on the intercom and says there’s been some kind of mutant attack on PS 44. The principal is named for a guy from Bendis’ forum. Haven’t had one of those in awhile, but there’s plenty to come. Sadly, the government agent named after me is in Ultimate X-Men, and not part of this blog. Meanwhile, near PS 44…
Storm wiping her hands, presumably after touching that ledge, is a really specific bit of business.
An incredible bit. And it gets so much real estate! Never coulda gotten away with this taking up a page and a half in the old days. Geldoff passes out again, and the X-Women debate what to do with him. Then Professor X telepathically calls in (Starting with “Good morning, angels,” which is a joke many readers were probably too young to get), and they decide to take Geldoff to the school. And Spider-Man fan Kitty asks Spidey to come with them, since they’ll have to bring Geldoff back here, anyway. He’s reluctant, but he wants to meet Professor X, so he tags along. Meanwhile, back at Peter’s school, the kids are filing out to be taken home by their folks. MJ’s Mom comes to get her. If there’s an Ultimate Aunt Anna, I don’t remember. Then Aunt May shows up and no one knows where Peter is. MJ wants to make up excuses for him, but Gwen shoots them all down, and things are looking bad for our hero. But he has no idea, because he’s off galavanting around with the X-Men.
Hey, that’s not good! But we leave the exploding plane to find May calling around looking for Peter at the Daily Bugle, getting Ben Urich and then Betty Brant, who is busy flirting with some guy and hangs up on her. Betty doesn’t get the best material in this title. Meanwhile, Jean and Storm are trying to keep the plane together as Spider-Man webs Geldoff’s mouth to stop his endless yelling and rescues Kitty from flying out. But only for a second, as everything starts shaking loose and people start falling out.
A new twist on the classic Spider-Man Falling To His Death cliffhanger.