There’s been a long-simmering storyline where Peter Parker’s ex-GF Deb Whitman has figured out that he’s Spider-Man, and this issue starts with her therapist confronting Peter in a very direct way. It turns out, he just wants Peter to help him cure Whitman’s mental illness and doesn’t believe for a second that he’s Spider-Man.
It makes for a great splash page, but what a shitty therapist.
As for the main story: Owl and recent prison escapee Doc Ock fight each other with the intent to then unseat Kingpin and take over the NY underworld. For reasons that don’t make sense—and actually aren’t ever stated—Spider-Man decides to stop them from fighting each other rather than let them bloody each other up and then swoop in to take on the wounded winner. I’m going to chalk it up to him not wanting to see anyone get killed in the battle.
There’s also an appearance by Boomerang, who tries to escape custody during a hearing but Spidey stops him.
I’m not a huge fan of Al Milgrom, but he does a good job on the interior art and the cover is damn good.
