Spider-Man: Crawl Space #5
“Spider-Man Black Part 3 – Shades of Grey”
By Kevin Cushing
Excepts by J. Michael Straczynski
Cover by Scott J. Larson
Previously in Spider-Man: Crawl Space – Peter and Mary Jane Parker have restored history, reinstating their longstanding marriage but erasing Spider-Man’s public unmasking. Only those that found out his identity in another way still know who he is, and only Peter, MJ, Harry Osborn, and one as-yet-unrevealed fourth party remember everything from the altered reality. All this was touched off by the death of Peter’s Aunt May, gunned down by the bullet of a sniper hired by a man with no face. This same Faceless Man, who also had no memory, subsequently blew up the Daily Bugle, working for a man calling himself The Black Spider. All that is known of The Black Spider is that he is African, he seems to know a lot about Peter Parker, and he was the only one who knew The Faceless Man’s true identity. Happy with his work at the Bugle, The Black Spider revealed to The Faceless Man that his name is Gabriel Stacy – The Grey Goblin.
Recently, Harry Osborn has returned from the grave unbeknownst to anyone. He came back newly empowered by the Goblin Formula, wielding balls of fire generated from his hands in place of traditional pumpkin bombs. His first act was to kill his father, Norman Osborn, and crown himself The Goblin King. Harry then left for Paris to track down his half-brother, Gabriel Stacy. Now armed with the knowledge that The Grey Goblin and The Faceless Man are one in the same, Harry is headed back to the United States on a murderous mission to cleanse the Osborn legacy.
Following Norman’s death, everyone was shocked to find that he had left everything – including control of Oscorp – to Peter Parker. Peter has not yet made a decision on what to do about this.
On the less supervillainy side of things, Peter and Mary Jane have befriended Carlie Cooper, who Peter went on a few dates with when reality was altered to erase his marriage. Peter, MJ, Carlie, and Flash Thompson went out on a double date together that went reasonably well.
PAGE 1
Panel 1: Panels 1 and 2 are side by side taking up roughly the top third of the page. We see Harry Osborn sitting on a plane in first class with the phone to his ear, speaking nonchalantly.
HARRY:
Hi, yeah, this is Agent DeMatteis.
Wanted to let you know we’ve located Gabriel Stacy.
Panel 2: Same.
HARRY:
The local office is on it, but you’re free to hop a plane and link up with them if you want.
Panel 3: Bottom two thirds of the page. A little office in the Paris Interpol office. Sarah Stacy is standing up behind a desk with the phone to her ear, slamming her other hand on the desk.
SARAH:
Where?!
Tell me where my brother is!
PAGE 2
Panel 1: Int. The Black Spider’s cave. Gabriel is strapped down to a table by his wrists and ankles. There is a machine just beyond his head. The Black Spider stands to one side as a man dressed all in black, including a cloth wrapped around his face only exposing his eyes, is sewing the Grey Goblin mask to Gabriel’s face. He is stitching it surgically at all the seams and is on the last one at his chin.
BLACK SPIDER:
The skin of Gabriel Stacy’s face is gone, but this was your true skin all along.
The face of the Grey Goblin is your face, because you are the Grey Goblin.
GABRIEL:
No, I don’t – I –
Panel 2: The black-clad man has risen with the needle in his hand, finished sewing.
BLACK SPIDER:
Your healing factor worked too quickly on your face, healing in on itself at the edges and protecting the muscle, so the healing was complete, but the restoration was left undone.
GABRIEL:
I don’t– I don’t want –
Panel 3: The black-clad man is taking two electrodes from the top of the machine at Gabriel’s head, as the Black Spider walks around the table talking.
BLACK SPIDER:
That same healing factor will kick in now with the stitches we’ve made and incorporate the mask into your face as if it were skin itself.
Where your body failed, I have completed your restoration.
GABRIEL (small):
I don’t want this…
Panel 4: The black-clad man is fixing the electrodes to Gabriel’s temples. The Black Spider leans down toward Gabe’s face to talk to him.
BLACK SPIDER:
And now, as the body heals, my friend will restore your memory to you.
GABRIEL:
What – what’s he doing with that?
MAN:
Do not worry, I have perfected electro shock to a very precise science.
PAGE 3
Panel 1: The man is checking the settings on the machine.
MAN:
By the Black Spider’s count, your memory has been removed three times now, and all after your were driven to madness by this formula that gives you strength.
I am targeting electric current to those parts of your brain that are malfunctioning to return them to their natural state.
Panel 2: The man has his hand on a large switch.
MAN:
I will not only return your memories to you, but whatever measure of sanity is rightfully yours as well.
Panel 3: Close on the man’s masked face.
MAN:
Unfortunately, it will hurt like you cannot imagine.
Panel 4: Small, close panel of the man’s hand throwing the switch.
Panel 5: Largest panel on the page. Gabriel’s body is convulsing as the electricity goes into him.
GABRIEL:
AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!
PAGE 4
Panel 1: Ext. Day. The wreckage of the Daily Bugle. There is caution tape all around the site as men are clearing debris. JJJ and Robbie are standing just outside the tape watching, as Peter Parker walks up to them.
PETER:
Jonah! Robbie! I heard what happened.
My God, I’m so sorry.
Panel 2: Focus on the three of them, with Peter now up beside them and all three are turned to face each other.
JJJ:
Think nothing of it, Parker!
This isn’t the first time somebody’s tried to bring down the Bugle!
Panel 3: JJJ is laughing defiantly.
PETER:
So you’re not worried?
JJJ:
Worried? Are you kidding?
We’ll have this baby back up in no time! Better than ever!
Heck, that faceless freak and his spider-pal did us a favor; we needed some remodeling anyway!
Panel 4: Peter is waving, about to leave.
PETER:
Wow, good to hear, Jonah!
Let me know if I can help!
Panel 5: Peter is walking away, and Jonah and Robbie have turned back to watch the work on the rubble.
ROBBIE:
Seriously Jonah, I’ve seen the books…
JJJ:
Yeah, Dexter Bennett really ran this thing into the ground.
PAGE 5
Panel 1: As he and Robbie talk, JJJ has pulled a nicotine patch from his pocket.
JJJ:
The idiot went for cheap tabloid gimmicks, but the Daily Bugle wasn’t meant to play on that stage.
Panel 2: JJJ is holding up his sleeve, slapping the nicotine patch onto his shoulder.
JJJ:
The loyal readers left when they started seeing it as a celebrity gossip rag, but he didn’t have the contacts developed to get the kind of scoops he needed to lure the celebrity gossip rag readers.
Panel 3: JJJ has a nicotine gum pack in his hand, popping out a piece.
JJJ:
Stocks went in the toilet and readership was flat lined.
I took every penny Marla and I’d ever saved and offered it to him, and he was such a pansy he took it.
Panel 4: JJJ is tossing the gum into his mouth.
JJJ:
Long and short of it, Robbie, is the Bugle’s deep in debt and so am I.
Panel 5: Farther away shot from above, as if the camera is pulling out as the two look on.
JJJ:
We can’t afford to rebuild this time.
PAGE 6
Panel 1: Int. MJ and Carlie are sitting at a little table for two in a coffee shop. MJ is pouring sugar in her coffee as she talks.
MJ:
So what are you up to tonight?
I thought maybe you, me, and Peter could go catch a movie or something.
Seems like a long time since I’ve actually watched one…
Panel 2: Focus on Carlie.
CARLIE:
And me being the third wheel isn’t awkward for you at all.
MJ:
Why?
CARLIE:
Oh, I don’t know. Maybe those dates I went on with your husband.
Kinda weird for the three of us to be besties now, don’t you think?
Panel 3: The two of them are facing each other, MJ is blowing on her coffee.
MJ:
You remember what I said about breaking legs?
CARLIE:
Seriously.
MJ:
No honey, it’s not that weird. When I got back to the city, I needed a girlfriend.
You were there. You were nice. And you looked about as lost as I felt.
CARLIE:
You did not appear lost.
Panel 4: Small panel of MJ pointing at herself and raising her eyebrow.
MJ:
Actress.
Panel 5: MJ is sipping. Carlie is really just sitting there paying no attention to the coffee.
MJ:
Has this been bothering you?
CARLIE:
Little bit.
I mean I’m not constantly making puppy eyes at Peter or anything. He’s a nice guy, but he’s a little flaky. Honestly not sure how you put up with it all the time.
MJ:
Oh I’m being nominated for sainthood.
I only had one miracle left to get, and I got Peter to do the laundry last weekend. Now I’m a lock.
PAGE 7
Panel 1: Carlie points at MJ.
CARLIE:
You see that? That’s what makes me wonder sometimes.
MJ:
What?
CARLIE:
You seem like under the surface you really do want a good friend, someone you can talk to about anything, unload your problems and commiserate with.
But then you do that cute deflective thing.
Panel 2: Carlie has her hands in front of her gesturing.
CARLIE:
And don’t get me wrong, it really is quite cute and effective.
But it’s like you’re afraid if you say anything real about your relationship with Peter you’ll, like, break me or something.
Panel 3: Small panel of MJ’s face turned away from Carlie looking a little sad.
Panel 4: MJ has turned back to Carlie, looking serious but not sad.
MJ:
Maybe I do want those things.
But is it ok if I just don’t know you well enough to go there yet?
It’s really not awkward. I trust Peter and I trust you, and if it’s not awkward for you then that’s perfect with me.
Panel 5: The two of them are holding their coffee and talking like regular girl friends.
CARLIE:
Now that I am cool with.
MJ:
So tell me about your date with Flash.
CARLIE:
He took me to a football game.
Panel 6: Carlie has her hands up in an “I don’t know what he was thinking” gesture, and MJ’s face is mock-frightened.
PAGE 8
Panel 1: Back in the Black Spider’s cave, Gabe is on the table struggling fiercely.
GABRIEL:
AAAAAAAHHHH!!!
Panel 2: Flashback. Gabriel, looking about 6 years old, is sitting with Norman Osborn in his study in the Paris house.
GABRIEL:
Unca Norman?
What’s murder mean?
NORMAN:
Murder, Gabriel, is a vast and complicated definition.
Murder means killing someone.
GABRIEL:
Like when you shoot somebody and they’re dead?
NORMAN:
Yes, like when you shoot somebody and they’re dead.
Panel 3: Flashback. Gabriel (as The Faceless Man) is handing Killshot an envelope of money in a seedy motel room.
Panel 4: Flashback. We see from behind Killshot on a roof as the bullet from his gun strikes Aunt May. (Reference: Spider-Man: Crawl Space #1)
Panel 5: Flashback. Killshot is falling backward in his cell, having just been shot in the head by Gabriel (as The Faceless Man). (Reference: Spider-Man: Crawl Space #3)
PAGE 9
Panel 1: Flashback. Back in the Paris house study with young Gabriel sitting with Norman.
NORMAN:
Stabbing works, too.
Panel 2: Flashback. Small panel of the desk guard in Killshot’s prison being struck by Gabriel’s throwing knife. (Reference: Spider-Man: Crawl Space #3)
Panel 3: Flashback. Small panel of the lawyer in Killshot’s prison being struck by Gabriel’s throwing knife. (Reference: Spider-Man: Crawl Space #3)
Panel 4: Flashback. Norman and Gabriel in the Paris study.
NORMAN:
Strangulation can also be quite satisfying if the occasion calls for a more hands on approach.
Panel 5: Flashback. Gabriel, in the black tactical gear he wore in his first appearance, is strangling Spider-Man on top of the bridge. (Reference: Amazing Spider-Man #513)
PAGE 10
Panel 1: Flashback. The Paris study.
GABRIEL:
But, isn’t it wrong to kill people?
Isn’t that why we hate Spider-Man, for killing our mom?
NORMAN:
Well there are all different kinds of murder and killing.
For one, Spider-Man was directly responsible for your mother’s death, but it was the Green Goblin that did it.
Panel 2: Flashback. Focus on Spider-Man standing on top of the bridge talking. (Reference: Amazing Spider-Man #513)
SPIDER-MAN:
He was the Green Goblin. Maybe you heard about him. He was insane. He was a killer.
And he was the one who killed your mother. Not me. Norman.
Panel 3: Flashback. The Paris Study.
NORMAN:
But killing in defense of others – even the law makes allowances for that.
And isn’t it defending your mother to take the life of the man who let her die?
Panel 4: Flashback. On the bridge, Gabriel (in his black tactical gear) jumps at Spider-Man in a rage. (Reference: Amazing Spider-Man #513)
GABRIEL (burst):
I’ll kill you!!!
Panel 5: Flashback. The underground lair Norman left for Gabriel and Sarah. Gabe is kneeling on the floor screaming in horror as he watches the video of Norman Osborn. (Reference: Amazing Spider-Man #514)
GABRIEL (burst):
You said you loved us!
You said he killed her!
NORMAN (video):
The second condition that should be true if you have found this place…is that you have also found Peter Parker, Spider-Man.
You have discovered that they are the same man. And that in his own way, he is as responsible for your mother’s death as I was.
She died because he was a romantic fool. They both were.
PAGE 11
Panel 1: Flashback. Same setting. Gabriel kneels before two syringes, and Norman’s video speaks from off panel. (Reference: Amazing Spider-Man #514)
NORMAN (op):
The serum will slow or even halt the advanced aging…and you will emerge even more powerful than I was, at the height of my abilities.
Panel 2: Flashback. Gabriel and Sarah are sitting on a bed in the Paris house, fully grown. This is the period just prior to “Sins Remembered,” or Spectacular Spider-Man Vol. 2 #26.
GABRIEL:
He lied to us, Sarah.
He lied to us…
Panel 3: Flashback. Back in the underground lair, Gabriel is shooting the syringe into his arm. (Reference: Amazing Spider-Man #514)
GABRIEL (burst):
AAAAAAAGGGHHH—
Panel 4: Flashback. Back in the bedroom of the Paris house with the fully grown Gabe and Sarah.
SARAH:
The Goblin Formula made you sick, Gabe.
We need to get you help.
Panel 5: Flashback. Gabe and Sarah are in the streets of Paris (post-“Sins Remembered”). Sarah is pulling back a trench coat to show a badge, and Gabriel is on his Goblin Glider facing her, wearing only pants.
SARAH:
I’m with Interpol now, Gabe.
We need to bring you in.
PAGE 12
Panel 1: Flashback. The same street. The entire street is a shambles, fires everywhere, and bodies of Interpol agents lay about. Sarah is sitting in the street with a body in her arms, tears streaming down her face, screaming at the sky.
SARAH (burst):
I’ll kill you, Gabriel!!!
I’ll kill you!!!
Panel 2: Flashback. The apartment building in Paris from Crawl Space #4 Page 1. We see Gabe (still only wearing pants) flying out a window (breaking it) on his glider.
INTERPOL AGENT (op):
Come out now, Gabriel! We have you surrounded!
Panel 3: Flashback. The asylum Harry visited last issue. We see Gabriel (as The Faceless Man) through the eyes of The Black Spider, who we will not see at all. They are standing in line in the cafeteria.
BLACK SPIDER (op):
And you do not remember how you lost your face at all?
Panel 4: Flashback. Back on the Parisian street, Sarah is standing her ground as Gabe is flying at her hurling a pumpkin bomb.
Panel 5: Flashback. Same street. Sarah has leaped from the ground. She is flying at both the bomb and Gabe.
Panel 6: Flashback. Same time. She has caught the pumpkin bomb in her hand and is almost to Gabe on his glider.
PAGE 13
Panel 1: Flashback. Same time. Large panel. Sarah is standing on the glider in front of Gabe and holding the pumpkin bomb in his face as it explodes.
GABRIEL (burst):
AAAAAHHHGGG!!!
Panel 2: Flashback. Same time. Close on Gabriel’s face, which he holds in his hands, but we can see the skin is gone from it.
Panel 3: Flashback. The cafeteria at the asylum, same perspective.
GABRIEL:
I can’t remember a thing.
Panel 4: Flashback. The asylum. Through the Black Spider’s eyes, we see Gabriel (as The Faceless Man) sitting at a table eating.
BLACK SPIDER (op):
I’ve seen what you can do.
Panel 5: Flashback. The asylum, a little longer ago. Gabriel (as The Faceless Man) is in the hallway throwing guards off of him, some all the way down the hall.
Panel 6: Flashback. The asylum, back at the cafeteria table.
BLACK SPIDER (op):
I have resources outside of here. I can find out who you are.
I think we can both help each other.
PAGE 14
Panel 1: The present, the Black Spider’s cave. Gabriel lays quiet on the table with his newly sewn on mask, still strapped down. The black-clad man is holding the switch, having just thrown it back down. The Black Spider observes Gabriel.
BLACK SPIDER:
Is the procedure finished, my friend?
Is he whole again?
MAN:
It is finished. Whatever he was before, he has back again.
Beyond that, I guarantee nothing.
Panel 2: The Black Spider leans his head just over Gabriel’s to examine him.
Panel 3: The Black Spider whispers to Gabriel.
BLACK SPIDER:
Your life is now your own again, my friend.
I have retrieved your affects from Paris, your glider and weapons are in the next room.
You will be my wild card now.
Panel 4: Same, but Gabe’s hand is around the Black Spider’s neck. Surprise is evident through the Black Spider’s mask.
Panel 5: Gabriel is standing up off the table, breaking his restraints with ease. He keeps his hand around the Black Spider’s neck.
GABRIEL:
I told you I didn’t want it.
PAGE 15
Panel 1: Gabriel is now fully up off the table, pushing the Black Spider forward.
GABRIEL:
Nine years of pain.
That’s what you’ve given me.
Panel 2: The black-clad man has come up behind Gabriel, and is sticking a syringe in his neck.
GABRIEL:
Ah!
Panel 3: Gabriel falls to the ground between the two.
Panel 4: The two stand there looking at him, as the Black Spider massages his own neck.
MAN:
Should we kill him?
BLACK SPIDER:
No, no it’ll do.
Now he’ll be a very wild card.
But we need to get him out of here before he wakes up.
Panel 5: A rooftop in the city. Gabriel lays unconscious in his full Grey Goblin costume with his glider next to him.
PAGE 16
Panel 1: Same, but we see a pair of black boots walking up to Gabe.
OFF PANEL:
Oh, it just can’t be this easy.
That’s no fun.
Panel 2: Same shot but pulled out so we can now see the man standing over him is the Goblin King, with a fire ball already formed in his hands.
Panel 3: Same, but now Spider-Man is in the frame, tackling the Goblin King.
GOBLIN KING:
Oof!
Panel 4: To the side of Gabriel, who is starting to wake up, The Goblin King and Spider-Man are both sitting up on the ground after landing.
SPIDER-MAN:
Who the hell are you?
GOBLIN KING:
Not yet.
Panel 5: The Goblin King is scrambling to his glider, close to where he was knocked down.
PAGE 17
Panel 1: The Goblin King is flying off, and Spider-Man is raising his arm to shoot a web.
GOBLIN KING:
Soon!
Panel 2: As Spider-Man shoots a web, we see Gabe’s hand on his arm.
GABRIEL:
Peter, wait!
SPIDER-MAN:
Well, I do appreciate someone making the decision of which one of you to deal with for me.
Panel 3: Spider-Man has turned to face Gabriel.
SPIDER-MAN:
What are you doing here, Gabriel?
Who was that?
GABRIEL:
I have no idea who that was, he’s not important.
You need to listen.
Panel 4: Gabe has his hands up in front of him defensively as he explains.
GABRIEL:
The Faceless Man you fought, he was me.
Panel 5: Gabe is dodging a punch from Spider-Man.
GABRIEL (burst):
Wait!
PAGE 18
Panel 1: Spider-Man has a fist held by his side, obviously angry through his mask.
SPIDER-MAN:
What could you possibly have to say?
GABRIEL:
I didn’t have my memory, Peter. I didn’t know who I was!
Panel 2: Spider-Man is screaming.
SPIDER-MAN:
Then why’d you come after Aunt May?!
Why?!
GABRIEL:
It was the Black Spider!
Panel 3: Spidey is confused.
SPIDER-MAN:
What?
GABRIEL:
He’s orchestrated the whole thing. He promised to tell me who I was if I followed his orders. It wasn’t me, Peter. My entire identity was gone, I just followed orders.
God, I’m so sorry.
Panel 4: Spidey raises his fist again.
SPIDER-MAN:
Don’t you dare try to apologize.
GABRIEL:
I can’t begin to.
But I can make it right. I know who he is and I’m going to kill him, for the both of us.
I’m going to kill the Black Spider.
SPIDER-MAN (burst):
Who is he?!
Panel 5: Gabe is leaping to hop on his glider.
GABRIEL:
I can’t tell you that, Peter.
Can’t have you get to him before I do.
And I don’t care how moral you are, this man you would kill.
But you do deserve to know who he is.
Panel 6: Gabriel is tossing one of his gloves onto the roof as he flies off. Spider-Man is very unsure, uneasy, but is grabbing for the glove.
GABRIEL:
Run the DNA on the outside of that!
But don’t blame me if you don’t like the answer!
PAGE 19
Panel 1: Spidey is swinging through the rooftops.
SPIDER-MAN CAP:
That all just happened way too fast, can barely even process it.
Should have thrown a tracer on Gabe, but…damn, can barely even think.
Panel 2: Spidey is swinging downwards.
SPIDER-MAN CAP:
Luckily, I do have an idea.
Panel 3: Peter, out of costume, is walking through the front doors of Oscorp. Donald Menken is running up to meet him.
CAP:
Oscorp
MENKEN:
Mr. Parker!
PETER:
Mr. Menken. I’m trying to make my decision on taking ownership of this company, and I want to test out one of your facilities.
Panel 4: Peter and Menken are walking together.
PETER:
Would I be correct in assuming you have DNA testing way beyond anything they have in law enforcement?
MENKEN:
Of course, sir. With Oscorp Tech we can get you a match from our extensive in-house database this same night.
Panel 5: The two are walking off toward a corridor, fading into the distance.
PETER:
Excellent.
PAGE 20
Panel 1: Outside Oscorp, The Black Spider is hugging the wall, evading notice. He is wearing a business suit and his mask, not the rest of his costume.
CAP:
The Black Spider has been preparing for this his whole life.
BLACK SPIDER:
One last phase before the endgame.
Panel 2: The Black Spider is pulling off his mask.
CAP:
As he finally removes the mask -
Panel 3: The Black Spider’s mask is now off, he is stuffing it in his jacket pocket. He is a white man, a redhead with clean cut Irish features.
CAP:
- he slips effortlessly into a perfect American accent.
BLACK SPIDER:
Time to meet face to face.
Panel 4: The Black Spider steps out of the shadows and is walking toward the front door of Oscorp that Peter just walked through.
Panel 5: He walks through the door towards a desk clerk. We see Peter and Menken talking in the background.
PETER (small):
How long?
MENKEN (small):
Should be just a minute.
BLACK SPIDER:
I’m here to see Peter Parker.
PAGE 21
Panel 1: The Black Spider is up to the desk now, and Peter, having heard is walking towards him.
DESK CLERK:
Your name, please?
BLACK SPIDER:
Simon.
Panel 2: The computer screen in the DNA testing room We cannot see the bottom. It reads:
DNA ANALYSIS COMPLETE
NO MATCHES IN DATABASE
SAMPLE IS A GENETIC MATCH TO ONE SUBJECT ALREADY IN DATABASE
Panel 3: Peter is up to Simon (The Black Spider) now, with his hand out.
PETER:
I’m Peter Parker.
Have we met?
Panel 4: The two are shaking hands.
SIMON:
No, Peter, I’m afraid not.
This is a first.
PETER:
And what was your name?
PAGE 22
Panel 1: Three fourths of the page. Simon and Peter are still shaking hands. Simon is smiling, and Peter is stunned.
SIMON:
Simon Parker.
Your brother.
Panel 2: Bottom fourth of the page. We now see the bottom of the DNA testing screen. It reads:
SUBJECT MATCH: PETER PARKER
RELATION: BROTHER
NEXT MONTH: That’s right folks, The Black Spider is the brother of Spider-Man. But how? What’s his story and where’s he been? Get the full story next month in Spider-Man Black Part 4 – Richard and Mary Parker: Agents of SHIELD!
*This issue’s soundtrack: The song for this month can only be “Remember” by Disturbed. Excellent song from the band’s first great album, and it fits this flashback heavy issue to a tee!
And don’t forget to stop by the discussion thread and let me know what you thought (just as soon as you pick your jaw up off the floor)!
Continue to: Spider-Man: Crawl Space #6 - Spider-Man Black Part 4
