Things are starting to make a bit more sense now!
Amazing Spider-Man (Vol. 1) #428
Published: c. September, 1997?
Cover Date: November, 1997
“Living Large!”
Writer: Tom DeFalco
Artist: Steve Skroce
Inker: Bud LaRosa
Letterer: Richard Starkings and Comicraft’s Kiff Scholl
Colorist: Bob Sharen
Aha! I knew this explanation was canon!