Issues 22-27

Legacy

Harry Osborn, who dissapeared after his father's attack at Midtown High, returns to school and invites Peter to see his father. An unhinged Norman shows his transformation to Peter, claiming that Spider-Man is a part of Osborn's legacy and blackmails Peter into working for him, otherwise Mary Jane and Aunt May will die. A shook Peter returns home only to find Gwen Stacy in need of a place to stay.

Peter is approached by Nick Fury, the Director of S.H.E.I.L.D, who instructs Peter to turn down the offer and promises to capture Norman. Spider-Man confronts the Goblin, which results in MJ being captured and thrown off a bridge, but is saved by Spider-Man. Norman retreats to his penthouse and injects more OZ formula into himself, turning the tide. Peter is saved when Harry impales his father with debries, defeating Norman and allowing shield to capture him. Fury reveals Harry was hypnotized by his father and tells Peter that once he turns 18, he'll be drafted into S.H.E.I.L.D. Peter reunites with MJ, the latter traumatized by her experience.

Did You Know?

• Norman Osborn’s face is drawn to resemble actor Brian Dennehy, per the request of Bendis.
• Oz, the drug that granted Norman and Peter their powers, is a modern recreation of the super-soldier serum that created Captain America. This is a recurring element throughout the Ultimate comics, with many characters being direct results of these experiments, such as The Hulk, The X-Men, and Nick Fury. This plot point highlights themes related to the military-industrial complex.
• The scene where Goblin throws Mary Jane off the Queensboro bridge is a reference to the infamous issue The Amazing Spider-Man #121, where Gwen Stacy is thrown off the bridge and killed by the Green Goblin.