PREVIOUSLY: Wrestling with a guilty conscience for having stolen a Daily Bugle file on Wilson Fisk, a.k.a. The Kingpin of Crime, to give to her lover and known criminal, Eduardo Lobo, Gloria Grant comes clean to J. Jonah Jameson but Jameson does absolutely nothing to punish her. This comes as a shock to Gloria who really thought her career at the Daily Bugle was over. What she doesn't know is that the Chameleon has stolen Jameson’s identity in order to use the Daily Bugle to destroy Spider-Man's reputation and plan his own assault on Fisk Tower with the aid of his new ally, Hammerhead. By giving the Lobo Brothers the Daily Bugle file on The Kingpin, Gloria has in fact helped the Chameleon achieve his goal to become New York’s new crime lord. All he has to do is wait for the Lobo Brothers to be finished with the Kingpin, then he can just show up to sweep up the pieces and claim New York’s crime lordship.

The Chameleon usurping Jameson's identity explains why Jonah (the fake one) has been acting so erratically over the last few weeks and why he's been favouring Nick Katzenberg's pictures over Peter Parker's and Lance Bannon's (Katzenberg shares Jonah's obsession to destroy Spider-Man and will go to extreme measures to get front-page material). Things take a turn for the worse when Peter, as Spider-Man, confronts J. Jonah Jameson after the Daily Bugle runs a story about him being connected to an attempted prison breakout, when he was in fact visiting Robbie Robertson. However, things might be getting better for Spider-Man soon because miles away in New Mexico, Thomas Fireheart, a.k.a. The Puma, is planning to help Spider-Man regain his reputation after he reads the latest edition of the Daily Bugle.

Having made a deal with the Arranger (in Web of Spider-Man #51) to help him and his boss, the Kingpin, fight the Lobo Brothers, so as to avoid a full-fledge gang war, Spider-Man goes out of his way to stop an arms shipment intended for the Lobos. Unfortunately, the wall-crawler fails when a large brown-haired werewolf attacks him and sends him swimming in the East River. He meets with the Arranger once again and tries to convince him to sue for peace before it's too late. The Arranger refuses to cooperate and gives Spidey an ultimatum: whether he stops any more arms shipment or else share responsibility for the violence that will engulf the city if the Lobos are not stopped. Spidey reluctantly agrees to continue his quest to stop the Lobos. In Spectacular Spider-Man #153, Spidey speeds across town hoping to avert the gang war about to erupt at the office tower of the Kingpin. On his way there however, he is tricked by Hammerhead and the Chameleon – disguised as Jonah Jameson – into barricading himself with the fake Jonah into a theatrical supply building after he comes under attack by dozens of gunmen from various gangs. Hammerhead’s goons enter the supply building one after the other and confront Spider-Man, whose spider-sense hasn't stopped tingling since he entered the building with the fake Jameson. Spider-Man takes them out – almost too easily and without much effort – but suddenly, the fake Jameson takes a syringe out of a small box he was carrying and injects Spidey with a highly efficient and nearly lethal experimental virus. Spidey blacks out only to awake a few minutes later at the mercy of Hammerhead. Hammerhead starts to beat the crap out of Spidey until he apparently loses consciousness. However, Spidey regains consciousness and beats on Hammerhead until he is incapacitated. Spidey then takes his leave and heads towards the Kingpin Tower. But he arrives too late; gunfire erupts inside the Kingpin Tower – the gang war has started.

One hundred-odd miles from Midtown Manhattan at a mansion on the eastern tip of Long Island, an enraged Hammerhead drives his fist through a small table. His partner-in-crime, The Chameleon, tells him to calm down, as temporary setbacks are to be expected in an operation as ambitious as theirs. Still furious, Hammerhead replies that they had the Kinpgin and the Lobo Brothers right where they wanted them – at each other's throats – but then it all went sour: The Kingpin disappeared, The Chameleon lost a battle with Spider-Man, and Spider-Man rescued Jonah Jameson. "Now we're back to Square One", says Hammerhead. "Oh, not quite", replies his ally. At that exact moment, one of the Chameleon's thugs enters the room and tells his boss that someone is there to see him. Chameleon tells the thug to send the man in. The man enters the room and is immediately recognized by Hammerhead as being Vermicelli, one of the Kingpin's top lieutenants. Hammerhead asks what he is doing there to which Vermicelli replies that he has an appointment with him, pointing to where the Chameleon was standing. As Hammerhead turns to face the Chameleon and ask him what is going on, The Chameleon has transformed himself into The Arranger. The fake Arranger tells Vermicelli to forgive Hammerhead's rude welcome, as he was unaware of their arrangement, until a few minutes ago. Flabbergasted, Hammerhead has a difficult time expressing himself coherently. The fake Arranger explains that he told Vermicelli by phone that his headquarters were temporarily relocated there, following the destruction by the Lobo Brothers of his office in The Kingpin's tower. He goes on explaining that, as The Kingpin's second-in-command, he is concerned by his disappearance so he asked Vermicelli to look into the matter of locating him. Turning to Vermicelli, the fake Arranger asks him what he has to report. Vermicelli – unaware that it is the Chameleon in disguise – replies that he doesn't have much so far but that "his boys" will keep looking. The fake Arranger tells Vermicelli that the moment he locates The Kingpin, he is to notify him immediately, care of Hammerhead. With Vermicelli gone, the fake Arranger starts transforming back into the Chameleon. As he does so, the Chameleon tells Hammerhead that every crisis is also an opportunity. He explains that when he "lost" Jonah Jameson, he lost access to the Daily Bugle's Information Network, which gave them vital data concerning the Kingpin and the Lobo Brothers. But with him masquerading as the Arranger, he replaces their lost network with one much better. Impressed, Hammerhead replies "Not bad!".

Meanwhile at the offices of the Daily Bugle , the real Jonah Jameson is back in action, yelling at Kate Cushing to get him Nick Katzenberg (in his own words: "I want that refugee from a supermarket tabloid in my office, and I want him now!"). As he makes his way back into his office, he tells his secretary, Gloria Grant to bring him a fresh box of cigars. Gloria immediately heads out and accidentally runs into Katzenberg. She tells him that Jonah wants to see him and takes her leave. Kate Cushing can't help but notice how different Gloria is acting, especially ever since the real Jonah came back a few days earlier. She wonders if it has anything to do with her boyfriend and known gang leader, Eduardo Lobo. Sweating profusely, Katzenberg makes his way into Jonah's office, followed by Kate Cushing, who is anxious to see if Jonah is going to fire him. Jameson immediately blasts Katzenberg, telling him that his recent pictures are the most incompetent photos he's seen in thirty years. However, his anger soon turns into cheerfulness and he tells Katzenberg that the composition, the focus and the cropping might be lousy, but the subject – Spider-Man caught outside the Kingpin's blood-covered office window – is exactly the kind of picture he wants. Kate Cushing is flabbergasted. Katzenberg is speechless. As he walks Katzenberg out of his office and hands him a cigar, Jameson tells him that any hack can develop a good technique, but it takes a special man to develop a good eye. Turning to Kate, he tells her to put Nick down for a raise next time circulation breaks ten million. Kate replies that they never do better than five million. Jonah's response: "details, details". Moments later, as he stands alone in his office, Jameson realizes that running the Bugle is what he missed the most when he was being held prisoner by The Chameleon. But now that he's back, someone is planning to take over his newspaper. He picks up a letter (from his broker) sitting atop his desk that informs him that "unknown accounts are staging an aggressive bid for Daily Bugle stock". As he stares out the window, he tells himself that the only way he'll leave the Bugle is in a box on his way to the cemetery.

Later that day at a woman's gym, Mary Jane is working out with her friend Regina and the two are discussing MJ's work-search. MJ tells Regina that ever since she caused Jonathon Caesar to be incarcerated for stalking and kidnapping her, he is even more obsessed with her and is trying to destroy her life by influencing advertising agencies to make her "persona non grata". Regina interrupts MJ and gives her a card for her therapist: "Talk to her MJ. You're starting to sound paranoid". "Great" answers MJ. As she walks away from the gym, MJ recalls how she used to be a fun person without any commitments, any problems or any worries. She realizes that she still tries to put on a good front for the world outside – especially for Peter – but lately it seems like all she has are commitments, problems and worries. Peter and her have nowhere to live, her career is down the tube, and her cousin Kristy is stuck at the hospital with an eating disorder. Thankfully, she is meeting Peter for dinner. Hopefully that will make her feel better. At that exact moment, someone calls for her from a nearby alley. As she turns around to see who it is, she comes face-to-face with Spider-Man (Peter of course) who tells her that her husband Peter is very sorry that he can't make it to dinner, as he has a business appointment. As Peter/Spider-Man swings away, MJ heaves a sigh: another lonely night at home eating by herself.

A short time later, Spidey arrives at the Fireheart Enterprises building and enters unnoticed through the ventilation system. He makes his way to Thomas Fireheart's office and starts snooping around the papers lying on Fireheart's desk. Suddenly, his spider-sense kicks in and out of the darkness emerges Fireheart's alter ego, The Puma. The Puma asks Spidey why he is again dishonouring him, cursing his life and forcing him to destroy him. Spidey replies that all he wants are a few answers and that maybe they could talk. The Puma replies that Thomas Fireheart isn't there now; the Puma is. Having said that, he launches himself at Spidey. Spidey dodges his attack by leaping out of the way. Both fall back to their feet and, wasting no time, the Puma attacks again and tackles Spidey through the office door. As furniture fly all over the place, Spidey tries to reason with the Puma but the latter won't listen to reason. Spidey tells himself that the only way he stands a chance against that formidable foe is if he keeps him talking.

Somewhere in a Manhattan gun shop, The Arranger, accompanied by two henchmen, is buying bullets made of a silver and lead alloy. The shop owner mockingly asks the Arranger if he’s buying those bullets to hunt werewolves. Not amused, the Arranger replies that his reputation as a gunsmith is well deserved and that of equal repute is his curiosity. As he loads his gun with the silver and lead bullet, he goes on suggesting to the gunsmith that this is one instance where he should curb his appetite for gossip. As the Arranger takes aim at a straw dummy set as a target, he goes on explaining to the owner that, as the Kingpin's second-in-command, he has arranged for the disposition of several men whose inquisitiveness got the better of them. As he blows the dummy's head off, he adds that should he persist in questioning him about werewolves, he'll consider an arrangement to add his name to that list. Terrified, the owner shuts up, while the Arranger appears very satisfied with his new acquisition.

Elsewhere in Manhattan, Gloria Grant is taking a walk and pondering about her relationship with Eduardo Lobo when the latter unexpectedly shows up behind her, telling her that he was waiting for her outside the Daily Bugle building and that she didn't see him. Gloria turns to face him and begins asking him about his war against the Kingpin but Eduardo interrupts her with a passionate kiss on the lips, which works its charm. Across the street, some of the Lobo thugs are impressed with Eduardo and are looking forward to acquiring wealth and power, a promise made to them when they joined the Brotherhood of the Moon.

Back at the Fireheart Enterprises building, the battle between Spider-Man and the Puma spreads outside the building when Spidey tackles his foe through a window. Plunging towards their death, Spider-Man shoots a web-line, which snags the side of the building. But the weight of the Puma combine with his causes them to abruptly stop in mid-air with Spider-Man catching both their weight on his shoulder. Spidey tries to aim their swing but the Puma throws his weight too much and the two of them are catapulted onto the rooftop of a nearby building. As they land on the rooftop, the Puma tells Spidey that he didn't come to Manhattan to fight him. A bruised and battered Spidey asks him why he's there. The Puma replies that he came to correct an imbalance of honour, as he thought he owed Spidey a debt for the way he misjudged him several months prior (in Web of Spider-Man #50) but now, he's changed his mind. His spider-sense suddenly kicking in, Spidey leaps out of the way just as the Puma throws himself at him. Spidey manages to give him one solid punch in the chest but as he does so, he feels an extreme deal of pain in his shoulder, which happens to be the one that caught the brunt of their fall. Using this to his advantage, the Puma tackles Spidey and then punches him off the rooftop of the building. Starting to black out and falling to his apparent death, Spidey shoots a web-line at the Puma, which catches him in the chest. Puma falls face first and desperately grabs hold of the edge of the building so as not to fall. Holding on to the other end of the web-line, Spidey tells the Puma to tell him why he's in New York or he'll yank him off the roof. The Puma replies that if Spidey yanks him off the roof, then both will die because he (The Puma) is holding him (Spidey) up. Spidey retorts that he (Spidey) can stick to walls and asks him once again why he's in New York. Unexpectedly, the Puma throws himself off the building and tells Spidey that it is a mission of honour and to protect his honour, he would face any risk. As he apparently plunges to his death, he executes a bunch of flips and ends up bouncing off of a protruding flagpole. He finally lands safely down onto the roof of a bus passing by. As the bus drives away, the Puma tells Spidey that their fight is over for the day and that the balance of honour between the two of them remains unsettled. He adds that the next time they meet, it will be settled. Still clinging to the side of the building, Spidey realizes that he could follow the Puma but even if he did capture him, the latter probably wouldn't tell Spidey what he wants to know. As he climbs back on the rooftop, Spidey also realizes that he is too bruised and battered to force the Puma to tell him anything anyways.

Twenty-eight minutes later, across the river from Manhattan, in Queens, Peter stops by the hospital to see how MJ's niece, Kristy, is doing. As he makes his way to Kristy's room, he runs into Aunt May and Dr. Ransome, who is looking after Kristy. Dr. Ransome tells Peter that Kristy is physically a lot better but she is still denying being a bulimic. She explains that until Kristy admits and accepts her condition, no one can help her. Peter and Aunt May enter the room and find Kristy lying in bed, immediately asking them when she'll get to go home. Peter replies that Doctor Ransome is not allowing her to leave yet. Kristy retorts that Dr. Ransome thinks she's too thin and tells them that everybody knows that to be a model, you have to be thin. On those words, Aunt May breaks down and leaves the room. Peter is surprised because his aunt is usually so strong and supportive, despite her age – although lately, she's seemed almost frail. Peter turns to Kristy and tells her to listen to her doctors, as they are trying to help. Kristy agrees just to make him happy and tells him to bring her ice cream the next time he comes by to visit her. Seconds after Peter is gone, Kristy pulls the IV out of her arm and sneaks out to get something to eat out of a vending machine in the lobby; she plans to eat a few candy bars then get rid of them.

Later that night in May Parker's boarding house in Forest Hills, Peter sits alone in the living room, waiting for Mary Jane to show up. Finally, MJ arrives and asks Peter if she kept him up. Peter replies that he was worried about her and apologizes for missing their dinner date. MJ replies that she went dancing at a local club with her friend Regina and that she just needed to kick loose. As she sits down on the couch next to him, she asks him to tell her that he loves her and that everything is going to be okay. As he puts an arm around her, Peter tells her that he loves her and that everything is going to be okay. On the living room table in front of him, the page one headline of the Daily Bugle newspaper reads: "Mob War Over?".

To be continued.