In Amazing Spider-Man #532, Peter Parker is given an ultimatum by Tony Stark: whether he joins him in his support of the Superhuman Registration Act, thus being forced to reveal his identity, or he is going to be hunted down like a criminal, as will Mary Jane and Aunt May, who will be considered accomplices. Peter spends the entire issue trying to make up his mind. After a lengthy conversation with his wife and aunt, Peter comes to a decision and flies off to Washington DC to partake in a press conference alongside Tony Stark. As Spider-Man, Peter joins Tony on stage and tells the media assembled that he has an announcement to make.

In Amazing Spider-Man #533, Spider-Man takes off his mask and reveals his secret identity to the world.

ACT 1: A teenager named Jordan Harrison wakes up – having dreamed of Madeline Daniels, his lab partner in biology – and sits down at his desk to study before heading to school; it is 5h45 am. Jordan is a pretty decent student in most classes but he excels particularly in biology. Not only does it come naturally to him but the fact is that he connects with his science teachers, especially his biology teacher: Peter Parker. Jordan's mother walks into his room and asks that he join her for breakfast once he is done outlining his chapter. Jordan finishes his chapter – which deals with octopi – and joins his mother in the kitchen, where she immediately tells him to watch the news on TV, as they are replaying what happened the previous night. Confused, Jordan takes a look at the TV, which shows Spider-Man revealing to the entire world his secret identity: Peter Parker; Jordan's biology teacher. Jordan is completely taken aback and he is not the only one; elsewhere, Doctor Octopus is as surprised as he is. Minutes after seeing the revelation of the news, Jordan gets a call from Madeline Daniels, his lab partner. Jordan is so awestruck by the news that his science teacher is Spider-Man that he barely listens to her. All he can think about is his first encounter with Peter and how he told him his secret: that he wanted to become a marine biologist. Back in reality, Madeline asks Jordan if she can tag along with him when they get to school because there is a chance he'll get interviewed by reporters – being Peter’s favorite student – so she'll get interviewed too because she's his lab partner. Jordan finally realizes why she called. He reluctantly agrees and heads to school by taking the subway.

ACT 2: Flashback to the previous day. At Avengers Tower, Peter Parker loses his lunch as he prepares to leave for Washington to reveal his identity to the world. Mary Jane and Aunt May are there to give him words of support before he heads out with Tony Stark, a.k.a. Iron Man.

ACT 3: While exiting the subway terminal near his school, Jordan cannot stop thinking about the fact that his science teacher, Peter Parker, is none other than Spider-Man. Jordan sees this as a problem because Peter was suppose to have extra tutorials with him and Jordan fears that Peter might not be able to make it to these tutorials especially if super-villains surface in New York City and he must go out and confront them as Spider-Man. And Jordan's long-term goals of applying to college might be affected by this revelation, because what college would accept a written recommendation from Spider-Man? Jordan is so lost in thoughts that he is nearly decapitated by a large blue mailbox that comes flying out of nowhere. Thankfully, that does not happen. As he tries to make sense of what is going on, Jordan notices Madeline Daniels a few feet away from him. He runs towards her to find out what is happening. She explains that Spider-Man is battling Doctor Octopus right in from of their school.

ACT 4: Doc Ock is furious with Peter/Spider-Man because of the recent shocking discovery that Peter was only fifteen years old the first time they encountered each other and defeated him. Peter tries to calm him down but to no avail. Doc Ock simply continues to viciously attack him and asks that he show his face to him. Peter uses his suit's chameleon-like abilities and removes his mask. Doc Ock’s mind is reeling; the memory of a scene not unlike this one rises in his consciousness, and blots everything else out. Flashback to years ago; he and Spider-Man were fighting and he – Doc Ock – was actually winning. As Spider-Man laid unconscious, wrapped in Doc Ock's tentacles, Doc Ock had proceeded to remove his mask right in front of J. Jonah Jameson and Betty Brant (and an unnamed cop). But Doc Ock had refused to believe that Peter Parker was Spider-Man – because Spidey had not put much of a fight – and had simply tossed Spidey towards Jameson and taken his leave. Back in the present, Doc Ock tells Peter that he could have killed him that time. Surprisingly, before Peter can answer, Jordan steps out of the shadows with Madeline standing behind him, and tells Doc Ock that he would have killed a kid, had he murdered Spider-Man back then. He then goes on telling Doc Ock that if he kills Spider-Man now, he'll be killing someone with a face, a family, people that love him and depend on him. Doc Ock asks Jordan if he is one of those people. Jordan replies that he is one of Peter's students, therefore he depends on Peter. Doc Ock has a hard time believing that Peter cares for Jordan (and Madeline) and asks why he is telling him all these things in the first place. Peter/Spider-Man, who has regained his strength answers his question and tells him that Jordan was distracting him to buy him some time. As Doc Ock turns around, Spidey knocks him out with a single punch. Jordan and Madeline are in awe of their science teacher. As Peter/Spidey checks up on the unconscious Doc Ock, Jordan comes up to him and Peter thanks him for his help. As the issue concludes, we are giving a glimpse into the future of Doctor Octopus, Jordan Harrison and Madeline Daniels. Rethinking her stance on science nerds, Madeline Daniels will be dating Jordan by the end of that week. When Doctor Octopus regains consciousness, he will be in a prison cell designed by Reed Richards, a.k.a. Mister Fantastic. And in a year and a half, Jordan Harrison will be awarded a scholarship to attend the University of Miami to study marine biology. And because of what he did today, his nickname – after he gets his Ph.D. for his work with Humboldt squid – will be Doctor Octopus.

The end...for now.