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"Character Assassination" is a four-issue
Spider-Man Spider-Man is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer-editor Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko, he first appeared in the anthology comic book ''Amazing Fantasy'' #15 (August 1962) in the Si ...
story arc A story arc (also narrative arc) is the chronological construction of plot in a novel or story. It can also mean an extended or continuing storyline in episodic storytelling media such as television, comic books, comic strips, board games, vid ...
written by
Marc Guggenheim Marc Guggenheim (born September 24, 1970) is an American screenwriter, television producer, comic book writer, and novelist. He is best known as the creator of the television series '' Eli Stone'' (2008–2009), ''Arrow'' (2012– 2020), and ''Leg ...
with art by John Romita, Jr. and published by
Marvel Comics Marvel Comics is an American comic book publisher and the flagship property of Marvel Entertainment, a divsion of The Walt Disney Company since September 1, 2009. Evolving from Timely Comics in 1939, ''Magazine Management/Atlas Comics'' in ...
. The arc appears in ''
The Amazing Spider-Man ''The Amazing Spider-Man'' is an ongoing American comic book series featuring the Marvel Comics superhero Spider-Man as its main protagonist. Being in the mainstream continuity of the franchise, it began publication in 1963 as a bimonthly per ...
'' #584-#588. An interlude, "The Spartacus Gambit" was featured in ''Amazing Spider-Man Extra'' #1 (June 2008) and later re-released for free online via
Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited Marvel Unlimited, formerly known as Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited, is an online service by Marvel Comics that distributes past issues of their comics via the internet. The service launched on November 13, 2007, and now has more than 30,000 comic ...
alongside the release of ''The Amazing Spider-Man'' #587 in February 2009.


Plot summary

The race for mayor is hot with Bill Hollister close in the polls to Randall Crowne. The Spider-Tracer murders continue with Shocker and
Boomerang A boomerang () is a thrown tool, typically constructed with aerofoil sections and designed to spin about an axis perpendicular to the direction of its flight. A returning boomerang is designed to return to the thrower, while a non-returning ...
walking in on another corpse. Spider-Man is chased by police and is shot in the right arm. Spider-Man hallucinates a fight with Menace in which he unmasks to reveal the face of
Harry Osborn Harold Theopolis "Harry" Osborn is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, commonly in association with the superhero Spider-Man. Created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko, the character first appeared in ''Th ...
. On top of the Statue of Liberty Harry proposes to Lily who is not sure what to say. Meanwhile,
Carlie Carlie is an English feminine given name and nickname that is a feminine form of Carl and an alternate form of Carla. Notable people referred to by this name include the following: Given name *Carlie Hanson (born 2000), American singer-songwriter ...
's lab reverse engineers the Spider-Tracers to track the source. Carlie arrives in
Vin Vin or VIN may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media * Vîn TV, a Kurdish language satellite television channel founded in 2007 * ''Vos Iz Neias?'', an American Jewish online news site * Coastal radio station VIN Geraldton (callsign), a statio ...
and Peter's apartment finding a bag of Spider-Tracers under Vin's bed. Horrified, she demands an explanation from Vin and his partner Cop hints that the entire NYPD is involved with the murders. Spider-Man attempts to stop Menace from attacking the Hollister Campaign supporters but Menace defeats the wounded Spider-Man leaving him to be captured by the police. Menace retreats to Harry Osborn's apartment "unmasking" to reveal the face of Lily Hollister. Harry walks in and looks in horror. Lily explains that she discovered notes about the Goblin Serum and hideout through concerns that Harry returned to drugs. A new type of Goblin Serum made contact with Lily's skin mutating her into Menace. She states that she attacked the Hollister campaign to make others sympathize with Bill Hollister and help him become elected. Lily also says that she accepts Harry's marriage proposal and leaves Harry who is flabbergasted by this turn of events. On election day Harry picks up a vial of the Goblin Serum and picks up a Goblin Gun behind the original Glider. Spider-Man is arrested by the police for the spider tracer murders and held at
Ryker's Island The comic book stories published by Marvel Comics since the 1940s have featured several noteworthy concepts besides its fictional characters, such as unique places and artifacts. There follows a list of those features. Places Certain places fe ...
.
Matt Murdock Daredevil is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Daredevil was created by writer-editor Stan Lee and artist Bill Everett, with an unspecified amount of input from Jack Kirby. The character first a ...
arrives as his attorney and files motions to prevent the NYPD or the courts from unmasking him. At the preliminary hearings Iron Fist appears dressed as
Spider-Man Spider-Man is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer-editor Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko, he first appeared in the anthology comic book ''Amazing Fantasy'' #15 (August 1962) in the Si ...
to create doubt that the Peter is the only Spider-Man or the killer. Black Cat and Murdock smuggle Peter a web-shooter. Carlie confronts Vin and he and his partner reveal that many NYPD cops from their precinct are planting the tracers on dead bodies to frame Spider-Man in a smear campaign to turn public opinion against him. He states that they are tired of him getting away with vigilante justice. Carlie claims to want in but then turns them into their captain Sergeant Palone, who unknown to her is the leader of the conspiracy. He later has Vin arrested as the sole suspect as Vin's precinct killed Bookie, who solved the murders first. While trapped in Rykers, Spider-Man learns that Vin is also at Rykers and about to be attacked by several inmates due to his career as a policeman and breaks out of his cell to protect his friend and roommate, and then breaks them both out of prison. At the election day, another battle between Spider-Man and Menace ensues. Just as Menace is about to finish off Spider-Man, Harry shoots her with the vial, which is an antidote that returns her to normal form. He saves Spider-Man from the crowd and leaves. Lily is incarcerated, but later escapes, leaving Harry her ring and a note. Though he wins the election, Bill Hollister voluntarily refuses to accept the position as Mayor, since the truth about his daughter's secret activities has become public knowledge. Vin arrests Palone, and agrees to identify the officers involved in the Spider-Tracer conspiracy, but gets a light punishment of being fired from the NYPD and a six-month sentence in prison for his involvement.


Reception

IGN gave the first issue 6.8 out of 10 and the second issue an 8.6.Amazing Spider-Man #585 Review
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See also

*'' Spider-Man: Brand New Day'' *''
New Ways to Die "New Ways to Die" is a 2008, six-issue Spider-Man story arc written by Dan Slott with art by John Romita, Jr. and published by Marvel Comics. The arc first appeared in '' The Amazing Spider-Man'' #568-#573. Plot summary The Thunderbolts led by N ...
''


References

{{Spider-Man publications