Depressed that he might lose Gwen to Flash, Spider-Man realizes he forgot to set his camera to photograph his encounter with Dr. Strange minutes earlier. He angrily throws away the camera, but instantly regrets his impulsive action. Luckily it is caught by the exceptionally agile Martin Blank. When Blank describes himself as a freak, Spider-Man disagrees, but Blank refuses to believe him. After he leaves, Blank thinks about how people have laughed at him all his life for his simian features, and suddenly takes inspiration from his recent encounter. Meanwhile Peter returns home to find Gwen and Aunt May waiting for him. When May fusses over his bruises, Gwen scolds her for babying Peter, and, feeling guilty, May departs. Though distressed at May’s reaction, Peter is too tired to stop her, falling asleep soon after. Later he wakens from a nightmare about losing Gwen and hurting May, and calls his aunt. There is no answer. Worried about her being away from home at such a late hour, Peter heads to her apartment as Spider-Man. En route he runs into Blank, now dressed in an old circus ape costume, prompting Spidey to call him a gibbon. Blank says he wants to be Spider-Man’s partner, but becomes angry when Spidey laughs at the idea and turns him down. Spidey swings away, leaving the enraged Gibbon, who is unaware of a sinister figure observing him, one who believes he has found the tool he needs to destroy Spider-Man.