Peter and Deb Whitman take in Mesmero’s illusion show, but a hypnotized juggler accidentally sets fi re to the stage curtain after dropping exploding balls. Peter hides in the shadows and puts the fi re out with his webs. Mesmero, seeing the save, sets up a meeting with Spidey and offers him $400 a week for his services. Spidey leaves to think about it. Reviews for the show, however, are poor. The next day, Jonah resumes his duties at the Daily Bugle, while Peter fi nds the Globe’s drama critic, Oswald Clum, walking out in a Mesmero-induced daze. He follows him to the Brooklyn Bridge and saves him from killing himself. Spidey returns to the theater that night to talk about Mesmero’s offer. However, Mesmero, angry over Spidey’s save of Clum, captures him and forces him to juggle exploding balls over highly fl ammable gasoline, with critics who spurned him in the audience. Spidey harmlessly deals with the balls and captures Mesmero to a standing ovation from the critics.