Ultimate Spider-Man 43
From Ultimarvel
[edit] “Help”
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Pencils: Mark Bagley
Inker: Art Thibert
Editor: Ralph Macchio
Publication Date: September 2003
• At Midtown High, the teacher of Peter’s science class notices that Peter is absent. The teacher inquires about his whereabouts to the class and Mary Jane covers for Peter, saying that he has a “stomach thing”. The teacher does not care about the excuse and makes the statement that he will be contacting Peter’s parents about the absence.
• An announcement goes out over the school PA, mentioning a mutant attack on the neighboring school, PS44. It says that the police are on the scene and that Midtown’s school day is ending immediately as a precautionary measure. The students’ parents have been called and have been directed to pick up the students from school.
• On a rooftop near PS44, Peter and Geldoff are confronted by Jean Grey, Kitty Pryde, and Storm of the X-Men. Geldoff is frightened by the presence of the mutants. The X-Men tell Geldoff that they are here to talk to him about his future since he is a mutant. In response, Geldoff faints.
• Storm tends to the fallen Geldoff while Jean and Kitty talk to Peter . Kitty is almost star struck at meeting Spider-Man. Jean reveals that Kitty has a Spider-Man poster on her wall. Jean has a telepathic conversation with Peter and commends him on trying to deal with Geldoff peacefully. Geldoff wakes up and immediately passes back out after Jean says hello to him telepathically.
• The X-Men debate what to do with Geldoff . Jean contacts Charles Xavier telepathically to ask his advice. Xavier responds and suggests that he would like to examine Geldoff personally, but that bring him to X-Men’s mansion would be kidnapping technically. Jean decides to bring Geldoff back and the X-Men prepare to depart.
• Kitty invites Peter to come see the school and meet the professor. Peter agrees if they can bring him back before 6PM.
• At the parking lot of Midtown, the students wait for their parents to pick them up. MJ overhears rumors of Spider-Man arriving at PS44 and tries to find out further information about what happened to Peter. MJ’s mom and May Parker arrive to pick up MJ, Gwen Stacy, and Peter. When May cannot find Peter, MJ tries to cover for him, saying that he was just here, however Gwen states that she has been here the whole time and has not seen him.
• On the X-Jet on route to Xavier’s school, Kitty Pryde questions Peter about his incomplete costume. She marvels at the fact that the X-Jet is making Peter airsick and she tries to get him to take off his mask.
• Geldoff awakes on the X-Jet and becomes frightened at his surroundings. He reacts by manifesting his powers and blows a hole in the X-Jet.
• May Parker attempts to contact Peter at the Daily Bugle. She gets transferred from extension to extension and then Betty Brant hangs up on her.
• On the X-Jet, the hole in the plane causes a vacuum that threatens to suck the occupants out. Storm uses her abilties to fly outside the plane and attempts to keep it together with a wind tunnel. Peter and Geldoff are sucked out of the plane and begin falling towards the earth.
Notes:
- According to the announcement, PS44 is 12 blocks away from Midtown High.
- Kitty Pryde has an obvious crush on Spider-Man. When she is inviting him to Xavier’s school, this is represented by pink hearts floating above her head while she looks at Peter. It is also obvious that Jean Grey and Storm are slightly annoyed with Kitty for inconveniencing them with her crush, evidenced by a look they give Kitty.
- On the X-Jet, Peter mentions that he has met Wolverine a couple of times.
- When Kitty asks if Peter makes his own costumes, he responds by asking her where the X-Men get theirs. Kitty looks thoughtful and states that that is a good question.
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