Previously on Spider-Man.
Are you related to Richard and Mary Parker?
The last time I saw them, they stood where you stand now.
Wolfgang, the K.G.B. are onto us.
You must make it out.
This weapon is more dangerous than ever.
I'll take that.
Chameleon?
Welcome to my... temporary base, Spider-Man.
For years, there was a rumor of a doomsday device
created by a German master spy
who plan to take over the world.
I intend to do the same.
No!
I've been betrayed!
The infamous Kingpin.
Drop your weapons.
This complex will be in rubble.
Head for that stairway.
Time to leave.
My men and I thank you.
There are pieces of the puzzle I'd like to share with you
but you best hear it from Professor Omar Mosley.
He knows the story of the six forgotten warriors.
My parents were never traitors.
Now all that remains is for the world to find out.
I've got to find them
or the world will be in great danger.
I've got to find the six forgotten warriors.
I still can hardly believe the story
Omar Mosley told Robbie and me.
Mr. Robertson!
You got my message.
I came as fast as I could.
I'm glad you did.
Robbie, come in.
Omar, this is Peter Parker, the one I told you about.
Mr. Robertson says you have a story I should hear.
Yes.
I've kept this all these years.
This is where the story begins.
That shield!
It looks just like the one that belonged to Captain America!
The story of the six American warriors began in 1942.
The dark days of World War II.
A scientist named Dr. Reinstein
created a serum to turn a normal human into what he called...
a "super soldier."
It is time to unveil the volunteer
for this top secret experiment.
Private Steve Rogers.
Rogers is merely the first of a new breed of super soldiers.
Gentlemen, meet the new champion of the allied forces,
Captain America!
In the name of the fatherland
I will destroy this American war machine.
It's going to explode!
Run!
When the German spy sabotaged the super soldier experiment,
Dr. Reinstein was lost.
With him, went the secret to the super soldier serum.
The only known copy of it had been in that lab.
A team of scientists tried to re-create the formula.
They wanted to make an army of super soldiers
but because of war-time chemical shortages
only five more doses could be synthesized.
So five young volunteers were found
to become America's new heroes.
However, the new process was discovered to be unstable.
Miraculously, no one was hurt.
The process was obviously too dangerous to ever be used again.
And yet, there was an amazing result.
Each volunteer was affected differently.
One's muscle strength was so increased
that he became incredibly fast.
The other gained the ability to control her mass.
She could will herself to become lighter than air.
Another was able to create sonic shock waves with his vocal cords.
The final two came closest
to duplicating Captain America's powers.
However, the five new heroes discovered that
their powers weren't permanent.
They would wear off after a time.
The scientists deduced that someday those powers would cease altogether.
So to ration their use, they created ring devices
to turn the powers on only when needed.
Only Captain America's powers were permanent.
Since he was the only one who took Reinstein's formula
he was the true super soldier.
Soon the others took names to suit their new identities.
They became The Destroyer,
Miss America,
the Thunderer,
the Black Marvel
and the Whizzer.
With Cap as their leader, they were to be called
"the Six American Warriors."
Miss America?
The Thunderer?
With those names, they expected to be taken seriously?
Yes.
And they were.
Well, it was a different time then.
The Whizzer?
For his speed.
Uh... how do you know all about this, Professor Mosley?
Way back then, I was the Black Marvel's chauffeur.
I was what you might call a sidekick to the Black Marvel.
His real identity was Dan Lyons.
The purpose of the six was to destroy fifth column spies and saboteurs.
Then one night, the six stumbled onto the most devious plot
the Axis powers ever hatched.
It began as an attack on a German spy rendezvous
but it turned into more
with the discovery of a unique matchbook cover.
( Yelling )
What's going...?
It was Cap who examined the cover and found on it
a microscopically reduced film negative.
It contained information leading to a deadly weapon
designed to defeat the six American warriors
and the country as well.
Excellent.
Thanks to your work,
I have reached phase one of Project Doomsday.
Herr Dr. Groitzig,
you are now of no further use to me.
Dispose of him.
Stay back.
Leave him alone.
We know about Project Doomsday.
We're here to pull the plug.
I think not.
( Electronic buzzing )
This energy vortex will keep you trapped forever.
Cap!
Stay back, all of you.
We are evenly matched.
You cannot escape.
Maybe, but I can see to it that
you're not around to activate this atrocity.
Captain America sacrificed himself
so that the doomsday device would never be used.
Would I have the guts to make that kind of sacrifice?
I pray that I never have to find out.
The machine's advanced power source was perpetual.
Cap and the Skull would remain in stasis indefinitely.
Now what do we do?!
We can't just keep this our little secret.
Can't we?
After much arguing,
the five decided they could keep it a secret.
They divided the six keys among themselves.
Except for the Black Marvel, who, by luck of the draw
took the remaining two.
And they all vowed to find a way to one day...
free Captain America.
What happened to them?
Of course, they then got distracted
by the business of winning the war
but when the war ended, they received a rude shock.
They were ordered to disband.
The war department feared their dwindling powers
would prove to be a liability.
Now what do we do?
I plan to devote my life
to research that might someday save Cap.
Cap is gone for good.
I'll never abandon Cap.
I'm gonna protect the site till my dying day.
When they couldn't reach an agreement, they all moved on.
The war became part of history
and the warriors, they were forgotten
as things are, in time.
The six forgotten warriors.
I decided to help Dan Lyons in his scientific pursuits
to save Captain America.
I went to college and became a scientist.
He put me in charge of one of his companies
that was doing research on vortex phenomena.
But Dan died and so I started teaching.
Professor Mosley was the hardest teacher I ever had,
but we became friends,
and years later he confided his story to me.
What about the keys? Where are they?
They're in a safe place.
The six kept their identities secret.
Today they could be anywhere if they're still alive.
I get it now.
When my parents found Groitzig
he wanted to disable the doomsday device
but he needed the six keys.
My parents must have found the secret identities
of the American six for him.
Someone stopped them before they could get Groitzig out of the country.
And Groitzig spent the next 20 years fearing for his life.
Omar, this doomsday device, what is it?
Only the Red Skull knew that, but what I do know is
someone is after the keys to the doomsday complex
and if they get them the world is in dire peril.
That someone is the Kingpin.
He has everything he needs, and I have no way to stop him.
I'm stuck waiting to see what he throws at us next.
You once worked for my arch enemy, Silvermane.
Are you the traitor?
No! I swear it ain't me.
Well, one of you has betrayed me once
and may try to betray me again.
But I'm warning you.
The information inside this box
should make me powerful enough to squash all my enemies.
Look, it's all here, the owners of the keys.
We've already infiltrated every data base in the country.
If these people have cars or even a dog
we'll find them!
Distribute the information they will need to find those keys.
This is what I'm looking for.
Six statues of six ancient gods of war.
Uh, you said you wanted keys.
These are keys.
The base of each statue
contains a pin-tumbler key of a very advanced design.
Go and bring them to me.
Bring me the keys to our future ownership of the world.
( Children laughing )
You can't make the superhero's head smaller than his hands, Bobby.
Maybe not when you were drawing comics, Mr. Frank,
but this is what's happening in comics nowadays.
But it doesn't look real.
So what? Nothing you ever drew back in the '40s looked real.
Like that goofy Whizzer character.
Nobody ever took him for real.
I'm looking for the Whizzer.
Mr. Frank, what's he talking about?!
Whizzer, you got something I want
and you're gonna give it to me
or you ain't gonna live to see 100.
How do I stop the Kingpin?
If only I could... whoa!
Did I just see the Vulture
chasing after an old woman who was flying?
Stay away from me!
( Screaming )
Out of web fluid?
Not now.
One cartridge left.
Got to move.
Made it.
Whoever you are, you're safe now.
Not on your life, son.
That feathered freak stole something in my bag
that could destroy the world.
It didn't happened to be a small statue, did it?
How do you know about...?
Don't worry. I'll get it back...
Miss America.
I can't fight the Insidious Six on one web cartridge.
I could go home, but,
I've still got some spare web cartridges at Aunt May's.
Your promises to your old pals
have put them in great danger, Keene.
What do you mean, Nick?
The Whizzer, Bob Frank,
has been attacked and his key stolen.
So has Miss America, Madeline Joyce.
I could have prevented this if you had told me the whole truth.
I thought by not revealing their identities
it might keep them out of harm's way.
You were wrong.
Yes. Again.
We'll talk later, Fury. Over and out.
Keene, you're still here.
You can join us for lunch.
May, you must let me have those items.
I can't wait any longer.
What on earth is he talking about?
Keene, not now.
If you don't, we're in great danger.
You don't know what's at stake.
Ben told me, and I made a solemn vow to him
not to let you have them.
Marlowe, we're here for that key.
Now fork over that key
or the Shocker here takes care of the ladies.
Get back!
How did you find me here?
Kingpin can get information from anywhere he needs to
even SHIELD headquarters.
I've had it, frog face.
Stay out of this, wall crawler.
( Grunts )
Look out!
I've got to get him outside to protect my family.
May, they've come for it.
And they'll tear your place apart to find it.
Tell me where they're hidden?
They're in the basement under the furnace.
Uh-oh, that's it for the webbing.
( Grunting )
No!
Stop! Stop!
( Gasps )
Freeze, webbed one, or I spray the old lady.
No, don't! I give up.
Who the heck are you?
( Grunts )
I'm called the Destroyer
and if you want this, you'll have to take it from me.
That's it. I'm through playing around.
( Grunts )
No...
My powers... they're fading.
( Gasping )
( Grunts )
Come on, let's get out of here.
Are you all right?
I have to deactivate.
( Gasping )
You can't stay here.
Look at this poor old house.
You've got to come to my house now where you'll be safe.
Now, you too, Mary Jane.
No. I intend to wait here for my husband.
Fine. Come along, May.
Are you okay?
Yeah, but he's not in such great shape.
He's coming around.
Did they get the statue?
Yes.
I should never have tried to use my powers.
I failed... again.
Mr. Marlowe.
What do you have to do with this?
I'm one of a group who called ourselves...
The six American warriors?
That was a long time ago.
But what brought you here?
This house.
Oh, it all goes back to over 50 years ago.
It was in the late 1930s.
Ben Parker and I always wanted to be heroes.
It was all we thought about when we were young.
Well, almost all we thought about.
Lenora Sharp was also on both our minds.
Oh, we were both head-over-heels in love with her.
At first, Ben had the inside track.
Then the war started
and I was chosen to be in a project
which would turn me into a real superhero.
Against orders, I told Lenora.
She was enthralled.
Ben couldn't compete with that.
He was just a regular, decent guy.
Lenora and I married during the war.
Did she love the Destroyer or Keene Marlowe?
All I knew was I was in paradise
but paradise never lasts for very long.
It wasn't until 1946 right after the war ended
when I told Lenora that my powers weren't permanent.
She begged me to give up being a superhero.
But I couldn't.
I was hooked on the thrill of it.
Even after the war
I continued to work in secret for the government.
Then one night, I let my beautiful wife down.
I saw a bank being robbed.
I activated my powers.
It was an impetuous, foolhardy thing to do.
My wife was caught in the cross fire.
How ironic. I'd become the destroyer, all right.
The destroyer of lives.
Ben Parker was as devastated as I was.
From that moment we both knew that with great power
there must always come great responsibility.
So that's how uncle Ben learned that lesson.
I gave my ring and my costume to Ben
to keep hidden somewhere in this house.
Hidden from me,
so that I'd never be tempted to use them again.
But I also gave him my key to the doomsday device.
Fury knew about that.
When he heard May Parker was selling the house
he urged me to stop her.
I appreciate your telling me all this
more than you can know.
Now rest here for a few minutes.
There's something I must do.
And this'll only take a second.
What a sad life Mr. Marlowe has had.
No kidding.
My worst fear is that I'll end up like Marlowe
and jeopardies Mary Jane's life.
Why do I do this?
Why do I still have to put on this costume?
What is it, tiger? What's the matter?
I just want you to know I love you, M.J.
Fury says the damage to May Parker's house will be taken care of by SHIELD.
Fair enough.
You've been awfully silent.
What's on your mind, Spider-Man?
I was thinking.
You were a real superhero in World War II
but for the rest of your life, you've been a regular person.
Did you miss being a costumed crime fighter at all?
Just between us costumed cronies
I missed it more than I would miss the very air I breathe.
Being a superhero is a wonderful gift
one not to be taken lightly.
I was afraid you were gonna say that.
The worse part about it is, I agree with you.
To be continued...