“Spider-Man R.I.P. New York’s fallen hero was Queen’s high school student Peter Parker” is the headline in the Daily Bugle after the death of Spider-Man. Staring at the newspaper, Gwen Stacy covers her face. “I’m cursed!” she cries.
In his office in the Daily Bugle, publisher J. Jonah Jameson begins his article. I knew the truth about Peter Parker. I knew he was Spider- Then he erases it again.
In Manhattan, atop a skyscraper, Peter Parker’s roommate Johnny Storm goes nova, full of rage and grief.
Some robbers try to rob a store at night when suddenly a red-clad figure that can heighten her density or become a ghost takes them out brutally. When the last one shouts he gives up, she hits him again. “I hate you!” she announces. “I hate you all!” Kitty Pryde cries.
At school, Flash Thompson is the only one present in his class. Is class cancelled? he asks nervously. Even the teacher begins to cry. Was he the only one who didn’t know Peter Parker was Spider-Man? he asks almost defensively.
Nighttime. SHIELD personnel is removing the debris from the Queensboro bridge. Mary Jane Watson has sneaked into the zone and tries to record what is happening. An agent notices her and calls out. MJ runs but is soon surrounded by agents. Angrily, the agents tell her this is a closed off area. What’s her name?
Mary Jane holds on to the camera but the agents overwhelm her, intent on getting it from her. “Give it back!” she shouts, then cries for help.
What does she think she’s doing? Nick Fury demands. He tells his agents to take the camera and send her home. Just this once, he is looking the other way. He tells her to go home. He doesn’t want to see her again. She shouts at him he killed him. He didn’t pull the trigger, but still, he had him killed. She’s going to prove it and make sure everyone knows. Fury looks at her, taken aback. He repeats his order. MJ leaves, as Fury stares after her.
The day of the funeral. Aunt May and Gwen Stacy have been fetched by one of Tony Stark’s limousines. Stark explains he is picking up the tab for the funeral and all that entails. It’s not a big deal for him but he didn’t want her to worry. She doesn’t want a big thing, May states. She might not have much say in the matter, he warns her.
Outside the church, throngs of people are gathered. She doesn’t want this! May exclaims. Tony offers to take her home. The hotel, wherever she needs to go but, if he may, this wasn’t planned. This gathering just happened. If she has it in her, he thinks she should let it happen. The city needs to mourn, too. This is about more than just people who actually knew him. That’ll have to be for later. But it’s her call. Does she have it in her? May gets out of the car.
The crowd is silent until a small girl with a scarred face addresses her, asking if she is Spider-Man’s mommy. His aunt, May corrects her. But she made him breakfast like his mommy? the girl asks. May confirms. The girl tells her that, when she was little, Spider-Man saved her from a fire, so she didn’t die. May looks at her, shocked, and the girl offers her a hug.
Inside the church, Tony and Gwen lead May to the first row. She is met by a man dressed in his military dress uniform, who introduces himself as Captain Steve Rogers. He knew Peter, he tells her. May immediately recognizes him as Captain America. Lowering his head as he kneels before her, he says he just wanted to say it’s… it’s his fault. It’s his fault her boy is dead.
