The Amazing Spider-Man #3

[Spider-Man Beyond]

The Amazing Spider-Man #3
The Sandman Cometh

Written and Edited by Daniel Dyer

The Parker home, as Peter is alone in his basement. The basement of the Parker home has acted as a makeshift lab for the young scientist to be. Today he’s putting a few modifications on his new camera.

There. The specific timer adjustment should be all set. Now I simply web this camera to a nearby wall and let it click away.

“Peter!” May calls from upstairs. “You better hurry or you’ll be late for school.”

Better get going. Looking over at his web-shooters. Although, I could get there a whole lot faster by way of web-line.

*

[Spider-Man Beyond]

“YYYEEEEAAAHHH!!!!” yells Spider-Man as he web-swings through the city on his way to Midtown High. This is outstanding. The rush, the excitement. How did I ever live without web-shooters? Just as Peter touches down on the roof of his school, he notices a mugging in progress across the way, in an alley. Hmm.... I have time before class. Guess its time to test the camera, as well as another nifty thing I whipped up.

*

[Spider-Man Beyond]

“All right. Just like that. In the bag, all of it.”

“This is everything I have. I swear.”

“Good.” And the mugger aims the gun right at his fearful victim. “Now say good-bye.”

Suddenly a red light shines down on the mugger and his victim. Big white eyes and a web spreading through the light making it look like the mask of Spider-Man.

“I call fowl,” states Spidey as he shoots a web-line to the gun, yanking it free from the mugger’s hand. “He gave you everything and you were still going too shoot him? Bad, bad mugger.”

Spider-Man then swings down from above, kicking the mugger, knocking him on his back.

“Time out for you,” Spider-Man says as he lays on the webbing. Once the mugger’s rapped up all tidy for the police, Spidey leaps onto the alley wall and begins crawling. My “Spider-Signal” worked like a charm. That lowlife was totally caught off guard.

BRIIINNGGG!!!

Ugh. Guess its back to life as Peter Parker. And now I’m late.

*

[Spider-Man Beyond]

“Hey, Liz,” Peter shouts as he runs down the hall. “I got those notes you w...” Uh-oh. Spider-sense. Brace yourself, Peter, and as Peter finishes the thought, he trips over Flash’s outstretched foot, and falling face first to the linoleum floor.

“Hiya, Liz,” Flash says, kissing her cheek.

Liz Allen. One of the most popular girls in school. Flash Thompson’s her boyfriend. Obviously she has no taste.

“Flash. Why’d you do that?”

“Do what?” Flash asks innocently.

“Flash Thompson, I saw you trip Peter.”

“What are you talking about? Puny Parker’s just clumsy.”

Peter’s gathering his stuff. Oh, no, don’t mind me. I can manage myself. Continue your fight.

“He tripped over your foot,” states Liz.

“So that’s my fault?!” questions Flash.

Peter hands Liz the notes. “Here, Liz,” he says as he turns to leave.

“Wait a second, Peter. A group of us are going to Coney Island tonight. You wanna come?”

“What?!?” Flash almost screams.

“Come on, Mr. Innocent. I’m sure you won’t mind if Peter joins us.”

“Of. Course. Not,” Flash says through gritted teeth.

“Good. See you both tonight,” Liz finishes as she walks off.

Wow. Liz invited me out tonight. Too bad the neandertha... Peter stops dead as he sees Flash’s expression. Gulp.

“Look, Parker, if you...”

“Okay, I’ll stay home tonight,” Peter says, thinking that’s what Flash wants to hear.

“No, Puny Parker. You’re going. Liz invited you. If you don’t show she’ll blame me. You just stay out of my way.” Flash punches a locker next to Peter’s head. “Got it?”

“Sure, Flash.” If only I would show Flash what I could do to that locker.

*

[Spider-Man Beyond]

“Great shot, Flash,” states Harry Osborn after Flash nails some guy in the dunking booth.

Harry Osborn. Flash’s best friend. Also the richest kid in school. His father is Norman Osborn and owns Oscorp. What Flash lacks, Harry has. I swear, together they’re like one person. At least Harry’s somewhat nicer.

“Hey, Petey, why don’t you take a shot,” Harry suggests.

Somewhat, Peter thinks as a he takes the ball. I could nail that with ease, on the first throw, but...

“And Puny Parker strikes out,” Flash shouts as Peter misses the target.

Keep it up, Flash. I swear, one day...

“Leave Parker alone, Flash,” Liz says. “Come on, let’s go to the Ferris Wheel.” Liz grabs Flash by the arm and pulls him along with her.

“You really shouldn’t let Flash get to you like that.”

“Says Flash’s best friend and the guy voted ‘sexiest man in Midtown High’.”

“I’m just trying to help, Parker. Look, Flash is an ass. I know this, and I know you get the brunt of it. I also know, one day, Flash’ll be working for you. That’s the way things work. Jocks are big in high school. But brains are big once we get out. Think about it, Parker.” And Harry walks off, leaving Peter to his thoughts.

Maybe he’s right. Maybe... Just then Peter notices a crowd racing towards him. Maybe I just might have bigger concerns at the moment.

*

[Spider-Man Beyond]

Over at the scene over the disturbance. A man, seemingly mad of sand, in jeans and a striped green and tan shirt, seemingly growing, adding the sand from the beach to his own mass.

“The Sandman’s come a’ callin’ and he’s gonna get paid,” the man of sand states as a he forms his hand into a mallet and smashes a safe, containing this night’s income for the amusement park.

“Hey, Mr. Sandman!”

“Huh?” Sandman questions as he looks up, receiving a bunch to his sandy face by the ever amazing Spider-Man.

“Bring me a dream,” Spidey sings. “Make him the cutest I’ve ever singed.”

Sandman starts wipping his sandy arms, lashing at Spidey.

Spider-Man somersaults and flips and avoids the sandy whips. “Don’t you just hate it when you can’t get a song out of your head?”

“Why don’t you mind your own business, hero?!” exclaims Sandman as he starts pouring on the sand.

Spidey forms a shield using webbing, shielding himself from the down pour of sand. Okay. This guy means business. Think. How do I fight someone made of sand?

“Looks like you’re gonna take a dirt nap, hero,” declares Sandman.

Spidey shoots out a web-line and swings himself out of Sandman’s way. “No thanks, Sandy. I’m not tired.” Hmmm... ya know, I think I just got an idea. “Hey, sandy, follow the bouncing spider,” Spidey yells as he leaps and bounds farther into the amusement park, with Sandman right behind you.

“Crack jokes, li’l spider. Just wait until I get my mitts on you!”

As Sandy rounds a corner, he loses sight of Spider-Man.

“Come out, come out, wherever you are, bug.”

Just a little further.

“Coward! Come out and meet your fate!”

Almost. Almost. Now. “Hey, Sandy!”

“What?!” Sandman turns, seeing Spider-Man behind him, with the dunking tank above his head.

“I think you should change your name. To mud,” cracks Spidey as he flips the tank over, pouring the water down on Sandman, and slamming the tank upside-down on Sandman, caging him.

“Noooo!” screams Sandman.

“That should keep you until the police get here. Its been fun, ‘Mudman’” states Spider-Man as he swings off.

*

[Spider-Man Beyond]

Later, as Peter meets back up with the “gang”.

“Spidey was awesome!” exclaims Flash.

“Hey, Parker. Where were you. You missed all the excitement.”

“Really? What happened?”

“Spider-Man was here and he trashed this sand guy, trying to rob the place,” Harry answers.

“Wow, sorry I missed it.” Peter smiles thinking, if only they knew.

“Like Parker would ever notice. He was probably off studying some text book.”

Peter’s smile fades from his face, remembering he’s just not one of the “gang”. Peter just turns and leaves.

The end.