Chapter 651: A Teenager's Troubles
The latest version of Spider-Man seemed overly reliant on his suit.
Viewers outside the screen had noticed this too. After watching videos of the other two versions of Spider-Man, they were well aware: how could Spider-Man overly depend on his suit and gadgets?
Whether it was Toby's Version or Andrew's Version, they overcame formidable enemies through their own intelligence and abilities—not just by relying on high-tech equipment.
In fact, part of Spider-Man's appeal lay in his relatability: a neighborhood kid from humble beginnings who gained powers through mutation and stood up to wealthy, tech-savvy villains.
But in this second version from the main Marvel Universe, not only did Spider-Man become one of these tech-savvy elites, but he also openly admitted, "Without my suit, I'm nothing," a sentiment that upended people's understanding of the previous Spider-Men.
Off-screen, Strange raised an eyebrow and remarked, "Tsk, I remember Steve asking Tony something similar in the future during the Battle of New York: 'What are you without your suit?'"
Pietro Maximoff glanced at the young Peter beside him and said, "Kid, I don't think you should follow Tony Stark's lead. That will only limit your growth. You should learn more from the other two Spider-Men."
Peter pouted. "But Mr. Stark is my idol... His suits and the spider-suit he made for me are so cool!"
Pietro rolled his eyes. Typical kid—always fascinated by robots and high-tech armor.
However, Stephen took a more serious tone: "Listen, Peter. Your idol has high expectations for you. He wants you to surpass him, not become him. Do you understand?"
Peter opened his mouth, his big, expressive eyes filled with confusion. He didn't fully grasp what Stephen meant.
Stephen didn't press further. After all, Peter was still just a child. He'd have plenty of time to mature.
In the video, Tony, disappointed by Peter's dependence on his suit, sternly said, "If you're nothing without the suit, then you don't deserve to have it. Understand?"
Seeing Peter's shocked and helpless expression, Tony sighed and added, "God, I sound just like my father."
It seemed the former playboy was finally experiencing the struggles of fatherhood.
Peter, still reluctant, tried to argue, saying that it was his only suit, and he couldn't exactly go home naked.
But such a minor issue was no challenge for Tony Stark. In the end, Peter returned home dressed as a regular high school student, feeling utterly dejected.
It was already late, and Aunt May was worried about him. Seeing his red, tear-filled eyes made her even more concerned. After some pressing, Peter finally admitted he had messed everything up and lost his internship at Stark Industries.
When Tony first recruited him, Peter used the internship as a cover to keep Aunt May from worrying.
Heartbroken, May pulled the pitiful Peter into her arms and comforted him. Off-screen, many viewers whistled.
Some even joked: "This Spider-Man might be lacking compared to the other two, but this Aunt May is definitely the most attractive!"
No doubt about it—while the previous Aunt Mays were elderly, this version was a stunning woman whose exact age was hard to guess.
With his family's support, Peter slowly regained his energy and threw himself back into his mundane high school life. He treated his time as Spider-Man as nothing more than a failed internship.
However, he occasionally felt gloomy—until he successfully confessed his feelings to his crush, Liz, which finally lifted his spirits. But soon, unexpected events began to unfold!
The audience outside the screen already knew what was coming.
Peter's crush, Liz, turned out to be the daughter of none other than the Vulture, Adrian Toomes!
When Peter went to pick Liz up for the school dance, he unexpectedly came face-to-face with Adrian at her house. Just recently, they had clashed on the ferry, where Peter had seen him donning the Vulture suit. Naturally, Peter recognized him immediately.
This sudden twist left Peter stunned. Thankfully, he'd matured enough not to lose his composure and make a scene.
However, during the car ride to the dance, Adrian, being the seasoned schemer he was, managed to coax some information out of the young and naive Peter.
When they were alone, Adrian directly revealed his knowledge. He told Peter that family was more important than anything else. Since Peter had saved Liz's life, Adrian was willing to give him a chance: if Peter stayed out of his business, they could call it even.
But if Peter persisted, Adrian's voice dropped ominously as he threatened, "I won't just kill you—I'll kill everyone you care about."
It was clear that after eight years of crime, Adrian had become a seasoned villain.
In contrast, the inexperienced Peter was as meek as a quail in his presence. When he got out of the car, Adrian even forced Peter to say "thank you."
Of course, everyone knew Spider-Man wasn't scared of the Vulture. But the events of the night had shaken him.
What was supposed to be a sweet date with his crush turned into a nightmare. Learning that his enemy was his crush's father was a heavy blow for a fifteen-year-old boy.
When Peter arrived at the dance, he looked utterly lost. The lively atmosphere and his classmates' excitement only made his inner turmoil more apparent.
He hesitated, conflicted. Adrian had warned him to enjoy the dance and forget everything. But could he really do that?
On one hand, there was love. On the other, the responsibility of being a hero and upholding justice. The young Spider-Man was caught in a dilemma.
At that moment, the video paused, and a new question popped up on the screen:
[Will Spider-Man Peter Parker compromise with Adrian Toomes?]
[A: Yes
B: No.]
If it were the other two Spider-Men, viewers would choose "B" without hesitation. But now, many found themselves uncertain.
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