Amazing Spider-Man #421

Issue Details

Synopsis

AND DEATH SHALL FLY LIKE A DRAGON! Peter Parker is sent to the South Street Seaport to take photos of the street fair that is happening there. Not long after his arrival, he bumps into his co-worker Angela Yin. She assures Peter that the Bugle hasn't sent two photographers and that she had come to the street fair to meet up with her cousin, who has come to visit from Korea. That's when Angela spots her cousin, Meiko, approaching her. She is carrying what looks to be a sword, and Angela figures that it is a gift to her from one of their relatives. Suddenly, a group of ninja warriors ambushes Meiko, led by a man named Karsano. As she wonders why these men are attacking her cousin, Angela notices that Peter Parker has vanished from sight.  Grabbing a massive wooden hammer on display, Spider-Man joins the fight and is surprised to see that Meiko is able to hold her own. As they fight the ninjas, Maiko tells the wall-crawler to protect the innocent people caught in the middle of the battle, confident that she can handle her attackers on her own. As the battle continues, none are aware of an elderly woman watching the fight with great interest. When Spider-Man gets the bystanders to safety the street begins to fill with black smoke. The web-head tries to stop Mieko from leaping into the smoke, but when he follows her through she, and the ninjas, have mysteriously vanished. A short time later, at her apartment, Angela Yin demands answers from Meiko, as she understands enough Korean to understand that Karsano knows who her cousin is. Meiko explains that Karsano was once her fiancee. When they were young and in love, the pair were devoted to the martial arts. However, Karsano was too impatient with his progress and decided to join the True Believers, an offshoot of the Hand ninjas. Their leader, Madam Qwa, offered him the power of the Dragonfly. However, in order to achieve this power, he was ordered to forsake his love for Meiko and kill her. There were conditions though, he could only make three attempts on her life and he has already tried and failed twice. That's when Meiko thinks she sees someone in the window and rushed to it with sword drawn. When she looks out the window she sees nobody there, narrowly missing Spider-Man who had been listening in by the window.  Spider-Man has heard about the Hand from his allies Daredevil and Wolverine and thinks about enlisting their aid when he suddenly spots a group of True Believers standing on the rooftop across the street. Although he has to meet with his wife, Mary Jane, at Empire State University for lunch, the wall-crawler lunges into battle.  The sound of battle draws out Meiko, who orders Spider-Man to butt out of her business. While Spider-Man deals with the other ninjas, Meiko battles Karsano as Madam Qwa watches from across the street. Although Karsano manages to knock Meiko to the ground, his sword is broken by Spider-Man. After being humiliated by the wall-crawler, Karsano attempts to use smoke to cover his exit, but Spider-Man webs up the smoke bomb. Considering himself a failure, Karsano deems himself unworthy of the Dragonfly title and triggers a chemical reaction in his body that causes his body to dissipate into nothing, committing ritualistic suicide. This disgusts Spider-Man, but Meiko believes that Karsano's death had ended his torment. When the wall-crawler asks her if this is over, Meiko believes that her quest has only begun.  Later, at Madam Qwa's lair, Meiko comes to apologize to the elderly woman for Spider-Man's interference. As it turns out, Meiko had already earned the title of Dragonfly. Madam Qwa assures Meiko that Spider-Man's inteference was not her fault and promises her that she will get a chance at revenge. Madam Qwa explains that they have been hired by an employer who has a grudge to settle against the wall-crawler and asks her to be patient. HIDDEN AGENDAS! After his battle with the True Believers, Spider-Man rushes to Empire State University and is running late for his first day back to school. As he rushes to meet with his wife, Mary Jane, Spider-Man changes into his civilian clothing on the fly, putting his shirt on backwards in the process. As he runs across the campus, he thinks about how he and his wife decided to go back to school. While Peter is looking to get his Master's Degree in biophysics, Mary Jane has decided to make a career change from acting to psychology. Along the way, Peter runs into Jacob Conover, who has been working at ESU teaching journalism since he was laid off at the Daily Bugle.  Peter doesn't have time to stop and catch up, annoying Conover who is still unhappy with being let go from his job.   When Peter finally catches up with Mary Jane, he apologizes for being late but learns that he was actually early. Knowing that her husband has a habit of running late, she told him to meet her an hour earlier than planned knowing that this would make him show up on time. She then drags Peter into the administration office so they can register for his courses. Peter wonders where he will find the time to go back to school, but Mary Jane is sure that the world will be able to get along just fine without Spider-Man while Peter is continuing his education. As she says this, the couple is unaware that a group of True Believers have attacked an electronics warehouse and slaughtered all the workers there. By the time they are through the administration office, Peter looks at his bill for classes and textbooks and is reminded how expensive going back to school will be.   Mary Jane once again assures her husband that they will find a way to manage. On their way out of the building, they run into Jill Stacy and her brother Paul. While Jill is happy to see them, Paul is standoffish and questions if Peter will be able to handle their classes with Professor Howard. Peter, on the other hand, feels uncomfortable around the Stacy's especially since he blames himself for the death of Gwen, their cousin.   Meanwhile, the Rose has learned that another one of his warehouses has been hit by the True Believers and he is furious. In order to calm her employer, Delilah tries to seduce the Rose. However, he refuses to give in to her desires as it would involve taking off his mask -- something he vows to never do as he trusts nobody with his true identity. Instead, he tells Delilah to deal with the ninjas, a task she gladly accepts. While back at ESU, Peter Parker looks over his course reading list and feels overwhelmed. Seeing Parker's puzzled face, Professor Howard tells Peter that he is going to have to work hard after being out of school for so long. He warns Peter that if he has any doubts in his own ability to cancel his tuition and save everyone time and money. While in South America, the Black Tarantula receives a call from Madame Qwa. When she tells him about Spider-Man's recent interference in her work, he tells her to eliminate the wall-crawler if he meddles in their work again.   Unaware of all of these events converging together, Peter Parker walks home with his wife Mary Jane. She once again tries to put his mind at ease about going back to school. Although he still is worried about the cost and the challenge, Peter promises to stick to it. It's then that Mary Jane asks him why his shirt is on backward earlier that night.