In New York City, Spider-Man has gone through a strange change. He has become extremely violent and vicious in his crime-fighting ways, not caring for the safety of both criminal and civilian alike. The strangest thing about all of this: he is wearing a new black costume. As the Web-Slinger is branded a menace by the media, the children and the Avengers are outraged and confused by the notion. Although Iron Man simply attributes this to the smear campaign by the Daily Bugle editor-in-chief, J. Jonah Jameson, who despises Spider-Man, he nevertheless sends Cap, Thor and Hulk with their partners to New York to investigate, while he and the Wasp stay behind to help Hank Pym...