05x04 - Chapter III: Secrets of the Six

[bunniefuu]

Previously on Spider-Man.

Are you related to
Richard and Mary Parker?

The last time I saw them,
they stood where you stand now.

Wolfgang, the K.G.B. are onto us.

You must make it out.

This weapon is more
dangerous than ever.

I'll take that.

Chameleon?

Welcome to my...
temporary base, Spider-Man.

For years, there was a rumor
of a doomsday device

created by a German master spy

who plan to take over the world.

I intend to do the same.

No!

I've been betrayed!

The infamous Kingpin.

Drop your weapons.

This complex will be in rubble.

Head for that stairway.

Time to leave.

My men and I thank you.

There are pieces of the puzzle
I'd like to share with you

but you best hear it from
Professor Omar Mosley.

He knows the story of the
six forgotten warriors.

My parents were never traitors.

Now all that remains is
for the world to find out.

I've got to find them

or the world will
be in great danger.

I've got to find the
six forgotten warriors.

I still can hardly believe the story

Omar Mosley told Robbie and me.

Mr. Robertson!

You got my message.

I came as fast as I could.

I'm glad you did.

Robbie, come in.

Omar, this is Peter Parker,
the one I told you about.

Mr. Robertson says you
have a story I should hear.

Yes.

I've kept this all these years.

This is where the story begins.

That shield!

It looks just like the one that
belonged to Captain America!

The story of the six American
warriors began in 1942.

The dark days of World w*r II.

A scientist named Dr. Reinstein

created a serum to turn a normal
human into what he called...

a "super soldier."

It is time to unveil the volunteer

for this top secret experiment.

Private Steve Rogers.

Rogers is merely the first of
a new breed of super soldiers.

Gentlemen, meet the new
champion of the allied forces,

Captain America!

In the name of the fatherland

I will destroy this
American w*r machine.

It's going to explode!

Run!

When the German spy sabotaged
the super soldier experiment,

Dr. Reinstein was lost.

With him, went the secret
to the super soldier serum.

The only known copy of
it had been in that lab.

A team of scientists tried
to re-create the formula.

They wanted to make an
army of super soldiers

but because of w*r-time
chemical shortages

only five more doses
could be synthesized.

So five young volunteers were found

to become America's new heroes.

However, the new process was
discovered to be unstable.

Miraculously, no one was hurt.

The process was obviously too
dangerous to ever be used again.

And yet, there was
an amazing result.

Each volunteer was
affected differently.

One's muscle strength
was so increased

that he became incredibly fast.

The other gained the
ability to control her mass.

She could will herself to
become lighter than air.

Another was able to create sonic
shock waves with his vocal cords.

The final two came closest

to duplicating Captain
America's powers.

However, the five new
heroes discovered that

their powers weren't permanent.

They would wear off after a time.

The scientists deduced that someday
those powers would cease altogether.

So to ration their use,
they created ring devices

to turn the powers
on only when needed.

Only Captain America's
powers were permanent.

Since he was the only one
who took Reinstein's formula

he was the true super soldier.

Soon the others took names
to suit their new identities.

They became The Destroyer,

Miss America,

the Thunderer,

the Black Marvel

and the Whizzer.

With Cap as their leader,
they were to be called

"the Six American Warriors."

Miss America?

The Thunderer?

With those names, they
expected to be taken seriously?

Yes.

And they were.

Well, it was a different time then.

The Whizzer?

For his speed.

Uh... how do you know all
about this, Professor Mosley?

Way back then, I was the
Black Marvel's chauffeur.

I was what you might call a
sidekick to the Black Marvel.

His real identity was Dan Lyons.

The purpose of the six was to destroy
fifth column spies and saboteurs.

Then one night, the six stumbled
onto the most devious plot

the Axis powers ever hatched.

It began as an attack on
a German spy rendezvous

but it turned into more

with the discovery of a
unique matchbook cover.

[ Yelling ]

What's going...?

It was Cap who examined
the cover and found on it

a microscopically
reduced film negative.

It contained information
leading to a deadly weapon

designed to defeat the
six American warriors

and the country as well.

Excellent.

Thanks to your work,

I have reached phase one
of Project Doomsday.

Herr Dr. Groitzig,

you are now of no
further use to me.

Dispose of him.

Stay back.

Leave him alone.

We know about Project Doomsday.

We're here to pull the plug.

I think not.

[ Electronic buzzing ]

This energy vortex will
keep you trapped forever.

Cap!

Stay back, all of you.

We are evenly matched.

You cannot escape.

Maybe, but I can see to it that

you're not around to
activate this atrocity.

Captain America sacrificed himself

so that the doomsday device
would never be used.

Would I have the guts to
make that kind of sacrifice?

I pray that I never
have to find out.

The machine's advanced
power source was perpetual.

Cap and the Skull would remain
in stasis indefinitely.

Now what do we do?!

We can't just keep
this our little secret.

Can't we?

After much arguing,

the five decided they
could keep it a secret.

They divided the six
keys among themselves.

Except for the Black Marvel,
who, by luck of the draw

took the remaining two.

And they all vowed to
find a way to one day...

free Captain America.

What happened to them?

Of course, they
then got distracted

by the business
of winning the w*r

but when the w*r ended,
they received a rude shock.

They were ordered to disband.

The w*r department feared
their dwindling powers

would prove to be a liability.

Now what do we do?

I plan to devote my life

to research that might
someday save Cap.

Cap is gone for good.

I'll never abandon Cap.

I'm gonna protect the
site till my dying day.

When they couldn't reach an
agreement, they all moved on.

The w*r became part of history

and the warriors,
they were forgotten

as things are, in time.

The six forgotten warriors.

I decided to help Dan Lyons
in his scientific pursuits

to save Captain America.

I went to college and
became a scientist.

He put me in charge of
one of his companies

that was doing research
on vortex phenomena.

But Dan died and so
I started teaching.

Professor Mosley was the
hardest teacher I ever had,

but we became friends,

and years later he confided
his story to me.

What about the keys?
Where are they?

They're in a safe place.

The six kept their
identities secret.

Today they could be anywhere
if they're still alive.

I get it now.

When my parents found Groitzig

he wanted to disable
the doomsday device

but he needed the six keys.

My parents must have found
the secret identities

of the American six for him.

Someone stopped them before they
could get Groitzig out of the country.

And Groitzig spent the next


Omar, this doomsday
device, what is it?

Only the Red Skull knew that,
but what I do know is

someone is after the keys
to the doomsday complex

and if they get them
the world is in dire peril.

That someone is the Kingpin.

He has everything he needs,
and I have no way to stop him.

I'm stuck waiting to see
what he throws at us next.

You once worked for my
arch enemy, Silvermane.

Are you the traitor?

No! I swear it ain't me.

Well, one of you has
betrayed me once

and may try to betray me again.

But I'm warning you.

The information inside this box

should make me powerful enough
to squash all my enemies.

Look, it's all here,
the owners of the keys.

We've already infiltrated
every data base in the country.

If these people have
cars or even a dog

we'll find them!

Distribute the information they
will need to find those keys.

This is what I'm looking for.

Six statues of six
ancient gods of w*r.

Uh, you said you wanted keys.

These are keys.

The base of each statue

contains a pin-tumbler key
of a very advanced design.

Go and bring them to me.

Bring me the keys to our future
ownership of the world.

[ Children laughing ]

You can't make the superhero's head
smaller than his hands, Bobby.

Maybe not when you were
drawing comics, Mr. Frank,

but this is what's happening
in comics nowadays.

But it doesn't look real.

So what? Nothing you ever drew
back in the '40s looked real.

Like that goofy Whizzer character.

Nobody ever took him for real.

I'm looking for the Whizzer.

Mr. Frank, what's
he talking about?!

Whizzer, you got
something I want

and you're gonna
give it to me

or you ain't gonna
live to see 100.

How do I stop the Kingpin?

If only I could... whoa!

Did I just see the Vulture

chasing after an old
woman who was flying?

Stay away from me!

[ Screaming ]

Out of web fluid?

Not now.

One cartridge left.

Got to move.

Made it.

Whoever you are,
you're safe now.

Not on your life, son.

That feathered freak stole
something in my bag

that could destroy the world.

It didn't happened to be
a small statue, did it?

How do you know about...?

Don't worry. I'll get it back...

Miss America.

I can't fight the Insidious
Six on one web cartridge.

I could go home, but,

I've still got some spare web
cartridges at Aunt May's.

Your promises to your old pals

have put them in
great danger, Keene.

What do you mean, Nick?

The Whizzer, Bob Frank,

has been attacked
and his key stolen.

So has Miss America,
Madeline Joyce.

I could have prevented this if
you had told me the whole truth.

I thought by not revealing
their identities

it might keep them
out of harm's way.

You were wrong.

Yes. Again.

We'll talk later, Fury.
Over and out.

Keene, you're still here.

You can join us for lunch.

May, you must let
me have those items.

I can't wait any longer.

What on earth is
he talking about?

Keene, not now.

If you don't,
we're in great danger.

You don't know what's at stake.

Ben told me, and I made
a solemn vow to him

not to let you have them.

Marlowe, we're here for that key.

Now fork over that key

or the Shocker here takes
care of the ladies.

Get back!

How did you find me here?

Kingpin can get information
from anywhere he needs to

even SHIELD headquarters.

I've had it, frog face.

Stay out of this, wall crawler.

[ Grunts ]

Look out!

I've got to get him outside
to protect my family.

May, they've come for it.

And they'll tear your
place apart to find it.

Tell me where they're hidden?

They're in the basement
under the furnace.

Uh-oh, that's it for the webbing.

[ Grunting ]

No!

Stop! Stop!

[ Gasps ]

Freeze, webbed one,
or I spray the old lady.

No, don't! I give up.

Who the heck are you?

[ Grunts ]

I'm called the Destroyer

and if you want this, you'll
have to take it from me.

That's it. I'm through
playing around.

[ Grunts ]

No...

My powers... they're fading.

[ Gasping ]

[ Grunts ]

Come on, let's get out of here.

Are you all right?

I have to deactivate.

[ Gasping ]

You can't stay here.

Look at this poor old house.

You've got to come to my house
now where you'll be safe.

Now, you too, Mary Jane.

No. I intend to wait
here for my husband.

Fine. Come along, May.

Are you okay?

Yeah, but he's not
in such great shape.

He's coming around.

Did they get the statue?

Yes.

I should never have tried
to use my powers.

I failed... again.

Mr. Marlowe.

What do you have to do with this?

I'm one of a group
who called ourselves...

The six American warriors?

That was a long time ago.

But what brought you here?

This house.

Oh, it all goes back
to over 50 years ago.

It was in the late 1930s.

Ben Parker and I always
wanted to be heroes.

It was all we thought about
when we were young.

Well, almost all
we thought about.

Lenora Sharp was also
on both our minds.

Oh, we were both head-over-heels
in love with her.

At first, Ben had the inside track.

Then the w*r started

and I was chosen
to be in a project

which would turn me
into a real superhero.

Against orders, I told Lenora.

She was enthralled.

Ben couldn't compete with that.

He was just a
regular, decent guy.

Lenora and I married
during the w*r.

Did she love the Destroyer
or Keene Marlowe?

All I knew was I was in paradise

but paradise never
lasts for very long.

It wasn't until 1946
right after the w*r ended

when I told Lenora that my
powers weren't permanent.

She begged me to give
up being a superhero.

But I couldn't.

I was hooked on the thrill of it.

Even after the w*r

I continued to work in secret
for the government.

Then one night, I let my
beautiful wife down.

I saw a bank being robbed.

I activated my powers.

It was an impetuous,
foolhardy thing to do.

My wife was caught
in the cross fire.

How ironic. I'd become
the destroyer, all right.

The destroyer of lives.

Ben Parker was as
devastated as I was.

From that moment we both
knew that with great power

there must always come
great responsibility.

So that's how uncle Ben
learned that lesson.

I gave my ring and
my costume to Ben

to keep hidden somewhere
in this house.

Hidden from me,

so that I'd never be tempted
to use them again.

But I also gave him my key
to the doomsday device.

Fury knew about that.

When he heard May Parker
was selling the house

he urged me to stop her.

I appreciate your
telling me all this

more than you can know.

Now rest here for a few minutes.

There's something I must do.

And this'll only take a second.

What a sad life
Mr. Marlowe has had.

No kidding.

My worst fear is that
I'll end up like Marlowe

and jeopardies Mary Jane's life.

Why do I do this?

Why do I still have to
put on this costume?

What is it, tiger?
What's the matter?

I just want you to know
I love you, M.J.

Fury says the damage to May Parker's
house will be taken care of by SHIELD.

Fair enough.

You've been awfully silent.

What's on your mind, Spider-Man?

I was thinking.

You were a real superhero
in World w*r II

but for the rest of your life,
you've been a regular person.

Did you miss being a
costumed crime fighter at all?

Just between us costumed cronies

I missed it more than I would
miss the very air I breathe.

Being a superhero
is a wonderful gift

one not to be taken lightly.

I was afraid you were
gonna say that.

The worse part about it is,
I agree with you.

To be continued...