Spider-Noir

Someone once asked me what universe this was.

A strange question that

stuck with me all these years later.

All I could say for sure

was it was the only one I knew of.

And that was as true then as it is now.

Am I an extraordinary man?

Yes.

Am I an ordinary man?

Yes.

I'm both. I'm neither.

But aren't we all?

New York.

I grew up in this city.

-I learned to fight in this city. -

Get him!

And I fell in love in this city.

A mistake I'll never make again.

I used to be The Spider,

this city's hero.

Always on guard,

always ready to swoop in and save the day.

That ended when Ruby died.

We were going to be married in the spring.

I even bought a ring to make it official.

A ring I never had the chance to give her.

Ruby once told me that

with great power comes great responsibility.

Well, she was the greatest responsibility

I ever had.

And I failed her.

The Spider failed her.

After that, I didn't want the power or the responsibility.

So I went back to being just an ordinary man.

That was five years ago.

- -

What do you think?

I think you got a bingo.

Say, you're kinda handsome.

Now I'm questioning your eyesight.

Funny, too.

So, you got a wife?

-No. -Shame.

I got a husband.

Not that it's ever stopped me from having a good time.

Know what I mean?

I've got a decent idea.

When your husband gets the same idea, tell him to give me a call.

Hm. Okay.

Excuse me, sir? Sir!

You forgot your hat.

Thank you.

You keep following me, it won't end the way you want it to.

It never does.

Addison!

Sorry, pal. Hey.

Don't do it, Addison.

I'm as liable to shoot you as I am to give chase.

Damn it!

Oh, my God, is he dead?

- -

- -Sir, sir, you shouldn't...

-You really shouldn't... -Where did they go? Which way?

It's not my fault you ripped off the wrong people, Addison.

Now, come on, let's go. It's getting late and it smells like shit back here.

I tried to warn you.

What?

Whoa.

Now you're gonna burn.

Jesus, Mary and Joseph.

- -

Oh... Oh, no. Oh, my God! Oh...

Whoa, whoa!

Huh.

Okay.

Oh! That man was completely on fire.

I've never seen such a thing.

Should've known it was fishy they offered me 50 bucks

to track down a nobody.

Who hired you... guy named Winston?

-Yeah. -Bastard only offered me 30.

I need a drink. You?

Sure. Nothing too fancy. All I got is...

Three bucks.

Come on, Donegal. I know a joint.

Might even have a girl for you. If you like train wrecks.

Oh. I must,

'cause I keep marrying 'em.

Morning.

It was.

Now it's a mediocre afternoon, headed towards

a lousy evening. Coffee?

You got anything a little harder?

That's what I keep asking my husband.

-You can just pour it right in. -That's just it...

you really can't.

-Any calls? -Well, to receive calls,

you got to pay Ma Bell.

Till then, that's just a paperweight.

How'd it go with Addison?

Oh, wow. That well, huh?

Addison's dead.

-You... -No.

-Some other guy. This goddamn city... -

You open?

-No! -Yes!

I tried calling, but it didn't

-seem to go through. -Mr.-Mr. Reilly believes that

business is better conducted face-to-face.

Wouldn't you agree, Mister...?

Uh, Carmedy.

Right this way, Mr. Carmedy.

It's about my wife.

You a rich man, Mr. Carmedy?

No. Not particularly.

Possessed of a keen wit, then?

Huh?

Huh.

Look, I heard my wife on the phone this afternoon.

She's gonna meet this so-and-so at 8:00 tonight.

I even got the address. Look, look, look.

I do love a client who comes prepared.

So you'll do it? You'll take the case?

Okay, Carmedy, my rate's ten dollars a day, plus...

But you'll get pictures, right?

Cause without pictures it's basically just a-a "he said, she said" situation.

I'm sure your suspicions are unfounded, Mr. Carmedy,

but if it comes to it, don't you fret, Ben's an ace photographer.

Never miss a shot.

Ten dollars a day.

Plus expenses.

Janet'll get your info and a small retainer.

Come back day after tomorrow and, uh...

I'll give you what you want.

Thank you.

Come on, Mr. Carmedy,

let's get that info and that retainer, huh?

Explosion at Standard Oil. Read all about it.

Explosion at Standard Oil.

Explosion, here, at Standard Oil.

- -

Sorry I'm late. I was chasing a story.

Some other mobster

is finally making a move on Silvermane.

Burned down his mansion a couple of nights ago,

killed six of his men,

and somehow, the old bastard escaped.

You think Finn Byrne likes being called Silvermane?

Thinks it speaks to... I don't know... gravitas and longevity?

If I ever get that rich, you call me

-anything you want. -That-That's a used pickle. Uh...

So, what you hiding over there... another cheating spouse?

Thought you said you weren't gonna take those anymore.

I haven't paid Janet in months. Beggars can't be choosers.

Says the man who has chosen to be a beggar. For Chrissakes, Ben...

Robbie, not today, okay? Not again.

Have you seen it out there?

The city's a mess.

Ever since The Spider disappeared,

Silvermane's got this city by the throat.

Crime is out of control

and the police are completely in his pocket.

Now, the people...

the people could use a hero.

Well...

I hope they find someone.

-You used to be... -I know who I used to be.

And I know who I am now.

There's always gonna be another Silvermane, Robbie.

There's no point in fighting it.

I can't help but wonder what Ruby would think if she heard you talking like that.

Ruby's been dead a long time.

I don't care what she'd think anymore.

Hey, Frankie, you're out early today.

Hey, Reilly, how you doing?

You know, I've been practicing my pocket tricks.

Oh, yeah? How's that going?

You tell me.

Dames, huh?