At his first school day, Peter feels it's too good to be true: he is with Flash's ex Liz; Harry is back, with Gwen and hopefully cured of his Green Goblin mutation. They double-date at Flash's birthday blast. After a museum alarm, Spiderman sees Eddie outside but finds and fights Sandman inside. Hammerhead has a dirtier job for him, attacking an oil tanker. Peter wonders if the symbiont is back.

Editor J. Jonah Jameson's analysis who might be Spiderman indicates Peter, so he sends reporters to question everybody about his whereabouts. Eddie returns to the lab and steals a gene cleanser to rob Spidey of his powers and deals with helpless Peter and his loved ones. Jealous of the media attention, Flash poses in a Spiderman suit. Crooks see his crutches and think Spiderman is at his weakest. Captain Stacy holds a seminar on identity risks.