Spider-Man focuses his attention on Eddie Brock and Jonah Jameson and warns him to call off his reward, also mentioning Rhino and how Brock neglected to mention him. After Jonah visits his hospitalized son, Jameson finds out from him that Brock was lying and fires him. He also calls off the manhunt for Spider-Man. Noticing another disturbing change in his behavior, Spider-Man seeks the assistance of Doctor Curt Connors, who studies the suit and realizes that it is a Symbiote. Spider-Man then uses the Symbiote's powers to find a clue in Eddie's apartment, only to run into the Shocker, sent by The Kingpin to destroy the evidence Brock has of the crash site. Following Shocker leads Spider-Man to Alistair Smythe and the "Promethium X", which Spider-Man steals. Kingpin and Shocker form a plan to kidnap John Jameson in an attempt to gain the "Promethium X" back.

Norman Osborn hires the Hobgoblin to assassinate Wilson Fisk, also known as The Kingpin, because of the crime lord's continuous threats against him. Peter Parker saves Fisk just as the Hobgoblin attempts an attack on him. After eluding Spider-Man, the Hobgoblin is fired by Norman as of his unsuccessful assassination on The Kingpin.