The Essential Spider-Man #3

In "From the Depths of Defeat!", Peter Parker, still reeling from his battle with the new Vulture, struggles to recover—only to see the Vulture and Kraven locked in a brutal clash on the news. With his strength fading but his resolve unbroken, he pushes himself back into the fight, determined to stop them both before they destroy the city.

In "Spider-Man No More!", Peter Parker steps away from the mask, trading web-slinging for college life as he tries to protect Aunt May from the stress of his double life. When a discarded suit ends up on display at the Daily Bugle, the city’s crime rate climbs—especially as the Kingpin begins consolidating power. With the streets slipping into chaos and his old ideals echoing in his mind, Peter must decide whether to stay hidden or answer the call once more.

In "In The Clutches of the Kingpin!", Spider-Man’s renewed crusade against crime puts him directly in the crosshairs of the Kingpin, who strikes back by targeting J. Jonah Jameson and enlisting the dubious help of reporter Foswell. As Spider-Man races to stop the kidnapping, he’s caught in a trap and overwhelmed by a disabling gas, leaving him at the mercy of the criminal mastermind.

In "To Die A Hero!", Spider-Man faces a deadly test of resolve when Kingpin traps him and J. Jonah Jameson in a flooded basement, forcing the web-slinger to fight through rising water and brutal odds. As tensions peak, Foswell makes a desperate choice to turn against Kingpin, sacrificing himself to save Jameson, while Flash Thompson’s sudden return adds new weight to the chaos.