Complete story — includes the ending
Peter is waiting at an airfield for Tony Stark to arrive. When he does, Tony informs Peter that he’d been to a last minute meeting at midnight. As they board a private jet, Tony also reveals that he has brought along a new version of the Iron Spider Armor, even though the original is less than 24 hours old. Peter notes that he understands now why Tony has gone through so many versions of his Iron Man armor.
As the jet heads to Washington, D.C., Tony and Peter discuss a proposed Superhuman Registration Act, which is the reason for Tony going to Washington. He explains to Peter that the United States Senate is proposing to force people with superpowers to register their real names or face prosecution. Peter worries about what would happen if that information fell into the wrong hands. Tony hopes he can talk them out of these plans.
Peter and Tony land in Washington and make their way to a hotel. There, in his hotel room, Peter checks out the new Iron Spider Armor. A recorded message from Tony relays to him all the new features. The armor can appear invisible when Peter is wearing it, as well as making itself look like Peter’s original and black costumes if he thinks of them. It can also camouflage itself in darkness. Tony’s newest feature surprises Peter as mechanical arms, called Waldoes, extend from the armor when Peter thinks about picking something up. They can also see around corners and broadcast what they see to the armor’s eyepieces.
Outside, Peter and Tony climb into a limousine, unaware that they are being targeted by Titanium Man. At the hearing, Senator Dickerson greets Tony and notes his numerous roles, including being Iron Man. Tony insists that he is no longer Iron Man, but the Senator wonders if he would swear to that under oath. Tony replies that he’d need to bring counsel with him if the Senate wants to put him under oath. Instead the Senator hands over to one of his colleagues to begin the hearing.
Senator Whitmore brings up the fact that superhumans have been a prominent role in America since 1946. He then highlights the estimate that from 1946 until the present day, battles involving superhumans have caused nearly $200,000,000,000 in damages which federal agencies have had to pay for since they don’t know who to bill. Whitmore asks what Tony’s response is to that number. Tony replies with a number of his own - 47. 47 times that superhumans had saved North America from being destroyed. Tony then mentions that the Department of Defense budget for 2006 is $419,000,000,000. By comparison $200,000,000,000 over sixty years, which equates to $300,000,000 per year, is a cheap price to pay for saving America 47 times.
Senator Whitmore counters that even superhumans are capable of making mistakes. He points out that people in other walks of life have agencies with whom they need to register in case of accidents for which they will need to be held accountable. Whitmore asks if Tony has any reason why people like superhumans, who can cause so much damage, shouldn’t also be held accountable. Tony replies that he doesn’t. Peter gives his opinion that superhumans battle bad guys because they have powers and feel a responsibility to use them. Those people have families that the supervillains they face would go after if their identities were publicly known.
Whitmore points out that people in law enforcement and public office face the same threats, but don’t operate behind masks. Peter counters that those people chose to do their jobs, whereas superhumans didn’t ask for the powers they have and are merely trying to use their powers in a system that wouldn’t allow them to operate openly. Whitmore suggests that Peter’s point would be even more reason for those people to register with a government agency so that they could have backing from the government and law enforcement. Peter realises he may have done more harm than good and the Senate takes a recess.
After receiving advice from Tony on how to deal with questions like the ones they’ve faced today, Peter telephones Mary Jane to let her know how things are going. During the call he has a tingle from his spider sense, since Titanium Man is targeting him again. Peter thinks about heading out as Spider-Man to scout around, but doesn’t get the chance as the recess ends.
After another four hours and fifteen minutes have passed in the hearing, Tony makes a case that changing a system where anonymous superpowered individuals serve the country the way they have could cause a more dangerous situation. When asked to elaborate, Tony suggests that Prohibition led to organised crime and made criminals of ordinary citizens overnight. The same happened with young people who dodged the draft during the Vietnam War. Tony suggests that if people with powers refuse to register they’ll be labelled criminals. Another Senator asks if Tony means that as a threat and, if it happened, which side would Tony be on. Tony replies that he would always be on the side of his country and those who lead it. The hearing is recessed and Tony is asked to return the next day at 9 a.m. for it to resume.
Outside, Tony and Peter are met by news cameras. They pepper Tony with questions about what took place in the hearing. He gives vague responses. The live news broadcast is being watched by people, including Reed and Sue of the Fantastic Four. As Peter wonders if this would be a chance to inform people about the proposed Superhuman Registration Act, his spider sense activates again. Titanium Man attacks and Peter puts himself between the villain and Tony. Peter notes the Russian accent and remembers the Titanium Man had been replaced, with the replacement having been killed or retired.
Peter tells Tony to hide and surreptitiously fires some webbing at Titanium Man’s visor. Once Titanium Man removes it he finds Spider-Man, in his Iron Spider Armor, standing in front of him. Titanium Man attempts to blast Spider-Man. He evades the blast and lands on his opponent. Titanium Man uses rockets in his boots to slam himself and Spider-Man backwards into a wall in an effort to dislodge Peter.
People from the military arrive and perceive the fight as Titanium Man and Spider-Man attacking the Senate building. They open fire on both men. Spider-Man leaps out of the way of the bullets and they bounce off Titanium Man’s armor. Titanium Man flies off but, thanks to his webbing, Spider-Man is carried along with him, determined to stop the villain.
As the jet heads to Washington, D.C., Tony and Peter discuss a proposed Superhuman Registration Act, which is the reason for Tony going to Washington. He explains to Peter that the United States Senate is proposing to force people with superpowers to register their real names or face prosecution. Peter worries about what would happen if that information fell into the wrong hands. Tony hopes he can talk them out of these plans.
Peter and Tony land in Washington and make their way to a hotel. There, in his hotel room, Peter checks out the new Iron Spider Armor. A recorded message from Tony relays to him all the new features. The armor can appear invisible when Peter is wearing it, as well as making itself look like Peter’s original and black costumes if he thinks of them. It can also camouflage itself in darkness. Tony’s newest feature surprises Peter as mechanical arms, called Waldoes, extend from the armor when Peter thinks about picking something up. They can also see around corners and broadcast what they see to the armor’s eyepieces.
Outside, Peter and Tony climb into a limousine, unaware that they are being targeted by Titanium Man. At the hearing, Senator Dickerson greets Tony and notes his numerous roles, including being Iron Man. Tony insists that he is no longer Iron Man, but the Senator wonders if he would swear to that under oath. Tony replies that he’d need to bring counsel with him if the Senate wants to put him under oath. Instead the Senator hands over to one of his colleagues to begin the hearing.
Senator Whitmore brings up the fact that superhumans have been a prominent role in America since 1946. He then highlights the estimate that from 1946 until the present day, battles involving superhumans have caused nearly $200,000,000,000 in damages which federal agencies have had to pay for since they don’t know who to bill. Whitmore asks what Tony’s response is to that number. Tony replies with a number of his own - 47. 47 times that superhumans had saved North America from being destroyed. Tony then mentions that the Department of Defense budget for 2006 is $419,000,000,000. By comparison $200,000,000,000 over sixty years, which equates to $300,000,000 per year, is a cheap price to pay for saving America 47 times.
Senator Whitmore counters that even superhumans are capable of making mistakes. He points out that people in other walks of life have agencies with whom they need to register in case of accidents for which they will need to be held accountable. Whitmore asks if Tony has any reason why people like superhumans, who can cause so much damage, shouldn’t also be held accountable. Tony replies that he doesn’t. Peter gives his opinion that superhumans battle bad guys because they have powers and feel a responsibility to use them. Those people have families that the supervillains they face would go after if their identities were publicly known.
Whitmore points out that people in law enforcement and public office face the same threats, but don’t operate behind masks. Peter counters that those people chose to do their jobs, whereas superhumans didn’t ask for the powers they have and are merely trying to use their powers in a system that wouldn’t allow them to operate openly. Whitmore suggests that Peter’s point would be even more reason for those people to register with a government agency so that they could have backing from the government and law enforcement. Peter realises he may have done more harm than good and the Senate takes a recess.
After receiving advice from Tony on how to deal with questions like the ones they’ve faced today, Peter telephones Mary Jane to let her know how things are going. During the call he has a tingle from his spider sense, since Titanium Man is targeting him again. Peter thinks about heading out as Spider-Man to scout around, but doesn’t get the chance as the recess ends.
After another four hours and fifteen minutes have passed in the hearing, Tony makes a case that changing a system where anonymous superpowered individuals serve the country the way they have could cause a more dangerous situation. When asked to elaborate, Tony suggests that Prohibition led to organised crime and made criminals of ordinary citizens overnight. The same happened with young people who dodged the draft during the Vietnam War. Tony suggests that if people with powers refuse to register they’ll be labelled criminals. Another Senator asks if Tony means that as a threat and, if it happened, which side would Tony be on. Tony replies that he would always be on the side of his country and those who lead it. The hearing is recessed and Tony is asked to return the next day at 9 a.m. for it to resume.
Outside, Tony and Peter are met by news cameras. They pepper Tony with questions about what took place in the hearing. He gives vague responses. The live news broadcast is being watched by people, including Reed and Sue of the Fantastic Four. As Peter wonders if this would be a chance to inform people about the proposed Superhuman Registration Act, his spider sense activates again. Titanium Man attacks and Peter puts himself between the villain and Tony. Peter notes the Russian accent and remembers the Titanium Man had been replaced, with the replacement having been killed or retired.
Peter tells Tony to hide and surreptitiously fires some webbing at Titanium Man’s visor. Once Titanium Man removes it he finds Spider-Man, in his Iron Spider Armor, standing in front of him. Titanium Man attempts to blast Spider-Man. He evades the blast and lands on his opponent. Titanium Man uses rockets in his boots to slam himself and Spider-Man backwards into a wall in an effort to dislodge Peter.
People from the military arrive and perceive the fight as Titanium Man and Spider-Man attacking the Senate building. They open fire on both men. Spider-Man leaps out of the way of the bullets and they bounce off Titanium Man’s armor. Titanium Man flies off but, thanks to his webbing, Spider-Man is carried along with him, determined to stop the villain.
Sources and content license
Source and revision history ↗ · Adapted from Marvel Database contributors, Amazing Spider-Man Vol 2 530. Illustrations and reference markup removed; synopsis paragraphs combined. · Content license