04x11 - Chapter XI: The Prowler

[bunniefuu]

Hey, what's Spider-Man
doing in this part of town?

Get lost.

- Take a hike!
- Get out of here.

My new neighbourhood.

There's no place like home.

Come on, Parker.
You've only just moved here.

Give the place a chance.
It might not be so bad after all.

Uh oh, who am I kidding?

Spider-Man, please let me...

He's about my age.

Why is he ruining his
life for a few bucks?

Have I battled so
many super villians

that I completely lost touched
with real life in the streets?

Peter Parker can protect himself
in this neighbourhood.

But do I have any right to move
MJ here after we're married?

And since this is all I can afford,

maybe I dont have any
right to marry her either.

Some love nest.

What the...

Took you long enough
to get back home.

What do you want?

You have something I need,

and you were going to
give it to me. Understand?

Because I know all about you, Parker.
You and Spider-Man.

I know you and Spider-Man
are partners.

He sets you up to take your
pictures and you split the cash.

- Real cozy.
- Ah, right. Right.

What are you looking for? A cut?

Ha! That's chump change to me.

Just who exactly are
you behind that mask?

Know your enemy huh, Parker.

You know me alright.

I've never seen you
before in my life.

So you don't even remember me?

I'll refresh your memory.

And when I'm done, I'll make sure
you never forget Hobie Brown.

Yeah, that's my name.

My life began in
this neighbourhood.

Not long ago, it
almost ended here too.

Times for me were always tough.

I decided that if I wanted
to get anywhere,

I either had to have power or
worked for someone who did.

I made the choice I
thought was right.

It's time we stopped risking our
pants for that blue-skinned freak.

We're the one taking the chances.

We ought to take
our fair share too.

And maybe more.

I've been working for a
crime boss named lceberg.

Rumour was his genes
have been tinkered with

so he could be tougher,
more dangerous.

They say he wasn't human anymore.

Over here.

Rumor was probably right on.

Good work boys.

You pulled that heist
off smooth as ice.

Thanks, lceberg.
You know you can count on us.

I used to think I could.

But that was before I found
out you were a stoned cold liar.

What? But, but I...

We ought to take
our fair share too,

and maybe more.

It ain't nice to double
cross the Iceberg.

Toss this cube in the drink.

And if he melts too soon,
freeze him all over.

Ice, you can't do this to me.

Of course I can.

Whoever has the power
makes the rules.

Ice. Ice, you know
that ain't right. Ice!

I was done for.

These guys were setting
me up for the big chill.

I had to act fast.

- Angela.
- Hobie?

- Babe, I'm in trouble.
- So what else is new.

- Baby, listen to me.
- How many times do I have to tell you

Hobie, I love you.

I wanna be with you but
I don't want your trouble.

Give up this life, Hobie
and come back to me.

Ready to do honest work.

If I did that, I'd just be a chump
working for somebody else.

I want to be somebody
with power.

Right now, you're
ain't nobody, Hobie.

You ain't nobody and
you've got nothing.

Thanks, for more nothing.

If you can't see things my way,

then I'm gonna have to make
some changes in my life.

You understand?

Hobie? Hobie?

My life was on the line.

I had to split town,
but that was gonna take cash.

I was desperate.
That's when I saw you and your lady.

You had it all.

Nice clothes, full wallet

and the love of a good woman.

I had it all that night for sure,

all the problems I can handle.

It's now or never.

Got an art student wants
that apartment if you don't.

I think we'd better
keep looking for...

We'll take it.

I'll get the lease.

Why would you want
to live in this dump?

It's too small. It's too high up.
It's too...

It's too bad you don't get how
much I love you, Mr. Parker.

But I...

I hope this is how you plan
to end all our arguments.

We need some place to
live after we're married.

And this is all we can
afford right... oh!

Don't Peter!
It's not worth it.

Anybody messes with
my fiancee, it's worth it.

$12. This ain't gonna
get me anywhere.

Oh, I don't know.

It should get you all the way
to the state penitentiary.

Maybe not, wall crawler.

Ha! Now who's the hot shot hero?

Gotta think fast.

That's it. Give me an
even better target.

Hobie Brown has a
superhero on the run.

And I was gonna leave town.

Okay Spider-Man, freeze.

No!

Okay pal, listen up.

That was Peter Parker's
lady you mugged.

Parker and I are partners, see.

I do all the work.
He sells the pics.

Spread the word.

Anyone crosses him
or his girl, crosses me.

Those are my rules. Get it?

Okay, okay. Good.

I think about a lot of things,
hanging upside down,

waiting for the cops to take you
away for violating your parole.

Ice had his rules,
Spider-Man had his.

When was I gonna lay down mine?

All that kept running through my
head was what Ice had said to me.

Whoever has the power
make the rules.

I was gonna have plenty of
time to think things over.

Or so I thought.

Friend of yours?

Just the competition.

My father has many enemies.

Who's your father?

Someone who'll be interested in
knowing what you did for me.

Here? That and a token will
give me a ride on the subway.

Knowing my father gives you
more than that, my friend.

You'll see.
He has a lot of power.

I didn't believe him at all.

But then odd things
started to happen.

Somebody hired a slick
uptown lawyer for me.

He told the judge that there
was no proof I've broken parole.

And since Spider-Man
wasn't around to testify,

the law had to let me go.

He won!

Somebody was on my side that day

and I wanted to see what
else they could do for me.

So you are the man I owe
for my son's well being.

I... I had no idea he was
the son of the Kingpin.

I always make good
on my debt, Mr. Brown.

Name your price.

- Gold? Jewels?
- Power.

Ah, that.

There's this guy in my
neighbourhood named lceberg.

I want to stick it to
him once and for all.

I see.

That is an intriguing proposition.

Let me show you my latest toy.

I call it the "stealth battlesuit".

Cool Halloween costume.
Does it do anything?

This suit is bulletproof.

It is capable of pneumatically
controlled flight.

It has titanium steel appendages
that facilitate climbing,

and offensive manoeuvres.

It has rocket-powered blasters that
fire powerful projectiles at will.

In short, the wearer of
this "Halloween costume"

- would gain...
- Instant power.

It is yours for the asking.

Mine?

- What's the catch?
- You saved my son.

This is a small price to pay.

Go on.
You did asked for power.

Yes, power.

This suit is incredible.

We're even now, right?

Your son's life for the suit.
No strings attached.

No strings.

No strings.

Funny how you always hear that
from the guys pulling 'em.

I decided to test out
the Kingpin's present

in an old abandoned building
where no one would get hurt.

The force was astounding.

The strength was incredible.

I could go anywhere,
do anything.

I wasn't weak like Hobie Brown.

I was somebody new.

I needed a new name.

I felt like a wild
animal on the prowl.

So I decided to call
myself, the Prowler.

The balance of power in New
York City finally shifted...

...to me.

Now it's my turn.

Your fancy suit doesn't impress me.

I'm gonna rip it to
shreds with you in it!

I don't think so.

That's impossible.
I am stronger than you.

Your freak genes
don't cut it anymore.

Not when the Prowler
is on your tail.

- The Prowler huh?
- You!

Catchy name. But just who
are you when you're at home?

Nice claws. You ever hang
out with my friend Wolverine?

You won't take me again.

Again? I've met you before?

No answer huh?
No matter.

I've got to take him where
he can hurt anyone else.

See how you like my web.

I have done it.

I've beaten Iceberg and
Spider-Man both in one night.

I was the Prowler.

Spider-Man was destroyed.
Or so I thought.

Maybe I'll never know what
happened to him next.

I know what happened next all
too well, though I can't tell him.

Need air.

Gotta summon all my strength.

I got out of that one just
by the skin of my teeth.

Parker, I thought I was it.

All I had to do was officially
take the reigns of power.

No, no!

Iceberg, time to cash that cheque
your mouth's been writing.

Men! Hold your fire, allow me.

Forgot to tell you. This suit has
its own nuclear heating unit.

Now, where were we?

I wanted lceberg's operation.
Now I had it.

Who is this guy anyway?
Where's Iceberg?

- Iceberg.
- Yes?

See if our guests would like
anything... cold to drink.

Gentlemen, ladies,
a toast to the new order.

Ugh!

Stay away!

What's wrong with it?

- Prowler.
- What's wrong?

My goodness, is
something the matter?

The suit, it's hurting me.
You have to fix it.

First, Kingpin doesn't
have to do anything.

Second, I forgot to give you one
little warning about my toy.

- Batteries are not included.
- What?

You have to come to
me to get it recharged.

And I'm having the suit give
you sporadic jolts of electricity

to hasten your return.

Like so.

You see, Prowler,
I now control you.

You are mine.

You said no strings.

The best puppeteers
never use strings.

I wouldn't take that
off if I were you.

The suit includes a
self-destruct device.

It might turn your neighbourhood
into an ash heap.

Why would you do this to me?

I saved your son.

And I gave you what you wanted.

You wanted to defeat lceberg
and have power over him.

Now you do.

For years, he has worked for me.

But lately, he was getting
a little hard to control.

When you came to me
wanting to topple him,

it fitted perfectly with my plans.

But why do you want to control me?

Controlling power
is what I do best.

You know where to find me.

Don't wait too long.

If your enemies don't do you
in in your weakened condition,

then the electric shocks will.

How could I have been so stupid?

I was lost all over again.

- Please, it's me.
- Hobie? Oh no.

You're the prowler man
I saw on the news?

- No. No!
- Angela.

Henry, stay back.

Why is he here?

He and I are dating.

What was I suppose to do, Hobie?
Wait for you?

He's nobody!

- Why, you...
- He wants to be my husband.

He works a normal job

and I know he'll be here
for me when I need him.

Things could have been so different
if only you'd helped me that night.

No. You still think power
is the only solution.

If power isn't important
Angela, then what is?

Life, Hobie. Maybe I found
mine here with Henry.

I hope you find yours.
You have to go now.

I lost Angela.

I've lost everything that really
meant anything to me.

So why did you come
looking for me?

- Because I need Spider-Man.
- What?

I saw on the news
that he was alive.

He must have survived
my attack after all.

Now, he's the only guy I
know who's strong enough

to help me face off
against the Kingpin.

And I'm gonna make you tell
me where Spider-Man is.

Or force him to come
here to save your life.

Haven't you learned that
strong armed tactics

aren't the only way to
get what you want?

I need him.

Oh, the pain.

You could start by saying please.

The bad news is there's no
way to get you out of it

without setting off the
self-destruct b*mb.

- The good news?
- Who said there was any good news?

There is a slight chance that I
can reroute the energy charges

that Kingpin is sending
to hurt you.

That can be used to power
some of the suit's functions.

No for long though.

What good would that do me?

Well, if the Kingpin is
expecting you to be weak,

then you'll have a trick up
your sleeve, won't you?

One that maybe you and Spider-Man
can use to your advantage.

You called Spider-Man, for me?

I think this is a fight he
wouldn't want to miss.

The Prowler, sir.

I am glad to see you
reconsidered my offer.

From where I stand,
I only saw one way to go.

Of course. My way.

Sorry, but I'm no longer
in the business

of letting anybody
tell me what to do.

I don't know how you
managed that shot,

but I'm pulling the plug now.

Did you really think you could
defeat Kingpin so easily?

Think of it, big guy.

Fools! Get them!

Get the high intensity
laser weapons.

This is it.
Can you figure it out?

Well, it looks fairly simple.

After all, the Kingpin
is not a science wiz

and he's the one who
operated it right?

Now go, hurry!

Got it!

Look out for that stun...

...blaster urgh...

Well Mr. Brown.

You're persistent,
I'll give you that much.

I admire that.

I'm tempted to offer
you one last chance.

- Oh yeah?
- No.

Destroy him.

I wouldn't. Or I'll trip the gizmos
you put in this suit to keep it on me.

Then we all go boom.

Hold your fire, men. He's right.

That suit is still quite expl*sive.

Come on man. I used the suit's
energy that Parker gave us.

Now you got to get
us out of here.

Hang on.

Thanks to you and Parker for
helping me see another sunrise.

For helping me
see a lot of things.

Your head okay?

It's getting there. What now?

I'm not sure.

I know what I'm not
gonna do though.

I'm never getting myself
into this kind of trap again.

The only power that means
anything to me now

is my own power over
myself, my life,

and the choices I make.

Only other thing I know is

there's a girl named Angela,

who's looking for a man to love.

Maybe I can still
make her understand

that man ought to be me.

It might not be too late.

I should have listened
to her in the first place.

I sure got a lot of
apologizing to do.

Peter, they're beautiful!

But way too extravagant.

I've been worried about
too many things lately.

I've been letting my fears have
too much power over me.

It's time I stop worrying

and started enjoying
what's right with my life.

I have everything I need and
nothing else on earth matters.

All that's important is
I love you and you love me.

Tiger! You're finally
starting to make sense.

Maybe this marriage thing's
gonna work out after all.

I bet my webbing on it, lady.

And man, have I
got webbing to bet.