The following is a special public service announcement paid for by Graydon Creed.
"Ladies, gentlemen, children, if you're human, I bid you welcome and thank you for all of your support. Previously, I had stressed to you the dangers of mutants, how they can walk through walls to kidnap our children, manipulate our minds to do whatever sick pleasures they wish, and bully us with powers that are unnatural and inhumane. Your continued support to the current preservation of the human race will allow us to grow and humanity will not be silenced by mutants. It is time to strike back but today, I bring to you awareness of a different kind. Spider-Man, is he the hero that we believe him to be and he is something as dangerous as the mutants that we have to stand up to?"
An image of the Scorpion appeared on the screen.
"Macdonald Gargan was a well respected private detective. Yet, he become the dangerous and deadly Scorpion, who attempted to murder New York City publisher J. Jonah Jameson twice. Is it a coincidence that this occurred after an encounter with the web slinging vigilante known as Spider-Man?"
An image of the Sandman was next to flicker.
"Flint Marko was a middle class man with a family, who had fallen into some hard times. Yet, he would not become the dangerous Sandman until Spider-Man entered his life."
An image of Electo appeared on the screen.
"Maxwell Dillon was one of the top electricians in all of New York City. Many high profile businesses called on him. This was before the world was introduced to the sadistic, cold blooded murderer called Electro, who killed countless in a rampage of New York just over a month ago. Dillon was respected in his field, but he becomes a hated man. Yet, would there be an Electro, if it was not for Dillon meeting Spider-Man?"
A distorted image appeared, of a menacing looking Spider-Man swinging in on a terrified group of villains, dressed in what appeared to be ragged clothes.
"Is Spider-Man worthy of your admiration? Or is he just as much of a threat as the horrors that he fights? Think wisely. Do not let hero worship distract you from the evidence staring right at you. What new horror will be unleashed on the city next? And will Spider-Man be a probable cause? Let me help you and support me. Remember, if you're not fighting this mutant problem, then you're committing treason against all of humanity."
Support Graydon Creed and become a friend to all of humanity by sending in your donation.
The Horrific Harmonic Heist of the Hypno-Hustler Part One:
"Give it up Spider-Man!' crowed a triumphant voice as he sent a blast of light that knocked Spider-Man off. "You can't match watts with the Lightmaster."
"And the really bad puns have begun," said Spider-Man wincing as he got to his feet, before he jumped forward, before he bounced off of a forcefield made of light. He gave a pained grunt as he went to the ground. "And that shouldn't have hurt as much as that did either."
"My criminal career will shine brightest when I defeat you!" cried the Lightmaster, as he nearly blinded Spider-Man with another blast of light, before he knocked him on his feet. "I won't be left in the dark again! It will be a most illuminating experience."
"Please shut up and stop trying," grumbled Spider-Man as he got to his feet before he looked over his shoulder. "Shadowcat, a little help here would be nice!"
"Sorry, just finished, the guy's thugs were tougher can they looked, can you believe that this guy has thugs?" asked Shadowcat as she went intangible to avoid the blasts of light, carefully stepping around several knocked unconcious goons. "I mean, the Big Wheel had thugs and that was totally weird, but this guy, he just has a suit that manipulates light and gives off really bad puns."
Shadowcat became solid but she went intangible again to avoid it and Spider-Man tried to take advantage of the distraction by he jumping right at the Lighmaster. Lightmaster turned and blasted Spider-Man but he spiraled through the air.
"Argh!" groaned Spider-Man as he bounced off of the forcefield that appeared around him. "Okay, that's in, I'm done playing Mr. Nice Spider-Man."
Three lines of webbing shot out and they passed through the light but the Lightmaster stepped back and fired at Spider-Man's feet, in an attempt to knocked him off balance. He checked something on his suit.
"He seems very protection about those dials," said Spider-Man as he climbed on the ceiling and Shadowcat poked her head from the floor. "Shadowcat, fry them."
"Right," said Shadowcat as she squinted her eyes and dove right through the light, as she become intangible and then reached forward, and grabbed onto the dials, before Lightmaster shrieked in agony and he was knocked right off of his feet. He twitched for a minute, as the dials smoked.
"Lights out," commented Spider-Man dryly, as he saw some movement to indicate life and Shadowcat looked at him stoically for a few seconds and just smacked her palm right into her face. "I know, but I had to say it."
"Yeah, but did you really have to say it?" asked Shadowcat.
"Probably not, but it did seem like of appropriate" said Spider-Man as he webbed up the Lightmaster.
"The cops," muttered Shadowcat as she tensed up slightly. Given the fact that mutants were pretty much public enemy number one these days and she was on the scene when Electro had hijacked the X-Jet, and made it fire on the town, killing or severely wounding several, caught on camera, she was a bit jumpy about certain things.
"Good idea for you not to be seen here, back wall, there's an alleyway right out of here," said Spider-Man and Shadowcat nodded. "I'll meet you back there in a couple of minutes."
"Okay," said Shadowcat, as she carefully phased through the back wall, right when the police stepped in.
"Everyone is secure, I think you boys can take it from here," said Spider-Man and he stepped to the side, to allow the police to do there job and when he was certain it was all clear, he stepped into the alley way. "Didn't take as long as we could. Hopefully nothing else will happen today."
"It was nice to get out and not be cooped up in the mansion," said Shadowcat. "Everyone's at each others throats, and well...the fact that the MRD might break down the doors and kidnap us out of our beds any day now, its not exactly good."
"No," said Spider-Man but he had only heard about the Mutant Registration Act the day after it had passed. He had been preoccupied with a number of things, both as Peter Parker and Spider-Man. Falling leads that turned up dead with the Master Planner was especially frustrating.
"Norman Osborn's involved too, that's not good, this prison, that doesn't sound that good but what can I do, the last thing I need is to be thrown right in the MRD prison on some trumped up charges, I mean when you look at it from a certain angle, I could be classified as a mutant and what's to make them stop at mutants if I'm not," thought Spider-Man. "All super powered heroes might need to get tagged for their own good. And then they won't stop at that. Why did anyone think this was a good idea? Especially since, I know Osborn's up to something, I just can't pin anything down on him. He's been real secretive, at least that's what Harry mentioned off hand, when he compared me to his father."
"Hello, anyone home?" prodded Shadowcat and Spider-Man's eyes snapped up. "You zoned out for a minute."
"Just thinking about everything, about what to do," said Spider-Man.
"Peter, don't, please, Professor Xavier said its best to let everything die down, fat lot of good that's doing, but..you know what Osborn's capable of better than anyone," said Shadowcat.
"Yeah, but he's cured, or so they say," said Spider-Man. "He does seem to have it in for mutants."
"And I don't even know why," said Shadowcat. "Maybe he does remember who you are?"
"Kitty, he doesn't, he can't," muttered Spider-Man but he shook his head, as he had doubts.
"Can't worry about this now. Hopefully enough people will protest this right now...and that's Gwen calling right now, I bet...hey Gwen...yeah I haven't forgotten, the big Roderick Kingsley superstore is opening today, yeah, its a shame to lose the old mall, but that's corporate America for you and at least we'll all get to hang out."
"Tell Gwen I said hi!" called Shadowcat in the background.
"Kitty says Hi, Gwen says hi, Kitty, yeah, we're going to get together some time," said Peter. "Okay, see you later, talk to you later, take care, I'll be there in about an hour, providing that I don't get kidnapped again and subjected to another murderous theme park. Yeah, but you'd be surprised, talk to you, bye, love you too."
Peter turned around, before he put the cell phone back into his bag on the side.
"Wish I could go, but I shouldn't be seen out in a public place, with all that's going on," said Shadowcat. "I could disguise myself but really, don't want to take any chances. School's going to be hard this year, but my parents want me to go and they're really tearing into us in those television ads too, have you ever seen these things?"
"No," said Peter in confusion. "Then again, I haven't watched much TV, all summer...what are they doing now."
"There's this guy named Creed, Graydon Creed I think, he's bought up a bunch of advertisments that really tore into mutants, I mean, some of the things...I don't want to even repeat them, its just what he implied, we kidnapped children out of their beds and stuff like that," said Shadowcat who looked a bit angered. "And he's brought your name into the advertisements a couple of times too."
"What did he say about me?" asked Spider-Man.
"Well not that much, but he's said that you're reckless and endangers humans, he also mentioned that you're the reason why people like Electro, Sandman, and Scorpion are around," said Shadowcat and Spider-Man winced at the implications. "He's not really hitting you hard all that much, but he's starting too I think. Its all bogus."
Spider-Man just turned around.
"He doesn't say nearly the bad things about you that he does the X-Men," said Shadowcat in a reassuring voice. "Don't worry about he, Peter, he's just a blowhard, a loon, an utter whack job, one with a lot of money, true but you can handle it."
"You seemed worried about him a minute ago," said Spider-Man seriously.
"Well we're already getting dragged through the mud, when Electro made us fire with the X-Jet, the Mutant Registration Act, and people are already getting rounded up in their beds, accused of being mutants and thrown away never to be seen again, we don't need someone like Creed making it worse," said Shadowcat but suddenly a whirling from above had broken this train of thought. "What's that?"
Spider-Man turned slightly, to shake his head and then he saw a small miniature helicopter with two goons above, who began to dump several fliers into the city below and behind them, a small light multicolored vapor trail appeared around them, as they continued to circle around the city.
"Obviously something that is breaking some kind of city sanitation code," said Spider-Man dryly as he stepped over, before he took a look at one of the fliers careful not to touch it, not knowing what might be on it. "Things are looking up."
"Things are looking up?" asked Shadowcat in confusion. "What is that supposed to mean?"
"I could be totally off base, but I'm guessing that it has something to do with that," said Spider-Man, as he pointed upwards and Shadowcat followed to see a giant blimp above, with the letters H.H. Blinking on it.
Suddenly a rhythmic humming echoed from miles around and immediately, Spider-Man's spider sense went into overdrive.
"There's only one thing that makes my spider sense go so insane and erratic," thought Spider-Man through the ear splitting. "Now, its got to be...mind control...The Hypno-Hustler of course!"
"Kitty, cover your ears!" managed Spider-Man but she stood transfixed and sure enough, those standing right in the street had stood transfixed as well. Spider-Man ignored the splitting, to shuffle through his bag and he pulled his mask up slightly, before he took out two electronic ear buds and plugged his ears, adjusting them, until it had completely blocked out the frequency the Hypno-Hustler was using to hypnotize people and sure enough his spider sense dulled. "There, let's see what this guy wants."
"Greetings citizens of New York!" called the Hypno-Hustler in a loud boisterous tone of voice. "You're now under my harmonic control. This is merely just a test, for a far grander hit in mind and you will march to my tune soon enough! You see, I've managed to hustle my share of night clubs, private parties, and the odd high school prom, but today, I have a more bigger prize in mind, a grander scheme of dreams. My dream is coming true. No one can save you from my control, not even Spider-Man, because the last time we met, he fled in terror from my poetic power!"
"Hey, hey, I think that happened a little bit differently than you remember!" shouted Spider-Man, as true enough, he had to answer a very important distress call from the X Mansion. "And I'm arguing with someone who can't even hear me."
"I'm sure many of you might be unfamiliar with me, as I'm the Hypno-Hustler, the kickiest cat in all of New York City," said the Hypno-Hustler. "Like all people out there, I have a story to tell, and its quite tragic. I will share you in song form!"
"Please don't, please don't, please don't, please don't, please don't, pretty please with a cheery on top" muttered Spider-Man but he winced, as the music began to start up and the Hypno-Hustler began to sing, which caused Spider-Man to give a loud protracted groan.
"And I kind of have to listen to this, because I might reveal his criminal scheme, like a villain would," thought Spider-Man. "Stay strong, Pete, this is going to hurt...well its going to hurt a lot"
On this day, I come a spin you a tale of woe.
It is more harsh than anything that you would never know.
It is sad, but true, between me and you.
This is the story that you can see.
The story of how the Hypno-Hustler came to be.
I started but a middle aged child in the suburbs.
Just me and my mother, she tried to control me like no other.
For the time, I was born, I had a dream, one that could finally set me free.
She wished for me to be a great scientist, I wished to be in the band.
There was a situation that was most awkward at hand.
Music was my passion, this fact cannot be denied.
One year, I wanted a guitar, but that was not what my mother supplied.
It was a chemistry set, and yet I wondered why.
My budding gift was something that she continued to deny.
For the day after day, month after month, I was pushed to the career of science.
A career that I never had it in me, not at the slightest.
Throughout grade school and high school and college, I acquired the knowledge
Of how to be a scientist, but it never was something that I wished to learn.
My passion for the art of music still to earn.
For one day, I was at the lab, when an horrific accident was to be had.
I never knew that those two chemicals were not to be mixed.
I had no idea, not at the slightest.
I had no aptitude for science.
On this day, the webs of fate had spun.
The harsh truth was realized for one.
But it was not for me, rather it was reality.
This is the story that when the chemical blew, my aspirations only flew.
This is the story of how the Hypno-Hustler can to be.
Cover in the toxic brew, I felt that I was in the stew.
Yet when I woke up, I could sense around everything.
The wonder that music will bring, I was atunned, to the notes that affect the human mind.
The chemicals had altered my reality, the perceptions that I could see, what I had been denied.
From the scraps of wood from that table, I could make the guitar that was mine.
For a simple strum of my guitars, the weak minded, the simple minded, were under my hypnotic trance.
With my harmonic tones, I could make them bend to my song and dance.
Once my mother could see, she tried to crush my hopes and dreams.
Yet, her control on me was not what it once seemed.
Therefore, I played her a tune, so that my mother could knew.
That she was the cause of all of this.
In her zeal for a scientist, she had given birth to my powers, you can be assured of this.
My mother felt great remorse, I convinced her of what she must do.
Out of the tenth story window she flew.
From that day forward, I had realized my power.
I could control my foes or simply make them cower.
My guitar will bring you to your knees.
Even a blind man can see.
Soon, all will be a part of how the rise of the Hypno-Hustler came to be.
Spider-Man stood in the middle of the street, eyes widened, struck dumb by the song before he shook his head and everyone around seemed to be shaking their heads as well.
"Huh, what happened?" asked Shadowcat, which brought Spider-Man and several other people looked on in confusion.
"A really bad musical number," said Spider-Man as he fished through his bag. "I think I have a couple more pairs in here...ah here we go...put those on, adjust the frequency to 8.4 to the right, and we're going to follow that blimp. That's going to lead us to the Hypno-Hustler."
"The who?" asked Shadowcat in confusion.
"The Hypno-Hustler," repeated Spider-Man.
"Isn't that the guy with the giant mechanical wheel, no wait that's the Big Wheel, and that's not the chick who tried to blast you with a hair dryer that wasn't even plugged in, that's White Rabbit, " said Shadowcat before she caught it. "Oh that's that weirdo in the go go boots, that crashed your prom."
"Yeah he ruined my prom night, he made me listen to a horrible music number...and he also might commit a crime," said Spider-Man, as Shadowcat hung on, as they swung throughout the city, in an attempt to follow the blimp as it continued its progress.
XXXXX-XXXXX
In an abandoned music studio, the Hypno-Hustler stood, to address his Mercy Killers. Dressed in a sequined white jump suit, with a cape, goggles, white head phones, a single white glove, and go go boots, he stood, showing three gold teeth as he smiled.
"Merely a test run, as I've proven that my powers can blanket the entire city for a short amount of time, given the proper circumstances," said Hypno-Hustler, as he held his guitar and the door opened, to reveal two people who were in the miniature helicopter. "And my opening act is back, excellent."
"Dropper the fliers just like you told us to, Hypno-Hustler and sprayed that stuff into the city. Circled the city three times to make sure everyone would get a whiff of it, whatever it is."
"It will allow people to be at ease with my harmonic tunes and just go with the flow," said Hypno Hustler with a grin. "Now, I've set the first note of my caper in motion, now its to set the stage for the biggest, most profitable venture of my criminal career. My dream is to amplify my hypnotic tunes by a thousandfold, putting entire cities underneath my control, to dance, to do my bidding. But naturally, you've already knew that, since we're all in this to make a killing."
The other members of the Mercy Killers, along with several alternates and opening acts that just doubled as hired labor, just nodded, as the Hypno-Hustler moved over, as he held his beloved guitar and strummed a few notes on it.
"Now, the biggest gathering in the entire city, all the people, handing their money over to me," added Hypno-Hustler, as he held a newspaper. "The two hundreth and ninety fifth Roderick Kingsley megastore is having its grand opening today. The entire city, including some of the most rich and famous are going to be there, with disposal income to buy and donate to the charity drive. All of which is ripe for the hustling!"
"But, there are going to be cops everywhere, surely we can't pull of a heist like that?" asked one of the alternates.
"It will be pulled o
ff, its already being pulled off right now," said the Hypno-Hustler. "The sound system is state of the art as well, just plug in my axe, and we'll be able to rock the entire city."
At this time, Spider-Man and Shadowcat had arrived and had opened the window slightly to hear what was going on.
"Now, everyone, we're ready to roll, the grand opening is an hour and we want to be there to fill in for the music act, that I convinced to take a wrong turn on their way there," said Hypno-Hustler. "Now, to the biggest gathering, its going to be time to make a killing at the Kingsley Megastore."
"He's going to loot the Kingsley megastore opening," muttered Shadowcat but Spider-Man just looked at her. "Yeah, I know, he just said it, but I wasn't sure if you heard him or not."
"Not if we stop him," said Spider-Man, as he swung down and Hypno-Hustler backed off, before he saw that Spider-Man was right in front of him. "Sorry, we've had a last minute change of plans and your next act will be playing for the patients at Ravencroft where you'd be right at home.
"I'm not insane, I'm a systematic singing sensation and even you will be dazzled by this tune ," said the Hypno-Hustler, as he held the guitar and began to play.
You'll be dancing to my tune.
Really soon.
Swinging from you webs.
My music will be in your head.
Hypno Hypno Hypno Hypno-Hustler
(HUSTLER!)
Make notes on my guitar
My range is very far.
You might call my choice of attire to be bizarre.
But soon you will be dancing around the room.
Hypno Hypno Hypno Hypno-Hustler
(HUSTLER!")
Hypno-Hustler stopped playing as Shadowcat dropped down, humming the tune to the song she just heard, before she stopped, absolutely horrified, but she could not stop it going through her head.
"Great now I've got that stupid tune stuck in my head, " groaned Shadowcat. "I guess I'm going to have to beat you up until it gets out."
"But how, you should be dancing to my tune, both of you, under my control, so I can take this shown on the road" said the Hypno-Hustler.
"Well we're not," said Spider-Man. "And we're going to take this show off the road."
"Alternates and opening acts, show these two party crashers what we do to them, when they're not on the guest list!" shouted the Hustler, as he turned around, as the Mercy Killers followed him. Shadowcat went intangible, as two goons jumped right at her and then crashed into a crate.
"Uh, what are these things?" asked Shadowcat, as she held up something.
"They're called records," said Spider-Man as he got a good look. "That's what people used back in the day to listen to music."
"Weird," said Shadowcat with a shrug, as she threw the record right at the head of one of the henchmen. She picked up several more and began to flung them right at them, causing them to be staggered. "Well, they're clunky, and unpractical and I can't see them being very portable, but they make good projectiles."
Spider-Man webbed two of the henchmen as Shadowcat flung more records, before she became intangible.
"I don't mean to be a spoilsport, but the Hypno-Hustler just made his way out the back door," said Spider-Man, as he knocked a stack of boxes right on top of several members of the gang and then webbed them together.
"Well we do have some problems," said Shadowcat, as one of the henchman tried to nail her right in the head with a set of drums but they went right through her. He looked confused and she phased right to the floor, before she pulled the henchmen below, causing him to scream in absolute terror, before he popped right back up, cracking heads with another henchmen, who tried to take a look at where his fellow gang member had.
"Should be the last of them, right now," said Spider-Man, as he webbed another up to a set of multicolored lights that began to swing around and around. Another henchmen tried to sneak right up on Spider-Man, but Shadowcat leaned back, phasing through a box, which released the set of lights, causing it to fall right on the top of his head.
"No, that should be all of them," said Shadowcat, as she held onto Spider-Man's arm and quickly made them intangible, as they passed through the door outside.
"Shouldn't be too hard to find him," muttered Spider-Man as he watched a large multi colored bus, drive into the streets, with a revolving disco ball sending multicolored lights into the air and fuzzy dice in the mirror.
"He's making it really obvious," said Shadowcat as she rolled her eyes.
"Almost too obvious," said Spider-Man as he swung around, to find another set of tire tracks.
"What are you doing, the Hypno-Hustler is going that way?" asked Shadowcat.
"No, that's what he wants us to think," said Spider-Man, as the two moved off to see a very plain looking van driving from the direction of the hideout.
XXXXX-XXXXX
"I think we've given the web head the slip," said a band member as he looked over his shoulder.
"Yeah, you've got it, that cat, won't be able to dig us going around in such a square ride," said the Hypno-Hustler as he looked over his shoulder in the rearview mirror. "Blast, the web slinger's right on top of us. I thought that plan would work."
Hypno-Hustler just moved to the back of the van, guitar opened up as the roof of the van began to slide up, as he began to strum the guitar, right at Spider-Man began to get closer.
"That won't work on us, you might as well just put that thing away!" shouted Spider-Man but the Hypno-Hustler just gave a knowing grin.
"Right, time to kick it into high gear," said Hypno-Hustler, as he cranked up the volume and began to belt a loud tune.
The buildings that Spider-Man was swinging from had begun to rumble and crack as the Hypno Hustler's speed increased.
"Brace yourself, this might hurt, a little," said Spider-Man, as he jumped down with Shadowcat.
"Or a lot," muttered Shadowcat.
"Or a lot," agreed Spider-Man, as even with the ear plugs in, there was still a dull buzzing, as both of them had crashed towards the ground, with Shadowcat phasing through the ground at the last second, to prevent them from hitting too hard.
Then were pulled right back into the street, a bit shaken up and a bit battered, but otherwise fine but the Hypno Huster stared them down, before he switched the polarity of the amplifier and immediately, the other members of the Mercy Killers placed ear muffs on, with the Hypno-Hustler stood back.
"Get the guitar if you can!" shouted Spider-Man, as he aimed his web shooters, but the Hypno-Hustler struck a few notes, which send a sonic pulse. Despite the plugs in their ears, they were knocked off balance and quickly rendered unconscious in a matter of seconds.
"Out light a light, my performance has rendered these two cubes speechless," said the Hustler, as he stepped over, before he felt for a pulse. "Still alive, but we'll fix that up real nice pretty soon. We need to make a quick detour right before we hit the scene in the Kingsley opening. Our old nightclub is just around the corner and that should be the final curtain for our two gate crashers!"
The Mercy Killers just hoisted up the unconscious forms of Spider-Man and Shadowcat and threw them right in the back of the van with dastardly intentions in mind.
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