Avenging Spider-Man #21
The Chameleon Sanction Part Two
The SHIELD helicarrier is under attack by Russian operatives who are trying to eliminate the Chameleon before he can reveal government secrets. Luckily, Black Widow and Hawkeye of the Avengers are there to help repel the invaders. Commander Maria Hill asks for a sit-rep and is informed that Spider-Man is also somewhere aboard the facility.
The web-slinger, who has come aboard the helicarrier in the hopes of capturing the Chameleon for himself now finds himself in a fight for his life between the Hulk as well as two Russian operatives calling themselves Saint and Skull.[1] In the midst of the battle, Saint orders his handlers to fire on his location. Moments later, a Russian ship fires at the helicarrier, blowing a hole in the holding area. Although Spider-Man is able to get his grip, the explosive decompression sucks the Hulk out of the helicarrier. When Skull and Saint try to attack Spider-Man he is saved by Nick Fury, Jr., who has managed to get to his location.[2]
Meanwhile, Commander Hill orders the Russian ship shot out of the sky. However, it evades a barrage of anti-aircraft missiles and cloaks itself from view. As the battle inside rages on the Chameleon — who is wearing the face of his SHIELD appointed doctor — continues to try to make his escape. That’s when he spots the Black Widow in the battle and remembers how she appealed to him to surrender and asks for her help. That when Spider-Man, Fury, Skull, and Saint come crashing into the room. Recognizing the Chameleon, Saint tries to blast him but Spider-Man manages to pull him to safety. Saint’s energy projecting staff is then blown up by one of Hawkeye’s explosive arrows. That’s when the Hulk comes smashing through the floor and attacks the Russian invaders.
This distraction allows Spider-Man to grab the Chameleon and take him somewhere that they can talk. Otto can’t understand why the Chameleon is acting so grotesquely and rips the skin mask off his face. However, instead of providing answers the Chameleon stabs Spider-Man in the neck with a fountain pen he grabbed during the escape from his cell. Furious, Spider-Man is about to beat the Chameleon into submission when Skull comes rushing into the room. Despite his opponents burning touch, Spider-Man knocks him out easily. He then proclaims the Chameleon’s life is his and knocks out the master spy as well. This attack has complicated his attempt to smuggle the Chamelon out of SHIELD custody but finds a Hail Mary solution when he discovers a teleportation device on Skull.
When Nick Fury enters the room its just as Skull and the Chameleon teleports away, allowing Spider-Man to blame the escape on the Russians. Spider-Man then reveals the location of the Russian plane thanks to the scanners in his goggles and the ship is blown out of the sky, leaving everyone to think that the Russians and the Chameleon have been eliminated. When Fury offers to have SHIELD doctors patch him up, Spider-Man declines telling Nick that he has had enough of spies and needs to get home because he has people waiting for him. At that moment, the Chameleon and Skull materialize in the former hideout of Doctor Octopus where Electro and Sandman are already being held prisoner.
Recurring Characters
Spider-Man, Chameleon, Saint and Skull, SHIELD (Nick Fury Jr., Phil Coulson), Secret Avengers (Hawkeye, Black Widow, Hulk), Sandman, Electro
Continuity Notes
This is because Doctor Octopus managed to swap bodies with Peter Parker back in Amazing Spider-Man #698-700. Otto has been rescuing former members of the Sinister Six since Avenging Spider-Man #17. The Chameleon ended up in SHIELD custody following Amazing Spider-Man #682-687.
Fury quips that his depth perception is not as good as it used to be. This is reference to the fact that Fury just recently lost one of his eyes in Battle Scars #6.
