Spider-Man #9
Perceptions, Part 2
With a series of child murders and sightings of the Wendigo in the area of Hope, British Columbia, the entire town is in a state of fear. Hunters have come to the woods in droves where they have been shooting everything that moves. This has brought the mutant hero known as Wolverine to the area. Confronting a hunter, Wolverine easily disarms the man and threatens to kill him. When the hunter begs for mercy, the feral mutant points out that he didn't give that sort of mercy to the animals he hunted and killed. However, Logan decides to spare the man so he can spread the message that he will not allow any more deaths. As the hunter flees, Wolverine decides to make sure he stays true to his word. When the hunter returns to his vehicle, he finds a reminder of his promise carved into the side of the wagon by Wolverine.
The following morning, Peter Parker is comparing notes with reporter Melvin Gooner over breakfast. Peter is disturbed by the fact that Melvin enjoys putting ketchup on donuts. Gooner wonders why the RCMP would release the murder photos until the coroners have completed their examination of the bodies. Unfamiliar with the differences in police procedure in Canada, Gooner wonders if Chief Inspector Krahn has been intentionally inflaming the press. Their conversation is interrupted when someone throws a beer bottle through the diner window. Peter goes outside to see what's going on. There he finds a group of environmentalists clashing with hunters. One of the locals tells Peter that the "bigfoot" story is bunk and that they are really dealing with a Wendigo.[1]
That evening, Peter goes out on Spider-Man in the hopes of putting an end to things so he can get back home to his wife Mary Jane in New York City.[2] The wall-crawler goes to the local RCMP detachment, where he spies on Cheif Inspector Krahn. He overhears him arguing with reporter Anna Brooks, the reporter who first broke the "bigfoot" story. She has come to accuse Krahn of leaking out information to inflame the situation in the area. The officer denies the allegations and orders her out of his office. Finding this all interesting, Spider-Man decides to follow Anna to learn more about her accusations. After Anna is gone, Krahn picks up the phone and demands that someone get Luke Thorpe in to see him right away. Meanwhile, Spider-Man has changed back to Peter Parker to meet Anna Brooks to compare notes. When he tells her how he heard that the Wendigo was responsible for what happened, she is interested and agrees to go for coffee to talk.
When Anna wonders how the families of the victims could bare the situation, Peter says he can relate as he once lost someone close to him.[3] She admits that while the story is horrific, she has a duty to report the events. She hopes that Peter's Wendigo theory helps boost the story further. As they two continue to talk, the Wendigo sleeps peacefully in the woods. That evening, Wolverine investigates the spot where the first victim's body was left. Among the scents he detects, he discovers the Wendigo and begins tracking the creature's scent in order to determine if it was responsible for the murder. However, as he enters the woods, Logan discovers the scents of even more victims that have yet to be discovered. Meanwhile, a group of hunters are being led to the location of the Wendigo by one of the locals. When they discover the beast open fire. Hearing the shots, both Spider-Man and Wolverine converge on that location. Meanwhile, the hunters have done little but anger the Wendigo, which wakes up from its slumber and prepares for attack.
Recurring Characters
Spider-Man, Wolverine, Wendigo, Anna Brooks, Melvin Gooner, Luke Thorpe, Inspector Krahn
Continuity Notes
Among the elderly man's complaints is how the Americans "brainwashed" Wayne Gretzky to leave the Edmonton Oilers to play for the Los Angeles Kings. At the time this story was published Gretzky was traded a few years prior. This should be considered a topical reference per the Sliding Timescale of Earth-616. Especially since Wayne Gretzky since he later went on to play for both the St. Louis Blues and the New York Rangers before he retired from the NHL in 1999.
Peter and Mary Jane are referred to as husband and wife here. However, years later, their marriage was erased from existence by the demon Mephisto in Amazing Spider-Man #545. As such they should be considered a common-law couple as opposed to husband and wife.
Peter is referring to Gwen Stacy who was murdered by the Green Goblin in Amazing Spider-Man #121.
