The Invisible Hand - Recap

In Norman Osborn's secret laboratory, Dr. Otto Octavius is conducting a new transformation experiment on petty criminal Alex O'Hirn. Octavius warns O'Hirn that the process to add armored skin is permanent but Hammerhead insists he go through with the transformation. When O'Hirn screams in agony, Octavius considers stopping the process but Norman overrides him. Hammerhead is monitoring the process and Norman inadvertently refers to the Big Man as Lincoln, as Alex overhears. O'Hirn emerges with a rhinoceros-like skin and declares himself the Rhino.

Spider-Man stops some robbers escaping from the scene in a car and snaps pictures of them. Gwen and Eddie Brock are working at Dr. Connors' lab and he finally asks her to the Fall Formal. Peter is at the Daily Bugle and asks Betty Brant to the formal. Jameson pays him for the robbery photos but demands that Peter bring him more impressive shots of Spider-Man. Once Jameson storms off, Peter asks Betty again and she says she'll think about it. He's ecstatic and heads home, where he mentions who his date will be as he realizes that he'll need a lot of money to take Betty to the formal.

The next day, Aunt May goes to talk to Betty while at school Harry reveals to Peter that he's asked Gloria to the prom and she accepted. Flash overhears Peter as he talks about the fact that he thinks Betty is going to the prom with him and makes a bet that Peter is wrong. They agree that the loser has to dress as a cheerleader for Halloween. They're interrupted when Peter gets a text message that Aunt May is at the Bugle with Betty and goes to see them.

The Rhino goes to the newspaper to get to Spider-Man through Peter Parker and storms into the newsroom. He grabs Jameson and demands to know where Parker is, and Jameson secretly signals Peter to hide as he arrives. As Spider-Man, Peter leaves and comes back through the window and battles with the Rhino. He's unable to do much to O'Hirn with his new enhanced armor-skin, and tries to lure him into smashing into a wall. The Rhino bursts through and falls into the street below, but is unharmed. The police, led by Gwen's father Captain Stacy, try to capture him but he easily bursts through them.

Spider-Man lures the Rhino away but the criminal manages to grab him and throw him several blocks into a exercise studio. The Rhino prepares to crush the stunned Spider-Man but the hero manages to pull a rack of weights down on him and then throws a bottle of water into the villain's face. When it bursts into steam, Spider-Man realizes that the Rhino is overheating. he lures the villain into the steam tunnels and starts busting the pipe. In the sauna-like environment, the Rhino begins to perspire heavily and Spider-Man points out that the impenetrable suit isn't letting him perspire except at the face. The villain finally collapses, delirious from the heat, and Spider-Man tricks him into revealing the Big Man's true name from the conversation he overheard earlier.

Peter goes back to the newspaper and Betty tell shim that she's too old and won't be going to the formal with him. Peter then talks to a reporter, Foswell, and asks about the name "Lincoln." Foswell reveals taht there's a philanthropist millionnaire, L. Thomas Lincoln, who has been rumored to have criminal connections, but years of investigation have turned up nothing. That night, Spider-Man goes to Lincoln's penthouse apartment and takes down his guards. Lincoln, a tall albino, says he's more commonly known as "Tombstone" and shows himself to be every bit as strong as Spider-Man. He casually talks about how he controls the crime in town and Spider-Man is actually helping him when fighting super-villains in the streets, since the other criminals can commit their crimes in peace. He offers Spider-Man money in return for working for him, but the hero refuses. The police burst in and things look bad for Spider-Man when Tombstone accuses him of breaking in and assaulting him. Spider-Man is forced to flee ahead of the police.

Later, Aunt May gets Peter to dress for the formal and go despite the fact he has no date. She finally tells him that she's set him up with the next-door neighbor, Mary Jane Watson. Peter is still suspicious about her and figures there must be something wrong, until she shows up on his doorstep and is an attractive redhead who says he's hit the jackpot.

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