Last issue, while answering an ad from an unlikely source, Peter began to explore what it meant to be a Spider-man without superpowers. It wasn't a successful outing. Tricked by the person who put the ads, a powerless Peter Parker faced the combined might of the Scorpion gang and Mr. Fear's crew of mobsters. Behind it all, Peter was beginning to sense that maybe the events of the past few months weren't random at all. Was Peter Parker paranoid? Or was there really something behind this? Something – or someone – sinister? 

Peter got the drop on the gang the first time. Now some of the gang has returned, guns a-blazing. What is a powerless Spider-man to do? And just who or what are the Heroes For Hire?