After their fight in issue #22, Johnny has become convinced that Alex is a mutant, and brings a gun to school to murder him. During his fight with Alex, both boys are inadvertently taken as hostages by the Hobgoblin, who is in the midst of his own battle with Spider-Man. Alex does not use his energy powers during the struggle, which leads Johnny to believe that he's not a mutant after all. Alex and Johnny are saved by Spider-Man, and they bond over their shared experience.

Guest stars: Spider-Man, Hobgoblin