As the Daily Bugle is about to print a story about how Alisha Silvermane is the new leader of her father's criminal empire, Alisha hires Tombstone to stop the story from being published. Tombstone plans on accomplishing this task by using Robbie, whom he was childhood friends with, as well as get revenge on his former, by using Robbie's son, Randy.
This episode provides examples of:
- Adaptational Backstory Change: In the comics, Tombstone had albinism, giving him pale skin and hair from birth. Him being ostracized for his condition is what led him down the path of crime. In the animated series, he was a normal-looking Black guy to start off with who became a criminal after getting arrested for trying to rob a grocery store as a child, only getting his pale skin and hair from falling into a vat of chemicals.
- Adaptation Relationship Overhaul: He and Robbie Robertson knew each other in the comics, but that was after Lonnie became Tombstone. In the cartoon, the two knew each other before as children.
- Adaptational Villainy: Lonnie was always a bad guy in the comics, but that was because he was born with albinism and bullied, which resulted him turning into Tombstone. In the cartoon, he was always a bad person as far back as a child stealing from stores.
- Armor-Piercing Response: After Robbie vows to take down Tombstone by any means necessary.Tombstone: And how do you plan to pull that off?
Robbie: Simple. I'm not afraid of the police! [triggers the alarm] - Berserk Button: Tombstone endangering Aunt May prompts Spider-Man to go after his hearse in a rage.Spider-Man: Pull over!
- Big "NO!":
- Tombstone, when Robbie triggers the chemical plant's security alarm.
- Randy, when Tombstone tries to throw Robbie into a vat of chemicals.
- Blackmail: Tombstone is behind the gang and orchestrated a job solely so that he would have evidence of his old friend's son committing a crime. He threatens to release it, if Robbie doesn't hand over the incriminating photos. Robbie says it won't work because the photos have already been printed in the latest edition.
- Connected All Along: The street gang that Randy joined, the Bandanna Gang, is later revealed to be working for Tombstone.
- Continuity Nod: Due Silvermane's current predicament from being turned into a baby by the Tablet of Time, Alisha has become leader of her father criminal empire in her place. Peter even mentions how he once wanted Alisha before he learned the truth about her.
- Guile Hero: Madame Web chastises Spider-Man for constantly trying to outfight Tombstone, saying he has to use his brain instead of his brawn to beat a stronger opponent.
- Let's Fight Like Gentlemen: Tripping up Tombstone on the catwalk, Spider-Man sticks to the ceiling.Tombstone: Come down here and fight like a man!
Spider-Man: I don't suppose I could convince you to come up here and fight like a spider. - My Greatest Failure: When his and Lonnie's attempt to rob a grocery store went awry, Robbie was able to escape while Lonnie was arrested. Robbie remarks that back in those days one strike was enough to ruin your life. While Robbie would go on to be a successful reporter and family man, Lonnie would become a career criminal and eventually a mutated supervillain. Robbie always wondered what would have happened if he had been the one caught instead of Lonnie
- No Honor Among Thieves: After Robbie triggers the chemical plant's alarm, the gang makes a run for it. One at least wonders about Randy, but the others are content to cut him loose to save themselves.
- Not Quite Dead: Robbie expresses amazement that his childhood friend gone bad is still alive. Tombstone quips he might not actually be.
- Rage Breaking Point: While ransacking the place looking for the photos, Tombstone generally ignores Aunt May no matter what she says or does. When she actually manages to call the police, though, he gets pissed.
- Revenge: When they were kids, Robbie left Lonnie in the lurch following a corner store robbery; Lonnie went to juvie. As an adult he tried to frame Robbie for a crime he didn't commit in order to get back at him.
- Revenge by Proxy: Following his transformation into Tombstone, Lonnie tries to frame Robbie's son in order to get back at him, as well as force drop the story Alisha has become acting leader of Silvermane's empire.
- Shout-Out: Saving Tombstone from falling into a vat of chemicals, Spider-Man quips it could've turned his hair green.
- Unwitting Instigator of Doom: Robbie during a confrontation with Lonnie Lincoln, before he became Tombstone, Lonnie tripped on a catwalk over a chemical vat. Robbie tried to save him, but the glove slipped off and gravity took effect. Robbie thought Lonnie was done for, but he later emerged as Tombstone.
- Wrong Side of the Tracks: Lonnie Lincoln and Robbie Robertson were childhood friends until one day Lonnie got arrested for trying to steal ice-cream after the store window broke. While Lonnie was in juvie, Robbie became studious and eventually graduated from college before working as an intern at the Daily Bugle. Lonnie would eventually walk back into Robbie's life and try to frame him by breaking in to the chemical plant for abandoning him all those years ago (Robbie left his fingerprints in the plant), but fell into the chemical vat and became Tobstone, the underworld hitman.
- "You!" Exclamation: Tombstone's surprised reaction to Spider-Man suddenly landing on his hearse.
- You Owe Me: When demanding the photos, Tombstone says Robbie owes him from when they were kids. After Spider-Man gets him away, Robbie explains that Lonnie did time for a crime both of them were involved in, but he never fingered him.
