Identity Crisis

It’s summer, 2017. A few months have spanned since Tony and the others nearly drowned in the ocean from an impromptu rescue mission, giving the team a much needed break to recoup from their harrowing experience.

For Tony, the summer managed to provide plenty of opportunity to get closer with Peter after coming to terms with the fact the kid was far more than just a mentee. Turns out a near-death experience was all the kick in the ass he needed. Every day the Accords disaster gets further behind them, and with Peter’s newfound presence among the team, things only seem to be looking up.

Only problem now — if OsCorp’s sinking underwater bunker wasn’t going to tear them apart, Bucky Barnes’ unexpected and unforeseen residence at the Avengers Compound just might. Especially for Tony and Steve, who quickly find that bigger problems lay right around the corner for them both.

Meanwhile, a new school year and a new semester has begun for Peter. Alongside his much-anticipated training with the Avengers, he’s got everyday, “normal” problems to worry about, and the reappearance of an old friend reminds him that sucker-punching Captain America is far easier than nailing his history essay.

It doesn’t help that with the excitement of the last few months finally coming to a lull, sleep seems to be getting more difficult. Perhaps nearly drowning in the ocean had a bigger impact on him than he initially figured.

And perhaps, just maybe, the black slime on his backpack is the cause for some of that agitation.