Annual #1

Despite taking down the Rhino, Spider-Man is still blamed for the destruction and continues to recieve bad press, while Peter is left isolated at school as his relationship with MJ is still rocky. Meanwhile, X-Man Kitty Pryde is attempting to cope with her recent breakup with Bobby Drake (AKA Ice-Man), and decides to ask Peter on a date. The two bond quickly, but there's some contention about Peter feeling unable to protect his loved ones, which Kitty dismisses due to her own powers. Their date is interrupted by a bank robbery commited by The Shocker, which the two effortlessly stop. The date ends when they decide to continue dating, with the X-Men picking up Kitty and Peter swinging home to find Kitty has already emailed him.

Did You Know?

• It’s well known that Brian Micheal Bendis has sort of an obsession with Kitty Pryde and includes her in multiple comics he’s written, such as the Guardians of the Galaxy run in 2013 where she dates Star Lord. Kitty becomes a reoccuring character in the Ultimate Spider-Man comics until the Miles Morales run.
• Kenny “Kong” McFarlane, one of Peter Parker’s bullies and Flash Thomson’s friend, develops into one of Peter’s friends over time, an arc that’s usually associated with Flash. While never confirmed, Kong might be Brian Micheal Bendis’ self-insert, with both having a similar appearance and the fact that Kong later dates Kitty Pryde, a character Bendis is known to be fond of.
• Kitty is eventually kicked out of Ultimate X-Men later on, becoming a mainstay in Ultimate Spider-Man. After Peter's death, she returns to the reformed version of the team post-Ultimatum and becomes a central character in the books. She would later go on to defeat a reality-displaced Galactus.