The Comprehensive Evolution of American Comics

"Dou! Dou! Dou!"

The rapid sound of high heels echoed in the narrow alleyway. Perhaps due to the echo, Betty felt her footsteps becoming increasingly hurried and frantic.

"Shh!"

An discordant sound. Betty was sure it wasn't coming from her own high heels. She subconsciously turned her head and saw several dark figures hanging not far behind her.

Betty's heart tightened, and she quickened her pace once more. This little path she used to walk so often seemed longer than ever before.

The dark figures behind her also realized that Betty had noticed them, and they quickened their pace as well. For a moment, the sound of footsteps in the alley became chaotic.

Betty gasped for breath, her high heels hindering her run. But fortunately, this alley wasn't as long as she had feared. Just two or three more steps and she'd be at the exit.

However, to her despair, just as she was about to rush to the alley's mouth, several more dark figures turned into the alley from the outside. In a panic, Betty looked back and found that the figures behind her had slowed down, clearly not in a hurry.

Why had those obviously malicious people suddenly become unhurried? Betty could only think of two answers.

First, the figures who suddenly appeared at the alley's mouth were passersby, and the figures behind her didn't dare to act recklessly after seeing them.

Second, the figures who appeared at the alley's mouth were accomplices of those behind her, and the two groups had formed a pincer movement. Naturally, Betty couldn't escape, so they didn't need to worry.

Although Betty hoped it was the former, the expressions on the faces of those in front suggested the latter.

At this point, Betty calmed down instead. She changed her stance to keep herself as close to the wall as possible, then quietly moved her small purse behind her, blocking the view of both groups, and stealthily reached inside.

"Who are you?" Betty swallowed, trying to keep her voice calm. "What do you want?"

Neither group answered her question, perhaps afraid of leaving evidence or not wanting to waste time.

It seemed these people had planned this in advance, it wasn't a spur-of-the-moment thing. Seeing this, Betty felt as if she had fallen into a bottomless abyss. But she wasn't a weak woman who would just sit and wait for death. Even if she got hurt, she would bite off a few chunks of meat.

When the two groups of dark figures were close enough, Betty immediately pulled her hand out of her purse. In her hand was a small spray bottle.

"Die!"

Betty pressed the spray button, and a red mist sprayed out of the nozzle. It shot out with great force, reaching about an arm's length, and went straight into the eyes of the leaders of both groups.

"Ah!"

Two screams rang out. Betty threw the almost-empty pepper spray at the figures behind her, then used her small purse to strike the head of the person blocking her path, before kicking off her high heels and running towards the alley's mouth.

But she was, after all, a woman who hadn't had much exercise. Her small purse couldn't hold much, so it didn't weigh much, and the force wasn't enough to pose any threat to a strong man.

Before the purse even hit the ground, the man had already grabbed Betty, who was trying to escape. Then more people surged forward. Betty was about to shout for help, but her mouth was covered.

Betty tried to open her mouth to bite, but found that the person covering her mouth was wearing gloves. Truly, these people had planned everything in advance, their preparations were thorough.

After some biting and tearing, the owner of the hand was fine, but her cheeks started to ache, and her teeth started to hurt.

"Mmm! Mmm!" Betty was desperate. Her limbs were firmly controlled, and she had no possibility of escape. Was she going to have to rely on a hero to descend from the heavens to save her?

"Bang!"

After a muffled sound, Betty felt some of the weight pressing down on her lessen. Then there were more strange noises, and then she felt the people surrounding her disappear.

"You can open your eyes now, madam."

The deliberately feigned low voice, and the sticky, bubbly tone couldn't hide the voice's original crispness. It sounded like a little girl was deliberately trying to sound serious.

Betty opened her eyes. All the thugs were gone, and she only saw a petite figure standing in front of her. A black, tight-fitting suit highlighted the wearer's adorable figure. Even the white spider web lines printed on it couldn't add a trace of sexiness. The upper and lower body were separated by a peculiar belt.

Under the black hood was an equally black face. If it weren't for those white goggles, Betty wouldn't even be able to tell if the other person was facing her or had their back to her.

"Who... who are you?" Betty asked tremulously, even she didn't expect that this voice could come from her.

"You can call me Spider-Woman. Of course, that's just a temporary code name. I haven't thought of a real name yet."

Spider-Woman put one hand on her hip, her gestures quite lively. Just based on this, Betty could deduce that the other party was a little girl.

"In any case, I just debuted today, and you are my first client. How about it, do you want me to sign an autograph for you? Maybe it will increase in value in the future?"

Looking at the little girl trying to hide her excitement, Betty couldn't help but find it amusing. She tidied up her disheveled clothes and said.

"Shouldn't superheroes hide their identities? If you give me an autograph, aren't you afraid of exposing yourself because of your handwriting? Especially at this time."

Betty straightened her shoulder-length short hair and leaned against the wall. "I remember your name isn't on the published list of registered superhumans. Or rather, if you were registered, there would be no need to wear a mask."

Spider-Woman's body stiffened, and even her goggles seemed to widen. She said in a shocked tone, "You're not going to report me, are you? Is that how you treat your savior?"

"I wouldn't do something so low, but I have to say, little girl, you're full of loopholes." Betty picked up the purse on the ground, took out a cigarette and a lighter from it, lit one, and then continued.

"That belt you're wearing is one of Parker Industries' products. Its characteristic is that it can carry many pre-configured gadgets. As it happens, I am one of the directors of Parker Industries."

Betty took a puff of her cigarette, exhaled it, and continued, "Although I'm not the director of the invention group, I've heard a little about these things that can make money. Just based on these, I can actually deduce your identity."

Betty leaned down, looked at Spider-Woman with a playful gaze, took the other's hand, and gently wrote a name on Spider-Woman's palm with her finger.

"Cindy."

Spider-Woman seemed to have all the strength drained from her body, she was silent for a while before reluctantly muttering.

"You really are something, Betty. I think I know why so many people are afraid of you."

"If I'm not a little formidable, how can I make Parker Industries improve day by day?"

Betty held the cigarette in her mouth, revealing a charming smile, which, combined with her tattered clothes, created a unique kind of beauty.