Featuring: Spider-Man
Release: January 10, 1964
Cover: April 1964
12 cents
None but Stan Lee could have written this epic tale!!
None but Steve Ditko could have drawn such gripping scenes!
Lettered by S. Rosen
21 pages
“None but Stan Lee could have written this epic tale!!” I don’t know, Stan. I have my suspicions that’s not precisely accurate. There’s at least one other person who could have, and perhaps did.
With a title like “Turning Point”, this is probably going to be good.
This story has been building for two issues now, and won’t quite resolve in this one. Let’s remind ourselves of what’s been happening.
Two issues back, Peter and Betty were getting closer, but Betty had concerns, and those concerns seemed to hint at larger troubles.
Last issue, we learn she had been in debt to a loan shark, which leads to her running afoul of the Enforcers. For Peter’s protection, she decides to leave town.
This issue, we see the return of Spider-Man’s greatest villain, Dr. Octopus. Dr. Octopus marks Spidey’s second recurring villain, after the Vulture. (Of course, not counting his persistent nemesis, J. Jonah Jameson.)
Dr. Octopus is released from prison, having served his time. What’s with these jail sentences? Eel was also out on parole. It’s been several months, at most. Both were involved in nuclear espionage. Dr. Octopus took hostages. That must get you some jail time.
While not why this is a turning point, the most enduring thing to be introduced in this issue is the spider tracer. It looks like a little spider, but sends tracking information back to a portable receiver. Google and Apple would eventually build similar tracking devices and make them look like phones.
I am always trying to understand the motivations of everybody involved. Villains. Heroes. What are you about? They occasionally give us hints. Dr. Octopus wants the world to tremble at the mention of his name.
Wait… is that Betty picking up Dr. Octopus?!?
Spider-Man gets some clues. The car has a Pennsylvania license plate. A map of Philadelphia is dropped. Spider-Man has a homing device attached to the car. That seems like an orgy of evidence.
We finally learn Betty’s secret. Her brother Bennett became a mob lawyer in order to pay off his gambling debts. That’s what got her involved with the loan shark and why she’s escorting Dr. Octopus.
The mobster in question is Blackie Gaxton. This is at least the third criminal named Blackie we have met. We have met no upstanding characters with that name. Parents, consider what you name your children.
This is getting toward why the story is called “Turning Point”. Peter has made a fateful decision. Once they resolve the mess everybody is in, he is going to tell Betty his secret identity. At this point, Peter has nobody to confide in.
Despite knowing she’s involved with dangerous criminals, Peter apparently just leaves Betty at this point. He’s going to go change into Spider-Man, but she doesn’t know that. He doesn’t even seem to keep track of her. He then admits he just forgot she was in danger.
After hearing the phrase “mouthpiece” used twice, I looked up what it meant. It’s what you call a lawyer.
Doc Ock wears a purple jumpsuit. I much preferred his white lab uniform we saw in his last appearance. I get that purple is the official color of super-villains.
Here’s a big part of why this is a great story. Bennett heroically sacrifices himself. He’s a man who had made a lot of mistakes, mistakes which had endangered his sister’s life. But he makes up for it.
Betty blames Spider-Man for his death. Spider-Man interfered and Bennett died. She later recants, but isn’t entirely wrong. Peter has powers but is an untrained teenager. He ran after a man with a gun who had hostages, and allowed bullets to fire wildly.
Even when Betty accepts Bennett’s death was not really Spider-Man’s fault, she decides she never wants to see him again. That causes Peter to rethink his decision to reveal the truth to her. Can they ever have a future together now?
We get a great final page, not our first within this series.
We also have a great final panel. Most of the Spider-Man stories have ended with a pretty great final panel. Always ominous. Going back to his very first story, which ends with one of comics’ greatest panels. This is probably the best one since then, also featuring Peter walking into the distance. Let’s take a look at some of the best final panels so far.
Rating: ★★★★☆, 73/100
Significance: ★★★★☆
I read this story in Amazing Spider-Man Epic Collection vol. 1: Great Power. You can also find it in Marvel Masterworks: Amazing Spider-Man vol. 2. Or on Kindle.
Characters:
- Betty Brant
- Spider-Man/Peter Parker
- Dr. Octopus
- Bennett Brant
- Blackie Gaxton
- Aunt May
Minor characters:
- Prison warden
Story notes:
- Opening monologue implies a bit of time has passed since Betty left in issue 10.
- Dr. Octopus has improved his dexterity with the arms.
- Spider-Man invents spider tracer.
- Betty’s brother has gambling debts to Blackie; he is Blackie’s lawyer.
- Peter took jet from NY to Philly.
- Peter decides to tell Betty his secret identity.
- Blackie paying Doc Ock $100K for jailbreak.
- Spider-Man sprains ankle.
- Bennett dies heroically; Betty blames Spider-Man.
- Betty realizes she was wrong to blame Spider-Man, but still never wants to see him again.
#167 story in reading order
Next: Amazing Spider-Man #12
Previous: Strange Tales #119, Story B
