Amazing Spider-Man #31

Featuring: Spider-Man
Release: September 9, 1965
Cover: December 1965
12 cents
Masterful script by: Stan Lee
Magificent artwork by: Steve Ditko
Mellifluous lettering by: Sam Rosen
20 pages

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He’s just like his father… cheerful, enthusiastic, and bright! He’s been like a son to me all these years! And, he was so happy, that I didn’t have the heart to spoil it… by telling him… how very ill I’ve been feeling…!

The cover is a clever idea, using the spider logo to get multiple images onto the page. I feel like it wastes the idea with its choice of images, all fairly similar and bland, shots of the action from this issue that could easily have been conveyed in a single image (see the first page below). A better use of that format would have been to have some variety amongst the 6 panels. A shot of kids from Peter’s college, a shot of Aunt May, a shot of Jameson and Foswell, etc… would have made for a much more interesting cover and better use of the gimmick.

For the previous 5 issues, Stan had given Steve plotting credit, but left that off this time. Perhaps by accident. The credit will be back next issue and for the rest of Ditko’s run.

This story begins a 3-part saga we’ll refer to as “The Master Planner Saga”. (Some people–at least one person–simply call the whole saga by this issue’s title instead.) Up until now, the series has almost been entirely single issue stories. The first proper 2-parter was the Crime-Master saga in #26–27. And we connected #17–19 for thematic parallels and some running motifs about May’s health and Peter’s self-confidence (motifs which will come into play heavily again), but they were really 3 loosely connected standalone issues. This is plainly a 3-part story with each chapter ending with a cliffhanger leaving the major plot threads unresolved

This can be read as the story that brings the saga of Spider-Man to its conclusion, the final chapter. It’s also the best story in the history of Marvel Comics.

The issue opens with the goons Spider-Man was facing last issue, the well-financed squad stealing scientific equipment. That Lee’s script claimed were working for the Cat, though they plainly were not.

Now the goons are working for someone called the Master Planner, who has a plan for every contingency, even Spider-Man’s untimely interference. Probably, we should have learned of the Master Planner last issue, which offered set-up for this arc.

We get the hint that “Master Planner” isn’t the villain’s only identity, that there’s some mystery here to be revealed. We know he’s a good planner, stealing scientific equipment, and has an underwater base. Could it be an old enemy of Spider-Man’s, some aquatic-themed villain with an interest in science, particularly radioactive atomic devices?

Aunt May continues to hide her illness from Peter. This has been going on the last couple issues.

It’s worth nothing Peter’s biological parents have never been mentioned before. He has been raised by his Aunt and Uncle. May notes here Peter is “just like his father”. Does she mean his biological father or Uncle Ben? She notes he’s been “like a son” to her, and Peter will later describe her as “like a mother”.

Peter starts college at Empire State Universtiy. We learned in last month’s Fantastic Four that Johnny was delaying starting college. We’re introduced to the college life with a great montage sequence. Flash and Peter don’t seem any closer.

Finally, Aunt May can hide her illness no longer. Dr. Bromwell is called, and she is taken to the hospital. This is the fourth time we’ve seen a family doctor and the first time one has been named. Judging from the pictures, I would say there are three different doctors, and this is our first time meeting Dr. Bromwell. There was a doctor in issue 9, and a different doctor in issue 12, who we met again in issue 18.

There’s a lot to break down on this page.

Let’s start with Peter’s self-reflections and by reminding ourselves of the central tenet of Spider-Man from his first appearance: In this world, with great power there must also come– great responsibility!

But what does that really mean? There was a time jump from the ending of his origin until the start of the series. In the gap, he had become a superhero. One can connect the dots and infer becoming a superhero was his attempt to live up to that mantra. He has the power to help people, so he should. Being Spider-Man has had other benefits. He’s also engaged in a quasi-ethical career as a photojournalist taking pictures of himself for cash. This cash lets him help support his retired aunt.

But it’s also put him in danger. He could have died on any number of adventures, and then who would May have? And her heart is so weak, that Peter fears for her to learn his secret. Even so, she knows he’s hiding something, that he’s often out late without calling, which makes her worry. Again, not good for her heart.

He met a girl he likes, Betty. She wants to marry him. But she hates Spider-Man. And he can’t be Spider-Man and be with Betty. Did he have any responsibility to Betty? Or to himself, to find romance and a partner? Now, it looks like Betty will marry Ned instead, who can provide safety and stability that Spider-Man never can.

Peter’s also a teenager. He’d been in high school. Isn’t his primary responsibility to be a student? He seemed able to balance this well enough with his superhero life. But that’s what it’s all about, what it’s all been about.

Balance.

He needs to study. And have friends. And have a romantic life. And care for his aunt. And help with the money. And also help everyone in the city who may be in danger from a costumed maniac. And help every bank and plant being robbed by thieves.

It’s too much responsibility. Too much to balance.

And that leads to the reverie, that he’d been too caught up in being Spider-Man and starting college, that he hadn’t been paying attention to Aunt May’s health. He feels the guilt of letting one of his responsibilities slip.

Did Peter have any friends? He never really seemed to in high school. The guys all hung out with Flash and made fun of Peter. He had his romance with Betty, and Liz had a romantic interest in him. We never saw him hang out with anybody else. Mary Jane wanted to go out with him, but he had neither time nor interest to even meet her.

But that was high school. He’s in college now. It’s a chance to start over. To make friends. Maybe to meet a new girl, one Spider-Man won’t stand in the way of.

Flash has made friends already. Harry Osborn and Gwen Stacy. Gwen is impressed by Peter’s science scholarship, and Flash tries to introduce them, but Pete’s too lost in his own thoughts.

We’d mentioned issue 9 earlier, perhaps the key issue of the series up to this point, one this issue refers back to a lot. That’s where May’s health first became a focus, and also where Peter and Betty got together. We saw the same pattern play out, of Peter ignoring classmates because he’s too distracted by May’s health.

He can’t balance his concern for Aunt May with making new friends in college. He’s overwhelmed.

Both Gwen and Harry have made it to films; Gwen played by Bryce Dallas Howard in Spider-Man 3, and Emma Stone in Amazing Spider-Man and its sequel.

Harry was played by James Franco in the Raimi Spider-Man films and Dane DeHaan in Amazing Spider-Man.

Harry has a distinctive hairstyle, which we’ve seen before. It reminds us of both Sandman and Jameson’s friend from the club.

Could all three be related? I presume only close relatives have similar hairstyles.

Two other people try to greet Peter but get the brush-off. Maybe he won’t have any college friends either. Of course nobody knows about his aunt’s health, so they assume he is arrogant because of his scholarship.

He can’t study and worry about Aunt May either. Why are things hard to balance? Time is one factor, but emotional energy is another. Focus. Distraction.

Professor Warren is likely not Mr. Warren from high school. They share a name and both taught Peter science, but don’t especially look alike, and Ditko is careful with how he draws people. More careful than Stan is with how he names people. Mr. Warren is a character who will basically disappear. Professor Warren will go on to infamy. No Marvel Universe scientist is just going to stick to teaching classes forever.

Every time somebody mentions Coke seems worth noting, given the blog’s name. Everybody but Peter goes out for Coke.

Aunt May asks Peter if he made new friends. She doesn’t want to be a distraction from his life. She’d prefer him going out for Coke with Gwen and Harry, rather than worrying about her.

The medical bills add to the financial stress of other bills. He could drop out of college to get a real job and support Aunt May, but that’s not what she wants.

A bit of a dearth of action so far. It opened with a 4-page action sequence, but then spent 7 pages on Peter’s life. (Which tends to be more interesting than his Spider-Man life.) And when he changes into Spider-Man again, he finds no action. So he goes home and studies.

Betty hasn’t answered Ned’s question yet, and doesn’t want to until she learns Peter’s secret that always comes between them.

Peter brushes Gwen off again; his rejection makes him more intriguing to her. Weird.

“Peter Parker is the only boy I’ve met who hasn’t given me a tumble.”

…

It’s possible I sometimes misunderstand 1960s slang.

Foswell assumes his Patch identity to learn about the Master Planner and gives Spider-Man a tip. I appreciate the Patch subplot. It’s better writing than just having Spider-Man stumble upon robberies by chance.

Finally, after 12 (!) action-free pages, we get back to action.

This time, Spider-Man was ready for the gas attack with a custom gas mask. This was a theme of earlier issues that has become less common, where he wins the day with a bit of gadgetry as well as fisticuffs. He’s a science whiz.

The Master Planner gives us one more clue to his identity, confirming he is someone Spider-Man has met before.

The doctor’s tests reveal a horrifying truth. Aunt May is dying.

Hey, is that a letter from future superstar writer Don McGregor, age 20? Let’s see what he has to say about Amazing Spider-Man #27.

Dear Stan and Steve,

While the cover of issue #27 wasn’t the best, the title certainly was the weirdest. “Bring Back My Goblin to Me!” was way out, and so far out that I think I like it. Notice that I say I think I like it– I’m still not positive. Anyhow, it was original. Beyond that there were some fine points about this issue that make it another winner for that neighborhood web-spinner, Spidey. The police were allowed a certain moment of action, a novel touch, and that panel of page 4 where Spidey breaks his chains is a Ditko masterpiece. This bit about his suit shrinking was good, and the chase after the Crime-Master was nicely done. Perhaps one of the best touches was the continuity of the characters and the mystery that it involved. I liked the original thought that Spidey had when he learned who the Crime-Master was– “It’s kinda funny– in real life, when a villain is unmasked, he isn’t always the butler, or the one you suspected! Sometimes he’s a man you don’t even know!” This is realism as only Marvel Comics presents it, and it was a nice touch just as the identity of Foswell was. Page 19 was a nice, homey piece of material which always makes Peter Parker seem like a real person. Many scholars probe over the writing of Conan Doyle to figure out the dates of Sherlock Holmes adventures, but I think in 100 years some scholar will set down a list on the life of Spider-Man and of the Fantastic Four. I do think we ought to find out who the Green Goblin is. It’s not like Marvel to drag things out beyond the limit. One other nice thing about this tale was the ending, and the part which read– “We leave you with this thought– isn’t there just a little of Peter Parker in all of us?” Sentimental, perhaps, but a nice touch which leaves the reader with a good feeling.

Donald McGregor

Don would have another year to wait on the Goblin’s identity. His words about scholarly interest were prophetic, but it didn’t take a 100 years. Within a decade, George Olshevsky would publish the Official Marvel Index.

Rating: ★★★★★, 97/100
Significance: ★★★★★

I read this story in Amazing Spider-Man Omnibus vol. 1.

This goes right near the top of the Best We’ve Read, displacing Fantastic Four #42, where Thing joined the Frightful Four.

Characters:

• Spider-Man
• Master Planner
• Aunt May
• ESU Dean
• Flash Thompson
• Dr. Bromwell
• Harry Osborn
• Gwen Stacy
• Professor Warren
• J. Jonah Jameson
• Frederick Foswell/Patch
• Betty Brant
• Ned Leeds
• Foxy Briggs
• Hospital doctor

Story notes:

• Mercenaries steal from radioactive atomic device plant. Plan going perfectly until Spider-Man intervenes.
• Mercenary boss referred to as Master Planner.
• Master Planner recommends Emergency Plan “G”: jettison loot from helicopter into sea, where backup squad, Task Force “R”, is ready to receive.
• Peter starts college at Empire State University.
• Aunt May faints in front of Peter; he calls Dr. Bromwell, who sends for an ambulance.
• Gwen Stacy was beauty queen of Standard High.
• Gwen followed Flash’s football career through high school.
• Harry calls Peter a Frosh dismissively. Is Harry a little older?
• Harry gets poor first impression of Peter, but Gwen is interested in him.
• Gwen feels attracted to Peter but still helps Flash with his gag.
• Attempts to invite Peter for Coke are rebuffed. Flash, Harry, Gwen, and others go out for Coke.
• Peter voted Mr. Swelled-Head of 1965.
• Patch overhears Foxy Briggs, known thief, asking about a cargo of nuclear devices at Pier 6.
• Master Planner researching radiation. He plans to conquer the world.
• Doctors discover that Aunt May is dying.

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