Featuring: Spider-Man
Release: December 9, 1965
Cover: March 1966
12 cents
Scripted and edited by: Stan Lee
Plotted and illustrated by: Steve Ditko
Lettered and relished by: Sam Rosen
20 pages
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|---|---|---|
| Thor #126, Story B | Reading order | Sgt. Fury #27 |
| Amazing Spider-Man #33 | Amazing Spider-Man | Amazing Spider-Man #35 |
…she’d never accept me as Spider-Man… but, Spider-Man I’ve always been… and shall always be… for as long as I live!
As we discussed, I think last issue works as an ending to the story of Spider-Man. I think issue 39 will give the series a fresh start, acting as a new beginning. These 5 issues in between are something of a treading-water era. I’d like to offer a brief summary of the story of Spider-Man so far before we get into this issue.
Let’s review the story of Spider-Man.
We all remember how it begins. Bitten by a spider. Allows a burglar to escape. Learns a lesson about responsibility.
But then the story jumped forward a bit in time. Without Uncle Ben, Peter and his Aunt are facing financial hardship. Aunt May doesn’t want Peter to worry about it, but Peter feels a responsibility to help with the finances. He considers crime, but settles on going back to show business. But this time he wouldn’t be in it for himself or his ego. He’d be doing it to help his Aunt. His attempts to find money mean he is unable to hang out with the kids at school when they invite him out, which gets him labeled as standoffish. They’ll be less likely to invite him out in the future. But his insistence on keeping a secret identity makes it hard for him to get paid as Spider-Man. And then Jameson’s editorials against him tank his show business career. He tries to get a job as Peter, but nobody wants to hire a kid. When John Jameson’s space shuttle malfunctions, Spider-Man goes into action and saves the day, but still gets labeled a menace by Jonah. The public and even Aunt May are against him. It seems that nothing goes right for Peter.
Spider-Man thinks he can solve his financial problems by joining the Fantastic Four, but they don’t pay a salary. He encounters his first super-villain, the Chameleon, when the Chameleon thinks he can take advantage of Spider-Man’s bad press to frame Spider-Man for his crimes.
When Jameson struggles to get pictures of the Vulture, Spider-Man figures out how he can make money. Aunt May gives Peter Ben’s old miniature camera, and he goes into action as Spider-Man to get pictures of the Vulture. They battle and the Vulture defeats and almost kills Spider-Man on their first encounter, but Spider-Man recovers and defeats him though a combination of his superhero prowess and his scientific ability to invent helpful gizmos. In a bit of irony, Peter sells the pictures to Jameson, and makes enough money to cover Aunt May’s rent.
By the following issue, Spider-Man is now an active superhero, seeking out crimes to stop, presumably because he recognizes this as his “great responsibility”. Dr. Octopus is his toughest foe yet. He almost is ready to give up being Spider-Man, but the Human Torch inspires him to never surrender. And Spider-Man will become known for pushing past his limits and fighting when the odds are against him.
Peter wants to do the right thing, but isn’t always good at it. When he sees criminals about to rob a bank, he stops them too soon, and then can’t prove he didn’t just harass ordinary citizens. When he fights Sandman, his mask rips, so he needs to run away, and can’t return to action until he sews a new mask. Liz had finally agreed to a date with Peter, but Spider-Man gets in the way and Peter needs to cancel. Fortunately, his photo career brings him by the offices of the Bugle and Jameson’s secretary Betty Brant. He stretches the ethics of his already questionable photojournalism career by staging photos of his fight with Sandman after the fact.
With the Lizard, Spider-Man faces the type of ethical conundrum that will occupy his career. Should he turn Curt Connors over to the authorities for his crimes as the Lizard? He instead decides that Connors is a good man, not responsible for his actions as the Lizard, and to keep his secret. In doing so, he will make a friend and valuable ally when he needs scientific expertise.
When the Vulture returns, Spider-Man must fight him with a broken arm. Nothing comes easy for Spider-Man. But the situation creates the opportunity for romance to blossom between Peter and Betty.
It all comes full circle when Aunt May gets sick. Spider-Man must rush to be by her side, ignoring active crimes in progress, just as he once ignored the one burglar. Where do his responsibilities lie? His career as a photojournalist taking pictures of himself was already questionably ethical, but he crosses a new line when he creates fake photos to prove Electro is Spider-Man and make Jameson happy. His Aunt’s health and the money needed for her operations must outweigh all concerns. His activities as Spider-Man also nearly interfere with his blossoming romance with Betty, as he reminds her of someone else who lived too dangerously. But they seem to work it out, at least for now.
Betty was in debt to a loan shark, and she flees town when the Enforcers come to collect. Jameson comes to a rare moment of introspection, realizing the reason he hates Spider-Man may simply be jealousy of Spider-Man’s altruism.
Betty got involved with the mob to help her brother Bennett, who became a mob lawyer to pay off his gambling debts. Peter makes the decision to confide his secret identity to Betty. But then when Bennett dies, Betty blames Spider-Man. While she softens, she still never wants to see Spider-Man again, as it would remind her of her brother’s death. So maybe Peter shouldn’t tell her his secret just yet.
Betty doesn’t get her wish as she gets captured by Dr. Octopus and needs Spider-Man to save her. Dr. Octopus even manages to unmask Spider-Man in front of her and Jameson, but they all find the idea that Peter might be Spider-Man too laughable and dismiss it. The news of Peter’s feat gets out and Liz decides he’s not the coward she thought he was, that the school-kids had never been nice enough to Peter. She’s ready to leave Flash Thompson behind and go out with Peter. But this time it’s his turn to reject her, as he only has eyes for Betty now.
But there is tension between Peter and Betty. She still thinks his photography job is too dangerous, which scares her, given what happened to her brother. And a jealous rivalry between Betty and Liz begins.
Spider-Man faces stranger and stranger villains: Mysterio, Green Goblin, and Kraven the Hunter.
One of his greatest triumphs comes when six of his greatest foes team up against him, and he must face them without his powers. It turns out the loss of his powers was psychological, rooted in his guilt and self doubt. By regaining his confidence, he regains his powers and again overcomes the odds.
Spider-Man attends a meeting of a fan club in his honor, which is crashed by Green Goblin. When Spider-Man gets word Aunt May is sick again, he decides he cannot fight Green Goblin and runs away, getting branded a coward. Fortunately Human Torch is on hand to pick up the slack.
Spider-Man comes to a realization. His job as Spider-Man is inherently dangerous. If he gets killed, then who does Aunt May have? He definitely can’t put himself at risk with her in the hospital and in need of attention. Is this the end of Spider-Man? When he sees Betty on a date with Ned Leeds, that convinces him it’s time to give up being Spider-Man for good. Get a proper job, take care of Aunt May, focus on his studies, focus on his relationship with Betty. He throws his costume in the trash. But then a recovering Aunt May gives a timely speech about how the Parkers aren’t quitters, and Peter realizes: “…a man can’t change his destiny… and I was born to be… Spider-Man!!!”
Spider-Man redeems his reputation teaming up with Human Torch against Sandman and the Enforcers.
Spider-Man’s most savage battle comes against the Scorpion, leaving him bruised and bloodied.
A European psychiatrist postulates that Spider-Man is insane, and Peter fears he may be correct. “He wants to be a spider… but of course he is a human being!” Aunt May reminds Peter it’s important to confide in the people you love.
The Crime-Master saga brings home that Spider-Man isn’t especially good at all aspects of his job. He’s got these powers, and he is a science whiz. But he’s not an investigator. He’s not the world’s greatest detective. When confronted with a mystery, he’s better off just letting the police handle it.
Ultimately, Spider-Man’s story is about coming of age. Peter’s big step into adulthood is graduating high school. He and Flash will go off to the same college, but Liz is off to become a working girl. She says he goodbyes to Peter, who never quite seemed to recognize that she’d matured from the girl who once rejected him
Ned asks Betty to marry him. She’s not willing to answer until she settles things with Peter. But Spider-Man still stands between them and always will.
All the threads tie together in the Master Planner Saga. Peter and Betty at last part ways, as he starts college, where he meets Gwen Stacy and Harry Osborn. Aunt May is dying from radiation from a blood transfusion she’d received from Peter. But this time, instead of Spider-Man distracting Peter from caring for his aunt, Spider-Man is needed when the serum that can save her is stolen. He battles Dr. Octopus and finds himself trapped under machinery too heavy to lift. But he has to lift the machinery, and in doing so saves his aunt, and proves to himself he can handle whatever life throws at him.
And so the series has gone, the story of a boy growing into a man, trying to do the right thing without always knowing how, trying to juggle too many responsibilities, and always managing to persevere against the odds.
And this issue?
Spider-Man fights Kraven again. Or, as Stan calls him, “… the somewhat magnificent menace of Kraven the Hunter!”
The story of Spider-Man isn’t truly over, perhaps. This issue does continue all the threads, but to no great effect. Aunt May returns from the hospital. Gwen continues flirting with all the boys, but remains most intrigued by the aloof Peter.
Betty has a dream that Peter is Spider-Man, but reminds herself it’s only a dream. Whatever Peter’s terrible secret, it can’t be that. We then get an ominous pronouncement about a decision she must make.
Spider-Man beats Kraven in a fight. Solidly told, but not Ditko’s best.
The most notable moment in the issue for me is when Spider-Man corrects a thug’s grammar. “It’s him,” says the ungrammatical thug.
“Nothing infuriates me as much as bad grammar!” says Spidey. Stan must feel strongly about this point of grammar. Thirty years later, he’ll have his hero Ravage correct the same solecism.
Actually, probably the most momentous thing is teased at the end. When we meet Jameson’s new secretary. What happened to Betty?
I’d like to read one of the letters regarding Amazing Spider-Man #30.
Dear Stan and Steve,
Richard Pini
Awright you guys– I’ve had it! I’ve been reading Marvel mags for a good many years and I’ve kept my mouth shut but after reading SPIDER-MAN #30, I decided that something should be said. Firstly, the issue was tremendous. I almost died at the last two panels on page 5, but I was really shook up at the chain of events that happened between Peter and Betty. The last panel was particularly effective. Secondly, I don’t think Betty should accept Ned’s proposal. So they work together– big deal. That’s fine for making friends, but not marriage partners. Besides, Betty isn’t really sure about herself. She admits that she loves Peter, but is kept apart from him by the “one secret.” Thirdly, I believe that Peter and Betty should be married. (Not immediately, perhaps, but eventually.) It is well known that Betty and Peter are in love, but Peter thinks he can never propose to her because of her prejudice against an adventuresome Spider-Man type. However, you could place Betty and Spider-Man in a situation where they would be in danger together for most of the issue. In such a situation Betty might have to take risks, and at the same time, see Spidey as he really is– not just the clowning, cavorting adventurer that she sees him as, but also as someone beneath the mask– a human being with emotions, cares, and feelings. In the story she could come to love this Spider-Man, if the person under the mask were someone she were really in love with– someone like Peter Parker, perhaps. You can see the implications. Fourthly, I don’t like one bit the looks of those dizzy spells Aunt May has been getting lately. If you’re planning to have here “leave” Marvel as you’ve been doing with so many others, I shall personally sic the Destroyer, the Juggernaut, and Irving Forbush on every one of you. Before I fold, I want to say that long after all the Brand Echh comics have crumbled away into decaying, rancid dust, Marvel shall raise its mighty head up into the sky as a tribute to all the Marvelites in the world!
A rather well-spoken 14 year old, Richard would eventually begin a correspondence with a girl named Wendy Fletcher, who also wrote letters into Marvel. They would finally meet in person, marry, and then together Richard and Wendy Pini would create and publish the comic Elfquest.
Rating: ★★★☆☆, 55/100
Significance: ★★★☆☆
I read this story in Amazing Spider-Man Omnibus vol. 1.
Characters:
- Kraven the Hunter
- Betty Brant
- Peter Parker
- Anna Watson
- Aunt May
- Gwen Stacy
- Harry Osborn
- J. Jonah Jameson
- Jameson’s secretary
Story notes:
- Kraven’s trophy room: Tiger, lion, panther, alligator, snake, gorilla, rhino, elephant, and… maybe a wolf?
- Kraven has killed every animal with his bare hands.
- Kraven refers to the lion as Simba, the Swahili word for “lion”.
- Kraven has secret jungle herbs with become potions of power.
- Kraven delivers captured animals from Nairobi to American zoo.
- Aunt May still in hospital but out of danger. Her tests have checked out and she’s able to return home.
- Harry says Peter as popular as Mao Tse-Tung.
- Peter understands the other students thought he was being snobby about his scholarship when he was worried about Aunt May.
- Peter is interested in Gwen, but thinks she wouldn’t be. Gwen thinks he only has time for test tubes.
- Peter considers chasing police sirens for the photo opportunity, but decides to visit May instead.
- Kraven goes to the hideout he and Chameleon had used… notes he doesn’t care what happened to Chameleon. We know Chameleon was last seen in New Mexico, working with the Leader in Tales to Astonish #66.
- Kraven defying exile order by returning to America.
- Kraven disguises himself as Jameson and attacks Spider-Man. Not the last time he’ll put on the Spider-Man costume.
- Jameson writes about Kraven’s harrassment and sells more papers. Spider-Man ignores Kraven.
- Peter pretends to go to a movie while May and Anna get together.
- Kraven’s jungle scent dulls Spider-Man’s spider sense.
| Previous | #467 | Next |
|---|---|---|
| Thor #126, Story B | Reading order | Sgt. Fury #27 |
| Amazing Spider-Man #33 | Amazing Spider-Man | Amazing Spider-Man #35 |
