MRL - Amazing Spider-Man (1963) #7-10

Amazing Spider-Man (1963) #7-10 - Stan Lee/Steve Ditko

 

We check back on Spider-Man with the return of the Vulture.

He has been a model prisoner in prison, but it’s just a ruse to get access to the components he needs to create a new flying device. One day, he floats over the prison walls and goes back to his life of crime, with a set of upgraded wings.

After hearing about the Vulture’s escape, Peter ditches school - namely, gym class - to go after him. He fetches his anti-magnetic inverter, but the Vulture’s new wings are resistant to it and he manages to catch Spider-Man off-guard - despite the warning from his spider-sense. The Vulture throws Spider-Man against a building and he barely manages to catch his fall with his shoulder, although it leaves bystanders thinking his dead.

Peter’s arm is hurt badly enough that he needs to find an excuse to explain it to Aunt May. He needs to wear a sling and gets bullied at school over it, to the point he has to repress his anger at Flash.

Meanwhile, the Vulture decides his next target is going to be the Daily Bugle’s payroll. He barges into Jameson’s office through the window and threatens him, but Jameson tries to negotiate instead of giving up his money. That gives Peter - who was trying to sell Vulture pictures at the time - time to slip away and change into Spider-Man. They fight all over the Bugle building, until the Vulture finds a window to escape out of. He also manages to grab Peter, but he has plan. He lets the Vulture drag him up into the sky, only to web his wings. He then constructs a parachute out of webs and glides them down to the street.

The Vulture gets arrested again, Spider-Man gets berated by Jameson for destroying his offices, but Peter gets to spend the evening hanging out with Betty Brant, so at least his romantic prospects are looking up!

Things with Flash, however, blow up when Peter finally gets angry enough to confront him in the boxing ring. Flash is confident and Peter is worried about giving his super-hero identity up - even his lightest punch sends Flash flying into the crowd. Of course, everyone thinks that was an accident and that Peter is dodging every punch because he’s a coward, not because he has amazing reflexes.

Peter figures he can finish the fight by using a flick of his wrist, but he knocks Flash out when a rampaging robot distracts every one.

At the same time, there’s this super smart computer in a robot body, that may-or-may-not be able to find out Spider-Man’s secret identity. Peter deals with him, and then distracts everybody by pointing out a few coincidences that indicate that Flash is actually Spider-Man, so Peter’s day ends in a happy note.

After that, there’s a short story where Spider-Man shows up at the same party Johnny Storm’s at just to start a fight with the Human Torch, and then flirts with Sue Storm ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

In issue #9, we have the introduction of another iconic villain, Electro. Originally, Max Dillon was a selfish lineman, who wouldn’t help a coworker unless money was offered. One day, he is struck by lightning and gains the ability to generate and control electricity. Obviously, he uses his powers to become a criminal.

He robs a bank while Jameson’s there and his attitude convinces him that Electro must secretly also be Spider-Man. He rushes to publish his theory, after the police don’t take him seriously, and berates Peter to get him some photo evidence.

Peter, however, is worried about Aunt May. She’s sick and in need of a costly operation. Peter tries to capture Electro for the reward money, but gets electrocuted. Instead, he sells Jameson some fake pictures showing that Spider-Man is indeed Electro. Jameson feels a bit bad for cheating Peter on the price, but Peter feels ashamed for lying and promises to make up for it, somehow.

Aunt May makes a full recovery - to the point she’s able to take a vacation in Florida by the next issue - and Peter feels free to go after Electro.

He decided to get himself a criminal gang by freeing some inmates. It was going well, until Spider-Man shows up and they decide they’re safer inside their cells. Electro goes after him, but Peter came prepared with rubber gloves and shoes. In the end, he defeats Electro by hosing him down with water.

He also makes it up to Jameson with some photos of the Spider-Man/Electro fight and Jameson forgives him for the fake photos. Peter and Betty have their first spat: she’s not happy about him getting himself in danger over some photos, after she asked him no to, and he’s not happy about her trying to control him, but they make up in the end.

Things go sideways between the two lovebirds when a new criminal gang shows up. The Enforcers take over all criminal activity, and that includes a loan shark that Betty must repay. She ends up fleeing New York, because she doesn’t want Peter to get involved in her problems.

Jameson is now convinced Spider-Man is the leader of the Enforcers, while Peter suspects Jameson at one point. In the end, the Big Man is one of Jameson’s reporters, which leaves both dumbfounded.

And the reason Jameson hates Spider-Man so much is revealed. The truth is that Jameson can’t respect himself with Spider-Man around. He has always been greedy, but Spider-Man helps people without expecting anything in return, so the only thing Jameson can do is to tear him down, to appease his jealousy.

 

Random stuff:

Spider-Man uses his webs to make a sling for his arm, a heart for Sue and a spider to scare a bad guy he’s interrogating.

Aunt May needs a blood transfusion. Peter hesitates to give his blood at first, worried about how it might affect her, but May doesn’t seem to get spider powers…

Betty thinks the only one who can help her is Spider-Man, but why would he?