Hey, this one smells bad. That’s no way to get going. Smells like it’s been wet, but doesn’t really look like it. Hopefully its smell doesn’t reflect its content. Same team as last issue, as Peter Parker confirms that his blood is losing radiation, but then doubts himself because he’s so messed up he can’t really focus on his microscope.
Not for the last time, Spidey heads out looking for Curt Connors’ help with a science problem. However, that turns out to be a bust, as Connors’ office is deserted. Spidey concludes he must have moved back to Florida with his family. Despairing, our hero grows weaker and more messed up as he travels the city, when he suddenly remembers tonight is Gwen’s surprise birthday party! What spectacularly bad timing! He sees a jewelry store and.. .Breaks in to take some stuff!?
He is legit losing it. He puts the necklace back and then falls off the 2nd floor of the building, too dizzy to stand. He decides this must be the end of his career as Spider-Man (He seems way more worried about that than, you know, possibly dying).
As he struggles with his condition, his friends are wondering about him…
Pete ends up missing the whole party. Gwen puts on a happy face and tries to make sure everyone has a good time, but she isn’t. Eventually, no one’s left at the apartment but Gwen, her dad, Harry, and MJ…
Well, then. Just like it said on the cover. Gwen freaks out, which freaks Peter out, and he runs right back out of there. Captain Stacy points out that he wasn’t well and suggests he didn’t know what he was saying. Then Harry remembers back to ASM 12 (Even though none of these characters had been made up yet), when Doc Ock unmasked Spider-Man and it was Peter Parker in the suit. At the time, everyone thought Peter was impersonating Spidey to get sensational news pictures…
Awkward! Meanwhile, Peter continues wandering the streets, finally realizing he could actually be dying. With nothing left to lose, he decides to go to a hospital…
I mean, I guess. He gets taken to an exam room. The doctor doesn’t even try to unmask him, or get a blood sample, Peter’s two big fears. He even tries to tell the doc about his radioactive blood, but the doc says he has to go check on his other patients.
That is the most Stan Lee-sounding doctor Stan could have possibly written. Spidey is still not doing too well, but now that he doesn’t think he’s losing his powers or dying, his attitude is way better, and he feels better, too. Until he remembers what he did earlier. He mopes for awhile, and then suddenly comes up with a plan. A plan that hinges on someone else wearing his Spider-suit. He webs up his face for secrecy and heads out.
Who could Spidey be turning to in this time of need? Daredevil? They’re not pals like that yet. The Human Torch? His powers don’t give him the best Spider-Man impression. Nah, it’s…
…Hobie Brown, aka The Prowler. He developed a suit and some gear to become a cat burglar out of desperate need, but he’s a good guy at heart, and Spidey saw that. He didn’t turn him in to the cops on the promise he’d stay on the straight & narrow. So, then, Peter head back to The Stacys’ place, where MJ & Harry happen to have come over, too. He apologizes and explains he had the flu and was talking crazy. Gwen wants to believe him, but how can he explain having Spider-Man’s mask?
Well, like that, I guess. Gwen is overjoyed to have proof that her man isn’t Spider-Man (That’s awkward), and everything’s back to normal. The Stacys insist he go home and rest, and Peter still suspects George Stacy figured his secret out, but he goes home happy, secure in his relationship with Gwen and, ya know, not dying and all. The end. That was a wild one! That brief detour into jewel thievery would probably send fans into a bloodrage if they tried it now. It’s kind of incredible in this age of long, multi-part stories to see them unmask Peter and get out of it in a single issue.
This issue’s letter pages feature letters from two future comics professionals, Doug Moench and Alan Kupperberg. It’s always fun to see that kind of thing. Kupperberg will even appear on this blog someday, having drawn a few issues of Spider-Man. Moench didn’t write any Spider-Man, but some of his creations will find their way here, too. How ‘bout that?