Amazing Spider-Man #56 "DISASTER!" (January, 1968)

Synopsis

1968! An important year in American History. Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr. are killed, massive protests break out on college campuses about Vietnam, and Nixon is elected.

Will there be as much significance in the Spider-Verse? Let's find out!

Spider-Man, besotted with amnesia has been duped by Dr. Octopus into believing that they're partners. Somehow though (probably due to his spider-sense) Spidey knows that everything isn't what it seems.

Meanwhile, the gang is missing Peter. Aunt May of course, is upset both that Peter is missing and that everyone is telling lies about poor misunderstood Dr. Octopus.

Colonel Jameson is determined to get back the nullifier and is aided by Police Captain George Stacy. Yes, that's right: Stacy. Gwen's father! I'm sure all of you've been wondering where the heck her family was. Well her surprisingly old father is a widower, and he's raised gorgeous Gwendolyne all by his lonesome.

When the army eventually shows up, Ock is defeated by the very weapon he stole. Spider-Man refuses to fight the army, now convinced that he's not a criminal but the issue ends with him still being unsure of who he actually is!

Notes

• First appearance of George Stacy

Credits

Smilin' Stan Lee/Jazzy John Romita

Inked by: Mickey Demeo

Lettering by: Sam Rosen 

Ignored by: Those of Little Faith

Amazing Spider-Man #55 "DOC OCK WINS!" (December, 1967)

Synopsis

Remember the Nullifier that Ock tried to steal way back in ish 53? Well he finally gets it despite the best efforts of Colonel Jameson. 

He uses it on Spider-Man which afflicts him with a well known plot-device....AMNESIA!!

Notes

• the juxtaposition between "party-girl" MJ and more thoughtful Gwen continues
• Harry is again annoyed at his missing roomate
• that cover? awesome.

Credits

Stan (the man) Lee/John (ring-a-ding) Romita

Mickey Demeo - Inking

Sam Rosen - Lettering

Amazing Spider-Man #54 "THE TENTACLES AND THE TRAP!" (November, 1967)

Synopsis

Okay Faithful Followers! Reach back into your brains all the way to Annual #1. Remember when Doc Ock kidnapped Aunt May and Betty Brant? Did you think that ol' Stan was going to let a good plot like that go to waste? Heck no!

Doctor Octopus is boarding with Aunt May and Anna Watson, and you know that can only mean one thing. Trouble! With eight capital T's.

Aunt May is just so hilariously naïve. She completely trusts this man despite the fact that the newspapers, the radio, and the television have all talked about his being a nefarious criminal. She still treats Peter like a child, and lives with the delusion that he's a 'frail and fragile boy.'

Ridiculous.

Anyway, Peter desperately tries to find a way to confront Ock without terrifying actually frail and fragile Aunt May. Ultimately, he fails. She has another heart attack type of thing and faints when she sees Spidey and Ock tussling. The good Doctor escapes leaving Peter to deal with his Aunt.

Notes

• If you think that over time Aunt May would "get it" that Dr. Octopus is not a nice person, you're wrong. She won't find out for another 35 years or so (real time, not Marvel Time)
• I love John Romita but I can still admit when he goofs. Check out Pete's pupils in the above pic when he sees who's living with Aunt May.

Credits

Stan Lee, John Romita, Mickey Demeo, Sam Rosen

Amazing Spider-Man #53 "ENTER DR. OCTOPUS!" (October, 1967)

Synopsis

Harry is peeved at Peter because he's never around. Harry doesn't like feeling like a glorified answering machine. To make matters worse, Pete takes Gwen to a "Science Expo" blowing off Harry and Flash who recently returned from Vietnam. 

Professor Warren goes with the budding couple and he displays some delightfully creepy affection for Gwen. I doubt that Stan intended at this point for Prof. Warren to end up as horribly creepy as he does, but the groundwork certainly was laid here.

At the Expo, wouldn't you just know that Dr. Octopus would show up and start a big ol' fight. Spidey beats him soundly and Ock decides to lay low for a while.

Aunt May and Anna decide to take in a boarder to make some extra cash...guess who moves in?

Notes

Credits

Stan Lee, John Romita, Mickey Demeo, Artie Simek

Amazing Spider-Man #32 "MAN ON A RAMPAGE!" (January, 1966)

Synopsis

Continuing from last issue, Aunt May is deathly ill. She's absorbed a radioactive particle into her bloodstream and Peter blames himself. How was he to know back in ish #10 that the blood transfusion he gave her would end up hurting her? 

There's little joking, and few quips in this issue. Spider-Man enlists the aid of Dr. Curt Conners to cure Aunt May. He recommends a serum called ISO-36. Unfortunately the shipment is snatched by the Master Planner who is revealed to be Dr. Octopus. Spider-Man races to get back the ISO-36 but ends up trapped under tons of steel. The issue closes with him thinking he's been defeated and Aunt May slowly fading...

DON'T MISS NEXT ISSUE!! 

Notes

Credits

Script & Editing by: Stan Lee

Plot & Illustration by: Steve Ditko

Lettering & Kibitzing by: Artie Simek

Amazing Spider-Man #12 "UNMASKED BY DR. OCTOPUS" (May, 1964)

Synopsis

What's this?! Dr. Octopus has taken Betty hostage, and Peter feels the beginnings of a virus coming on! Pete is quickly bested and unmasked by Doc Ock. Fortunately for our intrepid hero, everyone thinks that Peter was just pretending to be Spider-Man to save Betty. 24 hours later, the virus wears off, and his strength returns! After an inane interlude involving wild animals, Spidey and Octopus tangle again, leaving Spider-Man the triumphant victor. Liz Allan also develops feelings for Peter in this issue.

Notes

Credits

Written by: Stan Lee

Drawn by: Steve Ditko

Lettered by: Art Simek

Amazing Spider-Man #11 "THE TURNING POINT" (April, 1964)

Synopsis

Dr. Octopus is released from jail! Is that Betty Brant driving him to Philly?! We find out Betty's terrible secret: her brother has gambling debts and she's trying to help him pay them off. Betty blames Spider-Man for the death of her brother. Poor Peter, nothing ever seems to go his way!

Notes

• First usage of the Spider-Tracer

Credits

Written by: Stan Lee

Drawn by: Steve Ditko

Lettered: S. Rosen

Amazing Spider-Man #2 "versus DOCTOR OCTOPUS!" (July, 1963)

Synopsis

Spidey tangles with a new foe, Otto Octavius, known to the world as Dr. Octopus! Along the way, he gets some sound advice from the Human Torch.

Notes

• First appearance of Dr. Octopus
• First appearance of the Spider Signal
• First meeting of the Torch and Spidey

Credits

Story by  Stan Lee

Art by      Steve Ditko

Letterer: John Duffy