Amazing Spider-Man #67 "TO SQUASH A SPIDER!" (December, 1968)

Synopsis

Spider-Man fights for his now 6-inch life as Mysterio torments and antagonizes him. Fortunately he realizes just in time that....um....it was all just post-hypnotic suggestion. Hooray!

Notes

• Jim Mooney is an awesome inker
• Introduction of Randy Robertson

Credits

Stan Lee and Johnny Romita

Jim (Madman) Mooney

Artie Simek

Amazing Spider-Man #66 "THE MADNESS OF MYSTERIO!" (November, 1968)

Synopsis

Mysterio opens this issue soliloquizing about how he plans to defeat Spider-Man. Sigh...they never learn. 

Gwen makes up with Peter having learned the truth about what happened in the previous issue. Hooray!

Joe Robertson and Captain Stacy begin their get-togethers to discuss Spider-Man. I'm guessing that Stan Lee's father smoked a pipe. Both of these "father figure" characters do.

Norman Osborn has reverted back to the Green Goblin, but he still hasn't regained the memory that Peter Parker is Spider-Man.

When Spidey tracks down Mysterio, he gets zapped by Mysterio's new weapon. Spidey regains his sense in time to discover that he's only 6 inches tall!!

Notes

Credits

Stan (The Man) Lee and Johnny (Ring-A-Ding) Romita

Amazinlgy Abetted by: Dazzlin' Don Heck + Slick Mick Demeo

Lovingly Lettered by: Adorable A. Simek

Special Effects by: I. Fearless Forbush

Amazing Spider-Man Annual #4 "THE WEB AND THE FLAME! " (1967)

Synopsis

Another year, another annual. Am I the only who thinks these are stupid, hokey, and just a way to sell a comic for 25 cents? Probably not, the stories aren't better--just more ridiculous in their story-telling. Human Torch and Spidey get tricked into fighting each other by the Wizard and Mysterio. It'd be mildly interesting if we hadn't already seen the idea of a movie set being a trap back in ish 14. 

Notes

• this issue had a "surprise penciller." We find out at the end that it was Larry Lieber, although Stan neglects to mention that Larry is his younger brother. 
• The continuity of when this issue is supposed to take place isn't totally clear. Aunt May is on some sort of vacation, but in ish 55, she was being treated by Dr. Bromwell. Maybe she just dashed off for a quick pick-me-up. Or maybe Stan just doesn't read his own comics?

Credits

Stan Lee - Writer

Mickey Demeo - Inker

Larry Lieber - Penciller

Jerry Feldman - Letterer

Amazing Spider-Man #24 "SPIDER-MAN GOES MAD!" (May, 1965)

Synopsis

A european doctor named Ludwig Rinehart shows up in New York with evidence that Spider-Man is going to lose his mind. His theory states that no one could lead a double life and stay sane. Of course, Rinehart is really Mysterio and he uses projecting robot animals to convince Spider-Man into thinking that he really is going crazy. Fortunately the whole thing is foiled with a little help from Fred Foswell, JJJ, and Flash Thompson.

Notes

• first appearance of Mysterio's alter ego as Ludwig Rinehart
• the picture....what the crap Steve? Is Peter supposed to be an anime character?

Credits

Script: Stan Lee

Art: Steve Ditko

Lettering: S. Rosen

Amazing Spider-Man #13 "THE MENACE OF MYSTERIO!" (June, 1964)

Synopsis

Someone is committing crimes as Spider-Man! Pete thinks he's cracking up and visits a psychiatrist. He quickly realizes that he can't undergo therapy without compromising his secret identity. A menacing figure who calls himself Mysterio promises that he can bring Spider-Man's reign of terror to an end. Mysterio beats Spidey the first time they tangle but the second time makes the mistake of revealing his entire back-story and arsenal while he thinks Spider-Man is beaten. Also, Betty begins to be jealous of Liz Allan in this issue.

Notes

• First appearance of Mysterio
• Mysterio will pretend to be a psychiatrist in a future issue to trick Spider-Man into revealing his identity

Credits

Written by: Stan Lee

Drawn by: Steve Ditko

Lettered by: Art Simek