Amazing Spider-Man #63 "WINGS IN THE NIGHT!" (August, 1968)

Synopsis

I bet most of you Spider-Fans were bummed to find out that Vulture died in ish 48 even though Blackie Drago took over his mantle as "New Vulture." Fret not, turns out Adrian Toomes is alive and well.

Now if you want to make your comeback as the high-flying Vulture what would be your first move? Would you break-0ut from prison the guy who tried to replace you so that you can beat him up? Vulchy would.

Our issue closes with the original Vulture soundly beating the new one, and then turning to face Spider-Man!

Notes

• yes, more of "Norman is gaining back his memory!"
• also more of "I wish Peter would try to explain!" "How can I ever explain to Gwen?"
• Check out what the Vulture thinks about copyright law in the above pic

Credits

Stan (The Man) Lee/John (Ring-A-Ding) Romita

Don (Hero) Heck

Mickey Demeo

Sam Rosen

Amazing Spider-Man #62 "MAKE WAY FOR MEDUSA!" (July, 1968)

Synopsis

Spidey is swinging above the city, thinking about how to make up with Gwen--when suddenly Medusa appears! Not the mythological creature but the Inhuman with living hair. She's come to New York to see if mankind is ready to accept the Inhumans living among them. 

Naturally she is immediately confronted by an advertising executive who thinks she'd be a great spokesmodel for hairspray. 

Meanwhile...

Norman Osborn is still struggling with his returning memories about the Green Goblin...

Does anyone else notice how often Marvel uses the idea of a foreign dignitary (Ka-Zar, Namor, Inhumans, etc.) coming to New York and inadvertently causing mayhem due to culture clash?

Well here we go again, Medusa, unsuprisingly, gets bored with the hairspray ads and walks out after trashing the place. The ad exec hails Spider-Man and tricks him into going after Medusa.

Oy.

The ensuing battle is mostly a complete misunderstanding, I sure wish Spidey would use his words before his fists. It really doesn't help though that Medusa is so taken with her status as Queen of the Inhumans that she refuses to discuss anything.

Fear not, once the snafu is cleared up, Medusa goes back the Inhumans and the corrupt ad-man is fired. Justice reigns!

Notes

• JJJ's thoughts in the above pic are just....so linear. We don't think like that!

Credits

Smilin' Stan Lee/Jazzy John Romita

Delineated by: Dashing Don Heck

Inking: Mighty Mickey Demeo

Lettering: Swingin' Sammy Rosen

Amazing Spider-Man #61 "WHAT A TANGLED WEB WE WEAVE..!" (June, 1968)

Synopsis

Gwen and Captain Stacy go on the run but are soon apprehended by Kingpin's men. Spider-Man saves the day, and with the help of Norman Osborn shuts down the brainwashing plan permanently.

Notes

• Norman is starting to remember his alter ego, the Green Goblin

Credits

Stan Lee/John Romita

Don Heck

Mickey Demeo

Sam Rosen

Amazing Spider-Man #47 "IN THE HANDS OF THE HUNTER!" (April, 1967)

Synopsis

This ish opens with with a flashback to a scene from Kraven's last appearance (#39) where it turns out the the Green Goblin had hired him to kill Spider-Man. Why Kraven needed any additional incentive isn't clear, but they've established that he had it.

Of course unbeknownst to Kraven, the Green Goblin doesn't exist anymore. So he goes to visit the man he met with earlier as a liason for the Goblin: Norman Osborn!

Meanwhile, Flash Thompson is enjoying a good-bye party since he leaves the next day to fight in Vietnam. Kraven shows up and kidnaps Harry Osborn as ransom. Peter has to duck away for Spidey to make the scene. Spider-Man beats Kraven in spite of his new "magnetizing ray." Hooray!

Notes

Credits

A Swingin', Super-Special Spidey Saga, by: Stan Lee and John Romita

Abetted and Lettered by: Sam Rosen

Amazing Spider-Man #38 "JUST A GUY NAMED JOE!" (July, 1966)

Synopsis

If a man gets bathed in chemicals and then electrocuted a bit, would you assume he would develop super-human strength? Yer darn right he would! Joe Smith is a pretty unassuming nobody, until one day the aforementioned happens on a movie set. Boom, instant one-issue-villain. 

Spider-Man beats him, and the guy goes back to normal, gets a movie contract, and lives happily ever after. Y'know even I'm getting tired of this completely uninteresting A-stories, but fortunately the B-stories are awesome.

Norman Osborn hires every goon in the city to kill Spider-Man, offering a reward of $20,000. Harry and Flash are still picking on Peter, but Gwen sure seems to be whistling a different tune. Meanwhile, at the Bugle, Ned Leeds is back from California but he doesn't know where Betty is either!

Stay tuned frantic ones!

Notes

• there were several other panels that I loved and wanted to show you, here I present a few choice lines from a protest on ESU's campus

Peter: Another student protest! What are they after this time?

Some Kid: Didn't you hear? They're protesting tonight's meeting!

Peter: It figgers!

Another Kid: Hey, Parker! Not so fast! We can use another man to carry a sign! C'mon, join in the protest march!

Peter: Not me! I haven't got time! Besides, I've nothing to protest about!

Third Kid: Nothing to protest about?? What are you -- some kinda religious fanatic, or somethin'?

Another Kid: What 'smatter with? Aren't you interested in saving the world?? Anyway, it's an excuse to cut classes!

Third Kid: --and maybe you'll get your picture in Newsweek!

Fourth Kid: C'mon, Parker--If you join our protest meeting, we'll join one of yours some time!

Fifth Kid: Sure! And, if you've nothing to protest, Don't worry about it! That won't stop us!

Peter:  Forget it!

Sixth Kid: Aww -- your cousin likes Lawrence Welk!

Seventh Kid: Gowan back to Squaresville you rosy-cheeked reactionary!

Credits

Written & Edited by: Stan Lee

Plotted & Drawn by: Steve Ditko

Lettered, Unfettered by: Artie Simek

Amazing Spider-Man #37 "ONCE UPON A TIME, THERE WAS A ROBOT...!" (June, 1966)

Synopsis

Robot. When I think of a robot, my mind usually goes to R2-D2 or Robby the Robot. I don't often think of a green blob with tentacles. That's probably because I'm not Mendel Stromm!

Professor Stromm is released from jail and immediately sets on a plan for revenge. His ex-partner cheated him out of his share of profits, and planted false evidence to get him landed in prison. Normon Osborn shall suffer for what he did! Stromm builds some crazy robots and looses them upon Osborn. Spider-Man manages to defeat both robots, but Stromm is killed by  a mysterious sniper before he divulges a secret. 

We know that Norman was the sniper, but Spidey doesn't. We also don't know how he managed to do it! It's all very plot-developing!

Notes

• Norman Osborn is finally mentioned by name
• First appearance of Professor Stromm (he isn't actually given a first name yet)
• The relationship between Norman and Harry begins to develop
• Okay, seriously--how are we supposed to pronounce these titles that have "...!" at the end of them? Try it. 

Credits

Edited & Written by: Stan Lee

Plotted & Drawn by: Steve Ditko

Lettered & Cherished by: Artie Simek