"Spider-Man No More!"

 

During those times when Marvel brought special attention to a title's 50th issue, one story which surely stood out in that respect was the fiftieth issue of Amazing Spider-Man--one of the company's flagship characters who, as Peter Parker, reaches a pivotal moment and decides to walk away from his life as the wall-crawler forever, a moment that comes across in the issue's stunning and still memorable cover by artist John Romita Sr.

Following his previous issue, you'd think things would be looking up for Spider-Man.  Having survived a near-death battle at the hands (er, wings) of Blackie Drago, the new Vulture, only to then go on to defeat the team-up of Drago and Kraven the Hunter in a hands-down victory, Spidey was feeling jubilant and riding high. But it seems the next-issue blurb in the story's closing panel, "Spider-Man No More!", was to be taken seriously--yet how could Peter's optimism take such a nose dive so quickly?

A future Avengers story which spelled disaster for the team would have Hawkeye remarking that the team had suffered "an extraordinarily bad day," and that, living the lives they do, "[they] had it coming." We won't go so far as to say that the pile-on which is about to befall Peter amounts to his just deserts--after all, if there's anyone who doesn't deserve the raw hand his life continues to deal him, it's Peter Parker--but not long after page one, Romita and writer Stan Lee do their level best to crush Peter's spirit and morale with a steadily depressing day which has him questioning his life's direction.

The fun starts when Spider-Man foils a bank robbery in progress, an accomplishment which normally would be cause for smiles and thank-yous--but the level of gratitude he receives afterward becomes almost a metaphor for how he's come to be regarded by the general public when he goes into action.

Later, Peter is made aware of the amount of time his life as the web-spinner demands from him, and in the worst possible way--as his aunt falls ill while he was M.I.A. as Spider-Man.

From that cheery scene, it's on to E.S.U., where he proceeds to make a presumedly poor but hopefully passing grade on a test and receives an after-class lecture from Professor Warren (yes, that Professor Warren, who would bring even more soul-crushing fun to Peter as the Jackal)--words of warning that make Peter think twice about acting on long-awaited interest he feels on the part of Gwen Stacy.

But what sends him over the edge, with words that affect him more than ever in his current state, is a scathing broadcast from the publisher of the Daily Bugle, J. Jonah Jameson, continuing his incessant tirade against Spider-Man--a costumed figure he considers a menace to the public and must be destroyed (a very serious word to put out there, even for a self-styled crusader).

(I'd be curious as to what sort of television show would countenance a sponsor like Jameson, who spews such incendiary bile during a commercial break. They apparently don't have any worries about subjecting their viewers to this sort of diatribe.)

Jameson's words hit Peter hard--so much so that he forgets his real motive for becoming Spider-Man and instead begins to regard his actions in costume as those of a thrill-seeker who gets off on using his power. It's not much of a leap for him to make, then, to resolve to take steps to get his life back on track, for his own sake--with his first step being the most necessary of all.

Naturally, the man who would have the most to crow about here would be the man who's receiving the windfall from this development--none other than Jameson himself, who gets quite a trophy of sorts for his trouble and concludes with glee that whether Spider-Man has been murdered or has simply thrown in the towel, the wall-crawling thorn in his side may well be "thru."

I might have presented the page a little differently:

Yet others who may be yelling "yippee" at this news are even more undesirable than Jameson--the city's criminal element, and, in particular, the Kingpin, who see opportunity in the web-slinger's absence. Meanwhile, Peter is also quickly making other adjustments in his life--and with his identity as Spider-Man now gone for good, he appears to realize that his job as a Bugle photographer is no longer tenable, and prepares to accept a job which has been offered by his roommate Harry's father, Norman Osborn.

Obviously these hoods aren't worried about Daredevil still being active and on patrol--nor does DD seem at all concerned with the recent spike in criminal activity, preferring to focus his efforts on offbeat characters like the Beetle, the Owl, and, at the time of this story, dressing up as Thor to track down Mr. Hyde and the Cobra.

As for Peter, things couldn't be better for him as a normal "college joe"--making inroads with Gwen, renewing his social and family ties, and devoting time to his studies. But old habits die hard--and there are bound to be instances where Peter's instincts, and perhaps his conscience, override his new resolve, at least during this time when he's still acclimating to a life that doesn't involve leaping out a window on a strand of webbing.

But then, a moment of truth arrives--one which the Peter Parker who had originally cashed in on being Spider-Man might have ignored, but which the man who took on the burden and responsibility of great power instinctively responds to without hesitation. And as the memories of his failure to act on that fatal night come back to him, Peter reaffirms the choice he made then--only this time, after having acted to save a life.

It's a powerful moment for this still-evolving character--but the perfect cap for this story still awaits, as we're witness to a little comeuppance for a man whom Spider-Man has no intention of letting off the hook.  The scene amounts to a solid ending from Lee and Romita which likely established new momentum for this book for some time to come--while topping off a fiftieth issue which might resonate with readers even today, almost fifty-five years later.

Commiserations, Mr. Jameson. Does this rule out a "Welcome Back, Spider-Man" column in the next edition of the Bugle?