The Crushed Plans of the Master Planner!

 

As time permits, I've been slowly working my way back through the Stan Lee/Steve Ditko Amazing Spider-Man issues produced during 1963-66, and one such story has always been on my radar to sit down and read. Having finally done so, it's *ahem* amazing how well it stands the test of time fifty-six years after it first hit the stands, as it does a fine job at hitting all the right notes for both the wall-crawler as well as Peter Parker as far as what made them both unique in Marvel's growing stable of characters during that period. This was a time when Peter Parker hit his stride as someone readers could identify with, a character who experienced growing pains and even hardships which seemed ever-present when his uncle was killed and he became the sole source of income for himself and his elderly Aunt May. And though he originally had every intention otherwise, becoming Spider-Man did not improve Peter's lot in life; on the contrary, often his alter-ego complicated things for him and made his life even more difficult to manage, all thanks to a sense of responsibility that he would not disavow.

It's fair to say that it was Peter's struggles in life which likely attracted a good deal of the book's readership; and it's Spider-Man's growth as a character in tandem with his (yes) amazing abilities which helped to offset the seemingly one-step-forward/two-steps-back life of Peter Parker and give him a sense of purpose and even accomplishment that a reader can't help but envy. All of these facets of the character are on display in Amazing Spider-Man #33, where Peter is depended upon as never before to come through for his family, and for himself--a physical and emotional struggle which you may find does a masterful job of gripping the reader, as well.

It's the prior issue that sets the stage for what's to come, as we find two important developments taking place. First, the mysterious criminal who up to this point has been known only as the Master Planner has been revealed to be Dr. Octopus, one of Spider-Man's deadliest enemies; and secondly, Aunt May has been hospitalized and remains in critical condition, while, to his horror, Peter discovers that the cause of her malady is a radioactive particle in her blood received when he'd previously given her a transfusion. Desperate, Peter (as Spider-Man) seeks out Dr. Curt Connors (indebted to him for his help during the time he had become the Lizard), who informs him of a serum developed on the west coast that might prove helpful in treating the blood deterioration. Unfortunately, Octopus also has his eye on the serum as a means to control his own exposure to radiation and perhaps even enhance his power; and when Connors' courier arrives at the airport, Octopus arranges to have two of his hoodlums steal the serum.

Of course, when Spider-Man gets wind that the theft is the work of the "Master Planner," he angrily turns over every underworld hideout in the city until stumbling upon the villain's gang--and, from there, a secret tunnel leading to the Planner's underwater lair. Upon arrival, however, he instead finds Octopus, who is prepared for him; but it's Spider-Man who, in his rage, ultimately stops himself.

You have to hand it to the Planner's thugs--trashed by Spider-Man on his way to take on their boss, and they're still confidently up for another round with him. As for Octopus, we've seen the last of him for the duration of this story, though in hindsight it's clear that Lee and/or Ditko meant for the story's focus to be on Spider-Man's personal struggle--not just in terms of freeing himself, but in demonstrating the importance of never giving up when faced with adversity.

To that end, Ditko masterfully details that struggle before our eyes, moment by agonizing moment--as Spider-Man, knowing how much is riding on him, fights to survive, and to prevail.

Lee is also deserving of credit for his contribution to these scenes, having shepherded this character since the beginning and keeping firmly in mind the love and obligation that Peter has toward his aunt, as well as the dread and tremendous guilt that he would feel at the thought of failing her.

The situation is a perfect opportunity to move further forward with the characterization that Lee has steadily cultivated in Peter.  In that regard, Ditko and Lee would appear to be on the same page (as it were) in the scenes which follow, as we see that Spider-Man, now noticeably injured, must now deal with the flooding that ensues when the facility's ceiling finally gives way--to say nothing of Octopus's goon squad, which is still gunning for a fight.

The word "gunning" turns out to be misleading in a literal sense, however, as, astonishingly, not one member of this squad is armed--perhaps to accommodate Spider-Man's leg injury and give him a realistic fighting chance against the odds he's facing. Hopefully you won't be reminded of similarly staged fight scenes from the '60s "Batman" show (launched the month before this issue was published), because Ditko and Lee nevertheless provide a first-rate, three-page heroic struggle that no doubt riveted every reader who reached into their pocket to shell out 12¢ for this issue--a sequence which resonates even decades after the fact.

Finally, after making it back to Connors' lab and testing the serum on a sample of his own irradiated blood to gauge its effectiveness, Peter is rewarded with one of those rare scenes parceled out by Lee only on those occasions when it's felt the character deserves a break--and surely coming through for his aunt after fighting so hard to save her qualifies. It's probably fair to say that nothing less would have satisfied the reader at this point... and it makes for an excellent closer that clears the decks for the next new Spider-Man story.

Lee piles it on a bit heavily here, throwing subtlety out the window with that virtual nudge to teenagers to embody the well-mannered qualities of Peter Parker. There must have been any number of other ways to fill that thought caption--but who am I to tell The Man his business. ;)

BONUS!
20 issues later, we learn how Octopus (aka Daddy Longlegs) escaped death that day.