Amazing Spider-Man, The (1963 series) #113

Last issue, Spider-Man stopped a gangland crime and was surprised by the gangsters’ boss, Doctor Octopus! Doc Ock attacks Spidey and he ends up dropping the strength-enhancing harness he pulled off one of the goons last issue. Tired from several days with no sleep, Spidey continues to dodge until Doc Ock manages to snag his mask. Spidey momentarily blinds Doc Ock with his webbing and slips away before Ock can see who he is! Spider-Man watches the dumbfounded Doc Ock while perched on a wall a few buildings away. Peter then suddenly experiences some blinding abdominal pain, causing him to fall off the wall, only barely managing to catch himself and lower himself safely to a lower rooftop! Meanwhile, a frustrated Ock tosses Spidey’s mask aside where it is soon found on the street by Randy Robertson. He takes it home to show to his surprised father Robbie!

Still feeling the effects of his pain spasms, Peter starts the long, slow trek back to his apartment. Elsewhere, Doctor Octopus contacts one of his men who tells him his gangland rival is at a specific nightclub. Turns out, it’s a trap waiting for Ock, and his informant is killed after relaying the message! Ock’s mysterious rival gang leader is informed that the bait has been set, as he waits for Doc Ock to fall into his trap! However, Doctor Octopus is not so easily fooled, and anticipates the trap, easily taking out the men inside the nightclub before they know what’s hit them! With this, he more directly declares war on his peculiar competitor! Later that morning, Peter finally makes it home and collapses into bed. Suffering intense nightmares, Peter is awoken to the sight of a worried Gwen, who reveals that she and Harry phoned Dr. Bromwell to come to see him.

Dr. Bromwell checks Peter over and concludes that he’s developed an anxiety-induced stomach ulcer, which leaves Peter completely dumbfounded! Though knowing he should probably rest, Peter instead heads to the Daily Bugle to give his photos to Jameson, where he discovers his discarded mask hanging on Jameson’s wall! Before he can contemplate how to get it back, Betty and Ned tell Peter about a lead they found on where Aunt May might be! Peter zooms out of there and heads to a closed costume shop where he “borrows” a cheap Spider-Man mask (complete with eyeholes) to wear until he can get his real one back. Spidey heads in the direction of the lead Ned gave him and notes that it’s awfully close to where he just fought Doc Ock the previous night.

Brushing off a possible connection, Spidey’s spider-sense goes off as Doc Ock finds him once more! Ock slams the weary Spider-Man into a wall and he falls out of sight. Spidey crawls around to the side of the building, looking for something specific, hoping his strength will hold out until Ock finds him. Ock finds Spidey once more only to be knocked back by a rejuvenated Spider-Man, now wearing the strength-enhancing harness he dropped there the night before! Ock commends his resourcefulness as Spidey tackles Ock once more! Knowing he won’t last long, Spidey decides to try and end things quickly, and winds up a powerful haymaker, taking out Doc Ock in one ferocious punch! Spidey sighs in relief at his victory, especially since the harness ran out of power five minutes ago! Spidey’s victory is short lived however, as Doc Ock’s competitor arrives, introducing himself as Hammerhead and thanking Spider-Man for taking care of his competition for him! To be continued!