The first story begins at Midtown High, where we find
a strange machine wheeled into the science class of Peter Parker.
Flash Thompson thinks the machine looks creepy to which Peter counters that it’s one
of the biggest scientific breakthroughs in recent memory. This causes Flash to
shove Peter, breaking his glasses and causes the two to almost come to blows,
before they’re stopped by Liz Allan. Just then, Peter’s teacher, Mr. Warren
introduces Mr. Petty, from I.C.M. Corporation, to demonstrate the machine for
the class. Mr. Petty reveals that the machine, dubbed “The Living Brain”, is
the most advanced electronic mind on earth, able to answer any question given
enough data. Peter is picked to assist Petty with the machine, as he is the top
science student in the class.
Meanwhile, the two men who helped wheel in the Living
Brain look on and realize that they could use it to get rich, by having it
predict elections and horse races, and conspire to steal the Brain. While the
students debate on what to ask the Brain, Liz suggests that they ask it who
Spider-Man really is, as that would really show off its power. The students
list off everything they know about Spider-Man, and Peter feeds the information
into the Living Brain, while worrying about what he’s going to do when the
answer pops out. Fortunately for Peter, the answer comes in the form of a
numeric code, that Peter will have to decipher, giving him time to think of
something.
Flash demands that Peter give the answer slip to him
and Peter shoves him off, leading Mr. Warren to suggest that they hold an
impromptu boxing match, in order to work off some of their aggression towards
each other. Peter and Flash get prepared for their sparring match and the gym
coach notes that it’s sad that none of the other students are rooting for Peter
and secretly wishes that Peter could somehow win. With the match started, Peter
has his own problems, as his spider-sense keeps alerting him too quickly of
Flash’s punches, making it look like he’s just running from Flash. Peter tries
to hit Flash as lightly as possible, and still sends him flying out of the
ring. Meanwhile, the two crooks try and steal the Living Brain, but are caught
by Mr. Petty, bumping the Brain’s control panel in the scuffle, causing it to
go haywire!
Back at the fight, Peter decides to end the fight
finally but a scream from the commotion causes Flash to turn his head, just as
Peter’s punch lands, making it look like Peter hit Flash when he wasn’t
looking. A student runs in, saying that the Living Brain has gone crazy,
prompting Peter to put Flash in the locker room and change to Spider-Man.
Spidey intercepts the Brain, but finds that it’s harder to deal with than he
thought, adapting to his movements, and tearing through his webbing.
Eventually, after Spider-Man is forced to helped some students who remained
trapped, the Brain knocks a door on Spidey and runs over him, with the two
crooks not far after, allowing Spidey to hear the context of what happened.
Spider-Man, after avoiding strikes and defenses from
the Living Brain, is able to jump on it, to get at its control panel. He
finally stops it just before it goes careening down some stairs, Spidey with
it. While Spidey is finally dealing with the Brain, the two crooks try escaping
through the locker room, but collide with Flash, having just woken up, knocking
out the crooks, and making everyone think that Flash heroically stopped them.
Peter decides to have some fun, and plants the idea that Flash could be
Spider-Man, given that he was nowhere to be seen when Spider-Man was around,
and he tried to get the slip with Spider-Man’s identity from Peter. Flash tries
to defend himself, as the other students agree with Peter, and Peter leaves,
reveling in his little joke.
“Spider-Man Tackles the Torch!” 3/5
Writer: Stan Lee
Penciller: Jack Kirby Inker:
Steve Ditko Colorist: Stan Goldberg Letterer: Sam Rosen
The second, shorter story, sees Spider-Man looking in
on a party the Human Torch is attending with his friends. Spidey decides to
mess with the Torch, and crafts a web bat, that he sends into the party,
scaring everyone. The Torch gets mad at Spidey’s little prank and chases him
outside, where they tussle back and forth, the Torch throwing various forms of
fire at Spidey, and Spidey hitting Torch with mounds of sand. After a bit, the
other members of the Fantastic Four show up, and Mr. Fantastic reaches out a
hand to Spidey who angrily webs him away. The Thing gets angry and Spider-Man
ends up avoiding him too, before being caught by the Invisible Woman. She
suggests that Spidey and Torch make amends but Spidey cuts out, saying Sue is
the only good thing about the FF, and leaving her little heart spun out of
webs.