The
splash page opens by promising a very different kind of superhero
with Spider-Man,
while showing Peter Parker being ridiculed by his classmates.
The readers are given a look at the life of Peter Parker, living with
his loving Aunt May and
Uncle Ben and
adored by his teachers as an ace student. His classmates, most
noticeably
Flash Thompson,
are not so fond of him, however, as they turn down his offer of
checking out the new science exhibit with him. Frustrated by
his classmates’ treatment of him, Peter goes to the exhibit alone,
but is quickly enamored by the demonstrations regarding
radioactivity.
Unknown
to Peter or anyone else, a spider makes its way into the path of the
radioactive rays, before leaping off and biting Peter’s hand.
Startled, Peter notices the spider is glowing and suddenly starts to
feel strange and steps outside for some air. Lost in his
thoughts over what just happened, Peter doesn’t notice a car
speeding towards him, which he leaps to avoid at the last second.
It’s a greater leap than Peter bargained for as he jumps straight
onto the wall of a nearby building and discovers he can stick to
walls as he quickly climbs up the building. He then discovers
he has super-strength as he crushes a pipe on the roof of the
building.
Peter
contemplates how best to use his newfound powers, as he sees a poster
advertising a cash prize against wrestler Crusher Hogan. Peter
thinks it’s as good a chance as any to test his powers, but
disguises himself in the event that he fails. Peter challenges
Crusher and quickly makes short work of him. This impresses the
audience, including a TV producer who promises Peter that he’ll be
a star. At home, Peter designs a costume for himself, as well
as his wrist-mounted web-shooters, and decides to call
himself…Spider-Man!
Spider-Man
is a smash hit on TV, dazzling everyone with his amazing powers and
feats. As Spidey is leaving the studio a cop calls out to him
to stop a Burglar that
he is chasing. Peter reasons that it’s none of his business
and lets the crook go by. After many more TV appearances, Peter
returns home one night to find that his uncle has been shot and
killed by a burglar. Overcome with grief and anger, Peter dons
his Spider-Man costume and vows to catch the burglar. He swings
over to a warehouse where the police have the burglar cornered.
Spider-Man startles and quickly subdues the burglar, finally getting
a good look at his face. It is then that the sees that it was
the same crook he chose not to stop before. Spider-Man webs up
the burglar for the cops and laments over his guilt. Peter
sadly makes his way home, having learned that with great power, there
must also come great responsibility.
The
Bell-Ringer
Writer: Stan
Lee. Artist: Steve Ditko.
On
a small Mediterranean island, old Pedros faithfully rings the bells
every morning. When the island's volcano becomes active and threatens
to destroy the village, the villagers evacuate but Pedros refuses to
leave, staying behind to ring the bells. And for his faithfulness, he
is taken to heaven just moments away from death!
Man
in the Mummy Case
Writer: Stan
Lee. Artist: Steve Ditko.
A
criminal on the run from the police ducks into a museum. A mummy
offers to hide him where he will never be found; the crook agrees and
the mummy puts him in a sarcophagus. The police enter and search the
museum, even looking in the sarcophagus but they can't find
him--because the crook is now a slave in ancient Egypt, helping build
the pyramids!
There
are Martians Among us!
Writer: Stan
Lee. Artist: Steve Ditko.
A
spaceship from Mars is discovered wrecked in a forest but no one is
aboard. A search is made for the Martians but without success and
fear grips the community. A husband and wife are nervous as he has to
go out late at night but he assures her he will be okay. When she
discovers they are out of coffee, the wife dashes out to the store
but is caught on the way back.... When the husband returns home and
finds his wife missing, he panics, knowing she must have been
recognized as the Martian--and he, with his two extra arms, will be
discovered next!