Amazing Spider-Man, The (1963 series) #105

Spider-Man makes his way to the Daily Bugle, happy to be back in the city, only to find a large number of protestors outside the building, including Randy Robertson. Randy, and the other protestors, are angry with the Bugle for reporting on stories like their Savage Land exposé instead of more important issues. Randy’s father Joe Robertson shows up and clarifies that he agrees with Randy but still needs to handle things on his end. At that moment, the Daily Bugle’s man in charge, J. Jonah Jameson himself, arrives. He’s instantly furious with the protestors for telling him how to run his paper, pointing out that the Bugle’s been fighting for civil rights since before many of these protestors were born! Things get physical when Jameson pushes a guy away due to a perceived threat, forcing Spidey to swing down and rescue him. None too pleased with getting scooped up by Spider-Man, Jameson lashes out, prompting Spidey to leave him dangling from a low flagpole. This eases the tension of the crowd below, as Jameson is helped down, threatening that he has something in store for Spidey!

Spidey can’t dwell on that too much as he realizes he needs to get home to his apartment. Harry’s getting out of the hospital later that day and everyone planned a party to surprise him. Peter gets home to find Aunt May working on the refreshments, when everyone else arrives. Gwen reveals a surprise guest, Flash Thompson home from the war! While Gwen and Flash catch up, Mary Jane tries flirting with Peter again. Just as he’s about to talk to her, Harry arrives home with his father. He’s utterly surprised and touched by the warm welcome and everyone who cares about him so much. As the party gets going, Peter can’t help but feel that something not quite right is going on with Flash…

That night, Jameson visits the lab of Spencer Smythe, whom he once again paid to build a new Spider Slayer robot to capture Spider-Man! Smythe demonstrates his spider shaped robot’s abilities, being able to shoot webs and scurry around just like Spider-Man can! Jameson sends his new robot out to track down Spider-Man and quickly finds him. However, just before he can command his robot to pounce, the controls suddenly jam! This happens a couple more times, while Spidey notices some peculiar little gadgets on rooftops all over town. Jameson regains control and has his Slayer attack Spidey, who quickly discovers its webs similar to his own. Spidey evades the Slayer while wondering what Smythe’s motive could be for building another Spider Slayer.

Spidey continues to evade, finding himself unable to really hurt the Slayer, and notices it seems to be herding him in a specific direction. While Jameson’s control slips, the Slayer slams Spidey through a wall and into a particular building, filled with computers. Spidey jams the Slayer’s web-shooter and tries to corral it. Another unseen hand flips the Slayer’s master controls and rams Spidey into a pole, stunning him. Jameson has now completely lost control as we discover Smythe had been controlling it himself in secret, specifically to steal a computer master unit from that facility, while framing Spider-Man for its theft! Frustrated at his seeming failure, Jameson smashes his control unit, resigning to having to try again another time. However, unbeknownst to him, everything went according to Smythe’s plan! He got away with the master unit and can now use it to access all of the video-scanners across the city, the same gadgets Spidey noticed earlier. With them, he can spy on the whole city and decides to test it on Spider-Man. He spies Spidey leaving the computer complex just as the police arrive, confirming that he’ll be blamed for the theft, before his cameras pick up something even juicier: an unknowing Spider-Man unmasking for Smythe to see! To be continued!