Amazing Spider-Man, The (1963 series) #124

It’s now been 10 days since Gwen Stacy died and Spider-Man still can’t get it off his mind. It certainly doesn’t help that the papers keep dragging it up, causing him to see reminders of Gwen wherever he goes. Spider-Man wonders why there haven’t been any reports linking Norman Osborn to the Green Goblin and realizes someone must be covering it up. Meanwhile, over at the Daily Bugle, Joe Robertson argues with his boss J. Jonah Jameson. Jameson is convinced that Spider-Man is responsible for the deaths of Gwen Stacy and Norman Osborn and plans to keep blasting him in the paper until the public demands justice, while Robbie just wants to be sure of the facts. Their discussion is cut short by the arrival of Jameson’s son John, there to take him to dinner to meet his new fiancée. Jameson introduces John to Robbie and they head out. In the hallway outside, John suddenly comes across a bit ill, which worries his father until he gets acquainted with John’s new fiancée Kristine.

Elsewhere, Peter swings by ESU, figuring he should probably stop ditching his classes. However, as he walks to class, he starts to feel more and more tense and paranoid, convinced that everyone is watching him and whispering about what happened with Gwen. He even convinces himself that total strangers are pitying him until he can’t take it anymore and storms out of class. Mary Jane quickly catches up with him to see if he’s okay, telling him he has every right to be tense but that he can’t hide away forever. Peter feels frustrated, mistaking her concern for coming on to him, when they’re interrupted by Flash asking where Harry’s been. This finally causes Peter to blow up at the two of them, yelling for them to just leave him and Harry alone for awhile!

Later that night, John Jameson stumbles out of his home until he undergoes an intense transformation, changing into a feral Man-Wolf! The Man-Wolf stalks across the rooftops, guided by pure instinct, until he reaches J. Jonah Jameson’s apartment. He leaps through the window and attacks the terrified publisher, Jameson’s demand for answers going unheeded. We then turn the clock back several minutes to where Peter is taking his frustrations out on a newspaper box! After seeing one too many editorials in the Bugle trashing Spider-Man, Peter destroys the newspaper box in a rage and decides to go show Jameson what a real menace is! Spidey swings over to Jameson’s place, his anger quickly dissipating, when he sees the Man-Wolf leap into Jameson’s window!

Spidey leaps in after and tackles the Man-Wolf, noting the irony in protecting the very man he was just so angry at. Spider-Man and the Man-Wolf trade blows until the Man-Wolf stuns Spider-Man. Man-Wolf then turns on Jameson once again, who’s paralyzed by fear. Jameson then looks into the Man-Wolf’s eyes before noticing the glowing pendant around his neck, the same one his son was wearing, leading him to a realization! The Man-Wolf then escapes out the window and Jameson refuses to let Spider-Man go after him! He threatens to report Spider-Man for attempting to kill him if he goes after the Man-Wolf, causing Spider-Man to leave in confusion. Jameson then wrestles with the fact that the monster that just attacked him…is his own son! Hours later, the Man-Wolf is skulking around until he finds a familiar scent. He follows the scent until he comes across Spider-Man again, ready to pounce and kill his prey! To be continued!