If only Peter were here! He's the only one I can turn to... but, it's too late! Everything's too late... and Bennett is dead... because of Spider-Man!! 
Appearing in "Turning Point"
Featured Characters:
- Spider-Man (Peter Parker) (Main story and recap) (See chronology)
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- ⏴ Doctor Octopus (Otto Octavius) ⏵ (Main story and recap)
- Blackie Gaxton (First appearance)
Other Characters:
- Bennett Brant (First appearance) (See chronology) (Apparent death)
- Unnamed Warden of Municipal Prison
- Philadelphia Policemen
Races and Species:
Locations:
Items:
- Spider-Man's Suit and Web-Shooters
- Spider-Man's Spider-Signal
- Spider-Tracer (First appearance)
- Spider-Tracer-Tracker (First appearance)
- Doctor Octopus' Tentacles
Synopsis for "Turning Point"
When Peter hears that Doctor Octopus is about to be released from prison, he goes to the warden to petition against his release. The warden tells Spider-Man that Octopus served his time and tells him to get out before he has him arrested. Knowing that Octopus will probably go back to a life of crime, Peter develops a Spider-Tracer device which will allow him to track Octopus wherever he goes. When he tags the car coming to pick up Octopus, Spider-Man is shocked to find Betty Brant driving. He also finds that she dropped a map to Philadelphia from the car when she picked up Octopus.
As it turns out, Betty's trouble involves her brother Bennett, who is the lawyer for crime boss Blackie Gaxton. He also owes Gaxton a large gambling debt. In order to clear this debt, Betty has agreed to help Bennett follow through with Gaxton's plan: Use Dr. Octopus to free him from prison.
When Peter travels to Philadelphia, he tracks down Betty and tells her how he feels. Meanwhile, Dr. Octopus frees Gaxton, and they take Betty and Bennett as hostages as they escape by boat. Spider-Man arrives to capture both, but during the altercation Spider-Man sprains his ankle and Bennett is shot by a bullet fired by Blackie that was meant for his sister.
Betty blames Spider-Man for her brother's death, and Spider-Man battles Dr. Octopus around the ship, but Octopus escapes. The police arrive and arrest Blackie and his gang. Later, having changed back to Peter Parker, he learns from Betty that she hopes to never see Spider-Man again, because she couldn't bear being reminded of her brother's death. This hampers Peter's plans of revealing his secret identity to her.
Image Gallery[]
_from_Amazing_Spider-Man_Vol_1_11_0003.jpg "Peter Parker (Earth-616) from Amazing Spider-Man Vol 1 11 0003.jpg (304 KB)")
_from_Amazing_Spider-Man_Vol_1_11_0002.jpg "Peter Parker (Earth-616) from Amazing Spider-Man Vol 1 11 0002.jpg (261 KB)")
_from_Amazing_Spider-Man_Vol_1_11_0001.jpg "Peter Parker (Earth-616) from Amazing Spider-Man Vol 1 11 0001.jpg (292 KB)")
Notes
Continuity Notes[]
- This is the first comic not to feature J Jonah Jameson (not counting Amazing Fantasy #15 as he had yet to make his debut). He is not even referenced in the comic.
- Peter Parker recounts his last battle with Doctor Octopus back in Amazing Spider-Man #3.
- Peter Parker thinks that he was the first person in town to break into a jail. He seems to have forgotten that Electro previously did the same in Amazing Spider-Man #9.
- Bennett's financial troubles are explained in more detail in Untold Tales of Spider-Man #12.
- Although Bennett seemingly dies here, his true fate is revealed in Venom (Vol. 2) #21.
Chronology Notes[]
Events in this story occur behind the scenes, affecting the chronology of the following characters:
Spider-Man:
- ⏴ Page 1-13, Panel 4 ⏵ - Spider-Man tries to rescue Betty from Blackie Gaxton and Doctor Octopus, Bennet is shot.
- ⏴ Page 13, Panel 5-Page 21 ⏵ - Doctor Octopus is defeated and recaptured, Peter is hurt to learn that Betty hates his alter ego.
Betty Brant:
- ⏴ Page 1-13, Panel 4 ⏵ - Betty assists in hiring Doctor Octopus to free Blackie Gaxton. Spider-Man gets involved, her brother is shot.
- ⏴ Page 13, Panel 5-Page 21 ⏵ - Betty blames Spider-Man for Bennett's death even though the hero saved her.
Bennett Brant:
- ⏴ Page 5-13, Panel 4 ⏵ - Bennett helps Blackie Gaxton break out of prison. Gets shot.
- ⏴ Page 13, Panel 5 ⏵ - Bennett seemingly dies of his gunshot wound.
Publication Notes[]
- Credits:
- None but Stan Lee could have written this epic tale!!
- None but Steve Ditko could have drawn such gripping scenes!
- Lettered by S. Rosen
- References: Amazing Spider-Man #3
Trivia
- On page 7, the comic narration states that Peter Parker's flight from New York to Philadelphia took "a few minutes".
- In the 4th panel from page 8, Steve Ditko's half-Parker, half-Spider-Man image has Spider-Man's outer-eye coloured in red, not black.
