Fate gave me some terrific super-powers, and I realize now that it's my duty to use them... without doubt... without hesitation!! ...and that means Spider-Man is going into action again! I'll fight as I've never fought before!! Nothing will stop me now! For I know at last that a man can't change his destiny... and I was born to be... Spider-Man!!! 
Appearing in "The End of Spider-Man!"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Aunt May (See chronology)
- Daily Bugle Staff
- 🢐 J. Jonah Jameson 🢒
- 🢐 Betty Brant 🢒
- Ned Leeds 🢒 (First appearance)
- 🢐 Flash Thompson 🢒
- 🢐 Liz Allan 🢒
Antagonists:
- 🢐 Sandman (Flint Marko) 🢒
- 🢐 Green Goblin 🢒 (Cameo)
- 🢐 Doctor Octopus (Otto Octavius) 🢒 (Cameo)
- 🢐 Kraven the Hunter 🢒 (Cameo)
- 🢐 Vulture (Adrian Toomes) 🢒 (Cameo)
- Rocky Roberts (First and only known appearance)
Other Characters:
- 🢐 Anna Watson 🢒
- 🢐 Dr. Bromwell 🢒
- Fantastic Four
- Avengers (Cameo)
- 🢐 Iron Man (Tony Stark) 🢒 (Cameo)
- 🢐 Captain America (Steve Rogers) 🢒 (Cameo)
- 🢐 Thor 🢒 (Cameo)
- 🢐 Giant-Man (Henry Pym) 🢒 (Cameo)
- 🢐 Wasp (Janet Van Dyne) 🢒 (Cameo)
- 🢐 Daredevil (Matt Murdock) 🢒 (Cameo)
- NYPD officers
- Irv (First appearance)
- Electro (Maxwell Dillon) (Mentioned)
- Mysterio (Quentin Beck) (Mentioned)
- Santa Claus (Mentioned)
Races and Species:
Locations:
- United States of America
- New York
- New York City
- Manhattan
- Daily Bugle Building
- 47th Street (First appearance)
- Baxter Building
- Avengers Mansion
- Ace Picture Company (First appearance)
- Peerless Paste Company (First appearance)
- Queens
- Manhattan
- Statue of Liberty
- New York City
- New York
Items:
- Spider-Man's Suit
- Spider-Man's Web-Shooters
- Spider-Man's Utility Belt
- The Daily Bugle
- Mjolnir
- Giant-Man's Suit
- Captain America's Uniform
- Captain America's Shield
- Iron Man Armor MK III
- Daredevil's Suit
- Daredevil's Billy Club
- Vulture's Wings
- Goblin Armor
- Green Goblin's Bag of Tricks
Vehicles:
Synopsis for "The End of Spider-Man!"
Spider-Man is still being ridiculed when he fled from a fight with The Green Goblin and it's been the talk of all his previous super-villains, as well as other super-heroes. Peter Parker spend his time taking care of his Aunt May at home, and when at school, his concern for Aunt May is consuming most of his thinking. Pete, desperate to earn money to buy more medicine for Aunt May, goes out as Spider-Man to see what he can do. He tries a trading card company as well as a pair of scientists to sell his adhesive webbing, but in both instances, he strikes out, with neither showing any interest.
As he heads home, he runs into the Sandman, but being so concerned about Aunt May living alone, he runs away and hides. The public sees this, writing off Spider-Man as a coward once again. As crime continues, Johnny Storm (The Human Torch) begins to suspect something is wrong and writes a message in the sky for Spider-Man to meet him at the Statue of Liberty, but Spidey doesn't show. Flash is so desperate about clearing Spider-Man's name, he dresses as Spidey and tries to fight criminals, but gets beat up instead. As Pete gets ready to quit as Spider-Man, the doctor says Aunt May is in the clear and won't have to take any more medicine. After reading yet another editorial about a weak and phony Spider-Man, Pete decides to go out as Spider-Man and fight back.
Notes
Continuity Notes
- There are multiple references in this story to the fact that Spider-Man ran from the Green Goblin during the events of last issue.
- Peter recounts how he recently saved Betty and his Aunt from the Sinister Six in Amazing Spider-Man Annual #1.
- The depiction of Peter watching television on an old black-and-white TV should be considered a topical reference per the Sliding Timescale of Earth-616. Likewise should any technology or camera equipment seen in this story.
- In this story, Aunt May refers to Anna Watson as "Anna Watkins" in this story. Although this was originally an error, an explanation is made in Untold Tales of Spider-Man #19–20 which points out that May's confusion was due to her declining health prior to the heart attack she suffered last issue.
- When the Human Torch calls to Spider-Man to meet them at the "usual place," he is referring to the Statue of Liberty, a site that the pair have shared since Strange Tales Annual #2.
- The man who is out on a date with Betty is Ned Leeds, as identified next issue.
Chronology Notes
Events occur behind the scenes in this story that affect the chronology of the following characters:
Spider-Man
- 🢐 Page 1-19 🢒 - Peter reels from the bad press after running out on his battle with the Green Goblin. Deciding to give up heroics, tries to sell Spider-Man's likeness and gear to make money and pay for Aunt May's medical expenses, but fails.
- 🢐 Page 20, Panels 1-5 🢒 - Peter has enough decides to give up being Spider-Man, tosses away his costume.
- 🢐 Page 20, Panel 6-Page 22 🢒 - After a speech from Aunt May, Peter decides to go back into action as Spider-Man.
Aunt May:
- 🢐 Page 1-20, Panel 1 🢒 - Aunt May returns home from the hospital after her heart attack.
- 🢐 Page 20 Panel 2-Page 22 🢒 - Aunt May falls out of her wheelchair, gives Peter a speech about never giving up.
Publication Notes
- Credits:
- Written by: Stan Lee
- Author of "The Fantastic Four"
- Illustrated by: Steve Ditko
- Illustrator of "Dr. Strange"
- Lettered by: Sam Rosen
- Letterer of... "Patsy Walker"?!!
