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Quote1 Now, watch me trap a spider in a web of my own -- a web made of my new-found arms! Your strength is merely that of a spider, but mine is the energy of an atom, born of a nuclear accident! Quote2
Doctor Octopus

Appearing in "Spider-Man Versus Doctor Octopus"

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Synopsis for "Spider-Man Versus Doctor Octopus"

Quote1 Now there's my idea of a hero! The Human Torch -- and a guy like Spider-Man! Too! Why don'tcha watch and see what a real man is like, bookworm? Quote2
Flash Thompson

Spider-Man catches Charlie and his two pals robbing a warehouse. Surprising them with his Spider Signal light, he quickly overcomes them and webs them up for the police. Meanwhile, atomic scientist Otto Octavius, known to his colleagues as Doctor Octopus because of the unique set of four remote-controlled "arms" he invented for handling radioactive material, is hard at work at the U.S. Atomic Research Center. Suddenly his experiment goes awry. In the ensuing explosion, Otto Octavius's mechanical arms fuse to his body, and the excess radiation alters his brain. When he awakens at Bliss Private Hospital, he discovers that he can make his mechanical arms move by thought alone, just as if they were his real arms. With his brain unbalanced, Dr. Octopus forcibly takes over the hospital as his first criminal act.

J. Jonah Jameson learns of the strange events at the hospital and sends Peter Parker to take some photographs. Peter sneaks into the hospital as Spider-Man and discovers the hospital staff held captive by Dr. Octopus. Spider-Man is badly beaten in their battle, but Dr. Octopus's captives manage to escape.

Dr. Octopus returns to the U.S. Atomic Research Center and takes over its computer, soon gaining possession of the greatest source of atomic power in the nation. Meanwhile, Peter Parker is dispirited following his defeat. The government asks the Fantastic Four to retake the laboratory from Dr. Octopus, but they decline because of other commitments. The Human Torch, unable to use his flame because of a virus, nevertheless appears at Midtown High School to address the student body. The speech he gives is so inspiring that Peter Parker regains his self-confidence. He decides he can defeat Dr. Octopus after all.

Spider-Man soon enters the laboratory, where he builds two devices from chemicals and wire. When Dr. Octopus finds him, Spider-Man tosses one of the devices around two of the criminal's mechanical arms, melting them together. Then he squirts web fluid all over Dr. Octopus's glasses. Temporarily blinded with two of his arms stuck together, Dr. Octopus is easily knocked out and left helpless for the police. When Spider-Man later thanks the Human Torch for his inspiring speech, the Human Torch, cured of his illness, is perplexed.

The next day, the Human Torch gives the Midtown High School students another demonstration of his newly restored powers, while Peter Parker smiles, finding new confidence in his young career as a super-hero.

Notes

Continuity Notes[]

Chronology Notes[]

Events in this story occur behind the scenes that affect the chronology of the following characters: Spider-Man:

Doctor Octopus:

Continuity Errors[]

  • Spider-Man is erroneously called "Super-Man" by Doctor Octopus on Page 8, Panel 6.
  • Doctor Octopus' last name is mislettered "Octavious" in this story, as it is in several other early Spider-Man stories.

Trivia

  • This issue also includes a Spider-Man pin-up page and the first "Spider's Web" letters section (two pages long).
  • The cover of this issue is one of the 32 that appear in the comic collection from the 2000 video game Spider-Man.

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