HIP Comics Vol 1 1972

Spider-Man is on his way to go see his Aunt May in the hospital, when the police attempt to apprehend him, but he manages to get away. Finding out which room his Aunt May is in and switching back to his civilian guise, he goes and visits her. When the doctor reminds him that he's been a missing person for days, Peter goes to the police station to tell them what happened. There he explains that Spider-Man took him hostage while the hero was suffering from amnesia. When his memory returned, Peter was let go. This partially true explanation is accepted by Captain Stacy who reunites Peter with Gwen. Gwen is so happy to see him, that she kisses Peter on the lips, much to his surprise. The pair then meet up with the rest of their friends at the Coffee Bean.

They decide to go and check out Gloom Room A-Go-Go, the new nightclub where Mary Jane works as a dancer. They are unaware that this club is secretly a front where a criminal scientist Gerhard Winkler is using brainwashing technology to get control of the most influential people in New York. To this end, his employer has Mary Jane snap photographs of people with a special camera that makes them return to the club later where Winkler brainwashes them to be subservient to his employer. That evening, Mary Jane uses the camera on a local councilman, as well as Captain Stacy.

Stacy tells everyone that he is going out for fresh air, but Gwen begins to worry about her father when he doesn't return. Peter, also finding it suspicious decides to go look for him -- but as Spider-Man. Spidey goes in back and catches Winkler in the process of brainwashing George Stacy, but before Spider-Man can stop him, he's grabbed by Winkler's employer: The Kingpin.

Appearing in "O, Bitter Victory!"

Reprint of the 1st story from
Amazing Spider-Man #60

Featured Characters:

Spider-Man (Peter Parker)

Supporting Characters:

Antagonists:

Other Characters:

Daily Bugle Staff
- Joe Robertson (On Phone)
- J. Jonah Jameson
- Betty Brant
Anna Watson
Aunt May

Races and Species:

Humans

Locations:

Earth
- North America
  - United States of America
    - New York State
      - New York City
        Manhattan
        Murray Hill
        39th Street and Second Avenue
        Daily Bugle Building
        
        Peter and Harry's Apartment
        
        the Stacy's house
        
        Police HQ
        
        Gloom Room A-Go-Go
        
        Queens
        Forest Hills
        Forest Hills Hospital

Items:

Vehicles:

Peter Parker's Motorcycle
Harry's car

Synopsis for "O, Bitter Victory!"

Reprint of the 1st story from
Amazing Spider-Man #60

While trying to stop Doctor Winkler from brainwashing Captain Stacy, Spider-Man is suddenly ambushed by Winkler's employer: The Kingpin. The fight is a short one when Spidey is thrown into one of the machines. The resulting jolt blurs his vision enough to make him ineffective in a fight, and so he flees. With Spider-Man gone, the Kingpin completes brainwashing Stacy and lets him go. Stacy meets up with Gwen and Harry who are being told by Mary Jane about Spider-Man's appearance at the club; George alleviates any concern they have about what happened. Meanwhile, Spider-Man struggles to get around the city due to his double vision. Realising web-slinging is too dangerous in this condition, he resigns to change back into his civilian guise so he can get home safely.

That night, Peter has troubled dreams about what the Kingpin had done to Captain Stacy and decides to do something about it in the morning. When he wakes up, he finds his vision has improved, but it is still blurry. He then goes to the Stacy home where he asks to speak to Gwen's father. When Peter tries to confront George over what happened at the night club, Stacy attacks him, forcing Peter to defend himself. Gwen walks in on the situation, and her father accuses Peter of going mad and attacking him. When Peter tries to explain himself, Gwen is too upset to listen to him and tells him to leave and never see her again. Finally alone, George calls the Kingpin to advise him that Parker knows the truth. The Kingpin sends some men after Peter, though when they arrive only Harry is at home, so they instead wreck Peter and Harry's apartment.

However, when the Kingpin's goons force their way into the apartment Peter shares with Harry Osborn, they only find Harry. This is because Peter is visiting his Aunt May in the hospital. When he finally returns home, he is shocked to see that these men trashed their apartment. After learning what has happened, Peter decides to trail Stacy as Spider-Man and learn what the Kingpin has ordered him to do. Spider-Man photographs Stacy going into police headquarters stealing protected documents. Setting up his camera, Spider-Man jumps through the window and tries to stop Stacy. While struggling with some of the Kingpin's men, the wall-crawler is unprepared when George strikes him over the head with his cane. With Spider-Man knocked out, Stacy and the goons flee, deciding to steal the files some other time. When Spider-Man recovers, he takes his camera and flees the scene.

Examining his photos, Peter realises that he has evidence that will ruin any alibis that George Stacy might make, but debates what he should do with the photos. After much debate, Peter decides that giving the photos to the Daily Bugle to publish is the only way to stop the Kingpin and hopefully free Captain Stacy from his control. Jameson is excited to see the photos and orders a special edition to be published immediately. Some time later, Gwen collects the newspaper from her doorstep and is shocked to see the front page story about her father. She is in an even greater shock when she sees that the photos were taken by Peter Parker!

Links and References

References

HIP Comics Vol 1 1972

Appearing in "The Brand of the Brainwasher!"

Synopsis for "The Brand of the Brainwasher!"

Appearing in "O, Bitter Victory!"

Synopsis for "O, Bitter Victory!"

See Also

Links and References

References

Fan Feed