Appearing in "Beetlemania!"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
Other Characters:
Locations:
Items:
Vehicles:
- None
Synopsis for "Beetlemania!"
Forced to fight on the defensive against the Beetle thanks to a surprise attack from the Gibbon, Spider-Man is having a hard time defending himself against his foes new armor. The Gibbon realizes what a fool he'd been trying to get revenge against Spider-Man tries to help him out, but only hinders things. Allowing the Beetle to knock Spider-Man into the sewers and take the Gibbon hostage.
Realizing that he's late for school, Peter returns to ESU and spends time with Gregory Salinger and they talk about his problems. He also briefly visits Debra and sees that her new flame Biff Rifkin is there as well, and leaves when he learns that the police have the Beetle cornered.
Arriving on the scene, Spider-Man finds the police incapacitated by the Beetle's traps, and that he has the Gibbon hostage. Spider-Man battles the Beetle, during that time the Gibbon is freed and he helps land the knock-out punch on the Beetle, turning him over to the police. Later, back in his civilian guise, Peter is shocked to find that the Gibbon is being hailed as a hero, while Spider-Man continues to get a bum rap.
Appearing in "The Birth of a Legend!"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- May Parker (See chronology)
- Ben Parker (Only in recap) (Death)
- Flash Thompson (See chronology)
- Liz Allan (See chronology)
Antagonists:
Other Characters:
- Maxie Shiffman (See chronology)
- Ed McMahon ⏵ (Topical Reference)
- Raymond Warren ⏵
- Radioactive Spider
- Sally Avril (Only in recap)
- Crusher Hogan (Only in recap)
- Bernard O'Brien (Only in recap)
- Reverand Weeks (First appearance)
Locations:
Items:
Vehicles:
- None
Synopsis for "The Birth of a Legend!"
A retelling of Spider-Man's origins, this version starts off with Peter Parker being woken up in the morning by his Uncle Ben. After a breakfast of wheatcakes he goes to Midtown High where he is commanded by his teacher for having good marks. However, he is scorned by his classmates, particularly Flash Thompson. Later, when he attempts to ask out Sally Avril, she snubs him to go on a date with Flash. When Peter tries to get some classmates to accompany him to a science exhibition he is snubbed. Peter begins to cry and vows that he will one day he'll show them sorry.
Peter goes to the General Techtronics building alone where he witnesses an experiment on radioactivity. Unseen by all, a spider lowers on a web into the path of radioactive energies. Before it dies, the spider lands on Peter's hand and bites him. Suddenly, Peter feels strange and excuses himself from the rest of the demonstration. Outside, Peter is hassled by two hoods, but he easily knocks them aside. Confused by his sudden strength he runs out into the street and narrowly avoids getting hit by a car by leaping onto the wall of a nearby building. Much to Peter's surprise, he can climb up the walls. On the rooftop, he crushes a steel vent pipe with his bare hands. Peter concludes that somehow the radioactive spider gave him its abilities. However, by the time he gets back home, he has convinced himself that he was hallucinating.
When Aunt May asks Peter to drop off some old clothes for a charity drive he happens upon the challenge made by Crusher Hogan to last three minutes in the ring with him. Wanting to keep his identity secret, Peter disguises himself with the old clothes and goes into the ring. His performance is witnessed by talent agent Maxie Shiffman, who offers to represent Peter after he wins the match. Realizing how much money he can make with his newfound powers, Peter decides to take things to the next level. A week later, Peter works hard in the chemistry lab at Midtown High. There he develops and perfects his web shooters and web fluid and designs his Spider-Man costume out of some old dance skins. Thus, Spider-Man is born.
Soon enough, Spider-Man makes numerous television appearances and becomes an overnight sensation. However, one night, Spider-Man allows a Burglar to get away. When the security guard ask Spider-Man why he didn't stop the crook, Peter tells him that it is not his problem and that he only looks out for number one -- himself. Life goes on for Peter Parker, his Aunt and Uncle give him a new microscope. When he goes back to school, his classmates talk about watching Spider-Man on television. Peter gloats to himself, reveling in how they would all react if they ever found out that he was Spider-Man. By night, Peter continues to perform on television. One night, Peter returns home to find the police outside his home. One of the offers tell him that a Burglar broke in and shot his Uncle Ben dead.
Furious, Peter changes into Spider-Man and goes after the killer, who has holed himself up at the Acme Warehouse. Sneaking inside, Spider-Man confronts his Uncle's killer, easily overpowering him. Getting a good look, Peter is horrified to discover that the burglar is the same man he allowed to get away days earlier. With the Burglar turned over to the authorities, Spider-Man swings onto a nearby rooftop where he sheds tears, realizing that his Uncle's death is all his fault. Days later, Peter and his Aunt May attend Uncle Ben's funeral. Wanting time alone, Peter realizes that his own selfishness he decides to never let his inaction lead to someone getting hurt again. Peter has learned a hard lesson: With great power comes great responsibility.
Notes
Continuity Notes[]
Beetlemania
- Peter recalls Coach Barnstorm from their last encounter in Marvel Team-Up #108.
- The television that Debra bought for Biff is identified as a 25-inch color television made by Sony. The model of this television should be considered a topical reference per the Sliding Timescale of Earth-616.
The Birth of a Legend!
- The majority of this story recounts the events of Amazing Fantasy #15, however a number of elements have been modernized, such as the clothing Flash and his pals wear and the types of cars being driven. It also expands upon some moments, such as Peter being snubbed by his classmates, bullies confronting Peter on the street shortly after he gets his powers, Aunt May sending Peter on an errand leading to the match against Crusher Hogan, among other moments.
- The reward money for fighting Crusher Hogan, and the appearance of Ed McMahon in this story should be considered topical references per the Sliding Timescale of Earth-616.
- It's interesting to note that this version of the Spider-Man origin states that Peter Parker designed his web-shooters and costume at Midtown High. This differs from the origins told in Amazing Fantasy #15 and most others state that Peter designed these trademarks at home.
Chronology Notes[]
The Birth of a Legend! Events in this story happen behind the scenes that affect the chronology of the following characters:
Spider-Man:
- ⏴ Page 2, Panel 6 ⏵ - Peter is mocked by his classmates.
- ⏴ Page 3, Panels 4-10 ⏵ - Peter is ditched by his classmates, begins to cry, vows to make them sorry someday.
- ⏴ Page 4, Panels 1-2 ⏵ - Peter goes to the radiation exhibit at General Techtronics.
- ⏴ Page 5, Panel 3-Page 6, Panel 1 ⏵ - Peter is hassled by some bullies after getting bit by the radioactive spider.
- ⏴ Page 6, Panel 7-Page 7, Panel 1 ⏵ - Peter returns home, Aunt May asks Peter to take some clothes to a charity donation.
- ⏴ Page 8, Panel 4-5 ⏵ - Peter decides that he can make a lot of money with his super-powers.
- ⏴ Page 8, Panel 6-Page 9, Panel 7 ⏵ - Peter develops his web-shooters and Spider-Man costume.
- ⏴ Page 9, Panel 8 ⏵ - Peter puts on his costume for the first time.
- ⏴ Page 10, Panel 4-5 ⏵ - Spider-Man finishes his first performance.
- ⏴ Page 12, Panel 3-4 ⏵ - Peter thanks his Aunt and Uncle for the new microscope. Later scoffs at his classmates for their interest in Spider-Man.
- ⏴ Page 13, Panel 2 ⏵ - Peter arrives home to find the police outside his home.
- ⏴ Page 13, Panel 6 ⏵ - Learning that his uncle was shot, Peter runs into his house.
- ⏴ Page 13, Panel 8 ⏵ - Peter puts on his Spider-Man mask.
- ⏴ Page 14, Panel 4-5 ⏵ - As Spider-Man web-slings to the Acme Warehouse, he thinks about how much Uncle Ben meant to him.
- ⏴ Page 15, Panel 5-6 ⏵ - Spider-Man uses his webbing to disarm the burglar.
- ⏴ Page 16, Panel 4-6 ⏵ - Spider-Man turns the burglar over to the police, web-slings away, blaming himself for not stopping the burglar.
- ⏴ Page 16, Panel 8 ⏵ - Peter cries on a rooftop.
- ⏴ Page 17, Panel 2-4 ⏵ - Peter attends Uncle Ben's funeral, vows never to shirk his responsibility again.
- ⏴ Page 17, Panel 6 ⏵ - Peter goes to the docks, realizes that with great power comes great responsibility.
Aunt May:
- ⏴ Page 6, Panel 7-8 ⏵ - Aunt May asks Peter to drop off some clothing for a charity drive.
- ⏴ Page 17, Panel 2-4 ⏵ - Aunt May goes to her husband's funeral.
Flash Thompson:
- ⏴ Page 2, Panel 6 ⏵ - Flash makes fun of Peter.
- ⏴ Page 3, Panel 2-4 ⏵ - Flash and co reject Peter's offer to join him at the science exhibit.
- ⏴ Page 12, Panel 3-4 ⏵ - Flash and his friends talk about seeing Spider-Man on TV.
Liz Allan:
- ⏴ Page 2, Panel 6 ⏵ - Liz makes fun of Peter.
- ⏴ Page 3, Panel 2-4 ⏵ - Liz and co reject Peter's offer to join him at the science exhibit.
- ⏴ Page 12, Panel 3-4 ⏵ - Liz and his friends talk about seeing Spider-Man on TV.
The Burglar:
- ⏴ Page 11, Panel 3 ⏵ - The Burglar sighs with relief as he escapes in an elevator.
- ⏴ Page 15, Page 5-6 ⏵ - The Burglar tries to shoot Spider-Man, but his gun is webbed up.
- ⏴ Page 16, Panel 4-6 ⏵ - The Burglar is webbed up and left for the police.
Maxie Shiffman:
- Page 8, Panel 2 ⏵ - Shiffman watches Peter's match with Crusher Hogan and decides to try and capitalize on the young man.
- ⏴ Page 10, Panel 4-5 ⏵ - Shiffman tells Spider-Man to leave the audience wanting more.
See Also
- 1 image(s) from Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man Vol 1 60
- 3 reprint(s) of Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man Vol 1 60