Appearing in "Betrayed!"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
Other Characters:
Locations:
- New York City
- Daily Bugle Building
- Baxter Building
- Peter and Harry's Apartment
Items:
Vehicles:
- Spider-Mobile (First appearance)
Synopsis for "Betrayed!"
While out on patrol, Spider-Man spies some crooks popping out of a manhole with the intent of robbing a sky scraper, Spider-Man stops them. When one of the captured crooks tries to tell Spider-Man that he's hired by Hammerhead, a device in his head kills him when he tries to utter his employer's name. Hammerhead meanwhile has just returned to New York after his sabbatical in Europe. While offloading on the pier, he is greeted by the Jackal, who goads Hammerhead into wanting to get revenge against Spider-Man and Dr. Octopus, hoping that the villain will play in his hands.
At the Baxter Building, Spider-Man pays a visit to the Human Torch, who unveils the completed Spider-Mobile. The two take it out on a test drive and test out all of the vehicles abilities (which mimic that of Spider-Man's own spider-powers including ties that allow it to scale walls, and web-shooters.) However, things go awry when the Torch soon learns that Spider-Man has no drivers license and up to this point has never driven a car before.
As this goes on, Dr. Octopus -- fresh out of prison -- watches the spectacle amusingly before traveling to the roof of the Pan-Am building to take a helicopter ride to Westchester. Spider-Man meanwhile has returned back to his apartment and changed back to Peter Parker where he gets a call from his Aunt May who is checking in. However, their conversation is cut short when Mary Jane arrives earlier than planned and he has to let her go.
A few days later, when Hammerhead's men attack another building with special jet packs, Spider-Man tries to stop them in his new Spider-Mobile. During the fight, Hammerhead enters the fray and knocks over Spider-Man's car. After giving the wall-crawler a solid head-butt, the crooks make their escape. When Spider-Man recovers his Spider-Mobile before the police can secure it, he finds a mysterious envelope planted by the Jackal.
Spider-Man doesn't get a chance to read the letter until after he shows up for Ned Leed's Christmas party. Peter departs after Mary Jane tries to get a kiss from him under the mistletoe, prompting Peter (who's not ready for romance so soon after Gwen's death) to leave. Reading the contents of the envelope, Peter realizes what Dr. Octopus has been so interested in Aunt May for. Changing to Spider-Man he rushes to Octopus' Westchester hideout and arrives just to see that there is a private marriage ceremony, and the bride and groom are Aunt May and Doc Ock!
Notes
=Continuity Notes
- The Jackal recounts how Spider-Man destroyed Hammerhead's mob. That happened in Amazing Spider-Man #113-115. This was also the period where Doc Ock got arrested, and Aunt May began living in his Westchester Mansion. (At one point, this issue incorrectly references this as happening in Amazing Spider-Man #213)
- The Human Torch can be seen here wearing a red and yellow costume. He adopted this uniform to pay respect to the original Human Torch of the 1940s in Fantastic Four #132. He will continue to wear this uniform until Fantastic Four #159.
- Spider-Man mentions the motorcycle he once owned. He purchased it in Amazing Spider-Man #41, however, he was forced to sell it in Amazing Spider-Man #66.
- Doctor Octopus recounts how he became a supervillain. His origins were first chronicled in Amazing Spider-Man #3.
- Doctor Octopus mentions how lucky it was for him to have met May Parker. The pair first met in Amazing Spider-Man Annual #1. May never figured out that Octavius was a supervillain and once let him rent a room in her house circa Amazing Spider-Man #53-54.
- Doctor Octopus reveals that he was the one who had Albert Rimbeaud in Amazing Spider-Man #120. His reasoning for this and marrying May Parker are revealed next issue.
- Peter mentions how his roommate Harry Osborn has been absent following the death of his father Norman. Norman Osborn, as the Green Goblin, was responsible for the death of Gwen Stacy in Amazing Spider-Man #121 which ultimately ended in his own apparent demise in Amazing Spider-Man #122. Harry, discovered his father's double identity and stole his costume in Amazing Spider-Man #122 (a fact revealed in Amazing Spider-Man #126). Harry has been plotting against Spider-Man ever since.
- Norman Osborn isn't really dead however, he managed to cheat death as revealed in Spider-Man: The Osborn Journals #1 and will turn up again in Amazing Spider-Man #412.
Chronology Notes
Events in this story happen behind the scenes that affect the chronology of the following characters:
Spider-Man:
- ⏴ Page 1-12, Panel 3 ⏵ - Spider-Man begins interfering with Hammerhead's operations, finishes Spider-Mobile, goes out with Mary Jane.
- ⏴ Page 12, Panel 4-19 ⏵ - Spider-Man battles Hammerhead, goes to a Christmas Party, learns that Doc Ock is attempting to marry his Aunt May.
Mary Jane Watson:
- ⏴ Page 1-12, Panel 3 ⏵ - Mary Jane goes out with Peter.
- ⏴ Page 12, Panel 4-19 ⏵ - Mary Jane attends a Christmas party.
