The Man Called Electro!

• Writer - Stan Lee
• Artist - Steve Ditko
• Lettering - Art Simek

Summary

  The story begins with Spider-Man swinging at high speed. Everyone is wondering where he's going, as he's really in a hurry. A few blocks away a group of thugs is in a shootout with police, until they see swinging overhead and give up. But our hero doesn't even stop to deal with them and keeps zipping along. We find out what's the rush when he gets close to home. He changes out of costume and runs up to Aunt May, who is sick in bed. She thanks him for filling her prescription. But Peter's worried…he hasn't told her what the doctor said, that she is extremely ill.

  Meanwhile across town, a man is putting on a green suit and powering himself up with electricity. He says tonight the world will meet Electro, and goes about testing his powers. He surprises a group of guards loading up an armored car and demands to be given the gold. They think he's nuts until he starts to attack them with electric shocks. He let's them know that Electro is in town, and that he can harness all the power of electricity. How electrifying.

  The next day the doctor tells Peter that Aunt May's condition has worsened, at that she'll need to go to the hospital for an operation. While in school he ignored the usual taunts from his classmates, and even ignores Flash who for the first time was trying to be friendly. After school he rushes to the hospital to find that Betty Bryant is visiting as well. He thanks her for coming, but excuses himself saying he has some things on his mind.

  That night he scours the streets looking for a crime to stop, in the hopes that he can take some pictures to sell to Jameson. It seems Aunt May's operation is going to cost a lot more than they can afford. But just as he starts his patrol, it begins to pour. With the option of taking pictures gone he heads home (oh so I guess it doesn't matter if somebody gets murdered during a storm). Rinsing out his suit, Peter contemplates how everything has turned sour in his life.

  The next day we see J. Jonah Jameson at the Forest Hills bank. Just as he's starting an argument with someone, Electro bursts in and demands all the cash. He takes out the guards and uses his electric powers to disable the alarm and open the safe. He also acknowledges Jameson's presence, which leads the publishing giant to think that Electro is someone he knows. Running off with the money, Electro uses his powers like a magnet with the steel beams in a building, climbing up to the roof.

  As people read the Daily Bugle the next day, they're shocked by the headline. Jameson is claiming that Electro is…SPIDER-MAN!! Everyone around the city is talking about it, speculating whether or not the two are the same person. Peter is furious, but is more worried about his Aunt's operation which will cost $1000. It was the 60's remember? He asks Jameson for a loan, but his boss says if he wants money to get proof that Spider-Man is Electro. But then he remembers that there's a big reward out for Electro, and if he can find the villain he doesn't have to worry about money.

  That night (there's a lot of shifting from day to night in this issue) Spider-Man goes on the hunt. When he finally finds Electro on a rooftop, he makes sure to take a few pictures before going after him. But without thinking, Spidey grabs a hold of his enemy and is electrocuted for his troubles. When he awakens, he heads off in defeat, and figures there's only one way for him to get the money now. He'll take the pictures of Electro and super impose them over pictures of himself to make it look like he really is Electro. SAY IT AIN'T SO SPIDER-MAN! SAY IT AIN'T SO!

  The next day (of course) Peter brings the pictures to Jameson. While he's happy he now has the money to pay for Aunt May's operation, he's feeling ashamed that he got it under false pretenses. In the latest edition of the Bugle, Jameson publishes the pictures and more and more people are starting to believe his accusation.

  At his hideout, Electro is laughing while reading the paper. He thinks he finished off Spider-Man, and now everyone will be chasing after Spidey instead of him. We then get a quick flashback into how he got his powers. While working for the electric company atop a pole, he was struck by lighting. The different currents seemed to cancel each other out though, and he was left with his powers. Since then he filled the old house he's in with electrical equipment that charges up his powers to full force.

  As Peter heads to the hospital, he hears over a police radio that Electro is breaking into a prison. But he can't leave, as Aunt May wants him to wait while she has the operation. Betty shows up, and the two wait in silence.

  Meanwhile Electro has set all the prisoners free, and is demanding they join him. Most ignore him and head outside, only to be captured again by the waiting police.

  Before we learn more we're taken back to the hospital. The doctor comes out to deliver the news…THE OPERATION WAS A SUCCESS!! Peter thanks Betty for staying with him, but says he has to leave again. Betty asks him not to go, and says he's starting to enjoy the danger too much, just like someone else she knew (I have a feeling we should remember that). Peter heads off to the prison and when he arrives, Jameson is shocked…and worried that since he was wrong everyone will think he's a laughing stock. He says it's all Peter Parker's fault. Heh.

  As Electro gets a few prisoners to join him, Spidey crashes the party. He's come prepared too, wearing rubber gloves that allow him to get physical with Electro. He quickly dispatches with a few of the prisoners, and the police manage to take care of the rest. But suddenly Electro grabs some high powered wires hanging from the ceiling, and starts swinging them at Spidey. Fully charged, if they make contact with our hero he'll be fried. WHATEVER WILL YOU DO SPIDER-MAN??

  We find out a moment later, as Spidey bumps into a water main. He grabs the hose and turns it on Electro, shocking and knocking him out. Spidey takes off the fallen crook's mask, but doesn't seem to recognize him. He figures he'll leave that to the police, and grabs his camera, which he had conveniently placed near the ceiling, taking pictures of the whole fight.

  Later Jameson is furious at Peter, saying he's going to sue him for the phony pictures. Pete plays it cool, and says the new pix he has of Spider-Man battling Electro should make up for it. With J.J.J. happy and his conscience clear, Peter tries to talk to Betty. She's upset that he went to the prison after she asked him not to. She's about to tell him why she left high school to take a job, and that it was because of someone in her past that Pete reminder her of. She says she doesn't want to be hurt again. But before she finishes Peter's already walking off saying he's sorry to have bothered her.

  At the hospital, Aunt May is feeling better and says she can come home in a few days. Peter is glad, and when he leaves he's feeling bad about walking out on Betty. Just then she comes running down the street wanting to talk. We end the issue with the two of them walking down the street, not knowing what they're discussing.