I: Feature Story: "The Claws of the Cat!"

Pages: 20

Script: Stan Lee
Plot: Stan Lee
Pencils: Steve Ditko
Inks: Steve Ditko
Letters: Artie Simek

First Appearance: The Cat, "Master Planner", Master Planner goons

Villain: The Cat, "Master Planner", Master Planner goons

Guest Appearance: Betty Brant, Ned Leeds, Aunt May, J. Jonah Jameson, Liz Allan, Flash Thompson, Mrs. Watson, Frederick Foswell/Patch

Cameo Appearance: "Master Planner" (off panel)

Synopsis: Despite looking for action one night, Spider-Man can't seem to find it, but unknown to him he swings right by a cat burglar who is busy looting J. Jonah Jameson's personal safe. Jameson finds out he's been robbed and offers a $1000 dollar reward for whoever finds the thief. Later, a Tony Stark owned vehicle full of "priceless uranium derivatives" is overtaken by a gang of goons who are in the employ of The Cat. Spider-Man swings down to stop them, but the goons manage to toss him off the vehicle and make an escape.

Spider-Man berates himself for being so over-confident, and overhears a news bulletin offering Jameson's reward and decides to work overtime to get it! He drops by Jameson's office to needle him about winning the publisher's cash prize, and Jameson imagines having to publically hand Spider-Man a check for a thousand bucks. Realizing he can't let that happen, he presses Foswell into duty to use all his underworld connections to locate the cat burglar. Foswell agrees, and puts his alter-ego "Patch" back into action.

Peter bumps into Liz Allan who is on her way to work at her new job, and she asks him to delay Flash Thompson from finding out where she works; Flash is right behind and seems to be stalking her. Peter agrees and just as he's engaging Flash, he sees who he thinks is the Cat lurking on the rooftops behind him. Peter manages to stealthily knock Flash out so he can get into Spider-Man costume and chase after his target. It turns out it wasn't the Cat after all, but merely a thug roughing someone up. Spider-Man solves the problem and heads back to attend to Flash. Later, Peter goes to visit Betty Brant, who informs him that Ned Leeds proposed marriage to her. Peter flips out about this, as well as Betty's rationalization that she wanted a man who "doesn't live a life of adventure", who would "come home to her every night". Before Betty is able to articulate her real emotions - that it's Peter she wants this kind of life with, not Ned - Peter stomps out in a jealous rage. Betty collapses in tears, wondering what it is that has built this wall between their love, while Peter reckons that their relationship is finally over for good.

Disguised as Patch, Foswell encourages JJJ that he's on the trail of the Cat, which is good news for Jameson. Spider-Man spots a bank robbery in progress and foils it, much to the chagrin of one of the Cat's goons, who had hired some thugs to do that job. The goon reports back to the Cat that the bank robbery is kaput thanks to Spider-Man, and the Cat decides they should do something about the web-spinner. When Peter returns home, Aunt May (who is trying her best to not let on to Peter she's been having dizzy spells) tells him that Betty has called several times. Peter refuses to call her back so as not to "prolong the agony". Later, Peter hears a televised report that Jameson's reward hasn't been claimed yet, since the Cat has been lying low.

The Cat, in fact, is listening to the same newscast, and wonders if he shouldn't pull one more job before he really has to start laying low. Posing as a simple window washer who nobody would notice will be his method of burgling buildings as the Cat. When it turns dark, he dons his outfit and heads off to his target. Meanwhile, Foswell/Patch has narrowed his investigation down to the fellow who is indeed the Cat, which makes Jameson happy to hear! As the Cat is trying to break into a building, he's spotted by a tenant, who calls the police. Klieg lights shine up the side of the building, which draws the attention of Spider-Man. TV news coverage shows Spider-Man closing in on the Cat, which drives JJJ up the wall!

The Cat may be just a normal guy, but he's able to keep Spidey off-balance enough to sucker him into a trap. The Cat detonates charges underneath a water tower, which threatens to topple over Spider-Man, but ol' webhead is able to leap out of the way in time. The Cat starts firing shots at Spidey from his pistol, and as Spidey gets out of the way, the police close in on the Cat on the rooftop. Indeed, they make an arrest after finding the Cat in his hiding spot down a chimney, which makes sure Spider-Man won't be able to claim the reward money. Nonetheless, Spider-Man takes a few snaps that he takes to JJJ (as Peter Parker) and sells for some cash. Jameson is in extreme happiness to have found the Cat and not had to pay out a reward, much less to Spider-Man! Peter rebuffs Betty's attempts to talk to him about their personal problems, and wanders away, depressed and glum about what fate has spelled out for him.

--synopsis by Gormuu

Issues Reprinted
Spider-Man from
Amazing Spider-Man #20-30 and Annual #2

Click on cover image to learn more about each issue.