I: Feature Story: "The Final Chapter!"

Pages: 20

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

Villain: Doctor Octopus, Master Planner goons

Guest Appearance: Aunt May, Frederick Foswell, Dr.Curt Connors

Cameo Appearance: J. Jonah Jameson, Betty Brant

Flashback Appearance: Bennett Brant

Synopsis: (continued from ASM #32)

As Aunt May lies ill in a hospital, as Dr. Connors waits for the ISO-36 serum to finish his life-saving antidote, as the "Master Planner's" goons wait outside, and as the leak in the underwater lair grows bigger and bigger, Spider-Man finds himself still trapped under tons of wreckage. Water is pouring into the room and the ISO-36, the only serum that can save his ailing Aunt May, remains just out of reach.

Spider-Man is exhausted like never before, after being bruised and battered from his bout with Doctor Octopus. Evenhis super-strength doesn't seem enough to lift the formidable weight off his shoulders. But he thinks of Aunt May's plight, and how he failed Uncle Ben, and somehow, he finds the courage to go on, to keep pushing until, finally, he lifts the massive weight up off his shoulders and is free!

He limps to the ISO-36 canister and picks it up as the roof gives way. Spider-Man is swept away in the rushing current. Only his agility and spider-sense keep him from being battered by the debris floating about him. He surfaces on an upper level but two Master Planner goons pull him back underwater. Spidey tears out their air hoses and surfaces again to find another group of goons waiting. He is weaker than ever and hobbling on an injured leg, but Spider-Man still takes on this mob. He suffers their blows until he has the strength to fight back. With Aunt May on his mind, he swings wildly and when the stars in his eyes have cleared, he has defeated every one of the thugs. He staggers out of the base and back to Dr. Connors with the ISO-36.

After long hours and a positive test with May's stolen blood sample, the serum is proven to be a success. Spider-Man races to the hospital with the serum but can't bear to wait through the transfusion. He returns to Doc Ock's "Master Planner" lair and poses for a few news photos. He then tips off Foswell who gets the scoop, and calls the police so they can round up all the bad guys. This makes for quite the news story when Foswell is on the scene to see all the Master Planner's goons swept up in a police dragnet. Jameson is elated that his paper is able to break the story, but rails at Foswell for not having any pictures!

Peter brings his shots to the Bugle and when Betty sees him, he's covered in bruises. He tells her that photographing crime scenes is a dangerous job, and he's lucky he made it this far, but he refuses to quit. His words remind Betty of her dead brother's attitude and she runs off crying. This reaffirms to Peter that he can never be with Betty and keep his secret of Spider-Man. Peter haggles with JJJ for a good price on his pictures and Jameson is surprised by Peter's fiery mood, thinking "He used to be a real little milk-toast!" (He still pays Peter only half of what the pictures are worth.)

Peter returns to the hospital but before he can see Aunt May, a doctor pulls him aside, worried about the young boy's appearance. After a check-up, Peter is diagnosed with exhaustion. Peter is just relieved the doctor didn't check his radioactive blood! He sees Aunt May and she is very glad to see him. The serum is a success and for everything Peter has lost in this story, he achieved the only thing that mattered.

--synopsis by Jonathan Clarke, aka doesitmatter, and Gormuu

Issues Reprinted
Amazing Spider-Man #31-40

Click on cover image to learn more about each issue.