I: Feature Story: "The Sinister Shocker!"

Pages: 20

Script: Stan Lee
Pencils: John Romita
Inks: John Romita
Letters: Sam Rosen

First Appearance: The Shocker

Villain: The Shocker

Origin: The Shocker

Guest Appearance: Harry Osborn, Frederick Foswell/Patch, J. Jonah Jameson, Aunt May, Anna Watson, Mary Jane Watson, Flash Thompson, Gwen Stacy

Gadgets & Technology: Vibra-Shockers

Marvel Milestones: Peter moves in with Harry Osborn, Aunt May moves in with Anna Watson

Synopsis: Spider-Man, his sprained arm still in a sling, is thrown off a wall by what feels like an earthquake. He swings through an open window and catches a safe-cracker in a funky costume. He is the Shocker, and his gauntlets use vibra-shock rays to destroy anything in his way! Spidey leaps out of the way of the vibro-ray blast and kicks the Shocker, but the villain's costume absorbs the impact. The Shocker knocks Spidey down with a vibration enhanced punch and escapes with the money.

After his defeat, Spider-Man changes back into Peter Parker and is picked up by Harry Osborn, who is driving by in his sports-car. He tells him that his dad Norman is moving him into a Manhattan apartment, and he asks Peter if he wants to share the place with him - free of charge! Peter is excited about the idea, but tells him he has to run it by his Aunt May first to see how she would feel. Harry drops him off at the Bugle where, after the obligatory haggle with J. Jonah Jameson, Peter sells him pictures of the Shocker. Frederick Foswell is still curious how Peter gets his photos of Spider-Man and follows him disguised as Patch, resolving to get to the bottom of the mystery of how Peter Parker winds up with all those great action shots of Spider-Man.

Meanwhile, the Shocker returns to his hideout. While counting up his stolen-cash take, he reflects on his origin: he started his criminal life as a failed safecracker. After many months in the prison workshop, he invented a vibration cannon and blasted through the prison walls! The feedback almost killed him so he designed a padded suit to protect himself and refined the cannon into a pair of gauntlets. Once out of jail, he became the Shocker!

Peter picks up Aunt May at the train station and she frets over the news she has to tell him. She has decided to move in with Anna Watson, but worries how Peter will fend for himself. When Peter hears this, he's relieved. Now he can move in with Harry without any guilt. He tells Aunt May that it's a great idea, and she can even sell her house and finally have some money in the bank.

Peter drops off Aunt May with Anna and picks up Mary Jane. They go to the Silver Spoon where Harry is arranging Flash Thompson's draft induction party. Gwen is dancing to the jukebox and Peter can't take his eyes off of her. He lets Mary Jane join the dance, tells Harry he's going to accept his offer to move in with him, and decides to take this chance to go out and search for the Shocker, now that Mary Jane is occupied. He can't understand why he's attracted to Gwen when he's already got Mary Jane, but wonders if perhaps because it is because Gwen plays "hard to get."

Peter heads to a back alley to change into Spider-Man, but he's being followed by Patch. He comes around the corner and his Spider Sense tingles, and when he spots Patch, he knows his secret has been found out! Spidey ducks back in the alley and creates a diversion: Spider-Man talks out loud, "having a conversation" with Peter. Patch overhears Peter and Spider-Man negotiating a 50/50 split for his Bugle pictures. Peter then stuffs his costume with webbing and tosses it across the nearby rooftop, giving the impression that Spider-Man has left the scene. He walks around the corner as Peter Parker, hoping the ruse has confused Patch. The news reporter is still suspicious, but after overhearing the conversation can't further rationalize that Peter and Spider-Man are one and the same.

Peter changes once more and finally ditches his sling. He overhears a police report about a bank robbery and swings over to the vibrating building. The Shocker is inside and is prepared for Spidey. He sends out a shockwave which knocks a pillar down. Spider-Man kicks the pillar back but the Shocker disintegrates it. The Shocker pummels Spider-Man and counters his every move. Spider-man tries to get the upper hand, and the fight rages on. Suddenly, Spidey notices the triggers on Shocker's gauntlets. Spidey webs the Shocker's thumbs to his sides and now that his power has been isolated, he knocks him out with two punches. He leaves the Shocker webbed up for the police and swings out the window.

Peter wakes up excited to move into his own apartment. However, a tearful goodbye from Aunt May leaves Peter feeling a little sad.

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

Issues Reprinted
Amazing Spider-Man #41-50, Annual #3

Click on cover image to learn more about each issue.