I: Feature Story: "The Wings of the Vulture!"

Pages: 20

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

First Appearance/Origin: Blackie Drago/Vulture II

Villain: Vulture II, Vulture I

Guest Appearance: Municipal Prison Warden, Harry Osborn, Gwen Stacy, Aunt May, Anna Watson, Mary Jane Watson

Cameo Appearance: Prof. Warren

Gadgets & Technology: Vulture helmet

Synopsis: Spider-Man swings through the snow searching for Kraven and passes the municipal prison, little suspecting that Adrian Toomes, aka the Vulture, lays dying in the infirmary. He calls his cellmate Blackie Drago in and reveals his greatest secret: he has created another pair of vulture wings to escape, and now that he is too weak, he passes their location on to Blackie. Blackie's patience has finally paid off...in fact, he arranged for Toomes to have the "accident" in the workshop that landed him in the infirmary so he could gain the Vulture's wings, wanting all the Vulture's power for himself. He cackles to the slowly expiring Toomes as he is led back to his cell, but all that really matters to the original Vulture is that someone - anyone - gets revenge against Spider-Man.

Later, Drago hijacks a prison car and drives through the gates of the prison. He finds the vulture wings right where Toomes said they would be! After a shaky start, Drago soars above the bullets of the prison guards trying to arrest him and flies into the cover of a torrential blizzard.

Harry Osborn's car pushes its way through the snow the next morning on his way to class. Peter rides in the passenger seat but isn't great company. He's coming down with a cold again. They get to class and just as Gwen starts to show interest in Peter, Harry drops Mary Jane's name and all but ruins Peter's chances with her at that moment.

After Professor Warren suggests he go home and rest, Peter staggers home to hear another grating commentary by J. Jonah Jameson on the TV news. He also learns of the new Vulture who has broken out of prison. With his cold, Peter is not prepared for another fight, but his responsibilities as Spider-Man press down upon him.

Drago practices his flying skills over Manhattan. A younger man, he's stronger than Toomes ever was and more inventive, too, designing a helmet with a short wave receiver. Drago wastes no time starting a one-man crime wave. The Vulture is all over the news in a matter of days. Peter's cold is worse than ever, and he considers calling Daredevil to pawn off his bout with the villain, but he can't let the Vulture roam free on his account, so he reluctantly drags himself out of bed and into costume.

Drago attacks a courier carrying a stash of negotiable bonds. The messenger is handcuffed to his suitcase, so Drago hauls him up to the top of the George Washington Bridge to detach him from the case away from any interference. Spider-Man spots him and swings in, putting all his weight behind a two-fisted punch. Drago falls into a tailspin, giving Spider-Man time to lower the messenger onto the bridge. He webs the Vulture's legs but Drago yanks Spidey and slams him into the suspension cables. But his cold germs get the better of Spidey and he becomes dizzy, and vulnerable to Drago's attack. Drago pulls him off of the bridge and over the streets. Spidey breaks free of Vulture's grasp and tries to get a grip on a wall. Unfortunately, he becomes so dizzy he is left completely open to Drago's next punch, which leaves him defeated and abandoned in a snowdrift on the rooftop.

(continued in ASM #49)

--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.