I: Feature Story: "In the Clutches of...the Kingpin!"

Pages: 20

Script: Stan Lee
Pencils: John Romita
Inks: Mike Esposito (credited as Mickey Demeo)
Letters: Sam Rosen

First Appearance: Joseph "Robbie" Robertson, Flint, Blinker, Big Turk, Shorty, Charlie

Villain: Kingpin

Kingpin Flunkies: Flint, Blinker, Big Turk, Shorty, Charlie

Guest Appearance: J. Jonah Jameson, Frederick Foswell, Ned Leeds

Cameo Appearance: Betty Brant, Robbie Robertson, Mary Jane Watson, Gwen Stacy, Harry Osborn

Gadgets & Technology: Disintegrator Cane w/ Obliterator Beam

Synopsis: The Kingpin is enraged that J. Jonah Jameson is speaking out against his crimewave in the pages of the Daily Bugle. He sends some of his thugs out to nab Jameson and also sends Big Turk's crew out to shake down some gas stations. He tells Big Turk it ought to be an easy night out because Spider-Man is no longer on the job, having quit the super-hero gig. But the Kingpin is wrong - Spidey is back on the job after all, and he takes out Big Turk's gang while they try to menace the service stations, with only the boss and his sideman Shorty escaping the web-slinger's wrath before Spidey can glean any info from them about the Kingpin.

Later, the Kingpin hears another pitch from Foswell, telling the Kingpin to allow him to help control the city mobs. The Kingpin is leery, but likes Foswell's moxie. Just then, Big Turk barrels into the room, railing at the Kingpin for leading them into a trap! He teaches Big Turk and Shorty a lesson for daring to stand up to him, then turns to Foswell with a plan to take care of Jameson, while he focuses on Spider-Man.

With Foswell out of the office, Jameson sends Ned Leeds out to break the story about the crime wave. Peter knocks on the door to ask for his job back. Jameson initially refuses, but after Peter lets JJJ sniff some new pics of Spidey, Jameson relents. Later, Peter takes off on his motor-bike to dig up some dirt about Kingpin. He spots some criminals holding up a dinner club. He leaps through the window as Spider-Man and tackles them. One of the thugs throws a gas grenade which throws him off balance and sends a big vibration through the walls of the club. Some of the Kingpin's flunkies get away as Spider-Man tries to hold up the roof of the buckling building, but not before Spidey is able to toss a Spidey Tracer on them.

The Kingpin's men round up a shocked J. Jonah Jameson and take him to meet the big boss. He tells the blindfolded Bugle publisher to back off writing about his crime spree, but JJJ refuses. The Kingpin then orders Foswell to tell Jameson he shouldn't turn him down. Jameson is stunned to hear Foswell's voice, and is gob-smacked that his employee is in league with the Kingpin.

Finally, Spider-Man arrives, having followed his tracer. He works his way through the Kingpin's minions, but then the Kingpin himself comes crashing down on him with his cane. Spidey is able to knock him back and smash the cane in half, but Kingpin allows him to get close and then gasses him with a sleeping agent that blows out of a pin on his lapel. Spider-Man buckles and drops to the ground....

(continued in ASM #52)

--synopsis by Gormuu

Issues Reprinted
Amazing Spider-Man #51-61, Annual #4

Click on cover image to learn more about each issue.