I: Feature Story: "To Die A Hero!!"

Pages: 20

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

Villain: Kingpin, Flint

Guest Appearance: J. Jonah Jameson, Frederick Foswell, Ned Leeds, Robbie Robertson, Betty Brant, Gwen Stacy, Harry Osborn, Flash Thompson, Mary Jane Watson

Death: Frederick Foswell

Marvel Milestones: First named appearance of Joseph "Robbie" Robertson

Synopsis: (continued from ASM #51)

The Kingpin sends Flint and his men down to a basement area with Jameson and an unconscious Spider-Man. Jameson is beside himself with fear, and they strap both men into a chair at the bottom of an enclosed well and start filling it with water. Shortly, Spider-Man rouses himself from the gas-induced stupor and goes to work trying to escape from his bonds. His efforts are made more difficult by the constant harping of the Bugle publisher, who makes the near-death experience an even more unpleasant one with his criticisms and complaints about his rescuer. At the Bugle, Ned Leeds is sent to figure out why Jameson's office has been turned over in violent fashion and where his missing boss is. Betty Brant worries as he runs off to potentially risk his life in pursuit of the story, just like Peter did.

Spidey has spun a giant dome out of his webbing, and as the water rises to the top, it buys him and JJJ some breathing space. When the chamber is full, Flint flushes it out, and when his men go in to check on the bodies, Spidey jumps out and takes his swing at the Kingpin's flunkies! Flint fires away at him with his pistol until Spidey knocks him out, too. As he guides Jameson out of the dungeon, he sees more of the Kingpin's thugs, and when he goes out to attack them, Jameson stands rigidly still in mortal fright. Spider-Man can't convince him to move, so he uses reverse psychology and threatens him: he tells Jonah that when he's done beating the Kingpin, he's going to attack him! That brings JJJ back to reality. He takes off, sure that Spider-Man is going to attack him when he's done with the thugs, but when he races around a corner, his head hits a water main pipe and he is knocked out.

While the Kingpin has no idea this is happening, he tells Frederick Foswell that Jameson is dead. Foswell breaks out into sweats at the news, and Kingpin senses that perhaps he hasn't been true to his word of late as to why he wants to get in with the Kingpin! He grabs Foswell and demands to know if he's an undercover agent, but Spider-Man busts into his office. He is ready for a rematch with the Kingpin!

Across town, Gwen, Mary Jane and Harry enjoy Flash furlough while he's on leave from Vietnam. But unknown to them, their friend Peter Parker is in hand-to-hand combat with the Kingpin. Foswell takes the opportunity while the pair are fighting to grab a gun and go look for Jameson. Spider-Man tussles with the Kingpin, whose incredible strength and muscularity gives Spidey a run for his money. But the Kingpin decides that, before the police come, escape is the best option, so he runs away down a booby-trapped corridor where Spidey can't follow.

Jameson wakes up to find Foswell trying to lead him out of the Kingpin's lair. Some gunmen come around the corner and fire, but Foswell protects Jameson and takes the bullet. He falls down dead. Spider-Man rounds the corner and bangs the gunmen's heads together and stands over Jameson as he tries to make sense of Foswell's death. JJJ tells the police all about the Kingpin, and how Foswell died a hero trying to save him, and he also tells Ned Leeds to prep a story about how Spider-Man still remains a threat, which of course angers and befuddles the hero once again.

--synopsis by Gormuu

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

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