I: Feature Story: "The Tentacles and the Trap!"

Pages: 20

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

Villain: Dr. Octopus, Master Planner Goons

Guest Appearance: Aunt May, Gwen Stacy, Harry Osborn, Mary Jane Watson

Cameo Appearance: Joseph "Robbie" Robertson, J. Jonah Jameson, Betty Brant, Dr. Bromwell

Synopsis: (continued from ASM #53)

Dr. Otto Octavius walks up to the doorstep of Aunt May and Anna Watson's home, responding to the newspaper advertisement seeking a boarder. May remembers Octavius from the time she and Betty met him before (under very strange circumstances, see Annual #1) and Octavius assures her that he was only trying to stop the dangerous Spider-Man. Aunt May falls for his false gallantry and welcomes him to his new home. He lets himself up to his room and unpacks his bags, secure in his arrogant and self-assured way that he will be able to lie low and effectively plan his next crime. He calls on his old collection of flunkies from when he was the Master Planner (ASM #33) and says he's in need of their services again.

Back at Peter and Harry's apartment, Peter has just arrived and changed out of his Spider-Man costume, and his weird behavior while covering up what he's doing chafes his roomie yet again. Peter heads to the Bugle and meets the new City Editor, Joseph "Robbie" Robertson, then heads to the Coffee Bean where Mary Jane and Gwen fight over his attention. He finally makes his way to visit Aunt May when his spider sense goes off the charts! He steps inside the door and see his beloved Aunt May sitting down for tea with his greatest enemy, Doctor Octopus!

Not being able to help himself, Peter blows up in a rage, demanding that Octopus get out. Aunt May steps in and calms him down, with Octopus trying to act in an understanding and gentle manner. But when Octopus pulls Peter aside out of the earshot of Aunt May, his true menace emerges, and he threatens Peter to shut up and stay out of his business - or else! Peter is quite shaken, and doesn't know exactly how to handle this in front of Aunt May. He decides to go outside and change into Spider-Man and keep a vigil. Later that night, he sees a delivery man bring something to Doc Ock, which motivates him to make his move!

He flashes his Spidey Signal inside Ock's room, hoping to draw him outside to fight, and away from Aunt May, but instead Doc Ock stays put and calls on his goon squad to come and fight Spider-Man on his behalf. They show up within minutes by helicopter and jump Spidey, who suddenly finds himself fighting a dozen thugs on his Aunt May's front lawn. He fights them off for quite a while until the cops show up, and he hands them over to the law. He spots Aunt May in the crowd milling around and knows Octopus must be home alone. He rushes over to fight him with her out of the house.

He crashes through the window but is immediately folded inside Octopus' robotic arms. He plays possum so Ock draws him close, then smacks him a good one upside the jaw. Aunt May arrives to see Octopus fighting with Spider-Man, and the villain tells her that he's merely defending the house from a break-in by Spider-Man. Aunt May can't deal with what she's seeing and faints. Octopus grabs the Nullifier and crashes through the wall to get away before the cops show up.

Peter hastily calls Dr. Bromwell, who recommends bed rest for Aunt May. Peter is left with the total resolve to chase down Dr. Octopus and defeat him once and for all!

(continued in ASM #55)

--synopsis by Gormuu

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

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