I: Feature Story: "Doc Ock Wins!"

Pages: 20

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

Villain: Dr. Octopus, Master Planner Goons

Guest Appearance: John Jameson, Aunt May, Anna Watson, Gwen Stacy, Mary Jane Watson

Cameo: Joseph "Robbie" Robertson, J. Jonah Jameson, Ned Leeds

Synopsis: (continued from ASM #54)

Spider-Man has scoured every inch of the city in his search for justice, and he uncovers the hiding spot of Doc Ock's Master Planner goon squad. As he busies himself bashing the flunkies around, Octopus pipes in over the TV screen, telling Spidey that there's nothing he can do to stop his plan. After doing more fruitless searching for his quarry, Spidey has nothing to do but go home.

At a city council meeting, Col. John Jameson briefs the public officials about how they're going to get the Nullifier to its storage location at Stark Industries without Doctor Octopus (or any other villain, like Spider-Man, it is suggested) getting at it. John Jameson sticks up for Spidey, but it's clear that others don't trust him. Peter visits with Aunt May, and then Gwen and Mary Jane show up and Peter shows them the big hole in the wall carved out by Doc Ock. Meanwhile, the villain in question has just received the exact location of where the Nullifier is being stored by an insider informant. He takes off with his goons disguised in an electrical truck to nab the Nullifier.

Col. Jameson oversees the convoy carrying the Nullifier, but Octopus jumps out of a manhole and destroys all the cars in the convoy, then makes off with the weapon, cleverly deciding to go to the one place he thinks nobody would suspect - Stark Industries, the place where the weapon was going anyway! JJJ confronts his son, begging him to give him the full scoop on the story, but John disappoints him, saying Spider-Man had nothing to do with the disappearance of the Nullifier.

Meanwhile, Spider-Man is swinging by and sees the calamity. He quickly gets a read on the situation, and figures that Doc Ock would head to Stark Industries to use the Nullifier. In the back of the electrical van, Doc Ock prepares the weapon for use, and starts firing its invisible rays at everything in his path. All mechanical devices cease to operate when the rays hit them. The security guards are useless to stop him.

Spidey finally arrives and tries to tie Octopus' arms into a knot, but he breaks free, and they fight each other in a long and fierce battle. Hoping to destroy his web-shooters, Doc Ock manages to fire the Nullifier at Spider-Man. Spidey crumbles to the ground, a victim of the Nullifier's ray. Spider-Man eventually rises in a daze. The Nullifier had somehow messed with his radioactive blood, and he loses his memory. A total amnesiac, he asks Doc Ock who he is and what he's doing in a costume. Doc Ock realizes the good fortune thrown in his lap! He tells Spidey that he is actually an evil villain, and his partner in a life of crime!

(continued in ASM #56)

--synopsis by Gormuu

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

Click on cover image to learn more about each issue.