I: Feature Story: "The Web and the Flame!"

Pages: 41

Script: Stan Lee
Pencils: Larry Lieber
Inks: Mike Esposito (credited as Mickey Demeo)
Letters: Jerry Feldmann

First Appearance: Bellini

Villain: The Wizard, Mysterio

Guest Appearance: Human Torch, J. Jonah Jameson, Bellini

Gadgets & Technology: Peri-Screen

Synopsis: Spider-Man stumbles across the Human Torch, who seems to be on a rampage through the streets of New York City, melting his way through an armored car, blasting down light poles, and causing a ruckus amidst a crowd of bystanders. Spidey attacks, and the two tussle for a short while, but that is ended when Spider-Man drenches the Torch with a fusillade of water from a broken water main. But Spidey realizes his error when the director of a movie comes running up to stop him, for Spidey has ruined his movie shoot - with the Torch as his star! Of course, once Peter turns the pictures of this imbroglio over to J. Jonah Jameson, it embarrasses Spider-Man to no end.

This event inspires a mysterious figure to concoct a plan to destroy Spider-Man. He puts his plan into action: the next day, Peter hears a new report about Spider-Man and the Human Torch being invited to appear in a movie together. Peter figures it would be a great way to make some money, so he pursues the offer all the way to California. When Spider-Man shows up in the lobby, the mysterious villain, along with his partner in crime, realize their plan is working!

The Torch and Spidey set up an uneasy alliance so they can make the movie. They arrive on the set and find that the film is to be about the two of them stopping an alien invasion. They rehearse the scene, and then it's time for "Action"! Spidey leaps down towards the alien craft, and the Torch comes barreling down behind him; unlike rehearsal, however, the Torch comes dangerously close to his castmate, and then goes crazy chasing Spider-Man all around the set! Then the Torch disappears from view, and Spider-Man goes on a search for him, eventually finding him at his trailer where he's reading from his script.

Watching from a distance, the villain cackles in delight that his charade as the Human Torch has created dissension between the two. And behind closed doors, the two villains reveal their true selves - the Wizard and Mysterio have teamed up to defeat their mortal enemies! While they discuss the factors that brought them together, Spidey and the Torch get into a fight based out of the Wizard's fakery. Their fight brings them near a ray gun, which the Wizard accidentally fires at them. This brings their attention to the laser, and makes them realize that they have perhaps been duped into fighting!

Before they can do anything about it, they see a massive cage lower down around them, spraying them with a chemical that douses the Torch's flame. Spidey webs up the gas jets, so they can escape. They make it to a cubicle they spot, thinking their foes are inside. They are half-right- they see mirages of the duo set up by Mysterio, but the real villains are on the rooftop, making their escape. Once the Torch and Spidey realize they're chasing phantoms, they race upstairs to see Mysterio and the Wizard flying away on a hovercraft.

They chase them into the jungle near the movie studio, when all of a sudden, a giant mechanical gorilla tromps out of the woods. With a mighty blow, he knocks Johnny Storm for a loop, leaving Spider-Man to climb on his back and try to find his control panel. The gorilla grabs Johnny Storm's limp body in his giant paw, and when Spidey damages the controls, the gorilla freezes in place. Spidey has to pry the giant paw open with all his strength, but finally he frees his friend Johnny.

While Mysterio and the Wizard monitor the duo's approach from a nearby underground base, Spidey and the Torch stumble across their hideout, racing down a cave towards what appears to be the villains. But it's a trap, as the Wizard lowers a glass wall down in front of them and behind them, trapping them inside. Then, they are coated in a magnetic dust, and then assaulted by boulders hurtling towards them, attracted by the magnetism. Spidey is able to shoot his webs through a hole created by the Torch's flame, reversing the magnetic field and sending the boulders crashing into the villains and their technical hardware.

Trapped again, Mysterio and the Wizard are webbed up and shipped off to the police. Spider-Man worries that he has to return home empty-handed without his movie salary, but finds out he has gotten a reward for capturing the two bad guys.

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

Click on cover image to learn more about each issue.