I: Feature Story: "Lo, This Monster!!"

Pages: 52

Script: Stan Lee
Layouts: John Romita
Pencils: John Romita
Inks: Jim Mooney
Letters: Sam Rosen

First Appearance: Richard Raleigh, Thaxton

Villain: Richard Raleigh, Thaxton

Guest Appearance: Mary Jane Watson, Harry Osborn, J. Jonah Jameson, Betty Brant, Joe Robertson, Gwen Stacy, Capt. Stacy, Aunt May, Anna Watson

Death: Richard Raleigh, Thaxton

Synopsis: Spider-Man is web-swinging his way through his neighborhood when he is shocked to see a massive, mountain of a man bash his way through a billboard advertising the political campaign of Richard Raleigh. The giant intimidates the painters who are working on the billboard, saying he isn't going to let posters for Raleigh stand. Spider-Man has to swing into action to rescue the painters from falling to the ground, while also holding off the goliath. While saving the painters, the bad guy gets away.

Later, Peter meets up with Mary Jane and Harry Osborn, who are handing out buttons for Richard Raleigh. Peter is concerned that there are evil forces set against the politician. MJ tells Peter to bring Gwen to a dance to help raise money for Raleigh's campaign. J. Jonah Jameson is also a big supporter of Richard Raleigh, and wants to make sure his newspaper reports on the wave of intimidation being leveled against the campaign. For his part, Richard Raleigh takes to the airwaves and tells the world he will not be intimidated by threats from the underworld. However, behind the scenes, it is involved that Raleigh is orchestrating the events which cast him as an underdog in the fight against crime, and all he really wants is to be voted into power so he can control the city, and then the world!

Peter picks up Gwen, who accompanies him to the dance for Raleigh's campaign. But Peter's spidey sense alerts him to a crack in the ceiling of the building. He has to resort to quick action to save everyone from the building falling in on them, but he doesn't have his Spider-Man costume! He manages to douse the lights and then webs up a big shield to obscure him while he gums up the cracks in the ceiling with his web-shooters.

Raleigh is furious when he hears that his plan to bring down the house - as further evidence the underworld is out to get him - doesn't go down as planned. He realizes he must destroy Spider-Man before he can interfere with any more of his plans. He heads down to his dungeon lair, where a scientist in his employ is still working on the giant that had been previously unleashed on the city. Raleigh demands that he step up his progress on finishing the "frankenstein" beast, but the scientist warns him that there is still much work to do. An impatient Raleigh won't hear of it, though, and uses the controls to send the beast out to find Spider-Man.

Spider-Man takes care of some more thugs who are out trying to rob a Raleigh fundraiser, then visits his Aunt May. Meanwhile, Capt. Stacy presents to Jameson some evidence on Raleigh's background that gives him suspicion about the politician's overall motives. As an avid supporter of the candidate, JJJ won't hear of it. The Bugle publisher casually mentions Stacy's concerns to Raleigh, who realizes he must put a stop to the nosy police commander. He controls the goliath to chase down Stacy and kill him, despite pleas from the scientist who still insists that it is not ready to be controlled.

Peter picks up Gwen for a date, and shares the thoughts he has in common with Capt. Stacy about the shady Raleigh. Right after they speed away on Peter's motorcycle, they are shocked to see the giant man-mountain stomping in the direction of the Stacy home. Peter tells Gwen to go call for help and he races back to protect Capt. Stacy as Spider-Man. Spidey squares off against the goliath and manages to take the battle into the city and away from the Stacy home. He leads it in the direction of Richard Raleigh's home in the city, where the villain is controlling the goliath's every move. The fight bursts through Raleigh's windows and into his living room. The goliath begins to realize that it is Raleigh controlling him and lashes out against him, landing a lethal blow on the politician, and the apartment comes crashing down upon the scientist, killing him.

While Spider-Man squares off against the giant, James rushes to the scene to be an eyewitness. Spidey finally lands a blow which sunders the man-beast, and gets way before the police show up. Jameson finds Raleigh's dead body and is convinced that the "honest and fearless" campaigner was done in by the underworld and Spider-Man!

Issues Reprinted
Amazing Spider-Man #62-67, Annual #5, Spectacular Spider-Man Magazine #1-2

Click on cover image to learn more about each issue.