¡ LA MUERTE DE UN HÉROE !
The two thugs carry Spidey into a brick room with a single door, through
which the third thug pushes a resisting JJJ. There are big spigots on
the walls and what looks like a metallic medicine ball in the middle.
Oh oh. This is looking familiar. Spidey is still knocked out as the
thugs secure him to the ball. The third thug pushes Jonah down into
position as JJJ yells at Spidey, “you wall-crawling weasel, wake up!!”
The water already starts pouring in before the thugs get out of the
room. In fact, the last one racing out has just got to have gotten his
feet wet. Outside of the room, the Kingpin’s assistant Flint, turning
the wheel that controls the water, tells his boss that “It shouldn’t
take more’n five minutes!” The Kingpin, his back to Flint, holding his
cigarette holder imperiously in his left hand, couldn’t be bothered.
“Spare me the boring details, Flint!” he says, “Just let me know when
the charade is completely ended!” Now, we are talking about a seriously
secure and cold-blooded criminal boss here. He’s about to kill
Spider-Man and he refers to it as a charade. Back in the death room,
Spider-Man starts to show signs of awakening but the water is already
reaching them. We have come back to the present time of the cover and,
what do you know? It’s only on page 3. The cover looks so monumental
that it seems like it must be the climax of this story but it’s only the
start. Whether intended or not, this works beautifully. We’re faced
with a formidable death trap on the cover, we’re allowed to backtrack
out of it on the splash page and we’re right back in it by page 3! What
can possibly happen after that? Well, let’s try to get Spidey and JJJ
rescued first.
So, what happens? Can Spidey escape? Stan is too accomplished a
scripter to let you off that easy. First we must switch scenes to the
Daily Bugle where Ned Leeds and Betty Brant have discovered the broken
door at Jonah’s office. (In case you’re wondering, we saw the thugs
break into Jonah’s office in ASM #51 but we didn’t see the door
break. Here, the door is off its top hinge and the window glass is
broken. There, it doesn’t look like the door even has a window.) Ned
picks up the phone and announces “I’ll call Robertson! He’s City
Editor!” “Don’t bother, Leeds!” says the African-American man we saw
last issue, “I’m right here.” And in that clever way, Stan informs us of
Robbie’s last name and job so that it appears that he’s been part of
the supporting cast all along. Robbie tells Ned that he’ll hold down the
fort “while you see what you can uncover.” You may recall that Robbie
wanted to replace Foswell as crime reporter with Ned Leeds last issue.
Now, Betty tries to prevent Ned from venturing out. “You’re not a crime
reporter!” she says, “That was Foswell’s job!” “I’ve got a job to do
and I’ve got to do it as best I can!” Ned says. So, Ned has just been
given Foswell’s job. Perhaps that is telling us something.
TOMADO DE http://www.spiderfan.org
FECHA: 10 de Septiembre de 1967
ESCRITOR: Stan Lee
DIBUJO: John Romita Sr.
TINTAS: Mickey Demeo
COLOR: John Romita Sr.
PORTADA: John Romita Sr.
EDITORIAL: Marvel Comics
PÁGINAS: 21
FORMATO: .cbr
