Issue(s): Amazing Spider-Man #12
Published Date: May 64
Title: "Unmasked by Dr. Octopus"
Credits:
Stan Lee - Writer
Steve Ditko - Penciler
Steve Ditko - Inker

Review/plot: This issue supports one of my pet theories about super villains in the Marvel Universe. Whenever you read about a super villain in a comic book, they wind up losing. They have to (i guess), because if they win even once, the hero(es) of the book would be dead and there would be no more book. But every villain after a while starts to build up a track record that makes them look like losers who are too stupid to know when to quit. So my theory is that the villains are mostly successful pulling off small crimes all over the country, and it's only when they try to pull off their biggest schemes near New York City where the majority of the super-heroes live that they get defeated (Los Angeles is also off limits due to The Pride).

In this issue, Doc Ock is on a huge crime spree throughout the country, gathering cash that will eventually be used to fund his future schemes, but he's also expecting Spider-Man to come after him. When he doesn't, he heads back to NYC for a rematch.

Meanwhile, Peter is coming down with a 24 hour virus. Doc Ock kidnaps Betty from the Daily Bugle, reasoning that if Spidey recently rescued her in Philadelphia he will likely try to come to her aid again. He does, but his virus has somehow wiped out his super-powers*, leading to an easy defeat and an unmasking, also observed by Betty, JJ, and a cop. When they see that it is Parker under the mask, they all assume that it is not really Spider-Man; it's just Peter dressed as Spider-Man to try and rescue Betty. Doc Ock assumes the real Spider-Man was scared off by the cops and he flees.

This is stupid. The guy who mysteriously gets impossible-to-get photos of Spider-Man (and *only* Spider-Man related photos) is seen fighting Doctor Octopus in a Spider-Man costume, and neither the police nor the publisher of a newspaper even consider the possibility that he is in fact Spider-Man? It's impossible to believe.

Anyway, the kids at school are impressed with Peter - especially Liz Allan who has been slowly taking an interest in him anyway. Having got his powers back after he gets better, Spidey goes after Doc Ock again, and after a long and difficult battle in a burning studio, Octavius is defeated and captured by the police.

A decent issue marred badly by the awful unmasking plot point.

*Interesting synergy: As we will learn in FF #25, Reed Richards is currently working with viruses to find a cure for the Thing. Is it possible that a strain of this super-power canceling virus got airborne and made its way to Peter?

Quality Rating: D

Historical Significance Rating: 3

Chronological Placement Considerations: N/A

References: N/A

Cross-over: N/A

Continuity Implant? N

Reprinted In: N/A