Issue(s): Amazing Spider-Man #18
Published Date: Nov 64
Title: "The End of Spider-Man"
Credits:
Stan Lee - Writer
Steve Ditko - Penciler
Steve Ditko - Inker

Review/plot: Spider-Man is still being branded a coward for fleeing from the Green Goblin. All the other heroes are disappointed in him. Doc Ock, Kraven, and the Vulture's reactions are also shown. Interestingly, while Octavius is still in jail, Kraven and the Vulture seem to be free again already (and so, of course, is the Sandman, but he's got to be a tough one to keep locked up). The Vulture's escape will be shown in Untold Tales of Spider-Man #20. Presumably Kraven was deported again.

Spider-Man even runs when he encounters the Sandman.

The Human Torch tries to contact Spider-Man to find out what the problem is.

The reason Spidey won't fight is because Aunt May is ill, and Peter can't afford to get hurt while she is sick. By the end of the issue she is better and he's ready to be Spider-Man again. He also tries to earn money by selling his webbing to a glue company but they can think of no use for a glue that dissolves after one hour (which is pretty short-sighted).

To top everything off, Peter happens to see Betty Brant out on a date with another boy. He's not named this issue, but it's the first appearance of Ned Leeds.

Since this issue deals with Peter's personal problems and is pretty offbeat, it's a good read. The behind-the-scenes story here is that Ditko was pushing for less super-hero scenes and more focused on Peter's non-super life, and with this issue Stan Lee relented, although he undermined it by promoting it in the lettercols as "A lot of readers are sure to hate it so if you want to know what all the criticism is about, be sure to buy a copy!". The conflict between creators was clearly coming to a head, although in the meantime it was producing some good stories.

Quality Rating: C+

Historical Significance Rating: 4 - first Ned Leeds

Chronological Placement Considerations: Untold Tales of Spider-Man #20-22 take place during this issue.

References:

• The Human Torch and Spider-Man last met in Strange Tales annual #2.

Cross-over: N/A

Continuity Implant? N

Reprinted In: Marvel Tales #156

Nicholas Lewis was better known as the Crime-Master.

AKA Lucky Lewis. He only appears in flashback in UTOS #20, that's why he's not listed in Characters Appearing.

i'm starting to think Aunt May is just fucking with Peter.