Issue(s): Amazing Spider-Man #28
Published Date: Sep 65
Title: "The menace of the Molten Man!"
Credits:
Steve Ditko - Plot
Stan Lee - Script
Steve Ditko - Pencils
Steve Ditko - Inks

Review/plot: This issue follows the older formula of the earliest Spider-Man stories. It's got less of a soap opera plot and more of Spidey just trying to figure out how to beat the bad guy. The majority of the issue is a fight between Spidey and the Molten Man.

Spidey finally gets his costume back, after losing it to Smythe's robot. He goes back to Smythe's lab and swaps it with the Spidey suit he bought at the costume store last issue. He also brings along a big jar full of spiders ("I thought they might help you with your research!") so that when Smythe's robot attacks him, he can say it's because of that.

While Peter is at the lab, Smythe's lab assistant (Mark) Raxton. Smythe and Raxton get into a scuffle over some alloy that they co-created, and the alloy gets all over Raxton's skin, turning him into the Molten Man.

Here he is ripping off his pants legs, as Mark notes in the comments.

Later the Molten Man becomes a non-villainous supporting character, and it is pretty clear from this issue that he's suffering from temporary insanity due to his transformation. Spidey beats him by using "extra-thick webbing" since the regular stuff slips right off.

Cool cover, too. It depicts the part where Spidey fights the Molten Man in the dark.

At te end of this issue, Peter graduates. He and Flash each get a scholarship to Empire State University (Flash for athletics, Peter for achieving the highest scholastic average in the school's history). JJ gives the graduation speech. Liz reveals that's she's had a crush on Peter but that he seemed to have too many other girlfriends and gave the impression that she was a ditzy blond so she never really approached him. This closes a chapter in Spider-Man's history as the setting of the high school is gone.

Quality Rating: B-

Historical Significance Rating: 8 - first Molten Man, Peter graduates high school

Chronological Placement Considerations: I've had to push a number of Spider-Man issues back in publication time so that Gwen Stacy's first appearance in Amazing Spider-Man #31 takes place between Fantastic Four #40 and #44 (see the Considerations section in Spider-Man/Fantastic Four #1 for more).

References:

• A reference to Betty Brant being mad at Peter is footnoted with Amazing Spider-Man #25 and Amazing Spider-Man #26.

Cross-over: N/A

Continuity Implant? N

Reprinted In: Marvel Tales #166

There's a very weird panel that Ditko drew showing the Molten Man ripping off his lower pants legs for no apparent reason, and Stan has to cover for it by awkwardly stating that MM is doing it because Spider-Man is "in costume".

I understand nothing about this story, the scenes between the fight with Spider-Man and Molten Man, were very poorly there are no details about Mary Jane, young lyceans frequented Peter Parker.
And what about this unbearable Molten man ? I believed it was a greedy searching man doesn't want to part, glick with his siblings and after he becomes very mad. Molten Man is very cruel because he doesn't control himself, is bully would have his work on his chimist by force and money, also he seems remorseful however he doesn't make good, he attacks Spider-Man, is selfish to burn him. I think he is not good but not evil then. Just not an angel.
All criminals are like that.

at the end of the graduation while Aunt May is congratulating Peter over getting the science scholarship (shown in your last scan), Anna Watson refers to Mary Jane as her "daughter" instead of her "niece".