Issue(s): Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #44, Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #45
Published Date: Jul-Aug 80
Title: "The vengeance gambit!" / "Wings of fire, wings of fear"
Credits:
Marv Wolfman / Roger Stern - Writer
Stephen Leialoha / Marie Severin - Penciler
Alan Gordon / Steven Mitchell - Inker

Review/plot:
Stephen Leialoha gets co-plotting credits for issue #44.

The Vulture tries to take over the New York mob but Spidey mucks things up. It wasn't really a good fit for him anyway, in my opinion.

A lot of the Vulture's business is run by his nephew, Malachai.

Malachai is killed in this issue

The Vulture's main competitor is some guy who thinks he should run the mob because he can lift a lot of weights.

And to be fair, that is a lot of weights.

Not a terrible story but not anything special, either. A little weak for Roger Stern, but it did start with Wolfman. I generally like Leialoha, and Severin is a competent veteran, but i really can't say much for the art in either issue.

Quality Rating: C+

Historical Significance Rating: 1

Chronological Placement Considerations: N/A

References:

• The Vulture is trying to muscle in on the gap in leadership left when the Kingpin retired in Amazing Spider-Man #197.
  
• The lieutenant who puts up the most resistance to the Vulture's take-over attempt controls the Harlem mob, having taken over from Morgan when he was arrested in Marvel Team-Up #88.
  
• The Vulture was rescued by his nephew Malachai after he seemingly died in Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #5.

Cross-over: N/A

Continuity Implant? N

Reprinted In: N/A

This may have been an uncompleted inventory story; Marv Wolfman had defected to DC by this time.

ive never understood how un-super villains like the vulture and doc ock could absorb punches to the face like those in the above panels. since he has no head protection youd think vulture would be out with one punch.

Roger Stern eventually retconned the Vulture so that his flight harness gives him minor superhuman strength.

yeah, but that still doesnt explain why a spidey punch to his unprotected head doesnt knock him out.