Issue(s): Amazing Spider-Man #181
Cover Date: Jun 78
Title: "Flashback!"
Credits:
Bill Mantlo - Writer
Sal Buscema - Penciler
Mike Esposito - Inker

Review/plot:
A Bill Mantlo/Sal Buscema fill-in special separating the Len Wein and Marv Wolfman runs on Amazing Spider-Man, this is a nearly plotless issue that simply recaps key events for Spidey. In addition to the specific references listed below, there are more generic scenes showing all of Spider-Man's villains and supporting characters.

Despite being "[d]edicated to our older fans who lived these events with us -- and to our new fans discovering the Spider-Man legend for the first time!", reaction to this issue was not positive. That said, in the days before the Indexes and Handbooks and the Internet, this and the similar Fantastic Four #190 would have served as a nice reference book for newer fans who couldn't afford or find the older books.

To the degree that there's an actual plot, it's about Peter visiting his uncle Ben Parker at the graveyard on an anniversary of his death.

As Spider-Man, he watches Aunt May leave some flowers (one wonders why he didn't join her as Peter Parker) and then after she's gone he leaves the microscope that his Uncle gave him in Amazing Fantasy #15 at the grave. And later it's picked up by the cemetery's caretaker as a birthday gift for his son.

There must have been multiple microscopes since this story was ignored in at least one future story (Amazing Spider-Man #290).

Quality Rating: C

Historical Significance Rating: 1

Chronological Placement Considerations: This story has to take place prior to Aunt May's hospitalization in Amazing Spider-Man #176, which is really part of a loosely continuous run going back to ASM #172. And it can't be any earlier than ASM #169-170 since those issues are referenced below.

References:

• A long list of references, starting with Amazing Fantasy #15.
  
• Spider-Man trying to get a job with the Fantastic Four in Amazing Spider-Man #1.
  
• Peter getting a job with J. Jonah Jameson in Amazing Spider-Man #2.
  
• JJ sponsoring the following attacks on Spider-Man:
  • The Scorpion in Amazing Spider-Man #20.
    
  • The first Spider-Slayer in Amazing Spider-Man #25.
    
  • Luke Cage in Amazing Spider-Man #123.
    
  • The Fly in Amazing Spider-Man annual #10.
    
  • More Spider-Slayers in Amazing Spider-Man #58, Amazing Spider-Man #105, Amazing Spider-Man #169.
• Flash Thompson getting kidnapped by Dr. Doom in Amazing Spider-Man #5.
  
• Peter and Betty Brant: "You could say they fell in love behind a desk in Jonah's office" in Amazing Spider-Man #7 but Peter's identity as Spider-Man effectively ended their relationship in Amazing Spider-Man #30.
  
• Captain Stacy's death was in Amazing Spider-Man #90.
  
• Gwen Stacy's death was in Amazing Spider-Man #122.
  
• The Lizard first appeared in Amazing Spider-Man #6.
  
• Fredrick Foswell first appeared in Amazing Spider-Man #10 and died in Amazing Spider-Man #52. His daughter took up his Big Man legacy and died in Marvel Team-Up #40.
  
• Colonel John Jameson became the Man-Wolf in Amazing Spider-Man #124.
  
• Michael Morbius became a living vampire in Amazing Spider-Man #100-102.
  
• Harry Osborn became the Green Goblin in Amazing Spider-Man #136.

Crossover: N/A

Continuity Insert? N

My Reprint: N/A

The Prowler's presence in that one panel is weird.