Issue(s): Amazing Spider-Man #224
Cover Date: Jan 82
Title: "Let fly these aged wings!"
Credits:
Roger Stern - Writer
John Romita Jr. - Penciler
Pablo Marcos - Inker
Tom DeFalco - Editor

Review/plot:
Roger Stern moves from Spectacular to Amazing. The biggest problem with his Spectacular run was a lack of consistent and good art, but we've got John Romita, Jr. now, people!

Stern starts off by having Aunt May's fiance Nate Lubenski accidentally give the Vulture a new lease on life by having a conversation with him about the fact that getting older doesn't mean giving up on living.

The Vulture escapes from the hospital...

...where he's been kept since Spider-Man last captured him and where Nate is getting physical therapy (yes, they seem to let the prisoners mingle with the regular patients) and goes on a massive crime spree that lasts "days" without Spider-Man being able to catch up with him. But he's taken up residence at May & Nate's retirement home, and when Peter comes to visit he recognizes him.

The Vulture and Spidey fight...

...but the Vulture ultimately gets away after choosing to spare Nate's life.

Nothing substantially different than Stern's Spectacular run, but JRJR's still early art is nice (even if his Aunt May is a little too decrepit looking).

I know this sort of thing is bound to happen, but there's a letter in the lettercol speculating about what would happen if it turned out that it was actually the clone from Amazing Spider-Man #149 that survived.

Quality Rating: B

Historical Significance Rating: 3 - beginning Roger Stern's Amazing Spider-Man run.

Chronological Placement Considerations: N/A

References:

• Aunt May has recovered nicely from her coronary bypass that she had back in Amazing Spider-Man #179.
  
• Spider-Man last defeated the Vulture in Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #45.
  
• At one point when Peter is supposed to be visiting Aunt May but is off dealing with the Vulture, Aunt May starts worrying that he's getting thoughtless again, like she felt he was in Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #56.

Crossover: N/A

Continuity Insert? N

My Reprint: N/A

didn't Vulture kill Nate during the "return of the sinister six" in the early 90's?

Yes, because Michelinie forgot that Vulture and Nathan knew each other. DeMatteis later dealt with Vulture's guilt in a later story.

Aunt May looking decrepit before Ultimate Spider-Man? NO!

This was a fun issue I love the Vulture getting some good runs from Stern.

That opening splash of Peter properly conveys my own feelings when moving from the O'Neil ASM run to Stern's run.