Issue(s): Amazing Spider-Man #110, Amazing Spider-Man #111
Cover Date: Jul-Aug 72
Title: "The birth of... the Gibbon!" / "To stalk a Spider!"
Credits:
Stan Lee / Gerry Conway - Writer
John Romita Sr. - Penciler
Tom Mortellaro & John Romita Sr. - Inker

Review/plot:
This issue we meet a character in an ape suit who calls himself the Gibbon. His origin is that he was ugly but acrobatic. He is inspired to get into the super hero game due to a chance meeting with Spider-Man.

Peter gets home and is exhausted. Too exhausted to even realize that Gwen has insulted Aunt May without realizing it by telling her that she is overprotective of Peter. When Peter wakes up, he turns into Spider-Man and tries to get to Aunt May, but the Gibbon gets in the way, trying to audition to be Spider-Man's partner. Spidey brushes him off, leaving the Gibbon feeling hurt.

Kraven shows up and takes advantage of the Gibbon's emotional state, promising that he will train him so that Spider-Man won't laugh at him any more.

Kraven is still injured from his fall in the Savage Land, but he uses a potion to gain mental control over the Gibbon.

Spider-Man gets to Aunt May's house and is seen going into her window. She's left a note for Peter. Peter brings the note to the Daily Bugle, which removes suspicions that Spider-Man may have kidnapped her.

The Gibbon attacks Spider-Man...

...but Spidey easily beats him, leaving Kraven sulking in his apartment.

Quality Rating: C

Historical Significance Rating: 2 - first Gibbon

Chronological Placement Considerations: At the beginning of this issue, Spider-Man is on the rooftops reeling from the fact that Flash likes Gwen, and lamenting that he forgot to set his camera to take pictures of Dr. Strange. This doesn't necessarily mean that this story takes place directly on the heels of that one. I've put Marvel Team-Up #4 in between #109 and #110, reasoning that this rooftop lament is the result of introspection after Peter got over his Morbius-blood sickness.

References:

• Spider-Man last fought Kraven in the Savage Land with Ka-Zar and Gog in Amazing Spider-Man #103-104

Crossover: N/A

Continuity Insert? N

My Reprint: Marvel Tales #89, Marvel Tales #90

I think Gerry Conway did #111.

Yep. Updated.