Issue(s): Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man annual #3
Cover Date: 1981
Title: "Dark side of the moon"
Credits:
David Anthony Kraft - Writer
Jim Sherman & Alan Weiss - Penciler
Steven Mitchell - Inker
Tom DeFalco - Editor

Review/plot:
This story shows the fate of John Jameson, the Man-Wolf, who David Anthony Kraft wrote in the Man-Wolf's solo series (in Creatures on the Loose and Marvel Premiere) and in his most recent appearance in She-Hulk. In between the solo series and She-Hulk, Man-Wolf appeared in Amazing Spider-Man where he fell off a bridge and then was teleported away. The She-Hulk story showed what happened to him, but none of the Spider-Man cast, including John's father J. Jonah Jameson, know about that, so everyone in this story starts off still thinking he's dead.

But that only lasts until John becomes the Man-Wolf and goes on a rampage...

...with both Lance Bannon and Peter Parker getting pictures of it. Peter knows to toss his photos since the Man-Wolf is JJ's son, but Lance finds out the hard way.

As Peter Parker, Spider-Man is also working with Doc Connors (aka the Lizard) in this story, and Connors had invented a device that may be able undo cancer by attacking it at the root. Spider-Man tracks down John Jameson, who is at his girlfriend Kristine's house, and convinces him to let Connors use the device to try to detach the moon rock that causes John's transformations. JJ also makes his way to Kristine's house, and reluctantly goes along with the idea, at least at first.

But JJ gets increasingly paranoid as the tests continue.

Art is kind of wonky in that scene with John holding Connors above.

JJ eventually frees his son while he's in Man-Wolf form, resulting in Spider-Man having to fight to subdue him.

Kristine tries to get through to the Man-Wolf, but he's said to be too far gone.

Spider-Man eventually knocks out Man-Wolf with a flying haymaker.

They then administer the cure. At first it's not clear if it's working...

...but it eventually does.

The moon stone itself crumbles to dust.

I'm not a huge Man-Wolf fan, nor do i love JJ when he's at his most irrational. And the art on this issue is pretty bad. But i guess the issue is providing some closure on the open Man-Wolf threads.

Quality Rating: C-

Historical Significance Rating: 1

Chronological Placement Considerations: The MCP place this between Amazing Spider-Man #219-220.

References:

• Man-Wolf disappeared in Amazing Spider-Man #190.
  
• There's no reference to it, which is extra surprising since DAK is writing, but Man-Wolf came back to Earth in She-Hulk #13-14.
  
• We are pointed to Marvel Premiere #45-46 as an explanation for where the Man-Wolf went after his disappearance (although the footnote incorrectly says #41). That seems odd since that's not really accurate. Man-Wolf was in Otherworld in the Creatures on the Loose series and Marvel Premiere #45-46 (which finishes up that story), and then he came back to earth and appeared on and off in ASM #184-190, then disappeared back to Otherword, and then was brought back in She-Hulk. This story seems to muddle that chronology, and that's even with ignoring the problems introduced by Marvel Team-up #36-37 (see comment from Michael).
  
• No footnote, but a recap of the Man-Wolf's history shows him finding the moon rock that turned him into a werewolf in Amazing Spider-Man #124-125.

Crossover: N/A

Continuity Insert? N

My Reprint: N/A

The cover of this issue features one of the worst depictions of J.J. that I've ever seen.

Stupid Peter, why didn't you get rid of the dust? Because of that we had to sit through Cap Wolf?

According to the 6/81 Comics Journal, David Kraft didn't want to do this story, but Shooter ordered that John Jameson had to be cured. Another disposable character (sorta)disposed of?

Jim Mooney was the originally announced inker for this.

Steve Mitchell was not a great choice to ink either Sherman or Weiss. Bob McLeod or Tom Palmer would have been a much better choice.

Man-Wolf's tongue goes kinda 'Tex Avery wolf' when confronted by Kristine.