Issue(s): Untold Tales of Spider-Man #12
Cover Date: Aug 96
Title: "The Secrets of Betty Brant"
Credits:
Kurt Busiek - Writer
Pat Olliffe - Penciler
Al Vey & Pam Eklund - Inker
Glenn Greenberg - Assistant Editor
Tom Brevoort - Editor
Bob Harras - EIC

Review/plot:
This is the story of Betty's dark secret, which was never fully resolved in Amazing Spider-Man.

We knew she had a brother Bennett who got mixed up with a crime gang boss. Now we see why: Betty had a boyfriend named Gordon who was a nice guy but he got Bennett mixed up in gambling...

...and Gordon abandoned him when the chips were down.

When Bennett couldn't pay his debts some thugs were sent to the Brant household and Betty's mother got put into a coma. Betty had to quit school to take her mom's job at the Bugle to make ends meet, pay for her mom's care, and help Bennett pay his debts. At the end of the issue, Gordon shows up looking menacing.

Meanwhile, a creature called the Scarlet Beetle...

...who is literally a beetle that previously fought Ant-Man and is now full of Pym particles, is on an inadvertent rampage (yet another Henry Pym failure)...

...and Spider-Man helps him turn back into a regular Beetle with the help of one of Bluebird's otherwise useless ether bombs.

Spidey tries to get Bluebird to quit being a super hero, but she doesn't listen...

...even when Jason, who has been taking pictures of her since Peter wouldn't, almost gets killed.

There's also a little bit in the beginning where the Vulture is stealing diamonds and Spidey has to make a choice between rescuing a falling man or chasing the Vulture, and the Vulture gets away.

There's no follow-up; it's just an inconclusive random encounter - which i like.

Quality Rating: B+

Historical Significance Rating: 3 - tells Betty Brant's backstory

Chronological Placement Considerations: According to the chronology chart in UTOS #14, this issue takes place between ASM #12 & #13.

References:

• The Scarlet Beetle first appeared in Tales To Astonish #39.

Crossover: N/A

Continuity Insert? Y

My Reprint: N/A

This is kinda the purpose this series should have served. Filling in forgotten plot holes. Spidey having encounters with lesser known Silver age villains and inconclusive encounters. Just without Bluebird and other inserted characters.

Most of these retcon stories don't fit well for me. They disrupt the original creator's pacing to no good purpose, often. New readers would be much better off reading the original ASM series straight through, and without trying to fit these implants into the sequence. Otherwise they would be totally confused past the point of distraction. Better to save the retcons to read afterwards.