Issue(s): Web of Spider-Man #26
Cover Date: May 87
Title: "Nothing to fear..."
Credits:
Len Kaminski - Script
Stefan Petrucha - Plot
Tom Morgan - Penciler
Mike Esposito - Inker
Adam Blaustein - Assistant Editor
Jim Salicrup - Editor

Review/plot:
This is one of several fill-in issues that came out during the 1987 period that i attribute to the editorial upheaval in the Spider-Man office that began with the bomb threat due to the IRA story in Web of Spider-Man #20 and resulted in Christopher Priest being fired as Editor and replaced by Jim Salicrup. Web #20 had a Nov 86 cover date, and Web #21 was a fill-in, and there were also fill-ins for Peter Parker #120 (Nov 86), Peter Parker #124 (Mar 87) and Peter Parker #130 (Sep 87). By "fill-ins" i really just mean inventory stories set prior to 1987; if i extend that definition to include Larry Lieber's story in Web #25 and the extra art help that was brought in to help with Peter Parker #121-122, it's really looking like a mess in the secondary Spider-Books (Amazing Spider-Man remained strong despite the firing of Tom DeFalco, and at the time this book was being published was wrapping up the Gang War storyline that is generally held in high acclaim).

But all of that is about 1987, and we are currently in 1984, so let's just take a quick look at this "untold tale of Spidey's past, in the Mighty Marvel Manner!".

Spider-Man catches two thugs breaking into a freight train at the train yard. One of them spins a story about how the other one was forcing him to do it, so Spider-Man lets him go.

During the capture, though, Spider-Man is exposed to some chemical waste, and he begins developing symptoms, beginning with a headache. He also learns that the two guys he stopped had earlier stolen money from a famine relief project.

Trying to find the one he let get away, Spider-Man heads to Daredevil's favorite source of information, Josie's Bar & Grill.

The guys at the bar don't actually know anything (why would they?!), and Spider-Man almost gets beaten up when the effects of the chemicals get worse. Luckily for him, Josie had already called the police, and they arrive before Spider-Man gets hurt.

Meanwhile, the thief that Spider-Man did bring to the police gets released due to the fact that there was no evidence to hold him (which probably happens more often than we realize), and he returns to harass and try to kill his brother.

The chemicals are causing Spider-Man pain and affecting his spider-sense, but he responds to an ad in the Bugle from the thief that he let go, and arrives to help him against his brother. Since his powers are wonky, Spider-Man creates a web-dummy to help take out the thug.

Spider-Man forces both brothers to cooperate this time (presumably confess and return the money they stole).

"Several days later" whatever effects the chemicals were having on Spider-Man have simply worn off...

...and the issue ends with a J. Jonah Jameson video editorial decrying plans to build a nuclear missile base in Staten Island because of the potential for atomic radiation that created the Hulk and other super-heroes like Spider-Man.

Not much of a story here, and an ending that barely feels related.

This issue does have a nice Charles Vess cover but of course it has nothing to do with the story (not even the right costume, since this was published at a time when Spider-Man's red and blue costume was destroyed).

Quality Rating: C-

Historical Significance Rating: 1

Chronological Placement Considerations: See the Considerations for Amazing Spider-Man #249-251. Per the MCP (and presumably the second set of official Indexes), this story takes place during Amazing Spider-Man #251. I'm just following their lead on this. Spider-Man's costume and the appearance of his apartment (Dime-Store Indian and a couch pattern that Mary Jane would never have picked out) prevent it from being placed in 1987. Joe Robertson is Editor in Chief, which means this is pretty much the earliest the story could be placed (Robbie became EiC in ASM #250), but as far as i can see it could have potentially been placed a little later (say circa Amazing Spider-Man annual #18).

References: N/A

Crossover: N/A

Continuity Insert? N

My Reprint: N/A