Spider-Man in 1967
SM is hobbled by a broken arm — the next mundane fate that temporarily befalls the character. Of course, a broken arm by SM is also a broken arm for Parker, and all the secret identity dram that follows. This is quickly followed by a 24 hour flu bug; factoid: a Google search has informed me that the “24 hour flu” is rarely actually influenza. As SM battles the flu, he’s forced to battle both Kraven and a new Vulture. Cool story and battle.
We get the first appearance of Kingpin (and Robbie Robertson!) this year, alongside that iconic story where Spider-Man quits and then decides to be responsible again by the end of the same issue.
In 1967, Parker and Aunt May part ways – Peter moves in with his college friend, Harry Osborne, while Aunt May moves in with a friend. Flash Thompson is drafted and leaves for the Army, while Ned Leeds and Betty Brant prepare for their wedding. And just like that, the last vestiges of this comic’s high school era are retired. But at the same time, almost all of the major protagonistic pieces of this comic’s golden era are on the board.
On a side note, Mary Jane Watson has a tendency to hog every scene she’s in this year. Not a complaint or anything, but it’s basically Itchy and Scratchy and Poochy at this stage. The dialogue when she’s around is insane. Case in point:
Parker: “Ready to dive into a two-scooper with me now, M.J.?”
Watson: “Not while the juke is jumpin’, dad! Since you can’t shake up a storm with your wing in a sling, I’ll take a rain check till the coins run out!”
🤯
There are some special moments that only Mary Jane can compel, though, such as her perceptive egging-on of Gwen Stacy in the middle of issue 51.
