Rhino on the Rampage!

The Rhino’s tranquilizer wears off and he begins another escape from jail seeking out Spider-Man. At the Daily Bugle, Ned Leeds and Betty Brant announce their engagement, but the scene changes to Peter Parker being enamored by Mary Jane at home. A TV bulletin interrupts and announces The Rhino’s escape. Peter realizes Spider-Man must confront him and Mary Jane suggests they go downtown to watch the action.

As The Rhino stomps around looking for Spider-Man, he has a flashback of how it all began. Chosen for his muscle and low intelligence, two scientists working for professional spies applied a special rhinoceros suit that bonded with his skin. After the application, The Rhino mysteriously gained intelligence and turned on his creators, going into business on his own. As Peter and Mary Jane reach downtown, Peter slips away to become Spider-Man and confronts The Rhino. As they battle, The Rhino leads him to where innocent bystanders and police are watching. The Rhino’s charge connects with Spider-Man and leaves him woozy and he comes back to finish him. A police officer makes a last second grab for Spider-Man and saves him. The Rhino thinks that Spider-Man is dead and hunts for John Jameson.

While cashing in on his photos of the battle, Peter hears about John Jameson being moved to another hospital and thinks The Rhino may attack again. Having picked up a bit of The Rhino’s hide from the earlier fight, Spider-Man brings it to Dr. Curt Connors for analysis. Spider-Man meets The Rhino at the hospital and hits him with reformulated webbing which burns through the rhino hide and is captured. Peter heads home and learns that Flash Thompson is entering the military and that Aunt May is ill, since she hadn’t refilled her medication, due to the cost.

Recurring Characters

Spider-Man, J. Jonah Jameson, Betty Brant, Ned Leeds, Frederick Foswell, Gwen Stacy, Mary Jane Watson, Flash Thompson, Rhino, Anna Watson, Curt Connors, Harry Osborn, Matt Murdock, Foggy Nelson, Karen Page

Continuity Notes

• Betty accepts Ned Leeds proposal he made to her back in Amazing Spider-Man #30.

• Peter Parker is kicking himself for trying to avoid Mary Jane as he has been doing since Amazing Spider-Man #16.

• Certain elements in this story should be considered topical references per the Sliding Timescale of Earth-616. Specifically, the black-and-white television that Mary Jane is watching, the type of camera that Peter uses, and Frederick Foswell using a typewriter to write a story.

• The reason why Matt Murdock wasn't appointed to represent the Rhino is that he was busy fighting the Owl as Daredevil as seen in Daredevil #21.

• The origins of the Rhino are expanded upon in Web of Spider-Man (vol 2) #3.

• In this story, Flash Thompson states that he was drafted into the military. This should also be considered a topical reference, particularly since the draft was abolished in 1973. Modern readers should interpret this as Flash Thompson willingly joining the military as opposed to being drafted. Further, History of the Marvel Universe #1 dictates that Flash would have fought in the Sin Cong Conflict instead of Vietnam.

• Aunt May has been in frail health since her surgery from Amazing Spider-Man #33.