My Killer, The Car!

When spotting a group of costumed criminals that he has faced a few times before, Spider-Man's attempt to capture them is interrupted when he suddenly comes under attack from his own Spider-Mobile, which is under the remote control of his long-forgotten enemy, the Tinkerer. Spider-Man is forced to retreat when the police arrive and try to arrest him as well.

The next day, as J. Jonah Jameson loses yet another secretary, he finds an unaddressed package of photos on his desk that he believes will spell the end of Spider-Man. While Peter Parker and Mary Jane pay a visit to Aunt May in the hospital. May is in there once again, following another brush with Dr. Octopus. They find both Liz Allan and Harry Osborn have been there visiting May as well.

When Peter goes back out on patrol as Spider-Man once more, the Spider-Mobile again attacks him. This time, the vehicle takes Spider-Man prisoner and takes him to the Tinkerer and his robot, Toy. There, Spider-Man is shocked to see the "alien" Tinkerer. The Tinkerer, however, reveals that the alien aspect was a disguise meant to deter any further investigations against him.

Spider-Man is then pitted in a battle between the Tinkerer, Toy, and the Spider-Mobile. Spider-Man easily defeats them all, the battle leaving the Spider-Mobile a wreck. Fed up with dealing with the disastrous Spider-Mobile, Spider-Man hangs it outside, complete with a gift-wrapped bow and personal message, the office of Carter and Lombardo, the two advertising executives who had suggested he build the Spider-Mobile in the first place.

Recurring Characters

Spider-Man, Tinkerer, Aunt May, Mary Jane Watson, Harry Osborn, Liz Allan, J. Jonah Jameson, Toy

Continuity Notes

• Spider-Man recognizes the armed men as wearing the same outfits as the thugs he battled in Amazing Spider-Man #153-154.

• Spider-Man recalls how he lost the Spider-Mobile in the Hudson River. That happened in Amazing Spider-Man #141. Spider-Man didn't realize it was missing until Amazing Spider-Man #157.

• Peter and Aunt May quip about reading celebrity gossip regarding Tony and Dawn Orlando as well as Donnie and Marie Osmond. This should be considered a topical reference per the Sliding Timescale of Earth-616.

• Jameson is dealing with yet another secretary, as Betty Brant is on vacation after her marriage in Amazing Spider-Man #156.

• Spider-Man is surprised to see the Tinkerer as he believed his foe was an alien. He was deceived into thinking this in Amazing Spider-Man #2. The Tinkerer explains that this was all a ruse. The whole ruse is explained in more detail in Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man #50.

• Following it's destruction here, the Spider-Mobile eventually finds itself in the Smithsonian, as seen in Amazing Spider-Man #600.