Bring Me the Head of Spider-Man

This story is continued from Amazing Spider-Man (vol. 2) #15…

Performing repairs on himself, a Doombot who thinks itself the real Doctor Doom has called in some blindfolded guards try and explain to him how Spider-Man managed to get into his country.[1] Once the robot has repaired itself enough to maintain the illusion that it is Doctor Doom, the Doombot has the guards take off their blindfolds and orders them to bring him the head of Spider-Man. Soon, armed guards are sent out into the city to round up everyone remotely associated with the rebellions against his rule.

At that same moment, Spider-Man is in hiding wondering what he is doing in Latveria in the first place. He reminds himself that he came here following a lead after being told his wife, Mary Jane, wasn’t killed in a plane crash bringing him here.[2] He thinks it is time to leave the country and leave the people of Latveria to get back to whatever normal life they live a normal life.[3] Meanwhile, the Doombot has grown impatient and orders his guards to lay waste to the city below. Hearing the carnage, Spider-Man refuses to sit by and let the Doombot destroy the town. Climbing out of his hiding place, Spider-Man prepares to go out into the city, he is stopped by Anna who asks Spider-Man not to go out because it would be suicide, reminding him that he agreed to help rescue her father who is a prisoner of Doom. While the city burns, Anna assures him that her people will endure. She decides that it is time to move him and gets Spider-Man some street clothes to wear in order to help slip him away. At first, the wall-crawler is concerned about taking off his mask, but Anna points out that nobody will recognize him.

They are making their way through the wartorn city, the pair run into one of Doom’s guards who demand they show their papers. Realizing they are caught, Peter knocks out the guard and uses his spider-powers to get himself and Anna to safety. As they retreat into the countryside, Anna asks what motivates Peter into being Spider-Man. He tells her about power and responsibility but admits he’s not even sure anymore after the alleged death of his wife.[4] That’s when they witness some bombers fly by and destroy a nearby town. Unwilling to sit on the sidelines anymore, Spider-Man strips off his disguise indenting to stop the Doombot, free Anna’s father, and then resume the search for his missing wife.

Back at Castle Doom, the Doombot has taken out his frustrations on his military commanders and then orders Anna’s father brought to him. The Doombot threatens to kill him unless he agrees to join Doom’s army and crush the rebellion he helped form. That’s when Spider-Man arrives, attacking Doctor Doom. In the ensuing battle, the military commanders order their troops to kill the wall-crawler. Evading their blasts by leaping around the room, Spider-Man tricks the guards to shoot their own master, revealing that they have been taking orders from a deranged robot. Realizing that they have been manipulated by a machine, the soldiers blast it to pieces. With the battle over, Spider-Man grabs Anna’s father and takes him to safety. When he suggests that the rebel leader take his daughter and leave, Anna’s father points out that Latveria is his home and he can never leave. In the aftermath of this episode, Spider-Man thinks that whoever sent him to Latveria to look for his wife had been intentionally toying with him and he vows that whoever is responsible will live to regret it.

Recurring Characters

Spider-Man, Doombot

Continuity Notes

1.Since Fantastic Four #5, Doctor Doom has used Doombots to stand in for his place. In the case of this story, the reason why Doctor Doom is not in Latveria is that he is MIA following a battle with the Fantastic Four in Fantastic Four (vol. 3) #25. In fact, at the time of this story Reed Richards is posing as Doctor Doom. The real Doom will return in Fantastic Four (vol. 3) #31.

2. There’s a lot going on in the life of Peter and Mary Jane, let’s break it down:

• First off, Peter and Mary Jane are referred to as husband and wife here. However, years later, their marriage was erased by Mephisto in Amazing Spider-Man #545. As a result they should be considered a common-law couple here.

• At the time of this story, everyone but Peter thinks Mary Jane died in a plane crash in Amazing Spider-Man (vol. 2) #13. He turns out to be alive, as we’ll learn in Amazing Spider-Man (vol. 2) #29.

• Peter was told Mary Jane was still alive last issue and ventured to Latveria in Amazing Spider-Man (vol. 2) #15. The reason he went was due to a vaguely remembering that Mary Jane had a modeling gig in Latveria before she allegedly died.

3. Spider-Man mentions how the real Doctor Doom should be on his honeymoon with the Invisible Woman and laments the loss of Reed Richards. This is a reference to Fantastic Four (vol. 3) #25-31 again. Reed is trapped in Doctor Doom’s armor and is posing as the real Doom in order to rein in his minions from Counter-Earth. As part of this deception, Reed has faked his death and “married” the Invisible Woman as Doctor Doom.

4. In case you forgot about Uncle Ben getting murdered in Amazing Fantasy #15, here you go.