Lo, this Monster!

Spider-Man is in the neighborhood as a Man Monster destroys a political billboard for the Mayoral candidate, Richard Raleigh. Two workers, installing the billboard, are almost killed by the rampage, but Spidey is able to rescue them and then battle the terrorizing titan until he is defeated and left, in order to rescue the workers again from falling from a ledge of a building, where Spider-Man had placed them out of the monster's path of destruction. When the Web-Crawler returns to mop up his opponent, he discovers he is now gone. Spider-Man reverts back to his civilian identity of Peter Parker and discovers the whole city has become "Raleigh Rooters" and that the candidate seems to have some unbelievable hold on the masses. His pals, Harry and Mary Jane, are among his most boisterous followers only outdone by his boss, J. Jonah Jameson, who has put his newspaper, The Daily Bugle, fully behind Raleigh's candidacy.

As New York watches Raleigh on television cry for union against the city's underworld who are obviously trying to intimidate him from running for mayor, he puts on a show that makes him seem like a common man who has the city's interest at heart. However, after the cameras stop rolling, he shows his true colors as a power-hungry ego-maniac who has his own interests at heart. Atop of his interest is to destroy Spider-Man and former Police Captain, George Stacy, who, he has learned, is looking into his background. It is revealed that Raleigh is behind the cyborg Man Monster and his creator, Dr. Thraxton. As Peter picks up Gwen for a date and drives away they witness the Man Monster attack the home of Capt. Stacy. Peter sends Gwen for help and then changes into Spider-Man in an attempt to save Mr. Stacy. The fight is carried on to Raleigh's house, which Spidey figures out must be behind the creature. He brings the fight into the Raleigh house where Raleigh uses the pain control apparatus he uses, to keep the Man Monster compliant to his will, a little too much and damages it beyond repair. The creature then turns on Raleigh and Dr. Thraxton, killing them both. Spidey finishes the fight with a vicious side-hand smash to the creatures neck, apparently killing the creature. Spidey leaves as he hears approaching sirens and is seen by Jameson, which he predicts correctly, will use his paper to call him the killer of Raleigh. Jameson states that he will make the public hate the fact that a man as great as Raleigh is dead, while the menace of Spider-Man is still alive and free.

Recurring Characters

Spider-Man, Mary Jane Watson, Harry Osborn, J. Jonah Jameson, Betty Brant, Joe Robertson, Gwen Stacy, George Stacy, Aunt May, Anna Watson, Richard Raleigh, Man-Monster, Dr. Thraxon, Miles Warren

Continuity Notes

• This story was later re-adapted in Amazing Spider-Man #116-118. Published in 1973, that version was altered to fit Spider-Man continuity at the time. This creates some sticky continuity in that Raleigh's criminal activities and death are expanded upon and confirmed in Daredevil #42. Although the Man-Monster's name is changed to the "Smasher" in Amazing Spider-Man #116, Raleigh's name remains the same. There is no official explanation as to how these nearly identical stories work in continuity (Official Index to the Marvel Universe #3 raises these questions as well, with no real answers).

In The Beginning--

Peter Parker stands by the side of his grieving Aunt May, as Ben's remains are laid to rest. With the funeral now over, the pair walk out of the cemetery. Peter thinks back to the events that led up to the death of his Uncle Ben, and how he blames himself for what happened.

Peter reflects back to the day that he was bitten by a radioactive spider and given fantastic powers. Seeking a career in showbiz, he develops the identity of Spider-Man. However, one night he let a burglar run flee the television studio, telling the security guard that it wasn't his problem to deal with. Later that night, Peter's Uncle Ben was shot during a house robbery. Learning that the man responsible is holed up at the Acme Warehouse, Peter went after him as Spider-Man. Easily defeating his uncle's killer, Peter was horrified to discover that it was the same burglar who he let get away much earlier.

With his recollection of these tragic events over, Peter vows to never let his inaction lead to another person getting harmed as long as Spider-Man has a means to stop it.

Recurring Characters

Spider-Man, Aunt May, Uncle Ben, The Burglar

Continuity Notes

• This story presents an abridged version of Spider-Man's origins from Amazing Fantasy #15 although it contains a number of new elements.