Amazing Spider-Man #18
The End of Spider-Man!
Spider-Man is still being ridiculed when he fled from a fight with The Green Goblin and it's been the talk of all his previous super-villains, as well as other super-heroes. Peter Parker spend his time taking care of his Aunt May at home, and when at school, his concern for Aunt May is consuming most of his thinking. Pete, desperate to earn money to buy more medicine for Aunt May, goes out as Spider-Man to see what he can do. He tries a trading card company as well as a pair of scientists to sell his adhesive webbing, but in both instances, he strikes out, with neither showing any interest.
As he heads home, he runs into the Sandman, but being so concerned about Aunt May living alone, he runs away and hides. The public sees this, writing off Spider-Man as a coward once again. As crime continues, the Human Torch begins to suspect something is wrong and writes a message in the sky for Spider-Man to meet him at the Statue of Liberty, but Spidey doesn't show. Flash is so desperate about clearing Spider-Man's name, he dresses as Spidey and tries to fight criminals, but gets beat up instead. As Pete gets ready to quit as Spider-Man, the doctor says Aunt May is in the clear and won't have to take any more medicine. After reading yet another editorial about a weak and phony Spider-Man, Pete decides to go out as Spider-Man and fight back.
Recurring Characters
Spider-Man, Aunt May, J. Jonah Jameson, Betty Brant, Ned Leeds, Flash Thompson, Liz Allan, Sandman, Green Goblin, Doctor Octopus, Kraven the Hunter, Vulture, Anna Watson, Dr. Bromwell, Fantastic Four (Mister Fantastic, Invisible Girl, Human Torch, Thing), Avengers (Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, Giant-Man, Wasp), Daredevil
Continuity Notes
There are multiple references in this story to the fact that Spider-Man ran from the Green Goblin during the events of last issue.
Peter recounts how he recently saved Betty and his Aunt from the Sinister Six in Amazing Spider-Man Annual #1.
The depiction of Peter watching television on an old black-and-white TV should be considered a topical reference per the Sliding Timescale of Earth-616. Likewise should any technology or camera equipment seen in this story.
In this story, Aunt May refers to Anna Watson as "Anna Watkins" in this story. Although this was originally an error, an explanation is made in Untold Tales of Spider-Man #19-20 which reveals that May's health condition affected her memory, causing her to mix up Anna’s last name.
When the Human Torch calls to Spider-Man to meet them at the "usual place," he is referring to the Statue of Liberty, a site that the pair have shared since Strange Tales Annual #2.
The man who is out on a date with Betty is Ned Leeds, as identified next issue.
