Amazing Spider-Man #157
The Ghost That Haunted Octopus!
Spider-Man once more goes diving into the Hudson River to try and recover his failed Spider-Mobile. However, while swimming around the crash site, Spider-Man is shocked to find that somebody else has removed it from the bottom of the river. After fighting off some cops who spot him, Spider-Man returns home. Later, when Flash Thompson and Harry Osborn arrive at class, Flash is shocked that Liz Allen has begun to take towards Harry.
While at Aunt May's apartment, May has brought Dr. Octopus a new set of clothes and he cleans himself up. Peter arrives to share a chicken dinner with Aunt May and is shocked to find his old foe there, but plays it cool. Octopus explains to them how he narrowly survived the explosion of the nuclear reactor in Canada, however, explains that since then he's been haunted by the supposed ghost of Hammerhead.
Just as Octopus finishes explaining this, they are visited by the spectral form of Hammerhead, who has once more come to haunt Dr. Octopus. This causes Aunt May to faint, and the frightened Dr. Octopus flees with Aunt May in his arms, with the ghost form of Hammerhead not far behind. Peter changes into Spider-Man and goes after them himself. However, Dr. Octopus manages to get the best of Spider-Man when he overpowers him and tosses him to a crowd of people below who all want to cash in on the reward the Bugle has put out for Spider-Man's capture.
Spider-Man manages to get away from the mob and catches up to Dr. Octopus just as he steals a helicopter from the Pan Am building and tries to make his getaway. Spider-Man tries to hitch a ride on the copter, however, Dr. Octopus cuts the web-line, causing Spider-Man to plummet to his apparent doom.
Recurring Characters
Spider-Man, Doctor Octopus, Hammerhead, Aunt May, Harry Osborn, Flash Thompson, Liz Allan
Continuity Notes
Spider-Man is searching for his Spider-Mobile, built between Amazing Spider-Man #126-130. Spider-Man was tricked into crashing it into the Hudson River in Amazing Spider-Man #141.
The police officers who try to arrest Spider-Man state that he is wanted for questioning. Spider-Man has been accused for the deaths of George and Gwen Stacy as well as Norman Osborn. They were killed in Amazing Spider-Man #90, 121 and 122 respectively.
Doctor Octopus mentions how he "stranded" May Parker at the alter. He attempted to marry Aunt May in Amazing Spider-Man #130-131 in order to take possession of a nuclear plant that she inherited. This resulted in the accident that left Octopus a wandering bum, and Hammerhead a spectral ghost.
Spider-Man mentions how the helipad atop the Metlife Building is usually shut down. References to this should be considered a topical reference per the Sliding Timescale of Earth-616. That was the case in 1976 due to lack of passengers when it was still the Pan-Am Building. All helicopter flights were discontinued indefinitely since 1977 after a fatal helicopter accident that killed five people.
Likewise, the appearance of the original towers at the site of the World Trade Center seen on the New York City skyline should also be considered a topical reference.
