Marvel Team-Up #27
A Friend in Need!
When the Chameleon disguises himself as Spider-Man in an attempt to break his friend Joe Cord out of prison, his initial attempt fails. When reports about "Spider-Man's" break in at the prison gets to Peter Parker, he decides to investigate using his press credentials to try and get the story. When he arrives there, he finds himself stuck with J. Jonah Jameson and Ned Leeds, who have also come to cover the story.
Meanwhile, the Hulk is bounding through the city following his last adventure with the Defenders. When he crashes into the Chameleon's get-away vehicle, the Chameleon puts on a Rick Jones disguise, hoping to trick the Hulk into breaking Joe out of prison. The Hulk, believing that the Chameleon is really his friend Rick Jones, travels to the prison and begins breaking in.
Peter manages to slip away and change into Spider-Man and attempt to stop the Hulk from breaking Joe out. However, the Hulk is too strong and succeeds in his appointed task. However, Spider-Man follows the Hulk to the Chameleon, where Spider-Man reveals his old foe's true identity. The Hulk violently attacks the Chameleon, but Spider-Man fights him off.
When the Chameleon tries to escape, Spider-Man stops his getaway car with a web net, and when a police officer tries to shoot the Chameleon, Joe takes the bullet and dies. After, the Chameleon turns himself over to the police, and the Hulk and Spider-Man leave the scene, Spider-Man leaving J. Jonah Jameson with a web-gag parting gift when Jameson orders the police to arrest Spider-Man.
Recurring Characters
Spider-Man, Hulk, Chameleon, J. Jonah Jameson, Ned Leeds
Continuity Notes
The police call Spider-Man a "web-slinging killer". This is because at the time of this story Spider-Man was wanted for questioning for his involvement in the deaths of George Stacy (Amazing Spider-Man #90), his daughter Gwen (Amazing Spider-Man #121 as well as the apparent demise of Norman Osborn (Amazing Spider-Man #122).
The narrative of this story points out that the Chameleon was Spider-Man's "first" costume foe. They are referring to the events of Amazing Spider-Man #1. However, the Chameleon wasn't the first costumed foe that Spider-Man ever fought. That distinction goes to Supercharger in Amazing Fantasy #16. This fact is overlooked here as Amazing Fantasy #16 was published many years after this story.
The Hulk appears here following his departure from the Defenders, as chronicled in Defenders #17.
Spider-Man recounts the last time he battled the Hulk. That happened in Amazing Spider-Man #119-120.
The battle between the Defenders and the Wrecking Crew, as heard over the radio in this story occurrs in Defenders #18.
