Annnd …. we’re back.
During our hiatus, the Keeper heard about a small art film that will probably screen at a handful of theaters this week.
The Kafkaesque plot revolves around an unexceptional teenager who is bitten by a radioactive spider and subsequently persecuted by a corrupt newspaper publisher.
The protagonist also battles his dark side - which is symbolized by a puddle of black goo - a thug made out of sand and a former friend with a thin grasp on reality.
Sounds like a nightmarish condemnation of contemporary America that easily rivals such dystopic masterpieces as Eraserhead. We can’t wait!!
To assuage our excitement, and give this sadly under-promoted film a bit of exposure, the Keeper decided to share his initial encounter with this little-known character: Amazing Spider-Man # 113.
Back in ‘72, the Keeper’s Nerd Fu wasn’t quite as powerful as it is today. Our experience with comic books was limited to random DC titles, the Gold Key Star Trek series and Walt Disney’s Comics and Stories.
(Love them Ducks!)
We were attracted to Spidey - and by extension, the entire Marvel Universe - by a compelling cover that showed the title character receiving a harsh beating from a mad scientist brandishing metallic tentacles.
Cool!
Our curiosity grew after we opened the book and saw this …
Up to that point, none of the comics we read had ever portrayed the hero losing a battle so convincingly.
Oh sure, every so often there would be a splash page where Batman or Flash would find themselves in dire straits, but the stories never truly lived up to the hype. DC heroes were usually one step ahead of their enemies and all would be well by the end.
Spider-Man, however, was different. Not only could he be beaten but …
… he’s even unmasked!
That may not seem like a big deal these days, where super-heroes unmask at nationally televised press conferences. Back in the dawn of the Bronze Age, however, such developments were unheard of - unless it was a hoax or “imaginary story.”
Battered and beaten, Spidey manages to haul his sorry butt back home where another surprise awaits.
He has an ulcer!
WTF?!?
Whoever heard of a super-hero with an ulcer, let alone problems that appeared more realistic than dodging the harebrained schemes of marriage-crazed reporters?
Not only is the poor guy sick and battered, but his elderly aunt is missing. What else could go wrong?
Hmmm … seems like Spidey’s boss is a jerk as well. Figures.
Despite such setbacks, however, Peter Parker is a true-blue, dyed-in-the-wool hero.
After receiving a tip about Aunt May from the irritatingly perfect Ned Leeds (gad, the Keeper hates that guy), Spidey “borrows” a mask from a conveniently located costume shop and swings into action.
Unfortunately, he also finds himself on the receiving end of yet another beat down.
At this point, the still-naive Keeper waited for Spidey to whip out an astonishing, scientifically based scheme that would incapacitate Doctor Octopus - just like in all those Julius Schwartz comics.
Time for another surprise; this time, there was no plan. Instead, the hero relied on guts and more than a little luck.
Instead of conceding defeat, Spider-Man dug out a secret-weapon left behind from their previous battle - an exo-skeleton designed by Doctor Octopus himself.
(It’s in the opening panel, Fortress Fans, if you missed it earlier … )
In this modern, sophisticated era of Superboy punches and “No More Mutants,” readers would probably consider the exo-skeleton a tired and unimaginative plot device.
To the young Fortress Keeper, however, it provided the means for Spidey to end Doctor Octopus’ menace in a rousing - and downright inspiring - manner.
So all’s well that ends well, right?
Ummmm …. no.
Sadly, years passed before the Keeper finally found the subsequent issue. (Hint: Spidey survived.)
Still, this comic piqued our interested in Marvel and ultimately led to equally inspiring purchases of Steve Englehart’s Avengers & Captain America.
We also recall a particularly interesting issue of Iron Man where Thor kicked the Armored Avenger’s butt.
As for Spidey, well .. it took months to track down another issue (our nearby 7-Eleven wasn’t the most reliable source for comics). Believe it or not, that book is now considered somewhat of a milestone …
Needless to say, we were hooked on Spider-Man - and Marvel Comics - for years to come.
