THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #118

"Countdown to Chaos!"

• Writer: Stan Lee & Gerry Conway
• Artist: John Romita
• Inker: Jim Mooney & Tony Mortellaro
• Print Date: Mar., 1973

Featuring:

Plot Summary:

Joe Robertson's work at the Bugle is interrupted by the destructive entrance of The Smasher! The Smasher has been sent by the Disruptor to retrieve Robertson. Robertson tries to fend the Smasher off with a 2x4 (Why the hell was that laying around the Bugle's offices?) but he's no match for the Smasher.

Robertson offers money in a delaying ploy, but the Smasher replies, "It isn't money. It's your life." Now what, is the Smasher there to retrieve Robertson, kill him, or both? Does he even know why he's there? He doesn't seem that bright. Lucky for Robertson, Spider-Man happens upon the scene and engages the Smasher while Robertson makes a run for it. Spider-Man knocks the Smasher down. The Smasher tosses Spider-Man to the side and runs after Robertson. Spider-Man restrains the Smasher with webbing. The Smasher tosses Spider-Man to the side and runs after Robertson. Spider-Man tackles the Smasher. The Smasher tosses Spider-Man to the side and runs after Robertson.

You get the idea.

When the Smasher mentions the Disruptor's name, Spider-Man does have the presence of mind to stick a spider-tracer to him. And he finally gets the Smasher mad enough to chase after him. Spider-Man takes to the rooftops and the Smasher climbs up the wall after him. Finally, when Spider-Man has lured the Smasher away from Robertson, he swings off leaving the Smasher behind. Apparently trying to take down a rampaging engine of destruction is fine if said engine leads you to the criminal mastermind later.

Despite the late hour, Spider-Man stumbles across Gwen and the gang doing some last minute campaigning. I'm sure driving around with loudspeakers blaring out your candidates name at midnight violates some sort of noise ordinance, but that's not stopping these crazy kids. Instead of being the voice of reason, Peter changes into his civilian clothes and goes along for the ride.

So, what happened to the Smasher? Well, he could be mauling Robbie Robertson right now. Or trashing the Daily Bugle. Or terrorizing civilians. Or..well, just about anything. Does Spider-Man care? Nope, doesn't give him a second thought. At least until the Smasher shows up obviously intending to destroy the campaign van. The gang clears out of the van moments before the Smasher tears the vehicle in half. The Smasher stalks off swearing to kill Raleigh when he finds him.

Rethinking his "let the monster rampage" strategy, Peter changes into costume and chases after the Smasher again. He catches up with the Smasher on the rooftops, and the brute seems to have a destination in mind this time. Seeing the Smasher enter a warehouse, Spider-Man tries to figure out the Disruptor's plan. The Disruptor is apparently trying to kill Raleigh's campaign, but because of his interference, Raleigh is almost a sure lock to win the election.

Spider-Man bursts in on the Disruptor, but the Smasher isn't far behind. The Disruptor tries to take control of the Smasher with the remote, but the overloads the circuit. The Smasher spends an entire page grasping his head and screaming in pain. The Disruptor orders the Smasher to kill Spider-Man while compulsive clicking on the remote device. Never mind that the Smasher was trying to do that before the Disruptor jump in and distracted him. Criminal mastermind indeed. Finally, the remote control device short-circuits, and instead of going after Spider-Man, the Smasher turns on his master. As the Disruptor refuses to flee and goes on about his destiny and how he was born to rule, his speech is cut short by a single crushing blow from the Smasher.

The blow finishes the Disruptor and collapses the emergency escape route killing Professor Thaxton as well. Finally, there is only one man left for the Smasher to take his rage out on, and he turns to battle Spider-Man.

Meanwhile, as Spider-Man begins what might possibly be the most crucial battle of his life', Jonah Jameson is at Raleigh's headquarters. Now, remember, earlier in the issue, it was about midnight the night before the election. So, unless Spider-Man was following the Smasher for about twelve hours, it should still only be the earlier morning. Well, continuity - who needs it? Why let it get in the way of a good story?

Spider-Man and the Smasher fight to an impasse. The Smasher can lay a hand on Spider-Man, but Spider-Man's most powerful blows don't even phase the Smasher. Finally, Spider-Man find the Smasher's weak point - his head - with a single side-hand chop, the Smasher collapses.

With the battle over, Spider-Man unmasks the Disruptor to see - It's Richard Raleigh! Wow, who didn't see that coming? Of course, instead of letting the true come out, Spider-Man thinks "there's too much at stake" and disposes of Raleigh's Disruptor costume. Arriving on the scene, the police find the body of the Smasher and Richard Raleigh. Also on scene, Jonah announces that Spider-Man must've helped the Smasher kill Raleigh.

Spider-Man swings off thinking about how people need myths, heroes, and martyrs. Despite Raleigh's twisted ambition, he was still a symbol to many people and that's all that really counts..

Comments:

Truth in advertising: The monthly checklist talks about this issue saying "This is it! The way-out, wind-up, as Spidey takes on both the deadly Disruptor - and the lethally strong Smasher! A thrill on every page!" Well, I think the only semi-accurate adjective in that statement was 'way-out'.

The Smasher has orders to bring Robertson back to the Disruptor or kill him if he doesn't go quietly. I've put a little thought into this (as little as this whole issue deserved), and I can't figure out why the Disruptor would want Robertson alive? The Disruptor sent Smasher after Robertson when he found out that Robbie was doing a background check on candidate Richard Raleigh. Knowing that the Disruptor and Raleigh are the same, why does he want Robertson alive? Is he hoping that he can convince Robertson to vote for him and that one vote might turn the tide?

Lucky for Robbie, Spider-Man happens to stop by. He manages to distract the Smasher from his original task and lures him away from Robertson. then, once Robbie is safe, Spider-Man tags Smasher with a spider-tracer and runs away. Um.. Very heroic. Apparently, Spider-Man wants to find the Disruptor so badly, he's willing to risk the lives of innocent citizens to the rampaging Smasher.

However, they do draw the attention of the Smasher. Since he couldn't get Robertson, the Smasher goes to 'Plan B', and decides to destroy anything with Raleigh's face or name on it. The gang manages to bail out of the van before the Smasher turns it into scrap metal. The encounter causes Peter to rethink his master plan, and he changes back into costume to pursue the Smasher. Following his spider-tracer, he follows the Smasher back to the Disruptor's lair.

Now, remember.. It's midnight, or shortly thereafter right? At this point, a 'news ticker' runs across the middle of the next few pages declaring that Raleigh is leading the polls and winning the election. Um.. Was Spider-Man trailing the Smasher for 12 hours? I find that hard to believe.

In any case, Spider-Man bursts into the Disruptor's lair. The Disruptor clicks the Smasher's controller to bring the Smasher to the room. As the Smasher and Spider-Man battle, the Disruptor gets so excited that he starts compulsively clicking on the controller and eventually burns out the circuit. The Smasher begins to run wild as the Disruptor rants and raves about his destiny. His destiny is quickly determined as the Smasher pulverizes the Disruptor with a single blow. You'd think the story would be just about over, but Spider-Man and the Smasher battle it out for another 3 pages. Remind me to thank the writer for dragging this out as long as possible.

Finally, Spider-Man unveils the criminal mastermind. Shock of shocks, its Richard Raleigh!!! My god, who would've seen that coming? So.. let me summarize the Disruptor's plan. He hired a mad scientist, mutated a common thug into the 'lethally-strong' Smasher, and began a campaign of terror all to become -- Mayor of New York. I didn't realize public service paid that well.

Instead of letting the cops find the 'Disruptor' is such a state, Spider-Man removes all evidence of the connection between Raleigh and the Disruptor and burns it. Apparently, his first priority is to make sure that Richard Raleigh is a martyr for his political cause and remains and inspiration to New York rather than crushing the hopes and dreams of his friends. I wonder. What happens when a dead man is elected mayor?