THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #152

"Shattered By The Shocker"

• Writer: Len Wein
• Artist: Ross Andru
• Inker: Mike Esposito & Frank Giacoia
• Print Date: Jan., 1976

Featuring:

Plot Summary:

If you missed last issue, everyone's favorite wall-crawler has been trapped in a rapidly flooding sewer beneath the city streets by The Shocker. He realizes that there is no way he's going to be able to dig through the rubble trapped by the Shocker's cave-in, so he struggles to swim up-stream to get to the next manhole shaft before the tunnel completely fills. Just as he reaches the next later, a wall of water races through the tunnel sweeping him away in the current. As he goes under, Spider-Man grabs a last breath of air and manages to hold his breath until the sewer empties him out in the bay. He worries about leaving MJ at Jonah's party last issues, and he sneaks aboard a boat for a ride back to shore.

Switching scenes back to Jonah's party, the lights are back on and Jonah is ushering the last guests out the front door. He bobbles and nearly drops a priceless decanter when he startled by Peter ringing the doorbell. Peter asks if MJ is still around, and Jonah informs him that MJ left quite upset at Peter's disappearing act. Jonah sends Peter on his way, comically dropping the decanter when Peter slams the door on the way out.

We switch scenes again to an area of Manhattan known as the Bowery. A ragtag figure rummages through trash in an alleyway. He reflects on the (unrevealed circumstances) that led him to be digging through garbage for food without a penny to his name. He worries that "HE" will find him again. Suddenly, he turns and exclaims that "He can't have found me again! Leave me alone, curse you!" With that he turns and flees down the alley screaming, "LEAVE ME ALONE!", and with that we leave this mystery for another day.

Picking up on our hapless hero, Parker stands in the cafeteria line at the college. He banters a bit with the line worker about the vegetable of the day, but in his head, he worries about making things up to Mary Jane. He spots the redhead walking past him in line and leaves his tray behind to catch up with her. Unfortunately, Mary Jane coolly informs him that she is not going to hear a single solitary word that he says. In a funk, he retrieves his tray and joins Harry and Flash at a nearby table. After bemoaning the state of his relationship with MJ, Flash informs Peter that Harry has agreed to be his roommate. Peter congratulates the two of them. After looking at the slop he's got for lunch, his appetite vanishes and he passes his lunch off to Harry. It's just not his day.

Cut to the mayor putting on a press announcement. The mayor plays a tape sent him by the Shocker demanding one million dollar. If his demands aren't met, the Shocker threatens to black out the entire metropolitan area. The mayor puts on a brave front and informs the Shocker that he will not submit to blackmail, and that the city will not be intimidated by a madman. Spider-Man, catching the news broadcast, thinks to himself that the mayor's got guts. He wonders why he is so stubborn to go after the Shocker again after the Shocker nearly drown him in the sewer. Spider-Man swings by the 41st Street Power Station to check out their security because he knows the Shocker's plans would have to involve destroying the city's power plants. After he run off the site by a guard with a gun, Spider-Man swings to the next nearest station in queens. He spots another security guard, but as he turns to run off, his spider-sense alerts him to the fact that the guard is unconscious and pinned up to the wall. He figures that Shocker must've clocked the poor guard and then propped him up to avoid attention, so investigating further, he sneaks in through a window into a large plant filled with dynamos. He stumbles across another guard sprawled out on the floor, and as he stops to check the guard out, the Shocker pops up and blasts Spider-Man from behind.

The Shocker repeats his usual tactics by vibro-blasting Spider-Man across the floor and pinning him into the nearest wall. Spider-Man futilely attempts to goad the Shocker close enough to take him like he did in the sewer, but the Shocker is hearing none of it. Suddenly the cavalry arrives as two more security guards appear and draw their guns on the Shocker. The Shocker turns to bowl over the guards, and Spider-Man takes his momentary reprieve to climb up to a nearby ledge. As the Shocker pounds the two guards with vibro-blasts, Spider-Man shoots a web down to entangle the Shockers feet and hoists him up to the ceiling, dangling him helpless from a webline. Distracted by the Shocker, Spider-Man doesn't notice one of the guards recovering his weapon until he fires a warning towards Spider-Man.

Using a webline to nab the guard's gun, Spider-Man attempts to reason with the guards, but they hearing none of it and assume that Spider-Man and Shocker are in cahoots. As Spider-Man tussles (and subdues) the two guards, the Shocker manages to free himself by blasting the ledge that Spider-Man stuck him too. He falls to the ground just as Spider-Man finishes webbing up the two guards. Before the Shocker can get a shot in with his vibro-units, Spider-Man leaps and engages him hand-to-hand. Unfortunately, the Shockers outfit enhances his strength and he tosses Spider-Man right at a whirling dynamo. Two well placed web shots prevents Spider-Man from being sliced to bits, and he leaps at the Shocker again. The Shocker is ready for him and knocks Spidey into a supply room. As Spider-Man throws the Shocker off of him, the Shocker turns his vibro-units on Spider-Man again. However, this time, Spider-Man is ready for him and webs the Shockers thumbs down in the "on" position. Unable to control his vibro-units and unable to brace himself in time, the Shocker is tossed around the room like a rubber ball until the vibro-units burned themselves out. Spider-Man confiscates the burned out unit and webs-up the Shocker leaving him for the police to find.

Comments:

Ok, it's Friday. I'm on vacation, and I should be packing to go to my parent's place for Memorial Day. However, I wanted to get at least one issue out this week since I won't be putting anything out this weekend. I'm just trying to show my devotion to this page, but this review is probably going to be pretty short. Musical selection this morning is "The Best of Black Sabbath".

Plot Analysis:

Ok, I really enjoyed this issue, and to be honest, I don't think I have any major criticisms. It picks up from last issue, and we have Spider-Man escaping from his predicament in the sewers. Then we have several pages showing Peter dealing with the consequences of sneaking out of Jonah's party the issue before. It's always fun to see Peter's extra-curricular activities having a real consequence. Finally, the issue ends with the big climatic battle against the Shocker in one of the city's power plants.

Something I really enjoyed about this issue and the last is the way they portrayed the Shocker. He's portrayed as a man with a plan, and while he is a somewhat dangerous foe, he knows that he's been beaten by Spider-Man before. As such, he fights with a definite strategy in mind, and he also knows when to cut his loses and run.

This issue also reminds us that Spider-Man is not necessary considered a hero by everyone, and the results of so much bad press. When extra security forces arrive, they automatically jump to the conclusion that Spider-Man and the Shocker are in cahoots together. No one ever assumes that Superman or Captain America is working with the bad guys. Hell, even Batman works closely with the police. Spidey gets no respect, I tell ya, no respect.

Also, I haven't read ahead, so I honestly have no clue who that mystery bum was in this issue. If I had to guess he looked a little like Dr. Octopus with the scruffy face and a bit of a bowl-cut peeking out from under his hat. That's strictly a guess though. I'll see if I'm right in an issue or two.

Art Review:

As I've come to expect, Ross Andru's pencils are solid. His backgrounds really make for a good atmosphere. When Spider-Man is exploring the different power plants, and even when he's walking around inside the building with all the turbines, it really feels like he's exploring a huge industrial complex. I can't even find any really good examples of bad perspectives this issue.

His action sequences these issues were very well done too. It felt like a pretty knock-down, drag-out fight between the Shocker and Spider-Man with each getting knocked into walls, through doors, and around (or at) heavy machine. It felt like a fight that was happening in a factory as opposed to a fight that could've been occurring anywhere.

Action Factor:

Well, this issue starts out quick with Spider-Man having to save himself underneath the sewer. Once that's accomplished, it's only a few pages of Peter wandering around town before he hooks back up with the Shocker for a rematch. The Shocker even comes across as a legitimate threat.

Spider-Villain lessons 101:

Tip #1:
Ok, I was reminded of Austin Powers in this issue when the Shocker threatens to black out the whole city unless he is paid "ONE MILLION DOLLARS!!!" Now, back in 1975, I'm sure this was a lot of money, but nowadays, you really need to make it worth your while. I'm sure I'd need at least two million dollars to live comfortably.

Tip #2:
Oh, and if I'm relying on some super weapons (like vibro-units), I'll make sure that the controls for said weapon are not exposed to the point where someone can jam them in the "ON" position. And just in case, I'd probably still include some sort of internal regulator or emergency cut-off.