THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #166

"War Of The Reptile-Men!"

• Writer: Len Wein
• Artist: Ross Andru
• Inker: Mike Esposito
• Print Date: Mar., 1977

Featuring:

Plot Summary:

Some Christmas this for our hero. The threat of Stegron is hanging over the city like a fog, and the Avengers are never around when you need them. Looks like it up to our hero to stop him.

Since Stegron used to be Dr. Connors lab assistant, Spider-Man heads over that to get some assistance or advice to nabbing Stegron. However, one thing that Spider-Man didn't count on was dropping by and finding the Lizard at home instead. As the two plummet to the street, Spider-Man tries to use his webbing to save them, but instead an awning breaks their fall. The Lizard and Spider-Man, unharmed by the fall, grapple in the streets until the Lizard breaks away and disappears down a sewer opening. Unfortunately, a rush of traffic keeps Spider-Man from the opening until the Lizard can completely disappear.

Spider-Man goes back to Connors apartment to find out what's going on and why the Lizard is after Stegron. He finds Mrs. Connors distraught, and after picking up the mess and getting her settled down, she recounts the events of last issue where Stegron kidnapped Billy to blackmail Dr. Connors. Spider-Man promises to get the entire Connors' family back safe and sound.

While Spidey proceeds to putter around the doctor's lab, we'd be look in on two other members of the cast as their paths cross in the parking lot of ESU. Jonah Jameson and Dr. Marla Madison meet for a momentous event. Said event is preceded by Marla destroying one of Jonah's cigars, but they she reveals a brand-new Spider Slayer!

And since we're switching scenes anyways, we may as well take a quick side-trip to a certain far rockaway apartment belonging to Flash Thompson and Harry Osborn. Glory Grant and Randy Robertson drop by the apartment to find a Christmas party in full swing. Peter calls in from Dr. Connors lab to let MJ know that he can't make, and he misses the big announcement: Harry Osborn and Liz Allen are engaged!

While in an abandoned storage vault beneath Central Park, Stegron uses a "retro-generation ray" to cloth his animated skeletons with the appearance of flesh. However, what Stegron really wants is a special formula from Dr. Connors that will allow him to clone an army. Stegron's plans are interrupted by the arrival of the Lizard who has come to take Billy Connors back. As the two "master of reptiles" battle it out, the animated dinosaurs come to life and march forward. The Lizard stops to rescue Billy from the dinosaurs' path before resuming his fight with Stegron.

Moments later, as Spider-Man swings over Central Park, he spots the rampaging dinosaur running amuck and terrifying pedestrians. Spider-Man lends a hand by webbing the dinosaurs eyes closed and throwing them in a panic giving the pedestrians time to escape.

Spider-Man backtracks the dinosaur footprints to Stegron's lair, and there, he easily overcomes both the Lizard and Stegron. He catches the Lizard off-guard and forces a formula down the Lizard's throw which triggers his transformation back into Dr. Connors. While Spider-Man watches the transformation, Stegron ambushes him behind and carries Billy Connors off. By the time Spider-Man recovers and verifies that Dr. Connors is OK. Stegron has caught up with his dinosaur pack, and rides a T-Rex through Central Park.

Spider-man moves quickly and grabs Billy from Stegron's grasp. However, he doesn't have enough hands to rescue Billy and the two unconscious cops that about to be trample. Just when it looks like everyone is going to get squashed, the dinosaurs lose their flesh and collapse into a pile of harmless fossils again. Spider-Man runs off into the snowstorm to capture Stegron, but the snow has covered Stegron's tracks. Stegron however isn't getting away as the cold weather saps his strength and slows his metabolism. He stumbles into the park lake and falls through the ice sinking into the icy depths once again.