THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #172

"The Fiend From The Fire!"

• Writer: Len Wein
• Artist: Ross Andru
• Inker: Frank Giacoia
• Print Date: Sep, 1977

Featuring:

Plot Summary:

And the issue starts with a bang as Spidey chases the previously unseen Rocket Racer down the streets of New York. Peter Parker happened to be on Wall Street taking pictures when the skate-boarding screwball zipped up and ripped off a courier's briefcase. Now all he has to do is catch the racer which isn't nearly as easy as it would seem. The Rocket Racer has perfected the use of his skateboards micro-rocket and easily weaves in and out of traffic like it is standing still. His skateboard comes equip with special gyroscopes that lets him race up the sides of buildings while magnetic clamps hold him to his board. And if that wasn't enough, his rocket-powered punch and explosive mini-rockets keep Spider-Man on the defensive as they race through New York.

On the chase, Spider-Man thinks to himself, "..this skate-boarding sureshot may just be as great a menace as any I've faced before!" Yeah, in the hall of Spider-Man's great foes - Doctor Octopus, Green Goblin, Doctor Doom, and now Rocket Racer apparently.

Re-reading his first appearance, I'm surprised that the Rocket Racer made it to a second appearance. He just looks like a 70's gimmick villain. I mean, the guy rides a motor-powered skateboard. He and the Hypno-Hustler should be off robbing banks in Des Moines by now or something.

Naturally, the writer has spent two pages basically introducing us to Rocket Racer and showing off all his tricks and gadgets. You can just hear the implied "Isn't he cool?" in every panel. It makes me wonder how much staying power they thought this guy had. On the other hand, compared to 'Photon' last issue, this is a breath of fresh air. (Actually, it is nice seeing someone 'flashy' compared to Photon and Dr Faustus - our past two antagonists).

Plus, Rocket Racer has enough speed to leave Spider-Man behind. Whoops, or not.. With a well-placed web-line, Spider-Man yanks the skateboard out from Rocket Racer's causing the Racer to slam head on into the side of a passing semi-truck. Luckily, nasty events like this don't end in concussions, massive head trauma, or spinal injuries. No, the Racer simply ends up trussed up in webbing and delivered to a passing police cruiser.

So, after spending two pages showing off his tricks, the Rocket Racer is captured, bound, delivered to the police, and basically out of the story by Page 4. Thanks for the brief introduction. Don't let Page 5 hit you on the ass on your way out!

As Spidey swings off towards Staten Island, we precede him there and look in on happy Harry Osborn and his fiancee Liz Allen. Harry drops Liz off at her apartment where someone is waiting for her inside. "It's you!! You're alive!!" Spidey-philes can probably guess which mystery man would be dropping by Liz's apartment, but the mystery will have to wait.

"No! Please! Don't touch the switch!" - Uh.. Is this person allergic to 60 watt bulbs or what?

While a block or two away, Harry and Peter meet for a bite to eat and some conversation. Harry has invited Peter out to a dingy, run-down, hole-in-the-wall restaurant in order to ask Peter an important question. Peter assumes he wants to borrow money. Wait.. wait wait wait.. isn't Harry rich? Isn't Peter perpetually poor? I guess it was an unintended joke on the writer's part. Weird..

Anyway, no, Harry wants Peter to be the best man in his forthcoming wedding to Liz. The conversation quits there when the pair sees Liz hurry by and grab a cab. Seeing as how Liz was SUPPOSED to be going to bed before work, Harry is understandably bewildered over where she might be going. Peter suggests that she was just off to pick up her dress or something, but Harry knows that something MUST be wrong.

It's interesting how characters don't act like people. Liz is accosted by someone who broke into her apartment. She wasn't happy to see them, but apparently, of her own free will, she's running errands for this person. Instead of.. y'know.. Calling the police.. Talking to her fiance.. Whatever. It'll be interesting to see the writer try to justify this behavior. I dunno.. Maybe this 'stranger' had some sort of blackmail on her, but I suspect not.

And on that sobering not, we'd best move on to the office of the Daily Bugle sometime later. Peter chats briefly with Glory Grant on his way into J.J.J.'s office. whatever happened to her anyways? She fell off the charts at some point. Parker heads into Jameson's office and makes his day by producing pictures of 'that Rocket Racer freak'. Jonah evens offers Peter a bonus, but that's not as shocking as his behavior when Dr. Madison stops by. Jonah immediately breaks into song, dons his hat and coats, and shoos Peter out of the office with a good-bye, farewell, adios, arrivederci, and buzz off. After the couple leaves, Glory and Joe assures Peter that his is NOT going crazy and that everyone else around the office has commented on Jonah's recent personality changes due to Marla's influence. Hopefully, she'll continue to mellow him.

This issue is just chock full of guest star goodness. They've touched on Harry and Liz. I don't know if there will be any sort of relationship fallout there from her behavior, but I assume not. We say hi to Glory Grant and Robbie Robertson. They show Jonah in a new light with regards to his relationship with Marla. Ahh, the days when not every issue was an angst-ridden, clone of the week, special edition.

The conversation is cut short as Peter receives a call from the police station at Glory's desk. Liz Allen has been arrested. And of all the people to call, she contacts Peter to come get her out of jail. The desk sergeant says that she's accused of attempted robbery after trying to steal drugs and chemicals from the hospital. Liz confesses to the crime, but refuses to explain her actions. As Peter leaves the station, his main concern is with Harry and he'll handle the shock of hearing Liz is in jail.

So, at this point, the mysterious strange has gotten Liz to sacrifice her relationship with Harry, her job, her reputation, and her freedom at this point. Just trying to keep track to see how badly she feels for this guy.

Why does Liz call Peter of all people? Seems an odd choice. I mean, other than he's the star of the book and all. Let's see... I need bail money. Do I call my rich fiance, or my perpetually broke, semi-employed, high school crush?

Peter feels that there is more than meets the eye here (No! Really?) and heads off as Spider-Man to investigate. Whoo, it's like another mystery only this one is a bit easier. Peter naturally wonders, as I have been, why Liz is trying to throw everything away. He feels that she must be being forced to behave like this. Inside Liz's apartment, Spider-Man recognized the footprints literally burned into her carpeting and knew immediately what's going on here.

'Ooops' in the art note: Spider-Man finds shoeprints (and not footprints) burned into the carpet. That implies the stranger was wearing very very hot shoes. Seems unlikely.

Newhope Memorial Hospital: For more than 58 years, people have come here seeking relief from their torment and suffering which makes Liz's mysterious friend's present not at all unusual. The stranger easily sneaks by security and breaks into a basement storage room. Mentally berating his imbecilic step-sister, he collects his necessary materials in a briefcase before discarding some burned and ruined asbestos gloves. As the stranger turns to leave, Spider-Man is there to put a stop to the crime. The lights go on, and our mystery villain is revealed to be - the Molten Man!

Instead of focusing on the wall-crawler, the Molten Man tosses him to the side and seems intent on escape. The Molten Man claims that his life is on the line with regards to the material in the briefcase. Rather that say, talking this out, Spider-Man focuses on stopping the immediate crime and rips the briefcase from the Molten Man's grasp. While Spider-Man is distracted dealing with the fires caused by the Molten Man's incredible heat, the Molten Man dumps an entire supply shelf on his and makes his escape. Spider-Man frees himself only to be confronted by the police.

Parting thought - Why does Spider-Man have to strain himself to life up a supply shelf? You'd think the proportionate strength of a spider would allow him toss something like that around with no problem, right?