MARVEL TEAM-UP #12

"Wolf At Bay"

• Writer: Len Wein
• Artist: Ross Andru
• Inker: Don Perlin
• Print Date: Aug, 1973

Featuring:

Plot Summary:

Spider-Man runs across the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco having traveled to the city to get his mind off of the recent death of Gwen Stacy. On the bridge, he is observed by a wolf-man looking figure. The werewolf leaps at Spider-Man knocking him off the bridge, and causing both of them to plummet towards the street below.

Perfect time for a flashback: Peter mentally recalls asking (begging) Jonah for an out-of-town photo assignment. Something to get him out of New York so he can clear his head. Jonah doesn't have anything (and replies "The Daily Bugle is not a public welfare service!") but Robbie comes in with pictures of Daredevil and Black Widow (taken in San Francisco I guess? That's never explicitly stated). Robbie wants some fresh photos of the pair for a Sunday magazine section, and so Peter has his business trip out of town.

End Flashback. Spider-Man spins a web-net saving himself and the werewolf from splattering on the Golden Gate Bridge. That doesn't take the fight out of the Werewolf however. The creature continues to attack Spider-Man. Spider-Man dodges out of the way of the Werewolf's leap which send the Werewolf flying off the bridge and into the water below. Spider-Man seems rather blase as he comments that nothing could've survived that fall. He fails to notice a swirl of smoke that blossoms behind him and gradually takes on the contour of a face before fading out.

Spider-Man heads out, changes into his street clothes, and stops in a diner for a sandwich and glass of milk. The waitress, and the rest of the patrons, seem blank-eyed, emotionless, and move like automatons. When Peter asks the waitress about the unusual atmosphere, she shrieks and draws the attention of the werewolf again. The Werewolf attacks Peter Parker while the rest of the restaurant patrons go about their meals. The fight carries out into the street where the Werewolf once again leaps, Peter dodges, and the Werewolf knocks himself slamming head-first into a parked car.

While Peter sheds his shredded clothes and changes into costume, the restaurant patrons (and the rest of the neighborhood residents) leave their buildings and start walking in the same direction. Before Spider-Man can follow, the sun rises, and Spider-Man witnesses the transformation of the Werewolf back into a man. Spider-Man decides to ignore the sleep-walking citizens of San Francisco and stops to talk to Jack Russell.

Jack is visiting LA with his sister to rest from the effects of the recent full moon. While in San Francisco, they visited a magic show put on by a run-of-the-mill magician named Moondark. Despite his dull show, Moondark mesmerized the audience, and Jack awoke in Moondark's dressing room. Moondark again hypnotized Jack, brought forth his Werewolf side, and sent him out to kill Spider-Man.

Spider-Man makes the connection between Moondark and the sleep-walking citizens of San Francisco, and the pair heads off to the theater. They break in through a back entrance, but Jack once again transforms into the Werewolf. Their battle draws the attention of Moondark and he watches the action in person.

Spider-Man comments that Jack's presence in San Francisco is what is giving Moondark his power. I'm not sure on the why's and how's of this, and it doesn't seem likely to be explained. Moondark also seems convinced that Spider-Man is in San Francisco specifically to thwart his plan. That plan is never clarified either.

Spider-Man decides to take the battle to the magician himself. He backflips and kicks the magician into the "mists of passage" and vanishes into the mists himself.

With Moondark gone, Jack Russell reverts back to his human form. Jack's sister, friend, and the rest of the citizens of San Francisco (presumably) are freed from Moondark's mental control. Spider-Man and Moondark were teleported to the Golden Gate Bridge where Spider-Man hangs by his fingertips, and ripples in the water show where Moondark plummeted to his apparent death. Spider-Man is not real upset about that however (odd and out of character) and he heads off to retrieve his camera and clothes and continue his photo assignment.

Who was Moondark? How were his power linked to Jack Russell - the Werewolf? What exactly was his "master plan"? These questions may never be answered. With all these questions left unanswered, this really feels like a pointless issue. "Hey, let's have Spider-Man go to San Francisco and battle this hypnotist!" "Ok, why? What's the magician's motivation? Plan? Powers? Background?" "Don't bother me with details! Just write it!"