Doctor Doom

Amazing Spider-Man #5

by Steve Ditko, 1964

After viewing a television special about Spider-Man produced by J. Jonah Jameson, Doctor Doom believes that he may be able to recruit Spider-Man as an ally in his attempts to defeat the Fantastic Four. He develops a transmitter that operates on the same wave that Spider-Man's spider-sense does. Through his spider-sense, Spider-Man tracks the message back to Doom's hideout.

Doctor Doom tries to appeal to Spider-Man's sense of envy and pride in his attempts to recruit him as an to rule the world. Spider-Man rejects Doom's offer and encases Dr. Doom in a web. Unfortunately, Spider-Man simply webbed up a Doombot posing at Dr. Doom, and the real Dr. Doom steps out and attacks Spider-Man. After Spider-Man flees the building, Doom blows up his hideout.

Later, Doom tracks Spider-Man intended to capture him. In a case of mistaken identity (and a high school prank gone wrong), Doom captures Flash Thompson in a Spider-Man costume believing him to be the true Spider-Man. Later, he then displays his captor on TV and threatens to kill him if the Fantastic Four does not surrender to him in one hour. Peter Parker sees the broadcast, and tracks Doom to an abandoned factory.

The two battle to a standstill. Spider-Man eludes or destroys many of Doom's deathtraps and robots, and finally, when the Fantastic Four arrive, Doom makes his getaway. Spider-Man sneaks out as well unknown to the Fantastic Four or Flash Thompson.