In the previous two issues, Spider-Man has been painted yellow by his inaction to battle the Green Goblin in Amazing Spider-Man #17 and then the Sandman in Amazing Spider-Man #18. Peter's Aunt has been very sick until the end of last issue and Peter ended that issue in a rage after having had enough of the Daily Bugle publisher J. Jonah Jameson's many columns that dealt with Spider-Man as a coward. I feel sorry for anyone who gets in the way of Spider-Man in this issue!

The first to feel Spider-Man's wrath are a couple of bank robbers, and when the spider signal is shined upon them, they frozen in shock. They thought he was out of action, and they thought wrong! Spider-Man takes quick care of every robber before the police get on the scene. Meanwhile, Jameson is a guest speaker at a lecture hall grinning from ear to ear ready to speak until a man whispers something in his ear. An informant who just saw Spider-Man take care of some robbers relayed a message that Spider-Man is back! Jameson then leaves the speaking engagement in a huff and goes outside to hit a brick wall. Coincidentally, the Human Torch is flying just above as Jonah hits the wall and all of a sudden he is lassoed in by Montana of the Enforcers, who we haven't seen since working with the Green Goblin in Amazing Spider-Man #14. The Torch begins to fight back but Fancy Dan sprays some chemical foam on him extinguishing his flame. Sandman covers him up an they place him and they place him in a glass cage with just enough oxygen for him to breathe and too little for him to flame-on. They next set their sights on Spider-Man who is just now returning home.

The next morning, Peter's Aunt May makes him breakfast and all seems to be back to normal with her health, then he goes to school. After school, Peter discovers Fancy Dan walking down the street and follows him to an apartment complex after changing to Spider-Man. After Spider-Man goes inside, the Enforcers and other criminals gang-up on him, but Spidey is up to the task. The Enforcers end up getting away and Spider-Man then heads for the Daily Bugle as Peter Parker. When there, Peter is formally introduced to the guy he saw Betty Brant with last issue, Ned Leeds. After exchanging pleasantries, Jameson comes charging out of his office as grumpy as ever breaking up the little "party". Back at the location where the Human Torch is held, Sandman and the Enforcers plan on trapping Spider-Man by using the Torch as bait. Spider-Man scours the city for any info on where the Enforcers may be and scares a stoolie named Louie (yes, I know that rhymed!) into telling him their location. Louie then calls ahead to tell the Sandman that Spider-Man is coming soon.

When Spider-Man arrives at the warehouse where the Torch is held captive, he sets up his camera for some fancy shots of the impending action then gets surprised by the Sandman. The Sandman, the Enforcers, and some common criminals gang-up on Spidey. While it seems like a very uneven match, Spider-Man becomes a one-man wrecking crew. Not that he needs any help, but Spider-Man breaks the glass cage that is holding the Human Torch and he now has an ally. Fancy Dan and Montana are encircled in a ring of fire by the Torch while Spider-Man knocks out the Ox leaving just the Sandman left to defeat. While chasing after the Sandman, Spider-Man accidentally webs himself and the Torch up for awhile but the police nab him as he is at the point of exhaustion and surrenders.

Back at the Daily Bugle, Peter brings Jameson a present in the form of some fresh photos taken of Spider-Man and the Enforcers, and Jameson buys them all. On the last page we see a man in a high-rise building covered in shadows on the telephone with a man on the street that has been following Peter Parker. We will learn much more about this mysterious development next issue as we are introduced to yet another great villain. The Sandman makes several Non-Spider-Man appearances as he joins up with the Frightful Four in Fantastic Four #36. He also goes on to make several more appearances in both Fantastic Four and The Incredible Hulk before facing Spider-Man again in Marvel Team-Up #1 & #2. The Enforcers on the other hand, wait some time before showing up again, in the pages of Marvel Team-Up #39 & #40 without the Ox.

Reprinted In:
Marvel Tales #14
Marvel Tales #157
Spider-Man Megazine #4
 Marvel Masterworks Vol. 5
Spider-Man Essentials I