This issue of Amazing Spider-Man is somewhat of a sad issue. Why such a sad issue? Well, it introduces a lower-level villain, who later turns hero by the name of Joe, but that's not the reason for any sadness. It's the very last issue that artist Steve Ditko works on a Spider-Man title or Spider-Man all together for that matter. Not that any level of quality dropped off the following issue with John Romita taking the helm as artist, but many visually striking memories were created by Mr. Ditko. This issue also brings us a character that seems to "come and go" in and out of the Marvel Universe every couple of years or so in Joe Smith. He not really that important a character, but he kind of grows on you after reading him, but all in all, he Just A Guy Named Joe!

The story begins at a crowded Gym in the city where a guy named Joe is daydreaming that someday he will be boxing champ. He has working at becoming a boxer for months but everyone laughs at him behind his back. Why? Because he usually gets knocked out within the first minute of the round. His was safe to say that his boxing career was going nowhere fast! At his lowest point, his agent gets him a job as an extra in a Television show and he now has aspirations on becoming an actor. Later at the television studio, Joe and his agent arrive in time for the shoot. Joe dresses up in a Monster outfit that looks like a suit or green and orange armor and begins the shoot. He does his act of a raging monster smashing everything that gets in his way until some debris goes flying into an arc light, making it fall into a puddle filled with spilled chemicals. With many live wires present, the studio becomes a temporary danger area, yet Joe steps right smack dab in the middle of the puddle anyway. Receiving the full impact of the shock, Joe is knocked out and stay lying on the floor until he begins to come around with the help of his agent.

As Joe Smith recovers from his incident, Peter Parker is at the offices of the Daily Bugle, where he gets into a fight with Ned Leeds concerning Betty Brant's whereabouts. Ned asked Batty to marry her, but didn't want to answer him until she saw Peter once again. Ned thinks that Peter knows more than he is willing to reveal about where she is, but the fight is broken up by Publisher J. Jonah Jameson. Back at the television studio, Joe has had enough rest, and they plan another shoot, but Joe is starting to feel a little funny. He feels like the people playing his enemies are truly his enemies, and begins to bowl them over. At this point, Joe has gone berserk, and ends up busting through the studio into the streets outside. Of course, who is walking by as this happens: Peter! He changes into Spider-Man, and begins to web up Joe, but Joe breaks free from the webbing very easily. They begin to duke it out in the streets until Joe has had enough and lifts and throws Peter into a garbage truck. Still very fazed and confused, Joe gets some help from his agent, Tommy, and away they go.

Supporting cast time, as Harry Osborn and Flash Thompson go driving until they meet Harry's father that we were officially introduced to last issue, Norman Osborn. We learned that something was up with ole' Norman last issue, and it continues here, as he puts on a disguise and walks into a gang where he pays them for "finishing off" Spider-Man. Why would he want to have Spider-Man dealt with in such a manner? We soon shall see in the next couple of landmark issues! More supporting cast-play as Harry and Flash catch up with Gwen Stacy and a friend at Empire State University, where a bunch of students are having a protest march and Peter Parker walks right into the middle of it. Peter angers everyone involved in the march when he decides not to join the protesters. In class, Peter begins to wonder about Harry's father, and remembers that he read about him somewhere.

Back to Joe, where he is now resting, while his agent begins to wonder what to do with him. Elsewhere, the gang members that Osborn paid off before gather round for a meeting of their own. It is discussed that a twenty thousand dollar reward for anyone who beats Spider-Man, and they quickly go out and try an earn the reward. They are no match for Spider-Man however, as Spidey easily evades all their moves against him. On the other hand, Joe wakes up after resting and begins to have that strange feeling again. Even with his trying to calm him down, Joe goes berserk again, and makes a visit to the gym he usually frequents. While there, everyone begins to laugh at him until he begins knocking them all out. Spider-Man just happens to be passing by a window where he sees Joe and steps inside to help out. The battle takes the two super powered characters all around the gym until Spider-Man lands a massive punch into Joe's face. The punch seems to have un-fazed Joe and now he feels like he used to before the accident at the television studios. The police come and apprehend him just as his agent comes by to explain what happened to him: Based on experts, Joe was exposed to electrified chemicals that caused him to run amok. Also, the film producers want to enlarge his role in the fill they just shot, and they are working on a long-term contract. But wait!, there's even more good news! The television studios are willing to pay for all the damages that he has created, so he will not be taken into custody.

It's not good news for everyone though, as Spider-Man returns home, and has to fight his way through many more reward-crazed gang members. At home, Aunt May is just saying goodbye to Mary Jane Watson, whose face is obscured by a tree. Again Peter and Mary Jane just miss each other similar to what happened in Amazing Spider-Man #25, and  will have to wait until Amazing Spider-Man #42 when they eventually meet. Of note concerning Mary Jane, is that she also made another appearance (chronologically), before she met Peter. It was in Marvel Heroes & Legends #1 (October 1997), a one-shot featuring an untold tale of the Avengers. In it, Aunt May and Mary Jane are seen walking down the street, talking about the proposed blind date between MJ and Peter that their Aunts were trying to set-up. Anyway, back to THIS story, when Aunt May closes the door and sees Peter, and thinks that he must have used the back door in getting inside the house. Mary Jane has just left by car while they both looked out the front window. Peter now watches some television and catches some news about Joe Smith signing a five year contract and will now star in a super-hero series. Peter has heard enough at this point, and goes upstairs to bed.

That may be the last good night sleep Peter has in a long time as next issue will be the beginning of a two part legendary storyline with a brand new legendary artist in John Romita. As for Joe Smith, he shows up chronologically, in Webspinners #1-3 where he was a player in an early Mysterio storyline. It takes a while before he shows again after that in Captain America #246.

Reprinted In:
Amazing Spider-Man Annual #7
Marvel Tales #177
 Marvel Masterworks Vol. 16
Spider-Man Essentials II