Hmmm...Just take one at this cover and you will fall in love with it! Mary Jane Watson in Go-Go boots dancing on stage, while Spider-Man take care of two thugs behind a screen! Simply gorgeous! This is the very cover appearance by Ms. Watson by the way, but it certainly isn't to be the last. "The Brand Of The Brainwasher!" is the title of the story inside Amazing Spider-Man #59, but who exactly is the Brainwasher? A new villain? Some wacko with a slick name? or maybe somebody we have already met previously. One thing is for certain though: We find out the answer to this question and much more in the very last panel of the comic!

Spider-Man begins this tale trying to get away from the police to see his Aunt May in the hospital (don't ask, it's practically her second home!). The police fire their guns at him, but miss, then Spider-Man webs up their guns and then them. Finally, Spider-Man has a chance to get away, and he gets there in a matter of minutes. He arrives at his Aunt's room, and she seems to be just what she needed in order to feel better, since they thought him missing recently. Peter then makes a visit to the Police with an excuse for him missing: He was captured by Spider-Man. After hearing this, other police workers gang around Peter, but they are quickly broken up by Captain George Stacy, Gwen's father. Captain Stacy introduces himself to Peter and they meet for the very first time. After a bit of questioning, Peter is free to leave, but not before the news that a batch of mobsters have been released on bail. Peter and Cap have a little talk for the first time, with Stacy explaining that he has studied the career of Spider-Man for some time now. They walk to the Stacy home, where they view some pics of Spidey until Gwen arrives home.

Minutes later, Gwen and Peter arrive at the Coffee Bean, where Harry Osborn is waiting for them. Peter asks where the rest of the gang is, and Harry responds that Mary Jane got a job at the Gloom Room A-Go-Go dancing. While they plan on attending the act that night, something sinister takes place at the Go-Go: A faceless "boss" by the name of Brainwasher plans on using MJ as a distraction to the customers, while a flash bulb with hypnotic qualities is shined on them. The crowd will be brainwashed into coming to the club for a second time. It was also revealed that the released mobsters from earlier in the day, were only released due to the D.A. being brainwashed. Plans of using the Brainwashing equipment on the government is now the master plan of the Brainwasher.

Early the next morning, Spider-Man webs up some mobster robbing a bank, but a worker explains that they will be set free again. Spider-Man is baffled by this statement, and sets off to get some sleep before seeing MJ's grand opening that night. Inside the club, MJ dances away for the bosses, and is instructed to take pictures of people sitting at the tables with the "star" on them. Finally, it is showtime, and the trio of Peter, Harry, and Gwen are there. Also there are a half dozen city officials including Captain Stacy and others. The music begins, and MJ dances her heart out. The crowd loves her, and then she begins to take pictures of those at the tables with a "star" on them as instructed. The first one with this honor is a councilman, who seems dazed afterwards, then Captain Stacy. The bosses are very satisfied with what they see, and then they direct Captain Stacy to the lab. His will-power seems to strong for the criminals, and he has to be apprehended as he walks into the lab. What sinister plan do they have in mind for Cap?

Back in the club, Gwen wonder what has happened to her father and is very worried about him after his photo was taken, so Peter goes and checks things out. After changing into the Spider-Man costume, he begins to realize that something is wrong. He crawls inside from a window and takes care of a couple of mobsters. An alarm is set off, and even more mobsters are afoot looking for an intruder. Mary Jane notices noise in the back of the club, and is apprehended and taken hostage. Spider-Man webs up the mobster's gun and brings MJ to safety, before going back into the club. Climbing the ceiling, Spider-Man spots a door to who he may be looking for. He webs up two mobsters guarding the door, and then crashes into the room feet first. He is shocked to see Captain Stacy sitting with his head under some sort of domed apparatus by a scientist. Spider-Man demands to know who is behind everything going on. He receives an answer: The Brainwasher, but we know him much better by another name: The Kingpin!

Thus, we have the last panel of the issue: The Kingpin making his presence known, especially to Spider-Man, by grabbing his arm. "Did it have to him??!" wonders Spider-Man to himself, and we are left in a nifty little cliffhanger!

It hasn't been too long since we last seen the Kingpin, having gotten away at the end of Amazing Spider-Man #52, but he will definitely be a popular villain in the next few years. Check out next issue for what happens to Captain Stacy and Spider-Man, as he now knows that the Brainwasher is the Kingpin!

Reprinted In:
Marvel Tales #42
Spider-Man Comics Magazine (Digest) #3
Spider-Man Essentials III