After a relatively lackluster story in Amazing Spider-Man #138, things get back to their usual excellence in this exciting tale. The Grizzly isn't the best villain Spider-Man ever faced, but he's certainly a big step up from the Mindworm, whom Spider-Man bested in the previous issue. More importantly, the Grizzly works for a mystery man who is about to make Spider-Man's life a lot more difficult....

However, Spidey is pretty happy - well, as happy as Peter Parker can get - as the issue starts. He's still living with Flash Thompson after his apartment was destroyed by the second Green Goblin in Amazing Spider-Man #136, but life could be a lot worse. "For a fella whose girlfriend died only a few months ago, I've been making out pretty well - and frankly, that scares me," he says to no one in particular. Don't worry, Spidey - your life is about to revert to its usual hard-luck form!

Peter and Liz Allen go apartment hunting in Manhattan's Chelsea neighborhood (I've never been there, but the way it's depicted here makes it seem pretty seedy (some nice parts, some bad parts - Eric). However, that's all a freelance photographer/college student can afford!) Peter finds a small, somewhat run-down apartment, which is being rented by the gruff Mamie Muggins. It's not great, but for $110 a month (in 1974 dollars), Peter tells Mrs. Muggins, "Lady, I guess you've got yourself a deal." Peter then stops by the Daily Bugle where he intends to ask for his job back after storming out in anger in Amazing Spider-Man #136. But before Peter can meet with J. Jonah Jameson, a massive costumed character calling himself the Grizzly smashes into the newsroom. The Grizzly goes after Betty Brant, but brave Joe Robertson tries to draw his attention with a chair to the back, telling Peter to run for it. The chair breaks, but it only seems to anger the giant. He swats poor Robbie away and bursts into the publisher's office to confront the cowering Jonah. Of course, Peter only ran away far enough to change into his Spider-Man costume. He arrives just in time to see Jonah being thrown out a window (nice image by Ross Andru here). He saves JJJ, joking, "In a way, I almost hate to do this. Neither of us will ever forgive me!" True enough, Jonah blames Spider-Man for being in cahoots with the Grizzly, even though he saved the publisher's bacon for seemingly the thousandth time. He leaves Jonah hanging in a Web hammock outside his window, safely out of the Grizzly's clutches.

Spider-Man goes after the Grizzly, but even with the proportionate strength of a spider, he doesn't have much luck punching out the big man. The Grizzly is super-strong, super-tough and even has claws just like his namesake. In other words, he's a pretty bad dude. After absorbing some kicks and punches, he grabs Spider-Man by the ankle and swings him head-first into a file cabinet. "I'm the Grizzly -- and the Grizzly is the toughest of them all!" he proclaims. Spidey isn't down for the count, but he fakes unconsciousness in order to get the Grizzly to leave the Bugle. He also slips a spider-tracer on the Grizzly's back as the big man is leaving. Later that night, Spider-Man goes in hunt of the Grizzly. His search leads him to a mansion in the plush Washington Square neighborhood. Spidey thinks that seems out of place for a rough 'n' tumble character like the Grizzly. He changes back into his civilian clothes and goes to the door, intending to do a little covert snooping around. A voice inside asks him to enter, but when he does, Peter is subdued by a punch to the gut and a chop across the back of the head. Interestingly, his spider-sense doesn't warn him of the attack. When he opens his eyes, he sees the Grizzly standing before him. But he also see's the thug's maniacal boss and the man who sucker-punched him - none other than the Jackal! The villainous Jackal says, "This is magnificent, Grizzly - utterly superb! Don't you see? We've managed to lure Peter Parker here -- and wherever Peter Parker is, Spider-Man can't be far behind!"

Next issue: Spider-Man vs. the Grizzly round two - plus more of the Jackal's deadly game!

Reviewed by Bruce Buchanan.

Reprinted In:
Marvel Tales #116