In late 1976, a little boy begged his parents to buy him a comic book. He hadn't read superhero comics before, but he had heard of Spider-Man and something about the cover was irresistible. That comic book was Amazing Spider-Man #165. And more than 30 years later, I'm still a fan. I guess that says something about the appeal of this classic character.

This issue starts with a bang -- or, rather, a crash, as Spider-Man breaks through the skylight of a non-descript laboratory. The caption tells us his spider sense tingled as he swung by and inside the lab, Spider-Man finds a mess, along with two unconscious men. But before he can fully investigate, he is sucker-punched by a lisping foe who says, "Curssse you, Ssspider-Man. Thisss isss none of your affair!" Spidey replies, "Mister, your bruising my precious little bod like that just made this my affair -- and no sinister Tallulah Bankhead whisper is going to stop me from creaming you!" However, the mystery man -- or mystery creature -- escapes. It turns out this is a S.H.I.E.L.D. laboratory and the mystery man has stolen something. Spider-Man leaves, figuring he will be blamed for the break-in.

Nearby, Dr. Curt Connors, wife Martha and young son Billy are getting ready for the holidays. Dr. Connors is working at his New York laboratory, so the Connors family decided to spend Christmas here rather than their Florida home. The happy holiday moment is interrupted when Dr. Connors collapses in a dizzy spell. In Amazing Spider-Man #164, Dr. Connors helped Spider-Man when the Kingpin attempted to steal the Web-Slinger's life force and give it to his comatose son. But the feedback from the machines stunned Dr. Connors and he's still feeling ill. He doesn't have time to worry about himself for long, though, as Stegron the Dinosaur Man crashes into their living room! (Stegron was last seen when he was first introduced back in Marvel Team-Up #19-20) It's obvious now that Stegron is the man who stole the materials from the laboratory earlier in the issue. He kidnaps Billy Connors and informs Dr. Connors that if he wants to see his son alive again, he will complete the instructions for those materials within 48 hours.

Peter Parker doesn't know anything about Dr. Connors' plight or Stegron's plans, though. He and Mary Jane are on a date and are discussing their relationship. Peter is somewhat miffed at M. J. for flirting with Flash Thompson, who tells Peter he doesn't want to come between him and Mary Jane. But Mary Jane says Peter hasn't been as reliable as she would have liked. "I look around and I see all our friends getting together...and you keep running out on me to take your precious photos," M. J. says. "So I get possessive and I hate myself -- and I hate you for making me hate myself." The two go on a date to see a laser light show at the Museum of Natural History and during the show, they agree to take their relationship more slowly. In a funny moment, a couple of other patrons scold them for talking during the show. "Give us a break, okay? Finish the soap opera at home!" Writer Len Wein had a real gift for adding humor to Spider-Man's stories. But when the lights go out, Peter has to disappear to "take his precious photos." Of course, he's actually sneaking away to become Spider-Man and investigate the situation. In a different part of the museum, Stegron using a device to bathe three dinosaur skeletons in a strange electro-magnetic field. "Thisss weapon will reanimate thessse noble ssskeletonsss...and then Ssstegron will rule over all that livesss!" he says.

When Spider-Man enters the room, he's met by a glowing brontosaurus skeleton coming down the stairs! "Either I'm dreaming...or I'm in a whole lot of trouble!" Spider-Man says. "There's a whole army of those runaway doggie bones--and I'm smack in their path!" The dinosaurs spill out into the streets and Spider-Man goes toe-to-to with Stegron. He gives the Dinosaur Man some lumps, but Stegron's super-strong spiked tail levels a stone pillar, which collapses on Spider-Man, giving Stegron a chance to escape. "I'll say one thing for that leather-lipped joker -- he sure knows how to bring the house down!" Spider-Man says after he digs his way out of the rubble. This is a very nice two-page fight scene -- classic Ross Andru action here.

The story closes back at Dr. Curt Connors' laboratory. Dr. Connors is in tremendous discomfort and he thinks he knows why. "My missing arm is regenerating itself...taking on reptilian properties...and God help me, my entire body is following suit!" Yep, Curt Connors is once again the lethal Lizard. And the Lizard's first order of business is to destroy--Stegron?!?

We do get one piece of foreshadowing in this issue. J. Jonah Jameson is meeting with Dr. Marla Madison (who first appeared in Amazing Spider-Man #162) at the ESU science lab. Dr. Madison ensures Jonah she has the secret to defeat Spider-Man once and for all. This storyline will culminate in Amazing Spider-Man #167. Of course, Dr. Madison eventually marries the gruff newspaper publisher, as shown in Amazing Spider-Man Annual #18.

Obviously, I have a tremendous nostalgic fondness for this particular issue. But trying to be objective, I still find this a truly enjoyable issue. Stegron is a good villain, although perhaps an underused one. He's got a neat, if not somewhat strange, plot to conquer the world by reanimating dinosaurs and Spider-Man has his hands full stopping him. Plus, we get some good Peter-M. J. interaction and a great cliffhanger with the Lizard. What more could you want in a monthly comic?

Next issue: It's a Lizard vs. Stegron slug-fest, with Spider-Man caught in the middle!

Reviewed by Bruce Buchanan.