Peter Parker is in a blue mood following the death of his beloved Gwen Stacy in Amazing Spider-Man #121. And not even a cross-country business trip to San Francisco can shake him out of his doldrums. The Daily Bugle sent Peter to San Francisco on a photo assignment, but instead, he (as Spider-Man) is attacked by the Werewolf just moments after arriving in San Francisco, as he's swinging across the famous Golden Gate Bridge.

The Werewolf was one of several classic monster characters to have his own comic during the 1970s. Werewolf by Night ran for 43 issues and was perhaps most notable for introducing Moon Knight to the Marvel universe. He also was a regular, recurring guest in the original Spider-Woman comic series. The Werewolf is super-strong with enhanced senses and agility, but has the mind of an animal. This being their first encounter, Spider-Man initially believes he is imagining things when the Werewolf attacks him.

"This refugee from a Larry Talbot film festival is real, all right -- real enough to knock my web from my hand and me from the cable," Spider-Man thinks as he battles the enraged Werewolf. "Don't know what Hairy wants with me, but I get the distinct impression it's not to sell me life insurance!" he thinks, ducking the Werewolf's razor-sharp claws. Spider-Man ducks just as the Werewolf leaps and the beast sails over the edge of the bridge into the water below. As Spider-Man watches for any sign of life, a decidedly unfriendly face appears in the fog swirling behind him, then disappears again.

A confused Peter Parker changes into his civilian clothes and heads to a diner for a quick cheeseburger. But all of the patrons in the diner seem to be in a weird, zombie-like trance. Before Peter can investigate further, the Werewolf crashes into the diner and attacks him. Apparently, he was able to smell his foe and track him down. None of the other customers seem to notice the fight around him, so Peter knows for sure something strange is going on. They brawl into the street and the Werewolf bangs his head on a parked car, knocking him out. Once he's unconscious, Peter is able to change into Spider-Man. The Werewolf changes, too, back into his human form of Jack Russell.

Jack explains that he, his sister Lisa and his best friend Buck came up from Los Angeles and attended a magic show. The magician, a man named Moondark, seemed to put the audience in some sort of trance. "Suddenly, the feeling overpowered me as well, as I heard the strange voice -- the voice that told me Moondark was the master of my fate, the ruler of my soul," Jack says. Moondark used magic to transform Jack into his Werewolf form, even though the full moon isn't out, and sent him through a misty portal to confront Spider-Man. It seems Moondark believes Spider-Man is trying to interfere with his plans (whatever those happen to be) and wants the Web-Slinger eliminated.

Jack leads Spidey back to the theater to find "Moonshine," as Spider-Man calls the magician. Unfortunately, Jack transforms back into his savage Werewolf state and the fight resumes. "You may have come to San Francisco to thwart my master plan, costumed one, but all you will accomplish is your death!" Moondark declares. "An hour ago, I didn't even know you existed! And couldn't have cared less!" Spider-Man tells him. Spider-Man drop-kicks Moondark into his own misty portal. The magician and Spider-Man are both teleported back to the Golden Gate Bridge, where Moondark had sent the Werewolf earlier that evening. Spider-Man is able to grab the bridge, but Moondark falls into the water. With Moondark gone, the people he mesmerized are released from his spell. Moondark won't reappear until Marvel Team-Up #91, when he causes a great deal of trouble for Spider-Man and the Ghost Rider. Spider-Man and the Werewolf next meet up in Marvel Team-Up #93, when then and the Shroud are menaced by Tatterdemalion and Dansen Macabre.

This issue is okay at best. As usual, writer Len Wein provides some snappy, well-written dialogue, but the big problem with this story is a complete lack of motivation for the villain. What was Moondark's master plan? Why was he mesmerizing the people in the diner? Why did he lure in the Werewolf? For that matter, just who is Moondark the Magician? These questions aren't answered in the story, which makes for a pretty unsatisfying tale. In the art department Ross Andru, then the regular artist on Amazing Spider-Man, does his usual bang-up job.

Next issue: Spider-Man teams with Captain America to battle the Gray Gargoyle and his petrifying touch!

Reviewed by Bruce Buchanan.

Reprinted In:
Marvel Treasury Edition #18