Many long-time readers know that the criminal known as the Crimemaster was originally introduced in Amazing Spider-Man #26 and met his untimely end in Amazing Spider-Man #27, but there was a little known tale that involved the Crimemaster that was left untold until many years later! Spider-Man doesn't actually meet the Crimemaster in this tale, but rather a group by the name of the Super-Squad that worked for the Crimemaster. This way, not a thing is tarnished concerning the greatness that is Amazing Spider-Man #26.

The story begins in the early evening at a quiet Forest Hills home in Queens. No, not the Parker residence, but rather another close-knit family getting ready to have dinner. Shockingly, a brick is thrown through their window with a message attached to it stating "You are doomed, worthless human! I'll destroy you all!" and they look outside to see Spider-Man running away. Strange huh? At the same moment in the offices of the Daily Bugle, Publisher J. Jonah Jameson is another one of his rampages throughout the office. He scolds his reporter, Ben Urich , for not getting an exclusive about a world famous scientist named Bartholomew Carson and his daughter disappearing.

The Crimemaster now makes his first chronological appearance, as he makes his plans on taking over every racket in town and becoming the leader of the underworld. Part of the Crimemaster's plans include a little help from the missing scientist that he has now working for him, and Dr. Carson activates the Super Squad! What's the Super Squad you ask? Well, they happen to be mind-controlled "puppets", or men who follow the orders they are given. Peter Parker just happens to be walking down the street as a bank is being robbed by, guess who? The Super Squad! Peter changes into Spider-Man then goes into the bank and begins to attack the men, but these are far from ordinary men. Spider-Man's kicks and punches do not harm them, and they hit much harder than your average man. Even Spider-Man's webbing cannot hold them as he tries in vain to contain them. Elsewhere, the Crimemaster is watching on a video screen at his hideout and is very pleased with what he sees. Spider-Man, on the other hand, is not pleased at all. The Super Squad now gang-up on Spider-Man causing him great pain. He is left on the ground as the Squad takes the bank's money and walks out of the bank, but not before Spider-Man throws a spider tracer on one of them.

Back at the Crimemaster's hideout, we learn more concerning Dr. Carson. It seems that he and the Crimemaster had an agreement that Dr. Carson completes his assignment to create this Super Squad so that Carson can receive his daughter back in safe and sound. After the imposter Spider-Man makes another appearance throwing garbage at people on the streets, the real Spider-Man is now on his way to following the signals of the spider tracer that he threw on one of the Super Squad. He finally comes to a building where he finds the missing daughter of the scientist inside a room. He then looks around some more until he locates a room with Carson and some of the Super Squad in it. Spider-Man now makes his entrance and crashes on in on everyone. He takes Carson into his arms and dashes away from the programmed pursuers gunfire. The two finally get to a much more safe room out of harms way.

Dr. Carson explains to Spider-Man that he has been studying the human brain for many years and that the Crimemaster has learned of him and his latest invention, the cerebra-chip. The chip is a transistorized piece of machinery which could help and repair damaged pathways in the human brain and he intended to use it for the good of mankind. The chip had a side-effect though, as it could turn people into mindless slaves controlling them. When the Crimemaster's money wasn't enough for Dr. Carson, he kidnapped his daughter and forced him to create the Super Squad. With the knowledge that the chip works on an electrical signal, Spider-Man takes his spider signal tracking device and broadcasts a jamming signal that interferes with the Super Squads ability to function, and they all fall like dominoes. The men will be safe once the chip is removed from them, and Carson's daughter is returned to him safely.

It's a good thing that Peter had his camera set to take some photos that proved coercion on the part of the Crimemaster, because the police initially took him into custody. He is free now, and he comes the offices of the Daily Bugle just to say thank-you to Peter. He pays thanks to Peter by allowing Betty Brant's mother to be a patient of his free of charge. Remember, Betty's mother is in a coma with brain damage as told in Untold Tales Of Spider-Man #12. Dr. Carson could help her as he plans to open a new clinic to perfect his cerebra chip.

Pretty Good story with some hokey villains, but it did include the first chronological appearance of the Crimemaster. The Crimemaster can be seen next, chronologically, in Untold Tales Of Spider-Man #25 where his relationship between him and the Green Goblin is explained. I would recommend reading Amazing Spider-Man #26 & #27 before though, as to not spoil the surprises in that issue! The Super Squad has yet to be seen again since their introduction in this issue.