Time for a new villain! It's been eight months since the last one was introduced (The Cat Burglar in Amazing Spider-Man #30 don't count!) and here he is: The Looter! Not exactly in the ranks of the Green Goblin's or the Doctor Octopus', but a villain that has made some appearances of substance over the years. His name has changed from the Looter to the Meteor Man, and back to the Looter over that time, but that doesn't matter. He has been easily defeated in every instance no matter what he called himself! None the less, his story begins here in "When falls the Meteor!"

That man, named Norton G. Fester, visits a site where a meteor has landed, creating a large crater in the ground. He has been seeking a large meteor for some time at this point, for reason of proving what he thinks concerning meteors containing microscopic living matter. He thinks that the meteor will somehow solve every riddle of the universe and bring him fortune and fame. But to do the necessary research on the meteor, Norton must come with money, and he is denied by a lending institution and some research scientists. Now Norton begins to get truly mad and persistent, so he goes about the research by himself. The man is an absolute whack-job, having flunked science in school, yet he remains convinced that he is an undiscovered genius. While working on the meteor, Norton accidentally hits a gas pocket in it, and the gas begins to make him choke. Norton lies on the ground as the gas seeps through his skin. When he is revived, he feels somewhat different, and discovers that he now has super strength after easily lifting a safe and a heavy cabinet like they were a feather. He also discovers that his muscles throughout his body have been enhanced by the meteor gas many times over. You just know this whack-a-doo will choose a life of crime!

We now change scenes to the campus of Empire State University where a young Peter Parker is invited by a friend of Gwen Stacy's named Sally Green, to a party later in the day. Gwen is obviously taken back at how Peter is cordially talking to Sally, yet he has yet to be friendly with her. Peter declines the invitation, stating that he busy that night, and Sally goes off in a huff back to Gwen. At the same time in a midtown bank, Fester can be seen for the first time in his purple and white costume, calling himself the Looter. After stealing money, he uses his "Dazzle Light" to temporarily blind everyone so he can escape. In the days that follow, the Looter goes on a never ending crime-spree, but the more he steal, the greedier he gets. While Spider-Man is out looking for the Looter, Fester is back at his lab where he discovers that his meteor has run out of gas, so he has to find another source for his powers.

A couple days later finds Peter Parker attending a space exhibit. A recently discovered meteorite fragment catches his eye at the exhibit, but he not the only one, as the Looter breaks inside the exhibit. Peter runs away to change into Spider-Man, then shines his spider signal on the Looter. They begin to fight, exchanging punch for punch until the Looter begins to realize that it will take more than just sheer strength to defeat Spider-Man. The Looter takes out his dazzle gun, blinding everyone around except Spider-Man, due to his spider-senses. The Looter escapes just as Spider-Man is helping other that were blinded by the dazzle gun, the Spider-Man changes back to Peter Parker.

Back at his hideout, Fester re-plans his next moves becoming more and more obsessed about obtaining another meteorite. The next day, in civilian clothes, Fester shows up at the Exhibit scoping out the place. Peter also has the same idea, in that the Looter may show up again, and comes back as Spider-Man. The Looter waits until the end of the week to make his move on the meteorite fragment, but just as he enters the exhibit, Spider-Man comes swinging in. He just can't rid him! But he planned accordingly, taking off quickly in a helium filled balloon. Spider-Man thinks quickly and springs from a flagpole where he gets close enough to the Looter to shoot a web to it. After Spider-Man catches up to the Looter, the two battle it out in the sky. Spider-Man can only use one hand to fight, as the other is holding on to the webbing attached to the balloon. He begins to fall, but grasps a hold of the Looter's foot at the last second. Spider-Man gets back up and starts pounding on the Looter and knocks him. He then takes off his mask, but the face doesn't look familiar.

Spider-Man lets the air out of the balloon, gradually lowering it and the Looter back to the ground where the police arrive a short time later. It was a fun issue with mostly action sequences with a "B" grade Spider-Man villain that doesn't show up again until Marvel Team-Up #33 & #34 where he goes up against Spider-Man Valkyrie, and Nighthawk.  The Looter also gets a temporary name-change with those issues, as he will eventually become the Meteor Man. 

Reprinted In:
Marvel Tales #28
Marvel Tales #175
 Marvel Masterworks Vol. 16
Spider-Man Essentials II