You can say one thing about Spider-Man -- his life is never dull. In Amazing Spider-Man #75, the Ancient Tablet epic storyline comes to an end, as Spider-Man defeats the mob boss Silvermane, who sought to unlock the tablet's secret power. However, Silvermane kidnapped Dr. Curt Connors, his wife, Martha Connors, and their young son Billy, and forced Dr. Connors to work on decoding the tablet. The stress of seeing his family in danger causes Dr. Connors to revert into his savage alter-ego, the deadly Lizard!

This issue picks up with the Lizard on a rampage, looking for Spider-Man. "He escaped me in the past -- because luck was on his side! But now, I'm wiser -- more filled with hate!" the Lizard says. Spidey gets Martha and Billy Connors to safety, promising he will do everything he can to help Curt. The next morning, he hears of the Lizard's ongoing rampage on the radio. He figures the Lizard is just trying to bait him into a battle, but he knows he must go.

Sadly, some of his fellow New Yorkers don't appreciate his efforts, heckling him as he swings by. "If I ever ran for mayor, even Mao Tse Tung would be me!" Spider-Man says. But his reverie is interrupted by the Lizard, who slices through Spidey's webbing as he's swinging. They fight and, as usual, the Lizard's armor-like scales make it difficult for Spider-Man to do much damage. Of course, the Lizard has no such problems -- he catches Spider-Man around the neck with his powerful tail and bounces him around the rooftop. Spidey decides he will have to once again outthink the Lizard. He decides to let the Lizard knock him off a roof. He'll duck inside a building and set up a trap for the villain. "I have to perform the greatest act of my life!" he thinks. All is going well -- the Lizard throws him off the building...but the Human Torch rescues Spider-Man before he can spring his trap. "Let go of me, Matchhead! You'll spoil everything!" Spider-Man says. But the Human Torch doesn't understand what he's done, nor does he realize the Lizard really is Curt Connors. As the issue ends, the Torch squares off with the Lizard, with Spider-Man caught in the middle. Can Spider-Man stop the Lizard AND keep the Human Torch from inadvertently hurting Curt Connors? That's the question left hanging.

This marks the third meeting between Spider-Man and the Lizard. They first met in the now-legendary Amazing Spider-Man #6, where the Lizard tried to assemble an army of reptiles in the Florida Everglades. Their next battle was in Amazing Spider-Man #44-45, where the Lizard brought the battle to Spider-Man's home turf of New York City. In both instances, Spider-Man had to trick the Lizard to beat him. Of course, he doesn't want to hurt the Lizard, since Curt Connors is a good man and cannot help his transformation into the Lizard.

In Peter Parker news, Peter realizes he spent so much time on Spider-Man stuff during the Ancient Tablet crisis that he's been ignoring his friends and girlfriend Gwen Stacy. For example, he leaves the apartment just as Harry Osborn comes in. "Always running out when he wants to shoot the breeze! Harry's right! I've sure been a crummy friend to him," Peter thinks. Gwen also asks why Peter has been acting so distant. She confronts him for an answer, but Peter can't give her one, although he assures her that he hasn't found another woman. "Then what is your secret Peter? What is the thing you won't speak of...that keeps us apart?" she asks.

Peter also has a nerve-wracking conversation with Gwen's Dad, NYPD Captain George Stacy. Capt. Stacy and Joe Robertson of the Daily Bugle have a mutual interest in and admiration for Spider-Man and these two bright men are trying to solve the mystery of the Web-Swinger.

This is a solid story to follow up the lengthy Ancient Tablet storyline. The Lizard is always an interesting and challenging foe, since Spider-Man has to hold back for fear of harming Curt Connors. Of course, it doesn't hurt that the Lizard is more powerful than our hero, making it even more difficult for Spidey to defeat this villain. The turmoil between Peter and Gwen remains one of the highlights of the book during this time period. She cares deeply for Peter, but can't understand his strange behavior. And, of course, he can't exactly tell her he is Spider-Man. Their relationship will only get more intriguing in the months to come.

John Buscema fills in for regular artist John Romita on this issue, and will continue with the art chores next year.

Next issue: It's Spider-Man versus the Lizard -- versus the Human Torch!

Reviewed by Bruce Buchanan.

Reprinted In:
Marvel Tales #57
Spider-Man Comics Magazine #8
Spider-Man Essentials IV