In Strange Tales #115 we saw the second appearance of the Sandman after his debut in Amazing Spider-Man #4. He battled mainly the Human Torch in that issue in a department store where the Sandman's body was impervious to the Torch's flame, but due to the store's sprinkler system, the Sandman was defeated by being waterlogged. This issue is where that story left off in which he was found missing in the back of a police truck by two guards. It was assumed that he just dried out and escaped, but to where? Spider-Man will soon find out!

Spider-Man begins the story by bouncing around as happy as ever as he (as Peter Parker of course) and Betty Brant are going out on their first date. He asked her just after the events in Amazing Spider-Man #7 where the Vulture went on a Rampage in the offices of the Daily Bugle. Before he gets a little TOO happy, his spider-sense goes off  and then discovers that the Sandman has just robbed a bank. A major fight ensues where the Sandman grabs Spidey's webbing and pulls him into himself and gives him the punch of his life. Spider-Man ends up unconscious on the street but wakes up in time to escape a policeman by going into the sewers below. Back home now, Peter recuperates and the next morning goes to school. After school lets out, it's to the offices of the Daily Bugle where he sells some photos to publisher J. Jonah Jameson of Spider-Man's defeat at the hands of the Sandman. Of course, Jonah loves the pics! Peter on the other hand is wondering whether or not he has become a coward and then talks to Betty for a second.

If things aren't worse enough, the Sandman goes on a crime-spree the following days. Even the Avengers can't seem to find him in the city. At home, Peter readies himself for his first date with Betty and presents her with Roses when he picks her up. Peter at this point has very little confidence and begins to think that Betty deserves someone better than a "loser" like him. At the Elegant Avenue Dinner Club, Peter is saying very little on their first date and tells Betty that maybe he is not the man she thought he was. Betty responds that she thinks that he is a very strong person and that maybe HE is the one questioning himself. Peter ends up stating that he has been wallowing in self-doubt and leaves after paying the bill. Peter suits up as Spider-Man as goes looking for the Sandman. After finding him, they end battling inside an Aerospace Laboratory where many high powered experimental turbines are. When the Sandman is in front of one, Spider-Man hits a button turning it on thereby sucking the Sandman, grain by grain, into it. The turbine explodes his remains out of the building spreading across the city. Spider-Man realizes that the Sandman will eventually pull himself together again and that it wont be the last he will see of him. Amazing Spider-Man Annual #1 backs this statement up when the Sandman joins up with the Sinister Six.

The next day in the Daily Bugle, the headline reads "Spider-Man helps Sandman escape". He can't catch a break, can he? Peter also asks Betty out for next Saturday, but is interrupted by a loud Jameson talking to his John on the phone. John will be in New York in a week or two and his father is surprised by something he said. We will have to wait for next issue to find out more.

A pretty good "in-between"  issue for the Sandman and Spider-Man's first and second major fights. This series should be a must-buy for any Spider-Man reader/ fan, in fact you can get the entire series run plus annuals for a very good price. Look for them!