Cover Price: $.99

#25
October 1997

Value: $2.50 (Near Mint-Mint)

 

Supporting Cast:
Aunt May, Anna Watson, Flash Thompson, Liz Allen, Miles Warren, Gwen Stacy, Harry Osborn, Norman Osborn, J. Jonah Jameson


Guests:


Villains:
Green Goblin, Crime-Master

"Bad Men On Campus!" - 20 Pages


Plotter
- Roger Stern
Plotter & Writer - Kurt Busiek
Artist - Ron Frenz
Inker - Bob McLeod
Cover -
Pat Olliffe
Letterer
- Richard Starkings
Colorist -
Steve Mattsson
Editor - Tom Brevoort
Editor In Chief - Bob Harras

The Crimemaster made his first chronological appearance in Untold Tales Of Spider-Man #23 where he used some mind-controlled men known as the Super Squad to carry out some "errands" for him as he sought to gain the leadership in the city's criminal underground. As anyone who has read Amazing Spider-Man #26 & #27 know, the Crimemaster and the Green Goblin know each other's identities. This issue will shed alot of light on just how much they really know and how they learned them. It is suggested though, that you read those issues first, as to gain the fullest surprise possible from the revelations in this issue. So turn away now, unless you just can't wait to break the suspense!

We open the story in an empty warehouse near New York City's waterfront where the Green Goblin and the Crimemaster have a little meeting. Since Lucky Lobo and his gang was taken out of the racket scene in Amazing Spider-Man #23, the time is ripe for a new leader to take charge of the criminal underworld. The two begin to form an alliance but it is contingent upon one thing: The Crimemaster must know the Green Goblin's secret identity. At first, the Goblin balked at such a thing, but eventually caved in. The Goblin slowly removes his mask revealing himself to be J. Jonah Jameson? Well, the Crimemaster buys it, and the alliance is formed. Later after the Crimemaster leaves, the Goblin takes off a mask of Jameson exposing his true identity: Norman Osborn, who now plans on using the Crimemaster to take over the underworld. The Crimemaster never truly did know the Green Goblin's identity after all!

Where is Peter Parker after all this? He is at the campus of Empire State University as part of Midtown High's college visit week, along with his Aunt May. He is shown around the campus by Mr. Warren (No, not Miles!) and is even seen by a flabbergasted Flash Thompson there as well. Peter eventually meets the other Mr. Warren (Yes, Miles this time!) and they speak about the Science program at the University. Miles is temporarily interrupted by a female student who walks on by, taking his mind off of what he is talking about. This girl is Gwen Stacy, who is also there for college week, and she meets a young Harry Osborn. Harry is there for another reason in addition to college week: To help his father, Norman, dedicate the new test chamber that day in the Science department. After Peter has been shown around a bit, He comes upon the dedication given by J. Jonah Jameson, to Norman Osborn, for a new multi-environmental testing chamber that can duplicate any environment or weather condition.

While Jameson gives his speech, Osborn thinks to himself that this is the best chance to create a distraction at the University, while the Crimemaster's men go on with their "mission". Peter then notices a couple of men in overalls that he previously fought as Spider-Man, then he ducks out and changes into Spider-Man. He finds them in a lab a couple of doors down, while the Crimemaster himself is watching in a Van using a video camera. A brawl ensues between Spider-Man and the criminals, then one of the criminals uses a Seismic Ray Device (SRD) gun on Spider-Man that pumps out some sort of invisible vibrations. The gun is powerful enough to shatter stone, but they miss Spider-Man completely causing a great interruption in the dedication that is going on. Osborn sees that the Crimemaster's men need some help at this point, so he uses an electro-blaster in his glove on Jameson and makes a getaway. He takes Jameson's body and sits it down while he summons his goblin glider and costume. The glider finally arrives, the he changes into the Green Goblin, then confronts Spider-Man.

The Goblin and Spider-Man battle for awhile as the Goblin's blasts make the entire University building a danger zone, with the ceiling falling all over the place. Students and future students run from the building in terror. The Crimemaster at this time, is still watching from his van, and is furious as to why the Goblin won't just leave with the gun instead of continuing his battle with Spider-Man. The Goblin finally locates the gun, and begins to glide-off, until Spider-Man gets on his nerves. The Goblin then chases Spider-Man into the multi-environment testing chamber and then Spider-Man activates the door to close. Now inside a small cramped area, the Goblin and Spider-Man continue fighting until Spider-Man shoots his webbing onto the Goblin's glider, then tugs it right from underneath him. The Goblin then falls backwards setting the SRD to go off wildly. While the chamber is being damaged, the Goblin gets back to his feet to continue his battle with Spider-Man. As they fight, the Crimemaster gets a little closer to the action. He enters the chamber control center, and "orders" someone to activate the chamber, in hopes of killing both Spider-Man and the Green Goblin. Arctic conditions begin to fill the chamber, then the Goblin and Spider-Man actually work together to combat the effects of the chamber. The conditions change from arctic to a lightening storm, but the two continue to live. The Crimemaster, frustrated at their continuing survival, fires his gun into the chamber's controls.

Just as the Crimemaster makes his escape to his van, the Goblin and Spider-Man now have to combat lasers and protruding steel rods. The chamber, at this point, is only seconds away from exploding. Spider-Man then takes the SRD, and shoots it upwards, breaking through to the power feeds. The power feeds overloads, as they are now disrupted, and them a great implosion occurs inside the chamber instead of outside of the chamber. Many innocent bystanders are saved, and then the Green Goblin comes out from under the rubble, and flies away thinking that Spider-Man must be dead. The Goblin is wrong of course, as Spider-Man then comes out of the debris brushing dirt and debris off of himself.

The issue ends with the Crimemaster and the Green Goblin both planning on being extra careful at to their next steps in becoming the leader of the underworld. They both understand that each other's existence will be very hard to combat and will plan accordingly. As for Peter? He looks down at the college from a roof dressed as Spider-Man and sums up in his head that whatever happens concerning college, "It's sure not gonna be dull!"

Well, this issue certainly was not dull! A great last issue of Untold Tales Of Spider-Man that introduces Peter to college life that begins for real in Amazing Spider-Man #31. The Crimemaster and the Green Goblin makes their next chronological appearance in Amazing Spider-Man #26 as they both battle for the leadership of the criminal underworld. This wonderful series will forever be missed!

Quality Rating: 4
Significance Rating: 4

Overall Rating:

8

 

Untold Tales Of Spider-Man #24

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