The issue kicks off with Spider-Man in dire straits, captured by the Green Goblin. The Goblin seizes the moment to assert dominance over the Crime-Master, thwarting the latter’s ambitions to become the kingpin of New York’s underworld. Fortunately for our wall-crawling hero, he regains consciousness and, despite being bound, starts fighting back. Just as the action heats up, the cops—tipped off by a snitch—arrive on the scene. What follows is an all-out brawl, with Spider-Man and the police joining forces to take on the gathered criminals, the Green Goblin, and the Crime-Master. Amid the chaos, the Goblin retreats, leaving Spider-Man to chase the Crime-Master through an escape hatch into the sewers.

Still convinced that Frederick Foswell is behind it all—either as the Green Goblin or the Crime-Master—Spider-Man decides to confront J. Jonah Jameson directly. Why? To warn him that if Foswell is exposed, Jameson could suffer bad press for hiring a known criminal-turned-reporter. But when Peter barges into Jameson’s office to lay out his suspicions, Foswell denies the accusations, and Jameson stands by his employee.

Meanwhile, the Crime-Master, positioned on a nearby rooftop, prepares to assassinate Spider-Man, Jameson, and Foswell through the office window. Luckily, the police—tipped off once again—intervene just in time. In the ensuing confrontation, the Crime-Master is fatally shot, taking the Green Goblin’s identity with him to the grave.

The cops then reveal a shocking twist: they’ve been working with Foswell all along. The Crime-Master’s true identity? Nick “Lucky” Lewis—a name so obscure that even Spider-Man has no idea who he is!

The issue wraps up with some lighthearted fun as Spider-Man retrieves his camera after all the action—getting soaked in the process!

Review

I won’t break this review into my usual sections because this issue hits every note. It seamlessly continues the story from the previous issue, staying true to its tone, characters, and suspense. The twist—that the Crime-Master isn’t who we suspect—is both original and satisfying, leaving us questioning whether Frederick Foswell might still be the Green Goblin. (I know many of us already know how that question turns out, but when this issue was published, the readers did not.)

This two-part arc excels in comic storytelling for its time, blending action, mystery, and humor in all the right ways. I highly recommend giving it a read—it’s a brilliant slice of Spider-Man history that deserves your attention.