Spider-Man has a history of beating up a lot of goons, thugs, gangbangers, enforcers, et cetera. And with a little peek into that bridge between the first and second Spider-Man story we learn this is just second nature to him.

Earlier this week we looked at Amazing Fantasy #16, one of three issues made after the actual Amazing Fantasy ended. (And we didn’t even get some lame horror stories to go with them.) It traces the days where Spider-Man had captured the robber that killed his uncle, but wasn’t ready to become a full-fledged superhero, blaming his powers (or what they did to him psychologically at least) and only putting on the costume to do another favored activity in the future, web-swinging to clear his head. He also figured out he had spider-sense. And in this fight he even learns to quip. They grow up so fast.

Power Punch: round 9

The Battlefield: Amazing Fantasy #16 (Marvel; December, 1995) “An Amazing World”

The Promoters: Kurt Busiek (writer), Paul Lee (painter), and Richard Starkings & Comicraft (lettering)

As Spider-Man, Peter has learned that a villain called The Undertaker (obligatory wrestling reference) has been hitting death at all angles. For the mourning he runs a scam to take their money. For the living, he’ll make them dead for a price. For the dead he’ll hide the bodies for a price. I’m surprised Death hasn’t dropped Thanos AND Deadpool for this guy. Spidey has to stop him, but webbing an old guy isn’t interesting or match the fight theme. Luckily there are goons around to punch.

“You’re not going to kill me!” That Spidey is such a riot.

Of course, goons have the advantage of numbers.

“Dog pile on the…wait, what’s a superhero?”

Then again, he’s the one with the superpowers.

Unfortunately, proportional strength of a spider only likes him as a friend.

And then he webs up the old guy. But this was more fun.

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