Amazing Spider-Man
# 251-260

April 1984
Amazing Spider-Man # 251: "Endings!"   
Writer: Roger Stern/Tom DeFalco
Penciller: Ron Frenz
Inker: Klaus Janson
Jay's Rating:
JJJJ

Synopsis:
Hobgoblin emerges from his warehouse hideout in his battle van with Spidey clinging to its underside. Spidey manages to get inside and battles it out with the Hobgoblin. Finally, his spider-sense returns. The battle van crashes into the Hudson river and the Hobgoblin apparently perishes as the van self-destructs. Meanwhile, J.J.J. steps down as editor-in-chief and goes public with an admission that he funded the creation of the Scorpion. Spidey is lead by his spider-sense to central park where he's swept up in the Secret Wars.

Jay's Notes:

  • Janson's inks work well with Frenz's breakdowns. 

May 1984
Amazing Spider-Man # 252: "Homecoming!"   
Writer: Roger Stern/Tom DeFalco  
Penciller: Ron Frenz
Inker: Brett Breedings
Jay's Rating:
JJJ1/2

Synopsis:  
Spidey returns from the Secret Wars with Dr. Curt Conners (the Lizard) and with a new black costume. He returns Conners to his family and then catches up with his life since he's been gone for over a week. He then goes out web slinging and lectures an arguing couple.

Jay's Notes:

  • Can't say enough about Breedings' finishes they're delightful.
  • A rather upbeat story returning the high-spirited Spidey.
  • DeFalco's dialog is rather hoaky though.

June 1984
Amazing Spider-Man # 253: "By Myself Betrayed"   
Writer: Tom DeFalco  
Penciller: Rick Leonardi
Inker: Bill Anderson
Jay's Rating:
JJJ

Synopsis:  
The Rose, New York's latest crime boss, gets his fingers into professional sports and gambling. Spidey gets involved and rescues a football quarterback from the Rose's henchmen. The football star tells his story to the press and fouls the Rose's plans. Meanwhile, Peter tells Aunt May that he's taking a leave of absence from school and she doesn't take it very well.

July 1984
Amazing Spider-Man # 254: "With Great Power ..."   
Writer: Tom DeFalco  
Penciller: Rick Leonardi
Inker: Joe Rubenstein
Jay's Rating:
JJJ

Synopsis:  
Spidey keeps an eye on the Hobgoblin's battle van and a mysterious figure takes interest in it. Meanwhile, Nathan, one of Aunt May's closest friends at the retirement home, sets up a meeting for May and Peter, but Peter's duties as Spidey prevent him from making it.  Jack O' Lantern turns out to be the interested party and he dukes it out with Spidey while the battle van comes alive and returns to its master.

August 1984
Amazing Spider-Man # 255: "Even a Ghost Can Fear the Night!"   
Writer: Tom DeFalco  
Penciller: Ron Frenz
Inker: Joe Rubenstein
Jay's Rating:
JJJ

Synopsis:  
The Red Ghost forcibly recruits the cat burglar known as the Gray Fox to help him finance his latest scheme. The Super-Apes accompany the Gray Fox on his next heist and foul things up which of course draws Spidey's attention. Spidey helps the Gray Fox escape and then follows the Super-Apes to the Red Ghost. Spidey destroys the Red Ghost's cosmicizer and foils his evil scheme. 

September 1984
Amazing Spider-Man # 256: "Introducing ... the Puma!"   
Writer: Tom DeFalco  
Penciller: Ron Frenz
Inker: Joe Rubenstein
Jay's Rating:
JJJJ

Synopsis:
Frustrated by Spider-man's interference in his operations, the Rose hires an assassin who calls himself the Puma. The Puma arrives in New York and begins his hunt for Spider-Man. Meanwhile, Mary Jane has come back to town and meets up with Peter. Unfortunately, the Puma finds Spider-Man and attacks. 

Jay's Notes:

  • First appearance of the Puma.

October 1984
Amazing Spider-Man # 257: "Beware the Claws of Puma!"   
Writer: Tom DeFalco  
Penciller: Ron Frenz
Inker: Joe Rubenstein
Jay's Rating:
JJJJ

Synopsis:  
The Black Cat rescues an injured Spidey from death at the hands of the Puma. Later, the Puma tracks Spidey down and engages him in battle. However, the Puma is impressed by Spidey's courage and decides to pospone their battle until Spidey is in top form. Unfortunately, the Kingpin has convinced the Rose to terminate the Puma's contact. Meanwhile, Mary Jane tells Peter that she knows he's Spider-Man. 

Jay's Notes: 

  • Simple, clear action style by Frenz & Rubenstein obviously modeled after Ditko's classic style.

November 1984
Amazing Spider-Man # 258: "The Sinister Secret of Spider-Man's New Costume!"   
Writer: Tom DeFalco  
Penciller: Ron Frenz
Inker: Joe Rubenstein
Jay's Rating:
JJJ1/2

Synopsis:  
The Black Cat bursts into Peter's apartment and MJ takes off before Peter can stop her. Spidey visits the Fantastic Four and has Mr. Fantastic analyse his costume. The costume turns out to be an alien symbiote and Reed has to forcibly remove it from Spidey using sonics. Mary Jane returns to Peter's apartment and they sit down for a nice chat.

Decemberl 1984
Amazing Spider-Man # 259: "All my Pasts Remembered!"   
Writer: Tom DeFalco  
Penciller: Ron Frenz
Inker: Joe Rubenstein
Jay's Rating:
JJJJ

Synopsis:  
Mary Jane and Peter spend an afternoon in Central Park. MJ fills in Peter on her life and the difficulties she's had to endure to be who she is. Meanwhile, the Hobgoblin allies himself with the Rose and begins to enforce the Rose's mob territory. Peter learns that the Hobgoblin has returned. He dons his original costume and sets out to stop him once and for all. 

Jay's Notes:

  • A turning point in Peter and MJ's lives as Peter sees behind MJ's flakey exterior.

January 1985
Amazing Spider-Man # 260: "The Challenge of the Hobgoblin!"   
Writer: Tom DeFalco  
Penciller: Ron Frenz
Inker: Joe Rubenstein/Brett Breedings
Jay's Rating:
JJJJ

Synopsis:  
Spidey continues the hunt for the Hobgoblin. Although it doesn't pay off, he does learn of the new alliance between the Rose and the Hobgoblin. The Hobgoblin threatens Harry Osborn and demands his father's Green Goblin papers. Spidey gets in the Hobgoblin's way and drives him off. Meanwhile, Mary Jane and Harry's wife are kidnapped by the Rose's men.

Jay's Notes:

  • This issue does a great job keeping the reader guessing as to who is really the Hobgoblin.

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