Amazing Spider-Man
# 261-270
Amazing Spider-Man # 261: "The Sins of my Father" 
Writer: Tom DeFalco 
Penciller: Ron Frenz 
Inker: Joe Rubinstein
Jay's Rating:
JJJ1/2

Synopsis:
Harry Osborn finds one of his father's journals and turns it over to the Hobgoblin. However, the Hobgoblin isn't willing to deal and takes Harry prisoner. Spidey comes to the rescue. Harry joins the battle donning some of his father's Green Goblin equipment. Spidey delivers the Hobgoblin a serious beating, but he's forced to let him escape as he saves Liz who has gone into labour. 

Jay's Notes:

  • Whoever the Hobgoblin is, we now know that he knows Mary Jane by name.
Amazing Spider-Man # 262: "Trade Secret" 
Writer/Artist:Bob Layton
Jay's Rating:
JJJ

Synopsis:
A trash tabloid photographer stumbles upon Peter Parker while he's putting on his Spidey costume, and snaps a picture. The photographer eludes Spidey and then tries to sell Spidey's secret identity to the mob. Unfortunately, the mob doesn't cooperate and Spidey has to come to his rescue.

Jay's Notes:

  • Fill-in issue.
Amazing Spider-Man # 263: "The Spectacular Spider-Kid!" 
Writer: Tom DeFalco 
Penciller: Ron Frenz 
Inker: Joe Rubinstein
Jay's Rating:
JJJ

Synopsis:
Liz Osborn has a bit of difficulty giving birth to a baby boy. Meanwhile, Ollie Osnick, a misfit geek last seen in Peter Parker Spectacular Spider-Man #72, has modified his costume and becomes the spectacular Spider-Kid. Ollie gets Spidey's attention and Spidey isn't interested in a sidekick. Spidey helps make the Spider-Kid look good against some local punks and Ollie decides to hang up his costume.
Amazing Spider-Man # 264: "Red 9 and Red Tape!" 
Writer: Craig Anderson
Artist: Paty
Jay's Rating:
J

Synopsis:
A battle with an imcompetent villain calling himself Red 9 gets Spidey involved with a senior in a retirement home who has been mistakenly declared dead. After dealing with some extra-ordinary red tape and another battle with Red 9, Spidey informs the senior that he's officially alive and he can continue to stay at the retirement home.
Amazing Spider-Man # 265: "After the Fox!" 
Writer: Tom DeFalco 
Penciller: Ron Frenz 
Inker: Joe Rubinstein
Jay's Rating:
JJJ1/2

Synopsis:
Silver Sable International has been hired to apprehend the jewel thief known as the Black Fox. Spidey inadvertantly disrupts their attempt to catch the Black Fox. However, he does catch up with the Black Fox later that evening. Spidey lets the Fox get away due to his age, but without his prize diamond which he turns over to the Silver Sable. Afterwards, Peter and Aunt May finally settle their differences.

Jay's Notes:

  • First appearance of Silver Sable.
Amazing Spider-Man # 266: "Jump for my Love or Spring is in the Air" 
Writer: Peter David 
Penciller: Sal Buscema 
Inker: Joe Rubinstein
Jay's Rating:
JJJ1/2

Synopsis:
Spidey stops the Toad from killing himself and inadvertantly convinces him to become a hero. The Toad and Frogman fight it out for the right to be Spidey's sidekick, despite the fact that Spidey doesn't want a sidekick. The battle is escalated as the Spider-Kid joins the battle. Spidey ends up convincing them to join together as a new super-hero team called the Misfits, or as Spidey dubs them, under his breath, the Spastic Three! 
Amazing Spider-Man # 267: "The Commuter Cometh!" 
Writer: Peter David
Artist: Bob McLeod
Jay's Rating:
JJJJ

Synopsis:
A delightful off-beat tale that has Spidey persue a small-time crook into suberbia. Well, Spidey quickly find himself out of his element, but does manage to catch the crook. 

Jay's Notes:

  • Peter David's humor is dead on and his depiction of suburbian life also hits the mark.
  • A rare pencilling job by McLeod, normally a first-class inker.
Amazing Spider-Man # 268: "This Gold is Mine!" 
Writer: Tom DeFalco 
Penciller: Ron Frenz 
Inker: Joe Rubinstein
Jay's Rating:
JJJ

Synopsis:
The Beyonder has turned an entire building into gold and the US army has put the area under martial law to remove the gold without creating a scene. However, the Kingpin gets greedy and intercepts on of the final shipments, which was on its way to being dumped into the ocean to prevent the value of gold from plunging. Spidey comes to the rescue and defeats the Kingpin's men and prevents the gold from falling into his hands.

Jay's Notes:

  • A Secret Wars II tie-in continued from Secret Wars II # 2 and Web of Spider-Man #6.
Amazing Spider-Man # 269: "Burn, Spider, Burn!" 
Writer: Tom DeFalco 
Penciller: Ron Frenz 
Inker: Joe Rubinstein
Jay's Rating:
JJJJ1/2

Synopsis:
Firelord stops by to visit the Earth and of course makes an arrogant nuisance of himself. Spidey rescues a bunch of rowdy construction workers who were foolish enough to attack the Firelord. Spidey then turns his attention to the Firelord. Realizing that he's way out of his league, he keeps the Firelord busy while trying to get help. Unfortunately, there's none to be found and Spidey is forced to take on the Firelord alone.

Jay's Notes:

  • Frenz and Rubinstein do a wonderful job capturing Ditko's flow, panel layouts and poses.
Amazing Spider-Man # 270: "The Hero and the Holocaust" 
Writer: Tom DeFalco 
Penciller: Ron Frenz 
Inker: Bob McLeod
Jay's Rating:
JJJJ

Synopsis:
Spidey versus the Firelord, round 2! Spidey plays cat and mouse with the Firelord hoping to tire him out. Spidey is forced to go on the offenses and much to the Avengers' surprise, Spidey defeats him. 
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