Item Biography
Cover by Jack Kirby/Steve Ditko.
"Spider-Man" (V-816) (14 Pages)
Peter Parker is beating himself up over the death of his Uncle Ben. Worse, he and his Aunt May have no income and the rent's due. Peter decides to use his new powers to put on public shows for cash, but once Daily Bugle editor J. Jonah Jameson starts publishing articles declaring that Spider-Man is a menace, the shows fizzle. Jameson holds out that the public should be following the exploits of TRUE heroes, like his son John, an astronaut. Even when Spider-Man rescues his son from an imminent crash, J. Jonah calls for Spider-Man's arrest.
Reprinted in Amazing Spider-Man Annual #2.
"Spider-Man vs. the Chameleon!" (10 Pages)
Peter has an idea to make cash by offering his services to the Fantastic Four. They reject his offer, telling him that they don't pay their members, and Spidey's wanted status would be a problem. Meanwhile, super-spy the Chameleon watches Spider-Man's predicament, and plans to frame him when he steals the plans to an experimental missile system. Spider-Man smells a rat and catches the Chameleon before he can turn over the plans to the Soviets.
First appearance of the Chameleon.
Reprinted in Amazing Spider-Man Annual #7.
Collected in Marvel Masterworks HC Vol 1, Marvel Masterworks: The Amazing Spider-Man HC Vol 1, Marvel Masterworks: The Amazing Spider-Man - Barnes & Noble Edition TPB Vol 1, Marvel Masterworks: The Amazing Spider-Man TPB Vol 1, Amazing Spider-Man Masterworks TPB Vol 1, Amazing Spider-Man Omnibus HC Vol 1, Spider-Man: Amazing Fantasy and Spider-Man Firsts TPB.
Reprinted in Marvel Tales (1966) #138 and Spider-Man Classics #2.