I: Feature Story: "If This Be Bedlam!"

Pages: 20

Script: Stan Lee
Layouts: John Romita
Pencils: Jim Mooney
Inks: Jim Mooney
Letters: Sam Rosen

Villain: Silvermane, Caesar Cicero, Man-Mountain Marko, Louis Wilson

Guest Appearance: Dr. Curt Connors, Martha Connors, Billy Connors, Harry Osborn

Cameo Appearance: Josh, Randy Robertson, Gwen Stacy, The Lizard

Synopsis: (continued from ASM #73)

Silvermane locks up Wilson and Dr. Connors in a laboratory and demands that they work to discover the secret of the tablet. Connors determines that the tablet has a biological component to it. Meanwhile, Spider-Man is in pursuit of Man Mountain Marko when he sees a newspaper headline about Caesar Cicero springing Wilson from jail. He confronts Cicero on the whereabouts of Marko, and Cicero's goons pull their handguns and start firing. During the battle, one of Cicero's goons babbles about having Connors' wife and kid held hostage, which topis off Spider-Man about the Maggia's overall strategy regarding the tablet. While Spidey is dispatching his thugs, Cicero runs away and escapes with Martha and Billy Connors, triggering a booby trap that seems to hill Spidey in a massive explosion.

Cicero arrives at Silvermane's hideout and an argument erupts between the two concerning Spider-Man being able to trace him to their location. Meanwhile, Dr. Connors is under intense pressure to finish translating the tablet, which he has determined is written not in any kind of language, but in biological symbols, a breakthrough which helps him develop his serum.

Martha Connors shivers in fear, worrying over the death of Spider-Man which leaves no one to save them. Her son, Billy, tells her that he knows the secret of his father, who turns into the Lizard.

Spider-Man gives up searching for Cicero, and the next day at school, so deep in thought is Peter that he totally blows off his friend Harry Osborn, who wants to show off his new look, complete with "Fu Manchu face fuzz". Spidey swings across the city hoping that his spidey sense will tingle and lead him to where he can find the tablet.

Dr. Connors has finished the serum, and Silvermane cannot wait to take it, ignoring warnings that the serum is untested and thus unsafe. He drinks deeply of the serum and passes out, but shortly thereafter, he rises from the floor, appearing to be decades younger and more virile. He has found...the fountain of youth!

(continued in ASM #75)

--synopsis by Gormuu

--letters pages provided by Debricazar

Issues Reprinted
Amazing Spider-Man #68-77, Marvel Super-Heroes #14

Click on cover image to learn more about each issue.