The Amazing Spiderman #22

March, 1965

Written by Stan Lee, Illustrated by Steve Ditko

Bizarre Reference:

Ringmaster: Who said that?

Spider-Man: One things for sure, I’m not Tuesday Weld.

Wikipedia tells me that Tuesday Weld is an actor, prominent in the 60s and 70s and still working today. She was most notably in Looking for Mr. Goodbar, The Winter of our Discontent, and Once Upon a Time in America. I don’t know why Spider-Man would bring her up.

She was married to Dudley Moore at one time. So…there’s that.


Preeeeeesting: The Clown and his Masters of Menace

This issue is goofy. It’s the second appearance of the Ringmaster and his crew and this time there is division in the circus ranks. The Ringmaster, as his name would imply, is normally the leader of this silly group consisting of two gymnasts, a man who is regularly shot from a cannon, a snake lady, and a clown. But the circus has had a rash of bad luck and the Ringmaster has lead them into trouble time and again.

The Ringmaster begins to talk about his “next great scheme” (Page 3) and the others shoot him down before he can pitch them. And I don’t blame them. The Ringmaster’s scheme is always the same. They roll into some unsuspecting town, throw a circus and then hypnotize the crowd so that they can steal their wallets. They do this every time.

Every time but this time. This time the snake lady, Stan Lee likes to call her Lady Python, says, “Forget it, top hat! Just because you’re a cool hypnotist doesn’t mean we have to make you head man.” (Page 3) Lady Python has done a lot of talking so far and, while I was reading this, I thought she was going to lead the group. She continues, “(We need) someone clever and crafty. Someone who can think on his feet- someone people can trust.” (Page 3) Still seems like she’s going to suggest herself right? Then she finishes, “Someone like- the clown!”

Yeah. So the clown leads the group. Good call.

Their plan, however, does change. They don’t throw a circus and rob everyone. Instead The clown shows up at an art show that J. Jonah Jameson is throwing (apparently Jameson is really into art) and pretends to be a hired entertainer while the others clean the place out.

They get back to their hideout and sit around congratulating each other. Instead of trying to move their product and actually make some money, they start kicking around ideas on a name for their criminal group. They suggest The Carnival Champs, The Big Toppers, and The Masters of Menace. Each one of them lamer than the next. Luckily Spider-Man breaks in an punches everyone in the face.

He has some trouble with Lady Python because he doesn’t want to punch a girl. And there's also trouble because she tries to sleep with him. Unambiguously. She says, “We could make beautiful music together.” (Page 16) To which Spider-Man replies, “Sorry ma’am. I’m tone deaf.” You can decide for yourself whether that means he’s impotent or not.

The rest of the comic plays out as corny as the beginning of the comic and nothing of importance really happens. The only thing I take away from this issue is the opinion that Spider-Man needs to learn how to punch a girl. If you just do it once it’s a lot easier from then on.