The Amazing Spider-Man #28

The Menace of the Molten Man


Written and edited by Stan Lee
Illustrated and plotted by Steve Ditko


Bizarre Reference: Spider-Man says to Molten Man: Don’t let a couple punches go to your head, Raxton. You’re not exactly fighting a Maypole dancer. (Page 11)

Oooookay. Well, I sort of know what a Maypole dance is because I used to work with a Pagan lady named Anna. I thought, perhaps, that it had multiple meanings that I was missing but I can’t find another way to define it.
A Maypole Dance is an ancient Germanic Pagan dance around a pole where the participants hold ribbons attached to said pole. It is known to increase fertility. This is one of the most confusing things Spider-Man has ever said. If anyone has any insight on what this could mean, please let me know.

The Molten Man was one of my favorite comic villains growing up. He was a major character in “The Web of Spider-Man” in the 1990s. During this time he crossed over from villain to good guy after serving time in jail and coming to terms with his sister, Liz Allen. There was lots of family drama and moral dilemma every time the Molten Man made an appearance. None of this is apparent in this issue, but his introduction was still pretty good.

Spider-Man goes to see the scientist Smythe, the guy that made the robot that tried to kill Spider-Man in issue #25, to get his costume back. He’s been without his original costume for over three issues now and it’s about time this storyline ended. While Peter’s lifting his costume, a guy named Raxton breaks into the lab. Raxton has been working with Smythe to create some magical metal alloy and now that it’s nearly finished, he’s planning on stealing the stuff and selling it.

The bottle containing the alloy breaks during a struggle with Spider-Man and Raxton is covered in it, thus becoming the Molten Man. He runs away and Spider-Man tracks him down to his apartment. By this time, Raxton has discovered he has super strength and metal skin and has, of course, decided to begin a life of crime. He kicks the crap out of Spider-Man for a while before the web slinger pulls a trick with his webbing and wins the day. It was good action and I look forward to the return of the Molten Man.

The really good stuff, though, came at the end of the comic. It’s Peter Parker’s graduation day. He’s leaving high school and going out into the big world. And, normally, this might be a boring thing to put in a comic. But not with the great side characters in The Amazing Spider-Man. The high school gives out two scholarships; one for athletic achievement and one for scholarly achievement. Can you guess who receives them? Yes, Peter and Flash Thompson will both be attending Empire State University on full ride scholarships. Awesome. Totally awesome.