Amazing Spider-Man, The (1963 series) #116

While pondering his recent troubles with Aunt May, Spider-Man spots a billboard advertising Mayoral Candidate Richard Raleigh suddenly get attacked by a 10-foot tall man! Calling himself the Smasher, he has a clear vendetta against Raleigh. Spider-Man catches the painters who had been working on the billboard before tackling the Smasher. The Smasher tears off what’s left of the billboard and throws it at Spidey who keeps it from hitting the crowd below. Spidey is able to kick the Smasher off his perch where he falls to a lower rooftop. Just then, the painters lose their footing, forcing Spidey to catch them once again, allowing the Smasher to escape. Without any other leads, Spidey heads to the Daily Bugle where he retrieves his mask from its current place on J. Jonah Jameson’s wall! An irate Jameson claims that Raleigh is going to get rid of criminals like him, while Spidey enjoys the feeling of being back in his real mask.

Spidey changes back to Peter in order to re-enter the Bugle to sell some photos but first runs into Harry and Mary Jane. Mary Jane gives Peter a button promoting Richard Raleigh in an attempt to cheer him up and invites him and Gwen to a rally being held for Raleigh the next night. Peter heads in to show his photos of Doc Ock and Hammerhead to Jameson, when Jameson gets a call about the Smasher’s attack on Raleigh’s billboard. Deciding that’s the real story, he tells Peter to get lost until he can get some photos of it and checks in with Robbie to make sure the story is being followed up on. Betty asks Peter if he’s going to watch Raleigh’s speech currently playing on the office TV, but Peter declines. Raleigh gives an impassioned speech promising to serve the people of the city and crush crime any way he can! Afterwards, Raleigh’s approached and told to lay off the speeches if he doesn’t want to end up at the bottom of the river. Not one to be intimidated, Raleigh doubles down, promising that he’s going to crush the criminals of this city!

The next evening, Spider-Man swings through the city, postponing having to talk to Gwen. Without any sign of the Smasher, he finally decides to get it over with and heads to see Gwen. When she answers the door, he asks her if there’s anything going on between her and Flash and she responds by promising that they’re only friends and embracing Peter. Later, the two head to the rally where they’re greeted by Mary Jane. She tells them that Raleigh already left after giving a knockout speech, meaning they got there just in time to catch the final speaker, the long-winded Jameson! Not long after, Peter’s spider-sense goes off and he notices the ceiling is starting to crack, threatening to fall onto the crowd. Peter uses his ulcer as an excuse to slip away from Gwen and douses the lights in order to crawl around unseen. Peter crawls up to the ceiling and tries to use his webbing to keep the ceiling from caving in but feels it starting to slip, dooming everyone below, including Gwen! To be continued!