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Amazing Spider-Man, The (1963 series) #172

Sep 1977 on-sale: Jun 7, 1977

Len Wein
writer
 |  Ross Andru
penciler

Amazing Spider-Man, The (1963 series) #172 cover

Story Name:

The Fiend From the Fire!


Synopsis

Amazing Spider-Man, The (1963 series) #172 synopsis by reviewer Anthony Silvestro
Rating: 3.5 stars

Starting in medias res, Spider-Man chases new villain Rocket Racer down the street after having witnessed him steal a briefcase full of bonds. Spidey tries to keep up with Rocket Racer on his rocket-powered skateboard while avoiding and blocking Rocket Racer’s mini-rockets! Eventually, Spidey chases Rocket Racer to a giant ramp that he tries using to escape. Just as Rocket Racer gets to the top of the ramp, Spidey snags his skateboard with his webs, causing Rocket Racer to go flying off, knocking himself out against a passing truck! Spidey leaves Rocket Racer off for the cops before swinging off again. Meanwhile, Harry and Liz are finishing up a date, when Liz has Harry drop her off at her apartment, stating she needs to sleep before her night shift at the hospital. Liz enters her apartment to find a window open that wasn’t before and burning footprints on the floor! Suddenly, she’s surprised by someone in her apartment, telling her they need her help!

Not long after, Peter meets with Harry at a diner, where Harry asks Pete to be his best man! The joyous moment is cut short when the two spot Liz frantically pass by outside. Confused at why she’s out instead of sleeping, Harry goes out to see if she needs help, but Liz completely ignores him and speeds away in a cab! Harry wonders if he did something wrong, while in the cab, Liz fearfully thinks that no one can help her now! Some time later, Peter heads to the Daily Bugle and ends up chatting with Glory before Jameson calls Peter into his office, annoyed that Peter hasn’t gotten him any photos lately. Peter then pleasantly surprises Jameson with his photos of Rocket Racer from earlier that day, when Glory interrupts to let Jameson know that Marla Madison is there to see him. A bewildered Peter watches Jameson joyfully skip around his office, making himself more presentable before kicking Peter out just in time to greet Marla! Outside the office, Peter, Glory, and Robbie all get a kick out of Jameson’s obvious infatuation with Dr. Madison. Glory then receives a call and says it’s the police for Peter! Peter is shocked at the conversation that follows and rushes out, leaving Glory and Robbie bewildered.

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Peter arrives at the police station where it turns out Liz has been arrested for attempting to steal chemicals from the hospital! Peter is ready to dismiss it when Liz says it’s true and that she can’t explain it! She asks him to tell Harry she’s sorry, as Peter heads out as Spider-Man to try and figure out what’s going on! He first tries Liz’s apartment, and discovers the burned footprints, which immediately clues him in on who’s responsible! Spidey heads to the hospital and intercepts a disguised man trying to steal the very same chemicals Liz attempted to. In their scuffle, the thief’s coat burns off, revealing him to indeed be the Molten Man, back from the dead! The two fight and Spidey tries to keep the briefcase of chemicals away from Molten Man. Molten Man ends up setting some of the room on fire, and when Spidey is busy dousing the flames with his webs, Molten Man pushes a supply shelf over onto Spidey. By the time Spidey has freed himself, Molten Man has escaped, leaving Spidey to be found by the police, who think he’s responsible! To be continued!

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Characters
Good (or All)
JJJAMESON  
J. Jonah Jameson
(JJ Jameson)
LIZALLEN  
Liz Allan
(Liz Osborn)
ROBBIEROBERTSON  
SPIDERMAN  
Spider-Man
(Peter Parker)
Plus: Glory Grant, Marla Madison.

Antagonists
MOLTENMAN  
Molten Man
(Mark Raxton)
Plus: Rocket Racer (Robert Farrell).

> Amazing Spider-Man, The (1963 series) comic book info and issue index



This comic is in the following collection:
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Collecting AMAZING SPIDER-MAN (1963) #165-185, AMAZING SPIDER-MAN ANNUAL (1964) #11-12, NOVA (1977) #12 and MARVEL CALENDAR 1978.

Main/1st Story Full Credits

Ross Andru
Frank Giacoia
Glynis Wein
Ross Andru (Cover Penciler)
Frank Giacoia (Cover Inker)
Unknown (Cover Colorist)
Additional Credits
Letterer: John Costanza.



Review / Commentaries


reviewer
Amazing Spider-Man, The (1963 series) #172 Review by (November 4, 2026)

Review: Spidey faces two enemies for the price of one, though not in the way he recently has been. We get the debut of Rocket Racer in the issue’s cold open, who is literally just a minor nuisance that Spidey takes out in the first few pages before the actual plot kicks in. We get no details or backstory on him, other than his self-made rocket-powered skateboard (radical). It is only Rocket Racer, he was never going to be a big threat, but usually even lame villains get more of an intro than this. The actual plot involves Molten Man returning to blackmail Liz into helping him, revealing him as the guy that was planning revenge on her last issue (cause who else would it be?) No word yet on how Molten Man survived their last encounter, though this is only part one of two. What’s with the two-part Molten Man stories lately? He’s not that compelling. Though the Molten Man stuff is pretty standard, we get some nice supporting character stuff. Harry asks Peter to be his best man, and at the Daily Bugle a bewildered Peter gets to see Jameson clearly infatuated with Marla Madison. The whole sequence is equal parts funny and kind of sweet. It’s not often you see Jameson just genuinely like someone. And oh yeah, Glory works at the Daily Bugle now, I completely forgot. Overall, a decent issue with even more Molten Man next issue.

Comments: First appearance of Rocket Racer.





Thor

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