Amazing Spider-Man, The (1963 series) #144

Spider-Man swings around Paris, thinking about the events of last issue that led him to this point. In order to try and figure out why Jameson and Robbie were kidnapped, Peter heads back to his hotel where the management tell him a note arrived for him. Turns out, it’s the kidnappers, who want him to stay put until they send further instructions. Peter decides to fill the time by calling collect to Aunt May, who is delighted to hear from him as always. Peter gets a knock at the door, while back in New York Aunt May and Anna Watson discuss how happy they are that things seem to be clicking between Peter and Mary Jane. The two head out to go to a movie, while Aunt May thinks of Gwen and her too short life. Aunt May then sees something that shocks her to her core! Seemingly seeing Gwen across the street, just as Peter has been, she collapses in shock, thinking that her mind is finally going, as she wonders who’s going to take care of Peter!

Back in Paris, Peter goes to open the door and senses the Cyclone’s henchmen on the other side, knowing he’s likely about to be threatened. He’s proven right when the henchmen attack him and tell him to bring the ransom to the Notre Dame Cathedral the following night. Early the following morning, Peter retrieves the case from the hotel safe and heads out into the empty Paris streets. As he somberly walks through the streets, he happens upon a hardware store and thinks that he may be able to get something there to help him against the Cyclone. He ends up purchasing something large and heads to set it up at the cathedral ahead of the meet up time. That night, he heads back to Notre Dame as Spider-Man, and briefly wishes he could just get rid of all of his worries.

Inside the cathedral, Cyclone holds J. Jonah Jameson and Robbie hostage and tells them about how he used to be a NATO engineer whose cyclone invention was rejected due to him not being American. He strikes Jameson for calling him pathetic and at that moment, Spidey makes his presence known by lowering the case with the ransom money. He takes out Cyclone’s henchmen before moving to the man himself. Spidey attacks Cyclone, aided by his usual quipping but ends up getting overwhelmed by the massive whirlwind he erupts. As Cyclone bares down on him, Spidey decides the time is right to use what he bought from the hardware store, which turns out to be a giant fan! He uses it to reverse Cyclone’s own vortex which, after some back and forth, finally sends him flying across the room, taking him out! Jameson is horrified at the thought of being saved by Spider-Man when Peter Parker’s voice seems to emanate from the belfry, telling them that he got all the photos they’ll need! Spidey swings up, revealing that he’d set up a tape recorder earlier, in order to make Jameson and Robbie think Peter and Spider-Man were there simultaneously! Hoping that will assuage their suspicions, the three make the long flight home.

The next day, they finally land and Peter is surprised to find that Mary Jane isn’t waiting there for them, like she said she would be. The three take a taxi from the airport, with Peter thinking about MJ the entire time, when they arrive at Peter’s apartment building to find Anna Watson waiting there for him. Peter rushes out and Mrs. Watson tells him that Aunt May is in the hospital after she saw something! Unable to explain, she directs Peter to his apartment, and he runs up the stairs to find who appears to be Gwen Stacy there waiting for him, and very much alive! To be continued!