Written by Stan Lee, art by Steve Ditko, lettering by Artie Simek

This issue feels like a bit of a hodgepodge, with a couple of stories that don’t amount to much in the grand scheme of things. There’s a definite filler-episode quality to it, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. In fact, it’s a good example of how much Lee and Ditko have established in the world of Spider-Man.

The main story introduces the Living Brain, a robot packed with practically all the knowledge of human civilization. It can answer almost any question and even predict the outcome of certain events. Lee and Kirby basically invented Google.

Unfortunately, the men who helped bring the machine to the school are a couple of small-time crooks hoping to use the Living Brain to predict winning horses and make some easy money.

Meanwhile, Peter and Flash’s rivalry finally reaches a boiling point. The two agree to settle things with a boxing match after school, but Peter inadvertently knocks Flash out before the fight can even get started.

The Living Brain is also on the loose, so Peter has to sneak away and tsckle the robot as Spider-Man.

The resulting fight is a lot of fun. Ditko gives us some inventive panel layouts and plenty of movement as Spider-Man tries to take down the robot. There’s also some nice slapstick, including a door falling on Spider-Man and a panicked crowd trampling him as they try to get away. It’s an entertaining sequence that makes the most of what is otherwise a pretty forgettable premise.

In the end, Flash accidentally manages to stop the crooks and gets all the credit, while Peter is left looking like a bully who sucker-punched his rival. It’s another one of those situations where Peter does the right thing and somehow comes out looking like the bad guy.

The backup story is an equally silly crossover with the Human Torch. Johnny Storm is attending a party at his girlfriend Doris Evans’ house, where he naturally attracts plenty of attention. Spider-Man, apparently a little jealous of all the adoration Johnny receives, decides to stir things up. Before long, the two are fighting on the beach, with the rest of the Fantastic Four eventually showing up to break things up. Sue even gets a little flirtatious with Spider-Man, who seems less than impressed with the whole affair before swinging away.

It’s a pretty lightweight story, but there’s something fun about seeing these characters cross paths. Kirby drawing Spider-Man is a nice bonus, too.

Neither story depends on a particularly compelling plot or a major new villain. Instead, the issue is built almost entirely around the characters and the world Lee and Ditko have created. Peter’s school life, his rivalry with Flash, his relationships with the people around him, and his place in this expanding superhero universe are enough to carry the issue.

The actual superhero adventures almost feel secondary at this point. That’s a pretty good indication of how much they’ve accomplished in just eight issues.

Marvel in the 60s – Entry #104