Amazing Spider-Man #96 - 1st of 3 Drug Issues

The Comics Code Authority (CCA) was created in the early 1960's in an effort by the comic book industry to self-regulate the content of comic books. The code specifically prohibited extreme violence, sex, drug use, and other negatively perceived content in comic books. Comic book publishers submitted comic books to the CCA for approval and, if the content was approved, the CCA seal could be displayed on the cover. If the content was not approved, the CCA seal could not be displayed on the cover. Fair enough.

Not Approved by the Comics Code Authority

In 1971, Marvel published a series of ant-drug stories in Amazing Spider-Man #96 through #98. The CCA did not approve those comic books and, therefore, Marvel was not permitted to place the CCA seal on the covers. Well, Marvel published the books anyway - only without the CCA seal.

The cover below is from Amazing Spider-Man #96. This was the first of the three anti-drug issues.

So, the story for Amazing Spider-Man #96 goes like this...

Peter Parker is on a plane flying from London to New York City. Peter is paranoid that Gwen Stacey, his love, is going to figure out that he and Spider-Man are the same person. While in London, Peter got some excellent photos of Spidey in action fighting some nasty terrorists and he believes that Gwen might be able to make the connection...

Spider-Man #96

Pete's flight arrives in New York City. Nearly broke, Pete immediately heads over to Joe Robertson's office to show him the photos and hopefully get paid. When Pete arrives at Joe's office and shows Joe the photos, Pete becomes increasingly paranoid that Joe might also make the connection that Peter Parker and Spider-Man are the same person.

Spider-Man #96

Although it's not suggested in the story, it's possible that Pete might have made a stop in Amsterdam and smoked up some seriously high grade ganja and hasn't come down yet. After all, paranoia is a well known side effect of Marijuana. But, would Spidey really behave that way? Well, Spidey probably wouldn't. But, a young Peter Parker in the early 1970's is probably willing to do just about anything to get over his torment of being a weirdo that dresses up as a spider and shoots sticky stuff all over the place.

After a while, Pete comes to his senses and realizes that he's probably just a little paranoid and nobody suspects anything. The next day, Pete runs into Harry Osborne. Harry invites him to MJ's first Off-Broadway performance. Reluctant to go because he's broke, Pete declines. Harry then lets Pete know how much his father would like to hire him for a research position at his dad's chemical company...

Spider-Man #96

Peter realizes that he really gets off being Spider-Man. To Peter, it's liberating to be the sensational crime-fighting Spider-Man that mystifies everyone. He truly wishes that he could expose his secret to the world. But, this Peter Parker is not quite ready to reveal the truth of his secret identity to anybody. Peter thinks back to his run-in with the Green Goblin...

Spider-Man #96

Feeling moderately secure that his secret is safe and Mr. Osborne won't remember a thing, Pete ponders the idea of taking the research position that Mr. Osborne is offering. Desperate for work, Pete decides that he wants the job. So, he immediately heads to Mr. Osborne's office to discuss the opportunity with him. When he arrives, the receptionist at the front desk directs him to Mr. Osborne's office. Pete goes in to wait and is immediately impressed with the lavishness of the room. He realizes that this job opportunity could make him enough money to connect with Gwen again, Suddenly, Pete hears Mr. Osborne and Osborne's doctor discussing his health in the next room. The doctor is concerned about Mr. Osborne's stress levels...

Spider-Man #96

The doctor leaves. Mr Osborne immediately praises Pete for his intellect and scholarly attitude and offers him the job. Pete happily accepts. Mr. Osborne then invites Pete to MJ's Off-Broadway show. Just as he did with Harry, Pete declines, but Mr. Osborne insists and tells Pete that it's his treat and he wants him to be there. So, Pete finally agrees to go.

Later, Pete is walking along a downtown street towards the theater to meet up with Harry, MJ, and Mr. Osborne. Suddenly, Pete hears somebody behind him call out his name. It's Aunt May and Mrs' Watson...

Spider-Man #96

Pete amusingly thinks to himself that Aunt May means swinger, not slinger. Aunt May and Mrs. Watson say goodbye and are on their merry way.

Pete continues on towards the theater pondering his current situation. He's happy about his job and happy that Aunt May is out having a good time for once. Still, he misses Gwen and tries to think of some way to get her back into his life and prove to her that Spidey was not responsible for her father's death. Suddenly, Pete hears sirens wailing and a police car speeds by. Pete immediately jumps into action...

Spider-Man #96

In transit to the emergency, Spidey continues to ponder the idea of revealing his true identity to the world and get his dear Gwen back. For Pete, that would be the perfect life. Spidey arrives at the scene of the emergency in the nick of time...

The guy suddenly jumps believing that he can fly. Spidey shoots a web on the opposing building and uses it to swing across and catch the guy in mid-air. As Spidey delivers the drugged out jumper to the police on the street below...

Spidey gets the guy to the safety of the street below.. The guy's not breathing, but one of the officers is able to resuscitate him. Spidey quickly leaves the area to avoid arrest. As Spidey gets his street clothes back on, he ponders the dangers of drugs...

Spider-Man #96

A short time later, Pete meets up with Harry, MJ, and Mr. Osborne at the theater. After a few hellos and other small talk, they begin heading into the theater, but MJ reminds everyone that they still have to wait for Randy. Like clock work, Randy immediately arrives. He tells everyone about Spidey saving a "freaked out cat" a few blocks away. They all head inside the theater to mingle before the show.

Once inside, Randy goes on a rant about drugs...

Spider-Man #96

Randy disagrees that Mr. Osborne knows "where it's at" and claims that Mr. Osborne is part of the problem because he's rich and refuses to do anything to help fight drugs. Mr. Osborne takes offense and the two bicker back and forth - both getting angrier and angrier. Finally, Harry tells Randy to lay off and reminds his father that he needs to stay calm and avoid stress. Argument over, MJ and Harry head backstage and the rest of the crew head to their seats to watch the performance.

That Randy character sure has a chip on his shoulder. I understand that he's upset about the destruction that drugs have on the black community, but he really needs to be a hair bit more friendly when trying to convince people to help. I guess Randy thinks that the Black Panther like intimidation approach will work on Mr. Osborne.

Anyway, the show starts. MJ puts on a stellar performance and the audience loves her. Intermission rolls around and everyone mingles in the lobby...

Spider-Man #96

Uh Oh. Looks like Mr. Osborne may be starting to lose it. Peter decides that he should probably keep an eye on Mr. Osborne. Intermission ends and everyone heads back to their seats. The show rolls on and MJ performs wonderfully. Peter notices that Mr. Osborne is still a little bit out of it. The show ends and everyone meets up in the lobby to congratulate MJ...

Spider-Man #96

Peter meets up with Harry, MJ, and Randy to say goodbye. They leave the theater and part ways. Pete decides that he's going to wait until everyone is gone so that he can learn what's behind that door.

A short time later, Mr. Osborne, still out of it, is insanely obsessed with finding out what's inside the room at the theater, so, he heads back to find out. Back at the empty theater, Pete decides to go to a nearby rooftop to put his Spidey outfit on...

Spider-Man #96

Spidey quickly scales down the building and runs into the theater to find an empty hallway. Spidey realizes that Mr. Osborne is already in the room and, if his hunch is right, there's gonna be trouble. Spidey heads to the room and finds that Mr. Osborne left the door unlocked. Spidey opens the door and finds...

The story continues in Amazing Spider-Man #97. Clearly, the content is anti-drug, but, at that time, the Comics Code Authority did not permit drug use of any kind in comic books regardless of the context. Later that same year, the CCA revised the policy after learning that the Federal Government, in an effort to help fight drug abuse, specifically asked Marvel to publish stories depicting drug use as dangerous. And, so, Marvel did exactly that.

		Comic Book Title Search Enter Title or Character
Browse Comic Titles	Home \| Browse All Titles \| Browse All Comic Books \| Rants \| Links \| My Comic Room