Marvel Age Spider-Man #4
In "The Grotesque Adventure of the Green Goblin!", Peter Parker’s chance to photograph the circus as Spider-Man takes a bizarre turn when the Ringmaster’s trick hat unleashes a hypnotic trap that ensnares the web-slinger—and the entire audience. With the real Spider-Man caught in a mind-controlled duel against Daredevil, the masked hero must fight through the illusion to stop the Ringmaster’s criminal scheme. Written by Stan Lee, Steve Ditko, and Todd DeZago, with art by Shane Davis and cover by Michael Ryan, this 2004 Marvel Age tale blends circus spectacle with classic superhero tension.
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Jonah lets Peter take pics at the circus as Spider-Man is supposed to put in an appearance. Foggy and Karen talk Matt into taking a night off and catching the show themselves. The real Spider-Man actually ends up saving the fake one but this allows the Ringmaster to use his trick hat to hypnotize him. Ringmaster also mesmerizes the entire crowd but before he can rob them, Daredevil opposes him as he is not affected. Ringmaster sends Spidey to take on DD and the two battle before Spider-Man is snapped out of his mental control and the two beat on the Ringmaster and his circus of criminals.
Plot details indexed by the Grand Comics Database (CC BY-SA).