Marvel Tales #151

Spider-Man squares off against the fishbowl-helmeted, smoke-wreathed Mysterio on this May 1983 reprint cover, with Steve Ditko's crisp linework capturing the wall-crawler mid-crouch as his mysterious foe looms in a swirling purple cape. The bold cover copy — "We've done it! We've created the greatest villain of all for ol' Spidey!" — sells the confrontation with real showmanship, while a teaser panel below hints at Peter Parker visiting a psychiatrist for good measure. Stan Lee and Ditko's "The Menace of Mysterio" remains a treat for anyone who loves the silver-age roots of Spider-Man's rogues gallery.