The Amazing Spider-Man #50
The Amazing Spider-Man #50 (July 1967) stands as one of the most narratively rich single issues of the Silver Age, accomplishing three major things simultaneously: it introduced Wilson Fisk — the Kingpin — who would eventually grow into one of Marvel's most enduring and complex villains, later becoming the primary antagonist of Daredevil under Frank Miller; it delivered the emotionally resonant 'Spider-Man No More!' story in which Peter Parker abandons his identity under the weight of guilt, grief over Aunt May's illness, and public hostility stoked by J. Jonah Jameson; and it produced John Romita Sr.'s unforgettable splash-page image of Peter walking away from his discarded costume in a trash can, a visual so culturally durable that it was directly adapted for the 2004 film Spider-Man 2 and has been homaged across decades of comics. The issue also marks what sources identify as the first, unnamed appearance of Robbie Robertson, the Daily Bugle's editor-in-chief, making it a quiet triple-debut within a single 20-page story.
In "Spider-Man No More!", Peter Parker, overwhelmed by responsibility and fearing for Aunt May’s health, makes the drastic decision to quit being Spider-Man and focus on his college life. With the iconic red-and-blue suit discarded in a trash can, it’s discovered by a kid and proudly displayed at the Daily Bugle—where Jonah Jameson sees it as a headline-grabbing relic. As crime surges and the Kingpin begins consolidating power, Peter’s conscience is stirred by the memory of Uncle Ben, leading him to reconsider his choice. Written by Stan Lee and illustrated by Johnny Romita, this pivotal issue features dynamic art and emotional depth, with cover art by John Romita and Mike Esposito.
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Writer-editor Stan Lee conceived the Kingpin as a crime boss who ran organized crime the way a chairman runs a conglomerate — a figure whose removal would visibly damage the city around him — and brought that concept to artist John Romita Sr., who had taken over the Amazing Spider-Man series from Steve Ditko beginning with issue #39 (1966). Romita modeled Wilson Fisk's imposing physical build on character actors Sydney Greenstreet and Robert Middleton, and the Kingpin name itself derived from Mafia slang for a crime lord. The story was inked by Mike Esposito under the alias 'Mickey Demeo' — a credit that was accidentally misspelled 'Dimeo' in the printed issue — with lettering by Sam Rosen and coloring by Stan Goldberg; Stan Lee also served as editor.
Trivia · 8 facts
- First appearance of Wilson Fisk, the Kingpin (Marvel's eventual archenemy of Daredevil), created by Stan Lee and John Romita Sr., published with a cover date of July 1967.
- The story is titled 'Spider-Man No More!' — Peter Parker, overwhelmed by Aunt May's deteriorating health, J. Jonah Jameson's relentless smear campaign, and public fear of vigilante violence, discards his Spider-Man costume in a trash can and attempts to live as a civilian.
- John Romita Sr. provided both the cover and all interior art; inker Mike Esposito is credited under the pseudonym 'Mickey Demeo,' which was misspelled 'Dimeo' in the printed issue.
- Spider-Man's origin is recapped in a flashback sequence within the issue, including cameo appearances by Uncle Ben and the Burglar responsible for his death.
- Late-night talk-show hosts Johnny Carson and Ed McMahon make brief cameo appearances in the issue, treated by Marvel's Sliding Timescale as topical references rather than fixed continuity.
- The issue contains what sources identify as the first (unnamed) appearance of Robbie Robertson, the Daily Bugle's editor-in-chief, who would be formally introduced and named in issue #51.
- The story's central splash page — Peter walking away from his Spider-Man suit discarded in a garbage can — directly inspired a key sequence in the 2004 Sony film Spider-Man 2.
- The issue was first reprinted in The Amazing Spider-Man Annual #8 (December 1971) and later in Marvel Tales #190 (August 1986), and has since been collected in numerous trade editions including the Marvel Masterworks and Amazing Spider-Man Omnibus Vol. 2.
Cast · 18 characters
Full credits
Full plot ⚠ may contain spoilers
▸ Reveal full plot — may contain spoilers
Fearing for his aunt's health and tired of being hounded by Jameson, Peter gives up being Spider-Man and concentrates on being a simple college student. A kid finds the discarded Spider-Man suit in the trash can and brings it to the Daily Bugle where Jonah proudly puts it on display. Peter’s personal life starts looking up but crime increases as the Kingpin gathers the mob under his leadership. Feeling guilty about the crime wave, Peter remembers the lessons taught to him by his uncle's death and decides to become Spider-Man once again.
Plot details indexed by the Grand Comics Database (CC BY-SA).
