The Mighty World of Marvel #2

In the shadow of a Soviet experiment, the Hulk and Rick Jones are captured by the Gargoyle, a twisted scientist with a hidden past. As the journey eastward begins, the Hulk’s transformation flickers between rage and reason, revealing a path to redemption — and a cure for the Gargoyle’s suffering.

When mysterious atomic plants vanish across the globe, the Fantastic Four track the pattern to the ominous Monster Isle. There, a cave-in strands Reed and Johnny in the underground domain of the Mole Man, a tormented, half-blind exile who blames the surface world for his suffering. As the team confronts the man behind the monsters, they must find a way to escape before the island’s fate is sealed—leaving the Mole Man to his dark realm.

In this 1972 tale from The Mighty World of Marvel #2, Peter Parker wrestles with the weight of his powers and his past, haunted by the memory of Uncle Ben and the poverty afflicting Aunt May. As he tries to rebuild his life by returning to his old stage act, the secret of his identity becomes a frustrating barrier—especially when J. Jonah Jameson, newly introduced as a crusading publisher, launches a smear campaign against Spider-Man, branding him a menace while elevating his own son, John Jameson, as the true hero.