When a hero is on the injured list, we as comics readers often find ourselves counting the days until their recovery, at times feeling as debilitated as the fictional character who leaps into the fray regardless of the fact that the odds are now heavily in their foe's favor. Depending on the circumstances, I imagine it would be something of a challenge for the book's writer to hold our attention in the book until the lead character was back in action in top form, physically or mentally. At times it was no fun reading Iron Man in his Tales Of Suspense days, I can tell you--in addition to his armor running low on power more often than not, Tony Stark's heart condition was a constant presence, even when buffered by a suit of armor designed to protect it. Even so... if handled in small doses, the heroism of the character of Iron Man would still have made for good reading while falling in line with Marvel's main theme of "heroes with problems"; but as it was, Stark's condition all but cried out for 'round the clock hospital care, not taking on the Mandarin et al.
To a lesser degree, writer Stan Lee would indulge in similar treatment of Spider-Man (as if the poor guy's personal problems weren't enough). But while there are several examples to choose from, two which come to mind actually feature the same foe--the Vulture, one of Spidey's deadliest nemeses and someone who isn't likely to show you an ounce of mercy just because you're injured or otherwise feeling under the weather. That would hold true for both men suiting up as the Vulture during 1967-68: Blackie Drago, who managed to lay his hands on the Vulture's suit and equipment and went on to defeat Spider-Man while the web-spinner was afflicted with the flu--and Adrian Toomes, the original, who dealt with Drago and then gleefully turned his attention to Spider-Man, at the scene but hampered with an injured shoulder (from web-swinging in the pouring rain--serves you right, you dope!).
And yet, what you're about to see is a battle issue that doesn't disappoint, a story that stands out in both story and art and definitely goes down as a classic. But in fighting 'til he (literally) drops, will Spider-Man see another defeat at the wings of the Vulture?
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