By Jim Beard
Older, more powerful and absolutely deadlier, classic Spider-Man rogue Electro begins a new campaign this November 25 in AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #613-prepare to be shocked!
One of Spidey's earliest opponents, Electro has badgered and bugged the wall-crawler throughout his illustrious costumed career. He's the ultimate master of electricity, able to generate and regenerate voltage at insanely powerful levels, often proving more than a match for Spider-Man's vaunted abilities.
Come with us and we'll illuminate a few of the highs and lows of Electro's career as one of the more fascinating villains ever hoping to squash a spider.
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #9 (1964)
Peter Parker needed money for an operation for his poor Aunt May; Electro needed money to cement his new career as a capable criminal. Zapping his way through a hold-up or two, the voltage villain put a crazy thought into J. Jonah Jameson's noggin: Electro must be Spider-Man! Our hero finds his new foe more than a challenge but applies a few brains cells to ultimately turn the lights out on Electro.
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN ANNUAL #1 (1964)
Six of Spider-Man's foes reasoned that while individually they couldn't beat the web-slinger, perhaps collectively they'd reign supreme. Thus, Electro joined the Sinister Six and helped kidnap Betty Brant to lure Spidey into their clutches. Following his trail to a power plant, Spider-Man confronted Electro and despite a temporary power loss entered into battle with the crackling crook. In the midst of the struggle our hero realized his powers had returned and shut Electro down. Eventually his electric enemy joined the rest of the Six in prison.
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #82 (1970)
J. Jonah Jameson hired a vengeful Electro to fight Spider-Man and uncover his identity on live television. The battle ensued and Spidey managed to make his opponent's feet and hands touch, bringing about a massive short-circuit for Electro and a subsequent explosion. His plan in shambles and the TV station in ruins around him, the villain slunk away while Spidey lay unconscious.
MARVEL TEAM-UP #56 (1977)
Electro teamed up with fellow super villain Blizzard to extort some lovely moolah from both the Daily Bugle and the Daily Globe. Unfortunately, Spider-Man and Daredevil, both old enemies of Electro, entered the picture and muddled the villains' dreams of wealth and power. Despite the presence of the always-cantankerous J. Jonah Jameson, Spidey strived to put the damper on Electro's surge.
SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN #134 (1988)
Recently escaped from jail and depressed over his inability to win against Spider-Man, Electro simply wanted to grab a little cash and high-tail it out of town. As fate and his poor luck would express themselves, he once again ran afoul of his hated nemesis while robbing a store. Wielding all the static electricity in the immediate area, Electro then stumbled upon an amazing discovery: his powers shorted out Spidey's ability to stick to walls. The odds now with him for once, he defeated the wall-crawler and left him to the tender mercies of the police.
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #423 (1997)
At that time powerless and washed up as a costumed criminal, Electro sought recharging from the mysterious Rose, and once the process took effect became more powerful than ever before. Retirement and multiple versions of the Sinister Six behind him, Electro hunted down Spider-Man and once again brought our hero to his knees.
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