The Amazing Spider-Man #284 (1987)

“Gang War, Part One: …And Who Shall Stand Against Them…?”

Rating: 4/5

Writers: Tom DeFalco & Jim Owsley
Artists: Ron Frenz & Brett Breeding

Due to his repeated failings in trying to kill Daredevil, Kingpin takes a vacation. With Kingpin no longer gripping New York’s criminal underworld, all the rival gang leaders Rose, Hammerhead, and Silvermane rise up and begin fighting one another for supreme control. While combing New York for Flash Thompson, Spider-Man stumbles upon a few of these fire fights but keeps reminding himself that it’s not his war and he needs to keep out of it. Eventually he says his mantra, “With great power comes great responsibility” and goes out again to put an end to the violence. Also, Peter runs into Ned Leeds at the Bugle and he triggers his spider sense. Also Ned is becoming more angry and violent. In Kinpin’s place, the Arranger sends Jack O’Lantern to kill Silvermane and nearly takes out Hammerhead with a bomb. In an epilogue, Flash shows up at Betty Leeds’ house. In a second epilogue, Hobgoblin runs into The Punisher, who shoots him with an uzi.