I just finished reading the Master Planner trilogy today.The first 3 part arc in ASM I might add too.
Anyway this arc was a turning point for Spidey,for several reasons.First of all he was entering a whole new era in his life-college.Where he met his soon to be room mate and best friend Harry Osborn,and a certain Miss Gwen Stacy in ASM#31.
Aunt May was stricken very ill,but this time it was not due to her weak heart.No it was due to radiation in her blood from the blood transfusion she recieved from Peter.Only Peter realises this,and wracked with guilt,he goes on a desperate hunt for the cure,enlisting the help of Dr Conners who makes his 2nd appearance since his introduction as the Lizard back in ASM#6.
And the icing on the cake is that New York is being ravaged by daring and well planned scientific robberies by a masked group of mercenaries whom are working for a mysterious employer known as The Master Planner,who has a secret under water lair at the bottom of the ocean.
Spidey's path is destined to cross the Master Planner's,whom is revealed to the readers at the beginning of ASM#32,as Doctor Octopus.Ock is planning to master all forms of radiation so he can use the knowledge and power to conquer the world,and maybe bestow himself,and others he may choose,with new powers.
An isotope known as ISO-36 is Aunt May's only salvation.Dr Conners has it shipped into New York,after Peter pawns all his scientific equipment to pay for it.However Ock also wants the isotope for his deadly experiments,so Ock's henchman snatch the isotope when it arrives at the airport.
Spidey and Dr Conners hear about the theft and Spidey goes on a fierce rampage thru the city's underworld hideouts looking for info on the Master Planner's whereabouts.
He eventually stumbles onto the Master Planner's lair.And after fiercely battling his way thru his henchman,Spidey makes it into the secret underwater lair.
However Ock is ready and waiting for Spider-Man,eagerly awaiting the opportunity to finish Spider-Man off for good.Using the ISO-36 as bait,Ock lures Spider-Man into a trap,revealing himself to Spider-Man as being the Master Planner by ensaring Spidey in his tentacles.
A fierce battle between Spidey and Ock ensues,and in the ensuing melee,one of the support beams breaks,causing the room to collapse.Ock disappears beneath the falling rubble,while Spidey becomes trapped under a large piece of metal machinery.
The ISO-36 is just ahead of him,and the lair is beginning to flood.But Spidey cannot move the machinery,and feels he's failed Aunt May,just like he did with Uncle Ben.
As the lair continues to flood,he starts thinking of Ben and May,and how much he cares for them,and how he failed Ben.He refuses to fail Aunt May as well.And summoning fierce inner strength,he lifts the machinery off him and retrieves the ISO-36.
Battling his way thru Ock's awaiting henchman outside the secret entrance to the lair,Spidey makes it back to the hospital,and Aunt May is saved.
This arc I think is right up there in the halls of fame and greatness,along with the Death of Gwen Stacy.The pain,anger,torment and ridicule Peter goes thru in this arc is astounding.He overcomes overwhelming odds and comes thru for Aunt May.
The fact that he's responsible for Aunt May's sickness,makes it even worse.And the parrallel of what happened with Ben haunts him all the way thru the ordeal.It gives him the strength to escape Ock's lair.Because he refuses to lose May because he failed to act,like he did with Ben.
And of course it was great to see Ock really show his criminal genius,having a secret under water base,a gang of highly trained mercenaries working for him,and a big sinister plan in the works.Having Aunt May put in jeopardy because of Ock's actions only made it better.Even Ock noticed how ferocious Spidey was in his fighting.
An undispusted classic
