Spider-Man Night Fever

PETER PARKER, THE SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN — Issue no. 24, August 1978

Book: Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man

Issue No.: 24

Published: August 22, 1978

Title: “Spider-Man Night Fever”

Cover Price: 35¢

Format: Original paper copy

Are you familiar with the late-1970s trope in fantastic fiction where evil rock musicians use their talents to hypnotize their audience? I haven’t done exhaustive research on the topic, but I know of at least three cases where this happened.

In the Wonder Woman TV episode “The Pied Piper,” a musician named Hamlin Rule (get it?) uses his music to hypnotize his female fans to rob the box office at his concerts. In the Buck Rogers TV episode “Space Rockers,” a band’s evil manager (played by Jerry Orbach!) alters the band’s music so the folks that hear it at concerts go crazy and riot.

This issue of Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man is the first time I remember seeing the evil rock musician trope in a comic book. The musician in this case is the Hypno-Hustler. He’s a disco guitar player, and he’s aided and abetted by a singing trio called the Mercy Killers. “Hypno-Hustler” is kind of a silly name for a guitarist, but “Mercy Killers” is an awesome name for a singing trio.

A panel from this issue. It’s kind of a montage drawing. Hypno-Hustler is at the center of the panel, playing his pink guitar. Several of Peter’s friends’ faces are also in the panel, and they’re all staring forward, hypnotized. Peter is in the panel, holding his hands over his ears with his eyes closed, apparently in pain. Peter thinks, “H-haven’t felt anything t—this strong since Mindworm. G—got to fight it!” Narration reads, “But, even as Pete resists, all others on the dance floor succumb… to the will-sapping performance of the Hypno-Hustler!” Regarding Mindworm, there’s an editor’s note — “See Amazing Spider-Man no. 138 —Bob.”

Spider-Man’s alter-ego Peter Parker gets involved when his friends drag him to the Beyond Forever disco. Peter was recently disappointed to find out he was short some credits he needed to graduate college, and his friends surprise him with a night out in an attempt to cheer him up. It’s a sweet gesture, even though Peter really isn’t a disco guy.

The Hypno-Hustler and the Mercy Killers use their music and their super-powers to hypnotize the disco crowd so they can rob them — this is apparently a well-to-do group of disco dancers. Peter figures out what is going on and plugs his ears with his webbing, an idea he got from Ulysses, the mythical character who plugged his crews’ ears with wax so they could resist the song of the sirens.

After he plugs his ears, Peter puts on his Spider-Man mask and makes quick work of the Hypno-Hustler, despite the Hustler having some gimmicky weapons built into his costume.

Next time — A Spider-Man holiday story!

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Han Solo Jan 11, 2025
I want to know what happened to the plans they sent you. He didn’t hold with your father’s ideals. Now look, don’t get any funny ideas. I take orders from just one person — me. What kept you? General Kenobi, years ago you served my father in the Clone Wars. Your powers are weak, old man. We’ve come out of hyperspace into a meteor shower. It’s all my fault! My poor master. Where is the rebel base?