Amazing Spider-Man #310
On the day of college registration, Spider-Man foils the Killer Shrike's
attempted bank robbery but fails to
apprehend him. Later, Peter registers for his classes. As a science graduate
student, Peter becomes a research
assistant for Dr. Evan Swann. Peter and Dr. Swann get along immediately,
but when Swann enters his
private lab, Peter's spider sense tingles.
Bothered by the mystery of Dr. Swann, Peter returns that night as Spider-Man
and demands to see the lab.
Before Spider-Man can go into the lab, the Tinkerer comes out. He reveals
that he has been working on a
power booster to sell to a villain. At that moment, Killer Shrike bursts
in to collect the booster. After a
skirmish with Spidey, the Shrike gets the booster from the Tinkerer but
cannot pay due to his failure at the
bank.
However, the Tinkerer had left out a crucial circuit, awaiting full payment.
When Killer Shrike attempts to
use the booster, his system overloads. The Shrike is easily captured but
the Tinkerer escapes. Dr. Swann
reveals he was blackmailed into providing lab space and expensive equipment.
The Tinkerer had
discovered Dr. Swann's high school diploma was false and threatened to discredit
him. The Tinkerer
escapes and the kindly Dr. Swann's career is ruined. Another unhappy ending
for poor Peter.