Amazing Spider-Man #121 (June 1973)

Harry’s relapse leads into the most famous (probably) Spider-Man story of all time: The Death of Gwen Stacy.

As time goes on, it’s going to become steadily more obvious what made Harry do it, because this is the beginning of Norman becoming the big bad of the Spideyverse. Also the beginning of Harry’s mental health issues – the doctor diagnoses him with schizophrenia, and that’s gonna be with him the rest of his life.

I don’t know whether the portrayal of Harry’s addiction and mental illness qualifies as sympathetic these days even if that’s what they were going for – Peter doesn’t seem entirely sympathetic, and he’s the one we’re ‘meant’ to listen to. I do think the writers were trying, but – I guess what we know about the nature of addiction has, luckily, moved on.

Also interesting, in the panel where the doctor says Harry’s been taking LSD: Gwen looks sad and worried. MJ looks furious.