Spider-Man: The Manga is a manga written and illustrated by Ryoichi Ikegami which basically retells the story of Spider-Man in a Japanese setting. It was originally published in Japan from January 1970 to September 1971 in Monthly Shonen Magazine and was one of two Marvel Super-Heroes to receive their own Japanese manga stories in the early 1970s, the other being the far less well-known Hulk: The Manga, which has never been reprinted.
A high school student named Yu Komori (小森ユウ) is bitten by a radioactive spider, which gave him spider-like powers. Yu faces Japanese versions of villains such as Electro, the Lizard and the Kangaroo. Yu also has an Aunt May (her name is "Mei"), and the publisher of the Joho newspaper is a counterpart to J. Jonah Jameson.
Back in 1978, Toie Productions were given permission to license Spider-Man in whatever way they wanted and they chose to have him battle giant robots.
Young motorcycle racer Takuya Yamashiro (山城拓也) sees a UFO falling to earth, in fact a combat spacecraft named the "Marveller". Takuya's life is saved by Gallia, prince of the Spider Planet, who came to Earth in the spacecraft. Gallia gives Takuya a bracelet that injects him a liquid which not only heals his wounds but also gives him super strength, the ability to climb walls and a special sense of danger (i.e. spider-sense). The bracelet gives him his web-shooting ability, is also a communication device used to summon Marveller, and finally can be used to store the costume.
Takuya battles Professor Monster's "Iron Cross Army". After Spider-Man beats up on the human sized monsters they turn into giants. Spider-Man then calls on the Marveller to fire missiles at the monster, then transform into a giant robot, Leopardon (レオパルドン).
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