In Amazing Spider-Man #3, Spidey is badly beaten in his first-ever encounter with Doctor Octupus. Mentally defeated, Peter questions his ability to go on as Spider-Man until he attends a school assembly where the Human Torch is giving a speech. The Torch encourages the students to "never give up" even when things seem tough. Peter takes this message to heart, and in a rematch, defeats Doctor Octopus handily.