Despite a series of ominous warnings from a mysterious figure called Mandak, the University Museum plans to display a bronze idol, Rava, a relic of the ancient cult of Kalistan. A subsequent chain of odd happenings unnerve the museum director Rusten, but he cannot convince the chairman of the board, who just happens to be jolly Jonah Jameson, to cancel the show.

Later, when Jameson and Rusten are alone in the display room lights flash and objects fly about. When the disturbance ends Rusten is dead - crushed by the mysterious idol.

Police Capt Barbera arrives on the scene and, scoffing at Jameson's wild claims of supernatural happenings arrests him on suspicion of murder.

The next day Mandak approaches Barbera and demands the return of the idol to the people of Kalistan. When Barbera refuses, Mandak becomes angry and tells him that Rava will have his revenge. Peter Parker over-hears all this and switching to Spider-Man, barely manages to save Barbera from the same strange force which killed Rusten.

Peter and Barbera learn that it is possible for a man to possess powers of telekinesis strong enough to cause events such as they have witnessed. Meanwhile, Mandak uses his powers to force a student, Trina, to help him steal the idol. Mandak plans to use the statue to re-establish his cult in Kalistan and cause a revolution.

Spider-Man tracks down the statue in time to prevent it leaving America. But he still has to face Mandak. In the ensuing battle, Mandak's powers fail against Spider-Man and the villain is crushed beneath the statue he coveted so much, ending the curse of Rava.

[Summary from UK 1982 Spider-man Annual]