This episode is loosely based on "The Amazing Spider-Man" (Vol. 1) #68-70 which featured The Kingpin trying to steal the ancient tablet of time and life from the ESU campus and #74-75 which featured Silvermaine kidnapping Dr. Conner's to translate the text on the Tablet of Time and to make a potion to turn him young again. Man-Mountain Marko was Silvermaine's loyal lieutenant in the story but was replaced with Tombstone in this episode.