It is famed for a four-page sequence at the beginning of issue #33 in which Spider-Man is trapped under heavy machinery and agonizingly lifts it in the air.

The story follows Peter Parker, the superhero Spider-Man, as he investigates an anonymous criminal mastermind known as the Master Planner while tending to his Aunt May as she suffers from a life-threatening illness.

"If This Be My Destiny" features Spider-Man's first day at Empire State University and introduces two major characters of his supporting cast: Harry Osborn and Gwen Stacy.

It revisits the death of his Uncle Ben, which he feels guilty for not preventing, and his desire to avoid repeating his failure.

[2] "If This Be My Destiny" introduces two major characters in Spider-Man's supporting cast—Harry Osborn and Gwen Stacy—as it depicts Peter Parker attending university for the first time.

begins with Spider-Man fighting masked men armed with knock-out gas, working for the anonymous Master Planner as they get away with a stolen nuclear device and escape into the ocean.

Reporter Frederick Foswell learns of the stolen device while undercover and flags Spider-Man down to tell him that the next theft will happen at the pier.

Besides his superhero work and investigating the Master Planner, he also has to manage his classwork in university and tending to his ailing Aunt May.

[10] Ditko's Objectivist beliefs influenced his work, and he preferred to have characters overcome challenges through personal strength instead of through dependence on others.

[11] In contrast to the death of his father figure Uncle Ben, which Spider-Man did not prevent, his character matures in "If This Be My Destiny" as he persists in his efforts to protect Aunt May.

[11] Spider-Man shifts from his usual humorous persona as the story builds to one motivated by anger and frustration, and he becomes more aggressive with his opponents.

[11] The final panel of issue #32 uses a deep focus perspective; Ditko placed the vial in the foreground as the water drips over it, while Spider-Man is crushed under the machinery in the background.

Batton Lash praised the anatomy of the sequence's final panel and said that there was "no careless brushstroke or pen line" in Ditko's art by the time he drew this story.

[6][3][4][11] Comic book historian Les Daniels said that Ditko "squeezes every ounce of anguish" from the scene, drawing attention particularly to the images of Aunt May and Uncle Ben that appear in front of Spider-Man.

[15] Comic book editor Robert Greenberger described the sequence as "a modern-day equivalent to Shakespeare", citing the pacing and Peter's soliloquy.

[14] Marvel's marketing consultant Steve Saffel stated the image of Spider-Man lifting the machinery "is one of the most powerful ever to appear in the series" and credited it for influencing future writers and artists.

[16] Comic book critic Brian Cronin also praised the sequence after Spider-Man lifts the machinery, in which he fights the masked men.