Amazing Spider-Man from the beginning

[matthewaos]

Amazing Spider-Man #8

"The Terrible Threat Of The Living Brain!"

In school they present a machine with an AI that can answer most questions, if "he" has enough information. Flash is still trying to make Peter's life misserable, and he pushes him, causing Peter's glasses to fall and brake. The profesor asks Peter to operate the Living Brain, while he asks the students to think of a question they want answer. The students say they want to know Spider-Man's real name. Peter is very worried to see what happens, but the Living Brain hands him a paper that tells the answer on code. Peter is assigned to translate it. Flash is once again challenges Peter and prof Warren tells them that there is only one way for them to solve their differences, in the gym! The two fight with Peter trying not to hurt him. At the same time two thielfs are trying to steal the machine, but they jam it instead and it is running amok in the school. Peter wins the fight, leaves Flash in the locker room and changes to Spider-Man. He manages to stop the robot, and when the two thiefs run to escape, Flash opens a door which just so happens to hit both of them and stop them. Then the kids believe that Flash is Spider-Man.

"Spider-Man Tackles The Torch!"
Spidey is watching Torch be so loved and he is kind of jealous. When he crashes a party were the Human Torch is in, the later is furious and they fight. As the fight is going on, the other FF arrove the scene but they are also are not so friendly with Peter so he fights them all. The Invisible Girl manages to stop him and she seems to understand he is a good guy. Spider-Man leaves, living a web-heart for Sue who he says is the only good thing in the overated FF.

[matthewaos]

I was a little bored by that issue. Though I liked that the people believed that Flash was Spider-Man, the whole thing was just a filler. Also, the editor asks the readers if they like filler issues from time to time. I think one or two a year is good, if they ask me. The second story though with less plot was better, or at least more enjoyable. The editor also says that next we will see a new villain. I'm anxious about it!

[matthewaos]

Amazing Spider-Man #9

"The Man Called Electro!"

Spider-Man is in a rush to reach his house cause Aunt May is sick. The doctor says that she is in a bad shape.
On the other side of the town, the man called Electro gives himself a full charge of electricity and robs an armored car carrying a shipment of gold. Aunt May is worse and she has to go to the hospital.
At school, the rest of the students continue to mock Peter. Flash is trying to show a more friendly face, after his beat up last issue, but Peter doesn't even speak to him cause his mind is with May.
At the hospital he finds Betty. When he leaves, he changes into Spider-Man but has to insead go home cause it's raining. He leaves his outfit to dry inside the house and later remembers to shut the curtains.
The next day JJJ is going to a bank, but Electro is robing it. He recognizes and JJJ thinks that he must be someone he knows. So his newspaper says that Electro and Spider-Man are the same.
Peter need 1000 dollars for the operation, so he goes to the Bugle. He then realizes that he has to catch Electro, so he goes hunting him.
After a while the two meet and battle, but Spider-MAn does the mistake and touches him, so he falls unconsious. When he wakes, he taakes pictures of himself.
JJJ believes the photos are great cause they show Spider-Man and Electro at the same place with only minutes difference, so the bugle is saying that they are indeed the same thing.
Electro explains his origin to the reader, while he goes to a police building with many prisoners waiting there to go to prison. Electro frees them. Peter is hearing about it but he can't go, he has to stay in the hospital with May and Betty is also there.
The operation is succesfull and Peter rushes to the police building. JJJ sees Spider-Man so he realizes that the pictures are fake. Spider-Man is now equiped with rubber gloves.
He fights with the prisoners, and finally with Electro who is really powerful. In the end he defeats him with water.
Back at the bugle Peter is giving JJJ new photos, to make up for the "fake ones". Betty and Peter come very close and go on a date of some kind.

[matthewaos]

Peter is not wearing glasses at all here, after Flash smased them last issue. Also we have a glimpse of Betty's past, telling PEter that there was someone she knew who was obsesed with danger and she fears Peter is also. The two are finaly together, and I liked that part. I think Betty is a nice pair for Peter, though she seems to emotional right now, and not so strong as she is in most recent years.

The issue overal is very good I think. Electro seems like a credible foe. What I didn't understand was the whole story with the photos. JJJ up until now hates Spidey for no good reason and he trys to say every other issue that he is in an alliance with some guy, or in thi scase that he is the bad guy. Up until now I hate him. Any thoughts anyone?

[matthewaos]

Amazing Spider-Man #10

"The Enforcers!"

In the first page the editor is telling the readers that if we read this issue it will be dificult to be satislied by lesser magazines. The first page also points the question "Who is the Big Man?"

The story starts with Big Man trying to stage a robery as to ridicule Spider-Man and he suceedes. Right after that he enters a room full of crime bosses telling them that they should make them their leader. They refuse but he launches the Enforcers on them (Fancy Dan, Ox, Montana) and they cooperate.

In the hospital, where Aunt May is, Liz and Flash are going to visit and Flash is trying hard not to show he has a heart. The doctor asks Peter for a blood transusion for Aunt May but Peter is afraid cause of the whole radiation thing. He however accepts, cause they didn't find anything weird in his blood. The doctor is saying that he should rest for a while, cause the transfusion might have exaust him.

Meanwhile, Big Man has all of organized crime under his wing. There are many captured but no one is talking cause they are afraid.

JJJ is convinced that Spider-Man and Big Man are one and the same and assign on of his best authors, Roderick Fosewell to write about it (mysteriously enough JJJ wears same color jacket and a hat, as Big Man). Betty is waiting for Peter outside the Bugle when the Enforcers arrive and try to scare her cause she has not paid off a loan. Peter arrives and is ready to make a scene but the whole thing stops quickly. Betty is scared that Peter will not understand and prefers not to tell him about her problems and she just leaves, which gives wrong impressions to Peter.

Spider-Man follows a guy who was with the Enforcers and scares him with a huge fake Spider, so he learns where the Enforcers' hideout is. He goes there and they fight but he is overwhelmed and exausted so he leaves. JJJ is walking in that neighborhood.

Peter has a plan. He spreads rumors that he figured out who Big Man is. The Enforcers arrive and take them to their HQ and imprison him. Peter changes to Spider-Man and goes to battle with a huge part of the underworld. He is still exausted but he really try to show the bad guys that he has everything under control, and makes everything work for his advantage. Finally he manages to call the cops, and they arrive while he tries to catch Big Man, who escapes.

In the end he goes to JJJ's office, where Foswell is also there. A policeman arrives telling that they figured who Big Man is and they arrest him.

There is a great monologue with JJJ showing that he hates and envys Spider-Man cause he is brave, powerful and unselfish, all the things he is not.

Betty is still not answering the phone. The editor say in the end that next issue we will see a new villain and Betty's secret past!

[matthewaos]

I found this. It's an unused Ditko cover. Overal the issue is good. If I didn't knew that Jameson is not Big Man I might be fooled. Sure it would make a little sence as for his character. Though the ending really gave a different turn and show the he is not a bad guy, deep down.

I like Betty, but he is too much of a drama queen. I think she is worse than Gwen. I am interested in her past though.

The Enforcers or Big Man didn't seem like such a serious threat though. A small guy with a black belt in Judo, and some other guy with a laso are hardly a threat. Ox is just dump.

[Chris N]

To be honest, I was not that impressed. It sure was a good story with some great fight scenes, but Doom had a device for everything, and personally I preffered the previous issues over these, cause since now we saw the creation of some really great villains like Sandman and Doc Ock. The art was not the best part, as Doom looks kind of silly in Ditko's hands. I liked the part though where Flash dresses as Spider-Man, and the flirt with Betty.

Nobody was. It was the worst of the early issues, I'd say. Especially coming off how excellent the Dr. Octopus and Sandman stories were.

And especially given how awesome a villain Doom can be.

[Chris N]

There is a great monologue with JJJ showing that he hates and envys Spider-Man cause he is brave, powerful and unselfish, all the things he is not.

The first attempt at fleshing Jameson out and humanizing him, really, and the beginnings of why he is one of the greatest supporting characters ever.

[Chris N]

That was the final issue for 1963! There is a Sandman appearence fighting the Human Torch in Strange Tales and with that (though I'm not sure I can find that) all of Spidey related appearences are covered for this year!

For completeness, I'll repost my old review of the Strange Tales appearance you're missing, which I think fits best between issues 7 and 8 of Amazing.

Strange Tales #115

While the rest of the FF are occupied (Sue and Ben by writing a report, and Reed by studying blindness), Mr. Fantastic sends Human Torch to deal with the Sandman. I'm curious what was going on with them when the Vulture was at large. Perhaps busy battling Molecule Man.

When Reed refers to Spidey as Johnny's friend, Human Torch corrects him, calling him no friend of his. I think this is posturing as they seemed to be growing closer in their last couple encounters. I bet Johnny's just trying to act macho here. You can tell he likes Spider-Man.

I was gonna focus my review of this issue on the stuff relevant to Spider-Man. But this must be noted. Sandman escaped by turning to sand to slip through the bars of his jail cell. I don't even know where to begin what is wrong with this. They know his powers; why stick him in an ordinary cell? Why didn't he just escape the second they put him in or released him from the vaccuum? They couldn't have stopped him. Why did they release him from the vaccuum. Perhaps it's inhumane to keep him there forever, but surely Mr. Fantastic or somebody could have come up with a better solution than stick him in ordinary prison. Geez louise.

Mr. Fantastic orders Human Torch to seek out Spider-Man so Spidey can beat Sandman again. Torch is of course insulted by this. While they've gained something of a friendship, it is one based largely on competition. But Johnny does fly around for several hours, and, not finding out webbed wonder, he confronts Sandman himself. We learn Sandman's main interest is revenge on Spider-Man. Vulture had sworn revenge on him too. It's a good thing Pete thought to keep his identity secret when he began his wrestling career.

Insulted that Sandman ignored him, Torch disguises himself as Spider-Man to lure Sandman into a fight with him. Torch beats Sandman, but it was unconvincingly easy. I don't think Stan is recognising the potential of Sandman's powers here.

In the end we see the real Spider-Man a little upset Human Torch butt in on what he considered his fight. We see how much competitiveness and ego dominates both their thinking, evidencing that glory is still part of Spider-Man's motivation. Also of note, the theme of the issue is that everyone thought only Spider-Man could beat Sandman, and Human Torch was feeling like he was in Spidey's shadow. This contrasts Spider-Man's feelings. Each envies the other. Each is fiercly competitive. Each is young and hotheaded. An interesting friendship is at works.

EDIT: And even though it's an unimportant cameo, there is one more 1963 Spider-Man appearance around the time of issue 8:

Meanwhile in Avengers #3, Iron Man is seeking help in the search for the Hulk. He is snubbed, rather rudely, by all the heroes he encounters, Spider-Man included.

[Chris N]

What I didn't understand was the whole story with the photos. JJJ up until now hates Spidey for no good reason and he trys to say every other issue that he is in an alliance with some guy, or in thi scase that he is the bad guy. Up until now I hate him. Any thoughts anyone?

Sorry to fail at using the multiquote function, but I'll throw in this quote from Stan the Man on the subject of JJJ, who I maintain is the best supporting character ever.

JJJ has come to represent the most conservative, straitlaced members of society, the self-righteous know-it-alls who dislike and distrust anyone who looks, acts or thinks differently than they do.

But make no mistake about it. Jolly Jonah is not a villain. He's not a bad guy. He just marches to the beat of a different drummer.

This is from his introduction to Spider-Man Masterworks vol. 2

[matthewaos]

I like that Jameson is portrayed as a villain here, cause his monologue in #10 gave it a different twist. Sure I hated the way they portrayed him, but I was sure they were going somewhere. It's hard to really hate him after this.

JJJ is one of the best supporting characters in Spider-Man, for me.

[matthewaos]

Strange Tales #115

While the rest of the FF are occupied (Sue and Ben by writing a report, and Reed by studying blindness), Mr. Fantastic sends Human Torch to deal with the Sandman. I'm curious what was going on with them when the Vulture was at large. Perhaps busy battling Molecule Man.

When Reed refers to Spidey as Johnny's friend, Human Torch corrects him, calling him no friend of his. I think this is posturing as they seemed to be growing closer in their last couple encounters. I bet Johnny's just trying to act macho here. You can tell he likes Spider-Man.

I was gonna focus my review of this issue on the stuff relevant to Spider-Man. But this must be noted. Sandman escaped by turning to sand to slip through the bars of his jail cell. I don't even know where to begin what is wrong with this. They know his powers; why stick him in an ordinary cell? Why didn't he just escape the second they put him in or released him from the vaccuum? They couldn't have stopped him. Why did they release him from the vaccuum. Perhaps it's inhumane to keep him there forever, but surely Mr. Fantastic or somebody could have come up with a better solution than stick him in ordinary prison. Geez louise.

Mr. Fantastic orders Human Torch to seek out Spider-Man so Spidey can beat Sandman again. Torch is of course insulted by this. While they've gained something of a friendship, it is one based largely on competition. But Johnny does fly around for several hours, and, not finding out webbed wonder, he confronts Sandman himself. We learn Sandman's main interest is revenge on Spider-Man. Vulture had sworn revenge on him too. It's a good thing Pete thought to keep his identity secret when he began his wrestling career.

Insulted that Sandman ignored him, Torch disguises himself as Spider-Man to lure Sandman into a fight with him. Torch beats Sandman, but it was unconvincingly easy. I don't think Stan is recognising the potential of Sandman's powers here.

In the end we see the real Spider-Man a little upset Human Torch butt in on what he considered his fight. We see how much competitiveness and ego dominates both their thinking, evidencing that glory is still part of Spider-Man's motivation. Also of note, the theme of the issue is that everyone thought only Spider-Man could beat Sandman, and Human Torch was feeling like he was in Spidey's shadow. This contrasts Spider-Man's feelings. Each envies the other. Each is fiercly competitive. Each is young and hotheaded. An interesting friendship is at works.

Looks like a nice issue. I like those early Spidey/Torch team ups. They are so alike yet it's so fun reading about them.

[matthewaos]

Amazing Spider-Man #11

"Turning Point"

Peter Parker hears at the radio that Doctor Octopus will be released, and terified he goes to the municipal prison to tell the warden to to release him. The warden tells him that he did his time.

Spider-Man builts the spider-tracer, which is not been given name in this issue, a device that will send a signal into a portable transistor. He goes to watch Doc Ock out of jail as to somehow attach a tracer to him. For his surprise Betty is doing the driver for Otto. He atteches the tracer in the car, while he alaso finds a road map that fell from the car that is that map to Philadelphia, and he remembers that the car had Penshy plates.

At that time we are introduced to Bennet Brant. Bennet, Betty's broter is the attorney of Blackie Gaxton, a mob boss who's in jail and who Bennet ownes money. Blackie is going to be freed by Doc Ock, and he threatens the Brands to help him. Blackie will pay Otto with Bennet's dept.

Peter is telling May that he wants to go for a trip to Philadephia to see the historical sites, When he arrives he searches until the tracer's signal leads him to Betty. He changes to Peter Parker and speaks with her telling her not to worry cause he saw Spidey on town. At the same time Doc Ock brakes free Blackie Gaxton.

They all go to a ship which will be used to escape. Gaxton is not letting the Brants escape. Peter finds them through the tracer in the car and when he hears Betty's sceam he rushes and hurts his anckle, so he surrenders and enters the room and the fight starts.

Spider-Man is fighting with the gangsters and Gaxton who raises a handgun and starts shooting. In his try to proect Betty Bennet is shoot dead. Betty is blaming Spider-Man for this and Spidey cannot handle it now cause he has to find Otto.

Spider-Man seems like in a rage. He is not as helpless against Doc Ock as last time. The good doctor trys to escape in a smaller boat in which Spider-Man manages to jump also. The police arrives and the boat crashes and both fell into the sea. Spider-Man resurfaces and Doc is nowhere on site.

Peter wanted to tell Betty that he is Spider-Man, but after that he decides not to. Betty realizes that she did not meant what she told about Spider-MAn but she sure does not want to see him again.

[matthewaos]

WOW! I have never read that issue before and it seemed fantastic! I also was not aware that Bennet bites the dust this issue and it was a shocker. It looks like Spider-Man is always haunted by this. It looked like George Stacy's death. I liked the spider tracer as a concept. Though I want to see when they change it so he receves the signals through his spider-sence. This was nice cause it was a different kind of issue, and it was also good not to see Jameson for a change. But next issue, the editor says that Doc Ock returns so we'll see more of him, in his purple costume, and Spider-MAn unmaskes in fromt of everyone!!!! Let's see...

[Chris N]

I'm definitely a fan of where the issue takes the Betty Brant subplot.

But as battles with Doc Ock go, it's the next issue that I really love...