Amazing Spider-Man from the beginning

[matthewaos]

Sure the battle was nothing fantastic here, and if that was it I would be a little dissapointed.

Also at first I found it funny that Doc Ock is released from jail, since he was prisoned a few issues before (#3). But in this issue he says that he was jailed "last year". So I guess Lee/Ditko were thinking that the book is going in real time.

[matthewaos]

Amazing Spider-Man #12

"Unmasked by Doctor Octopus!"

The first page recaps what has happened last issue, and brings Betty back from Philadelphia. Doc Octapus is robbing whatever he cans cause no one can stop him. Peter is not going to stop him cause he is a little sick.

Doc Ock is trying to find Spider-Man by kidnaping Betty, cause last issue he placed his life in danger hor her. He goes to the daily Bugle and asks JJJ to print an announcment about Spider-Man. Spider-Man appears and JJJ informs him the Betty is in Cony island.

Peter as he goes he feels sick, every step a little more. He arrives and at the perfect oportunity he jumps on Otto, but his condition does not let him fight. Doc Ock easily wins him and unmasks him but no one believes that it was Peter cause they say he did it for Betty.

The Doc escapes. Peter is sleeping in his home, and the next morning he feels great. Back at school Liz starts to have a crash on him, cause of the heroic thing he did last night. At the same time Otto releases the animals from the zoo, who run amok in the city. Peter as Spider-Man stops them.

Doctor Octopus is causing several damage to the city. Spider-Man arrives in the scene and after 5 pages of an intense and very exciting battle the two are trapped in a building that caught fire. Otto is also trapped by a huge statue and Peter trys to help him but the floor collepses. He is using his web to break free.

Outside, Docotor Octopus is caught by the authorities and he sceams that it was the fire, Spider-Man didn't bit him. Liz is inviting Peter to a party but he ignores her, and she and Flash realize that they kind of worth that attitude.

[matthewaos]

OMG!!! Though I knew the outcome I hadn't read the issue. First of all, I really enjoyed Jameson on that issue, maybe cause of his last appearence or cause he seemed more funny here than just bitter.

Second, the thing that no one believes Peter is Spider-Man is totaly believable, the way it is writen. It was an amazing aspect of the story, though if the cover did not gave that away it would be a better surprise.

The fight between Doc Ock and Spider-Man is really amazing. And the art is lookig wonderful in that issue.

Overal, this is the best issue so far I think. Next a new villain the editor says. But I know who he is...

[Chris N]

I also think issue 12 was a huge step up artwise for Ditko. It lacks some of the stiffness of his earlier issues and shows him finally getting a handle on the comic.

Quality-wise, I think 12 is the best issue yet. And in general it's one of the best early issues (except of course for the origin story).

[matthewaos]

I think it's the best so far, along with AF #15. And I loved that Ock didn't believe even for a second that Parker was Spider-Man. Also, it made his reaction in Sacasa's sensational even more awesome. Imagine you are Doc Ock and you realize you HAD Spider-Man on your mercy and you let him go! Not good for your ego...

[matthewaos]

Amazing Spider-Man #13


"The Menace Of... Mysterio!"

We see a schocking image of Spider-Man stealing.

The cops are trying to catch him but he stops with his web. He even climbs to walls, though when no one is watching he lands with him parachute.

The next day everyone is talking about this, and I think everyone who read it wanted to see Jameson's reaction for this.

So as we switch to the daily bugle, the publisher of the paper, as well as NOW magazine is having a blast about this. Everyone is sending him letters saying how he was right about Spider-Man.

Peter Parker fears that he has a multiple personality. From the kids in school only Flash believes Spidey is innocent. When Peter is back home he is to streched and he is afraid to sleep thoughs to not commiting a crime. Though in the morning he hears in the radio that Spider-Man stroke again last night.

He decides to go to a phsychiatrist to see if he has a multiple personality. But he quickly changes his mind cause he is afraid that if he relaxes and tells whatever he thinks he might say tii much.

Back at the daily bugle Peter is cold to Betty. He asks from JJJ a loan but he is not giving it to him so he goes to take some photos af himself, but the people are after him. The next day in high school Liz is flerting with him.

Back at the daily bigle Jameson has a meeting with his editors and writers cause someone send a note telling him that he can stop Spider-Man. Mysterio appears giving Jameson an envelope with a mesega to be printed in the paper saying "If Spider-Man wants to learn the truth about himself he should meet Mysterio atop the Brooklyn bridge".

The date is set and the two opponents meet. Spidey quickly realizes that Mysterio is not intented to help him and they fight. Spider-Man is overwhelmed by Mysterios power, which is not revealed what it is. Spider-Man is forced to jump from the bridge down to the water (!). When back in home he says that he got some answers.

The next day Mysterio is given a parade, and in the Daily Bugle Jameson has promised some money to him, as to reveal his identity. He introduces Peter PArker as one of his best photographers, but whole they shoock hands Peter is attaching a "small electronically trated Spider Pin, as he calls them in Mysterios cloack.

Peter is happy and he rushes to go without really talking to Betty, who thinks that he maybe is seeing someone else.

Spider-Man manages to track Mysterio in a movie studio. The two fight, but Spider-Man is easily diffited, on purpose as it seemed. Mysterio tells him his origin, that he was a stund man and an fx designer and he got this idea to impersonate Spider-Man, and then he thought that he should be Mysterio and be loved by everyone in the city (he is unamed here).

Spider-Man got him on tape. Furious, Mysterio attacks, and the fight is dragged in the near set where a movie is filmed. It's a difficult fight but Spider-Man is determined to his purpose. He manages to catch him and hand him over to the cops.

Back at the daily bugle, Peter has delivered some photos, while Spider-Man enters JJJ's office webbing him.

Next issue the editor promises an unexpected quest star. If I didn't know better I would have said it would be the Human Torch.

[matthewaos]

I loved that issue. Sure Mysterio is looking like just another villain, but I think he has great potential. I really liked the Mystery. If I was a kid baack in the 60s, I may have bought that Spider-Man is the one bahind the ribberies, or at least be very intriqud by it. And I think the reveleation on Mysterio's powers was a genious thing. He really seemed like a very powerful villain, though it was nothing but tricks.

[Chris N]

I had one quibble with the plot of the Mysterio issue, though overall I like the issue and the villain. It's Spider-Man's coming to believe that he might be guilty. As I put it elsewhere:

It's not surprising that everybody in town is quick to believe Spider-Man is guilty of the crimes he gets accused of. It is surprising that Peter himself takes the idea seriously, fearing he's become a split personality. He's quite certain of his conclusion because nobody else could shoot webs or climb walls like he does, but the criminal did! Now... he lives in a world where every day a new super-villain with crazy powers emerges. The web shooters were just something he, a teenager built. Is it that shocking to think somebody else could have made something resembling them? A bit egotistical, that seems. And to suggest that nobody can scale walls when he's met people who can fly, turn to sand, etc. etc. I don't know. Assuming I had commited the crimes I was accused of would not be my first assumption.

[matthewaos]

Yeah, I see your point. It was kind of egotistical, sure, though I still think those stories as stories more for kids, and back then they were not taken as seriously as they are now. Is this was published today everyone would hate that. The writing seems less silly that a few issues ago. Anyway, my point is I can forgive some of those things (well, not what happened with Sandman's escape in Strange Tales) cause they were writen in a completly different time. Otherwise you are right.

Something other I really liked was Jameson at last saying a good word about Peter. I loved that scene! Also the cover, I think it looks amazing.

[matthewaos]

The Amazing Spider-Man #14

"The Grotesque Adventure Of The Green Goblin"

A shadowy figureis adding the final details in his flying broomstick. After dressing up as the Green Goblin, he goes to meet the Enforcers. He is giving them an opportunity to avenge Spider-Man, and they accept.

Next, we are in the office of a Hollywood producer where the Green Goblin makes him an offer, he will bring the real Spider-Man to sign for a movie.

At Midtown High, Liz is still flearting with Peter, while she kind of calls Flash stupid. Someone hars in a radio bulletin that a flying green figure has been sighted around the city.

After Peter changes his cloths, he finds the Green Goblin wondering. He tells him that he was searching for him and he tells him to go to that Hollywood producer.

The Producer will give him 50000, so Spider-Man accepts. Jameson gives Peter the assignment to get Spider-Man photos while the movie is filmed.

Aunt May does not wasnt Peter to go anywhere.

The movie is filmed on Mexico. At the movie set the Green Goblin, along with the Enforcers are telling Spider-Man to rehearse with them. They go in the desert, and they attack him. The Green Goblin tosses stun grenades.

After a while, Spider-Man enters a cave. The Enforcers and theGreen Goblin are closing the entrance. After taking one by one down, Peter confronts the Hulk.

In the end Spider-Man manages to find his way out of the cave. He trys to catch the Green Goblin, but he can't.

After a while, while the police has arrived and thy take the Enforcers. The Green Goblin is nowhere to be foubd.

The producer does not give Peter his share of the money. The Green Goblin pulls of his mask and... we can't see who he is. The issue ends wit Spider-Man wondering where in the city he is.

The goblin wanted to create hie private gangs and be leaderr of the underground. Hmm...

[coconutphone]

LOL at Norman flying on a broomstick. Amazing.

[matthewaos]

My first reaction to this is... Ugh.

The good part was that it was a different issue.

The bad part was that it was a wierd issue. Sure Green Goblin does not look at all menacing. Sure here he is not Spider-Man's arch enemy. When I read "My flying broomstick is finished at last" I laughed loud. His plan was weird. Why manipulate Spider-Man to go to Hollywood. The Hulk's appearence does not plus much. He talks more than any other incarnation of the "dump" Hulk. In the end, I don't care about the Green Goblin that much as to wait to see who he is. Either way, many other Spider-villains have not a known id, like Mysterio. The editor kind of suggest that the Green Goblin will grab our attention, but I didn't care of he is in the city or not.

On the other hand, Norman seems here as a manipulator, as a master planner (even if his plan is dump), a criminal master mind and he trows stun grenades.

Along with Doc Ock and the Vulture, the Enforcers are the next who have a second appearence in Spider-Man.

[Chris N]

I recall at least one poster pointing to this as one of his favorite issues of Spider-Man, but I've never had any taste for it.

Green Goblin is stupid. His motivation was stupid. His plan is stupid. All that effort to lure Spider-Man somewhere? Really?

I think you let all that go and enjoy the fun action of a colorful new villain, the return of a few old ones, and an appearance by the Hulk!

But I didn't care.

[Andrew T]

Doc Octapus is robbing whatever he cans cause no one can stop him.

I like Ock's thinking here.

[matthewaos]

I recall at least one poster pointing to this as one of his favorite issues of Spider-Man, but I've never had any taste for it.

Green Goblin is stupid. His motivation was stupid. His plan is stupid. All that effort to lure Spider-Man somewhere? Really?

I think you let all that go and enjoy the fun action of a colorful new villain, the return of a few old ones, and an appearance by the Hulk!

But I didn't care.

The Green Goblin is my favorite villain. That said, this issue does not worth his fame. No wonder why this is not mentions in future issues.

I like Ock's thinking here.

Sure Doctor Octopus seems more like a threat here than the Goblin. Those issues make me more of an Otto fan.