Amazing Spider-Man from the beginning

[Kreedom]

I've been going back and reading the old comics. It's amazing to see those old plotlines, and consider the way they've been revamped again and again in alternative timelines, in the movies and TV shows. It really shows how great they were.

Also, I didn't remember how much of a soap opera they were. Romita Sr. came from romance comics, and there's a ton of Mary Worth in there. But actually, I like it.

Lastly, the hipster dialogue! All that groovy talk, calling each other "dad" and whatnot. It's a hoot!

[Chris N]

That Peter's such a pussywillow!

[Kreedom]

Lol! Exactly.

[matthewaos]

Glad someone else really liked ASM 24.

It's a favorite of mine, too.

Possibly the best Lee/ Ditko Spider-Man story outside of the two ridiculously famous ones (Amazing Fantasy #15 and Amazing Spider-Man #31-33.)

When I read it, I thought that the doctor was Mysterio, cause I knew about the story (thought I hadn't read it), but I am sure if I was back then I would never have guessed. That actually made me believe that there are some really good Mysterio stories, cause frankly I think there are not many, considering his potential.

[Jim Thompson]

When I read it, I thought that the doctor was Mysterio, cause I knew about the story (thought I hadn't read it), but I am sure if I was back then I would never have guessed. That actually made me believe that there are some really good Mysterio stories, cause frankly I think there are not many, considering his potential.

The doctor (psychiatrist) didn't become one of Spider-Man's arch-villains until Green Goblin III, did he?

[matthewaos]

OK, let's all unofficially cheer for 1966 with the first part of the Master Planner saga! The other two parts of the story say Ditko on the plot, though this one doesn't. I guess it's just a mistake, but who knows...



"If This Be My Destiny...!"

The cover is something that is a first in the serier so far.

The story starts with those guys in purple uniform from last issue stealing scientific equipment.Their plan is masterfully orchestrated in every second. Unfortunnatly for them Spider-Man was passing by and he fights with them.

They try to escape with their hellicopter, and Spidey jumps in. They try to spray him with sleeping gas. He golds his breath (and he can keep his breath longer then most people) but in the end he can't stand. He damages the hellicopter though and it falls in the water.

Some other henchmen with diving suits are going to save the others and recover the scientific equipment. Spider-Man is searching for thm in case they are trapped in the hellicopter but he cannot find them. Somewhere in an underwater base the Master Planner is saying that Spider-Man almost destryoed his plan and should be more careful.

Peter the next day goes to his first day in the ESU. He mostly filling forms and registers and stuff. Flash is also there. Back home Aunt May faints in front of Peter and he calls the doctor, who he says that they should go her to the hospital for tests.

Peter's mind is with Aunt May as we are introduced to some new supporting characters in teh second day at school: Harry Osborn and Gwen Stacy! They meet Flash who Gwen says she knows cause she was following his football career. Flash tries to introduce them to Peter but he is in his own world and does not listen to them.

So the boys want to make him a prank. They make Gwen talk to him while Harry is mixing some chemichals in a class experiment. Peter does not even look at Gwen cause he is thinking of Aunt May. The chemichals explode and Peter gets a warning from proffesor Warren who is first time (*) shown here.

He then goes quickly to the hospital, still ignoring everyone, and the doctor says that May is not well at all. At the bugle Jameson is assigning Foswell to find something, anything, cause there are no front page stories. Also, Ned Leeds is saying Betty that he is waiting for an answer, and that he will wait for her.

Peter goes as Spider-Man to find anything worth photographed to sell to Jameson. He finds Patch, who informs him that he found something that will something in some pier. He does not have enought clues to inform the cops but he thinks Spider-Man can look on it.

Spider-Man finds the Master Planner's henchmen who try to teal some other scientific equipment. They fight and now Spider-Man is prepared for their sleeping gas with a small ogygen mask under his own mask. They through a net in him but he manages to escape. Soon the police arrives with Patch. The henchmen leave and Spider-Man did not took any photos.

So, Peter has no money, Aunt May is very serious, the Master Planner lurks in the shadows and everyone in ESU has got the wrong impression about him.

[matthewaos]

A good intro, that if I had to wait a whole month to read the next part I would have gone crazy. Sure it does not leave you hanging in any serious situation, but the fact that several plots are running in the background and seem ready to explode really make you nervous. This issue is actually an introduction to the new supporting cast and the Master Planner.

From the clues I have so far I would say that he is Doctor Doom, cause:

i) He has fought Spidey before, as stayted.
ii) He did not went straight to avenge Spider-Man
iii) He seems to have world domination plans
iv) He seems to know much about science

Only problem is that I don't think he needs a secret identity. Doctor Octopus can also considered a suspect, though till that time he did not seem to have those world domination plans in mind. The Green Goblin also comes in mind, cause we can see a strange guy talking about that pier who we haven't met, so he might be the master planner, and since we don't know who the Goblin is... But it seemed last time that his next attack will be more personal.

Anywya, considering that it's Ock I think it's a good mystery that he fits the profile.

(*) About Warren, there si another prof Warren in issue #8 where Spider-Man fights the living brain. I am not sure if they are the same, though I think obviously they are not.

[matthewaos]

The doctor (psychiatrist) didn't become one of Spider-Man's arch-villains until Green Goblin III, did he?

No he is not the same. Though if I am not mistaken Mysterio uses that identity some other time.

[matthewaos]

Amazing Spider-Man #32


"Man On A Rampage!"

Doctor Octopus quickly revealed as the Master Planner in the issue's second page. He is saying that he is trying to master radiation so the world will fear him.

Peter is going at the daily bugle to sell pictures to JJJ and he is very depressed. Betty finds him and confronts him, asking to talk. Ned also arrives telling him that if he doesn't want her he should be ok and let those two marry. Peter is trying ot make Betty believe that he is not such a nice guy and pushes Ned to a wall.

The other side of the wall is in Jameson's office. He is telling Peter that his pictures are worthless. Betty is still try to talk. Peter realizes that if he tells her the thruth he will lose her.

At the hospital Peter learns that his Aunt has some radiation in her blood and he realizes it is caused by the blood transfusion she had by him in issue #10. Peter is devasted by this and he does not want Spider-Man to be the reason for both Aunt May and Uncle Ben's death.

He quickly goes to Curt Connor's lab which is located in New York, luckily and not in Florida. He goes there as Spider-Man and tells him the situation. Mr Connors want to help but he is not sure what will help her, but he remembers a new serum that can help her, ISO - 36. Peter goes and sells several "worthy" objects, like his microscope, a gift by Uncle Ben to get money for the serum, and helps Connors in the preparation.

Suddently he hears that the Master Planner's men have stel the serum from the delivery and he rushes to find Foswell. He tells him that if he helps him he will get him a scoop for the story. He does not stop there, he also goes to anyone connected to the underworld and goes on a rampage for finding info.

In the end he finds a secret door with the help of his spider-sence near the dock, which leads to the master planner's hideout. He fights with a lot of his men but he is in a state where he does not care. After some searching he finds the Master Planner, Doctor Octopus and he fights with him, very agresivly. He trashes the place, and it falls on his head.

In the end he is trapped under some metalic rumble and the room is starting to fill with water, cause of a lick. He cannot lift it, it is too heavy. He is trapped under that rumble and Aunt MAy's life is hanging on a balance as she falls into a coma...

[matthewaos]

It's a very stresful issue. I didn't like the serum ex machina, but I don't have a problem. The issue's purpose it to bring Spider-Man under that rumble and have you wait a month thinking what will happen next. And if they had the cover of next issue, considering it is the 60s, with no internet or comic shops everyone would have gone berserk. Though it has just this purpose, it's not a bad issue, if you count it as the second part of a three part story, but if I had to judge this for what it is it's just good, not exceptional.

EDIT: Oh, This issue marks the return of "marvel comics group". It is also interesting that Connors made his second appearence not as the Lizard, where his previous one was in issue #6. Also, in the special announcments in the end the editor tells us that next issue is the reintroduction of Kraven the Hunter. WHAT? Are you insane, you have to finish that story!!!

[matthewaos]

Amazing Spider-Man #33


"The Final Chapter!"

Peter's Aunt is in a criticla condition, while Doctor Connors waits for Spider-Man to bring ISO - 36. Spider-Man has just battled Doctor Octopus and his men are waiting outside. And Spider-Man himself is trapped under some metal rumbles, and water is coming out of the ceiling telling us that there is a leak that gets bigger.

Spider-Man has no way of getting out. He thinks of Aunt May and Uncle Ben and he does not want to be responsible for the death of both. But he can't escape. He tries again and again as he finally manages to move the ruble. Little by little the rumble is moving and at last Spider-Man is free!

He is not out of the woods yet though. The ceiling now has a big hole and water comes in. Spider-Man lets the water move him and he manages to find the surface. At that time some of the Master Planner's men are attacking with scooba diving gear. Peter rips their oxygen suply so they leave him alone.

When he reaches the entrance of the hideout, the Master Planner's hechmen that left are waiting for him. They start fighting and Spider-Man lets them, as he tries to rest (?). Finally he starts fighting back but they are too many. In the end he again thinks that he must not fail and manages to beat them all unconsious.

He goes to Kurt Connors and gives the canister with ISO - 36. The doctor creates the serum they test it and it works. Though it was tested on Spider-MAn's blood (without Connors knowing whos blood was) so Connors is concerned that it may not work on everyone. Spider-Man leaves telling him to call the hospital and inform them thet he is coming, cause they will listen a man in Connor's status.

So Spider-Man manages to give the canister with the serum and the doctor tells him that they will need about two hours. Peter goes and takes some staged photos of Spider-Man leaving the Master Planner's hideout, while after that he takes photos of the beaten Henchmen. He calls Foswell to meet and he tells them what heppened and where the hideout is.

At the daily bugle Jameson wants pictures. Betty sees Peter and wonders why his face has a bandage and his leg is not good. Peter tells her that it happened during the time he wanted to take the photos. Betty is shocked and realizes that she can't live with him. Jameson on the other hand is shocked that Peter has such photos. Peter asks for a hundert dollars each, Jameson thinks that they worth about double but he plays that Peter is robbin him. Peter wants enough money to buy back the things he sold last issue and pay Aunt May's treatment.

He then goes to the hospital and waits for the results. A doctor sees him and wants to check him, see if he is ok. Aunt May finally is saved. And Peter goes home to rest.

[matthewaos]

The first thing I want to say about this is this: Imagine you read Spider-Man back then. Last tim eyou left your favorite hero under that rumble. You wait for the issue. You know he wil get out of there, they won't let him die. Then you see that amazing cover. There is no comic shop, no internet, no previews, no solicitations, no interviews. You have no idea what is happenning inside, and it says "The Final Chapter". "Oh my god, they killed him" would be the first thing to pop on your mind I guess.

I liked that issue. The whole saga was not a classic, but that issue alone is. There are not much to tell here, really. It shows Spider-Man fighting and not giving up in an extreme situation, the art is great and it has a happy ending that it really gives you the impression that all lose ends are setlled. My inly problem is that I haven't seen the new supporting cast yet, but ok.

[stillanerd]

Great recap review, matthewaos. Issue #33 was, without question, one of the all time best Spider-Man issues Stan Lee ever penned, and Steve Ditko clearly is at the height of his artistic prowess here. Aside from the famous scene in which Spidey lifts the debris off himself, that last panel showing Peter walking away while the Doctor watches him leave and comments about him was a brilliant juxtaposition of dialogue and imagery. Next to his origin story in Amazing Fantasy #15, this issue defines just who Spider-Man is as a character and what he is all about. An absolute classic.

[matthewaos]

Amazing Spider-Man #34


"The Thrill Of The Hunt!"

The issue opens in Kraven's trophy room. He is telling that he has managed to beat every creature alive with his bare hands, except Spider-Man. He does some practice with 'Simba", the lion, and prepares for his trip to New York (he was escorted from the country last time we saw him).

Betty has a nightmare with Peter telling her that he is Spider-Man. She is shocked by this. Peter actually is at home studying. Next day he goes to see his Aunt, who is well and cen go home. At ESU he sees Gwen and when one of her books is falling down he tries to pick it up.

Gwen does not let him and Harry also appears tellin ghim that tey don't like him cause they think he does not want them. Peter realizes that his bahaviour cause of Aunt May's illness caused this. Gwen still is attracted to him.

Elsewhere Kraven finds the Chameleon's hideout, the one he was using when they were teaming up. He rests and thinks that he wants a bait for Spider-Man. He chooses to impersonate him and he goes as Spider-Man to attack Jameson.

Jameson is very happy that Spider-rMan keeps this behaviour cause everyone starts to hate him. Peter learns of the impostor and leaves house. He finds another Spider-Man and he follows him in a roof where Keraven appears tellin ghim that he impersonated him.

He spays Spider-Man with a gas that cancels his Spider-sence and he has some traps on the roof. At the same time a gang who wants to capture Spider-Man for his latest attacks appears, but Spider-Man webs them.

The fight continues but Kraven is no real threat for Spider-Man. Spider-Man decides that he does not want to go to the bugle to give Jameson the photos he took for fearin g seeing Betty, but Betty leaves town and in the bugle we see here replacement.

[matthewaos]

I liked this issue cause strangely, it has some resemplents with Kraven's Last Hunt. Kraven says that he will capture Spider-Man even if it costs his life. He impersonates him. He tells the cops he impersonated him cause he is honorable. I am curious if DeMatteis read that issue and had it in mind when he wrote KLH.

Except from that, it's not a bad issue, even though I never liked Kraven. It's ok and nice and slow after the Master Planner saga. I want to see more of the college supporting cast though.