The Amazing Spider-Man Debuts! A Marvel Masterworks Comic Book Review
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The Debut Stories of the Superhero Who Helped Revolutionize Comics, in One Volume!
A Great Beginning to a Legend!
This edition of the Marvel Masterworks contains Spider-Man's introduction and origin in Amazing Fantasy No. 15 as well as the first 10 issues of Amazing Spider-Man. The elements that made the series so different and complex were there from the start. Peter Parker, who would of course become Spider-Man, is introduced on the first page of the debut story as the subject of teasing by his high school classmates, setting him apart right away and making him a sympathetic character for many young comic book readers.His origin is well-known, with Stan Lee and Steve Ditko making him feel so guilty about his uncle's death that he has no choice but to become a hero. In Amazing Spider-Man No. 1 his troubles continue with the introduction of J. Jonah Jameson, the publisher who runs a public campaign against him. In almost every issue in this collection there is a new development that would add to the depth of the series and make Spidey the most-beloved character in the Marvel Universe.
The image of Spider-Man by Steve Ditko is reproduced from the book.
Marvel Masterworks Amazing Spider-Man
Volume 1, Where The Legend Begins!
So Many Great Debuts So Quickly!
- Amazing Fantasy No. 15: Spider-Man's origin, with the debut of Peter Parker, Aunt May, Uncle ben, the web-shooters, the great costume, Flash Thompson!
- Amazing Spider-Man No. 1: Two great stories, with the debut of J. Jonah Jameson and his son John, as well as the Chameleon. Guest stars: The Fantastic Four!
- Amazing Spider-Man No. 2: The debut of the Vulture and the Tinkerer. Peter Parker finds a job selling photos of Spider-Man. And I think this is the first time Ditko draws the split image of Peter Parker, where half his face would be Spider-Man. That was a gimmick that faded out over time but that I thought was pretty cool.
- Amazing Spider-Man No. 3: The debut and origin of Doctor Octopus, as well as a guest appearance by the Human Torch!
- Amazing Spider-Man No. 4: the debuts of the Sandman and Betty Brant. Liz Allan gains a name! I'm not sure if we should count this as Liz's debut, she had been appearing in the series since page 1 of the very first story. But this is where we learn her name.
- Amazing Spider-Man No. 5: Spider-Man fights Dr. Doom, in one of Dr. Doom's silliest adventures. Trust me, if you are a fan of Dr. Doom this one will make you cringe!
- Amazing Spider-Man No. 6: Spider-Man travels to Florida to fight the Lizard!
- Amazing Spider-Man No. 7: The return of the Vulture, and the beginning of Peter Parker's love life!
- Amazing Spider-Man No. 8: Spider-Man vs. The Living Brain, a computer on wheels! And a second story featuring the Human Torch!
- Amazing Spider-Man No. 9: The introduction of Electro, and the first of what will become numerous hospitalizations for Aunt May! Over the course of the series her medical bills would become staggering!
- Amazing Spider-Man No. 10: The debut of The Big Man and the Enforcers. This issue is notable because so many things occur that will reverberate in issues to come: Betty Brant is in some unnamed trouble, Peter Parker donates blood to Aunt May, Frederick Foswell goes to prison, Flash Thompson starts to show more character and we find out why J. Jonah Jameson hates Spider-Man. Amazing!
The Debut of Spider-Man as a Poster!
The Biography of Steve Ditko
Strange and Stranger: The World of Steve Ditko
Amazon Price: $25.96 (as of 06/03/2012)
Spider-Man's Fantastic Super-Foes!
Stan Lee and Steve Ditko created so many memorable super-villains in their early issues of Amazing Spider-Man: Dr. Octopus, the Sandman, Electro and more. A large number would go on to become legendary characters in the Marvel Comic universe, and it's hard to imagine Spider-Man would have been so popular without these great super-baddies. The scene with Electro pictured here, from the cover of Amazing Spider-Man No. 9, is part of the collection.
Stan Lee's How to Write Comics
Writing of Spider-Man's Creation and Much More!
It is interesting to note that several times in the book he praises Ditko and says he trusted the artist to draw a compelling story. It was veterans like Ditko and Jack Kirby that enabled Lee to use the famous Marvel method, which consisted of Lee providing a summary or outline of the story to the artist and the artist using his imagination to pace the story and fill in exactly what was on each page.
The book is a wide-ranging discussion, led by Lee, of how he and various other writers and artists (including Len Wein, Marv Wolfman, Roy Thomas, Jerry Ordway, Kirby, Ditko, etc.) create comic books. It's definitely a fun book for anyone who loves comic books, and well worth checking out!
Stan Lee's How to Write Comics: From the Legendary Co-Creator of Spider-Man, the Incredible Hulk, Fantastic Four, X-Men, and Iron Man
Amazon Price: $15.31 (as of 06/03/2012)
Marvel Masterworks vs. Marvel Essentials
The Marvel Masterworks series has far fewer stories in each book, but they are published in wonderful full-color that enables you to enjoy them in all their original glory. The Marvel Essentials series of books publish the stories in black-and-white, on lesser quality paper, but you get more than twice as many stories.
Is the Marvel Masterworks series better than the Marvel Essential series? Why or Why Not?
Yes, the Marvel Masterworks series is the way to go!
Actiongames says:
Vary hard to say. I like the Masterworks the best but don't get me wrong the Essential are still the bees knees.
goldenrulecomics says:
Tough choice, but I lean toward the Masterworks because they are in color and that's an integral part of comic books!
No way! the Marvel Essential series is a much better buy!
jamesnodturft says:
It depends on what you want. To remember the stories, I like Essentials; for a collectible thing of beauty, I like the Masterworks.
Marvel Masterworks on Amazon
Spider-Man in the 1970s!
Green Goblin, Nightcrawler and The Punisher!
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Geppi's Entertainment Museum
Comic Book Heaven!
The Theme From the 1960s Spider-Man TV Series!
Spider-Man, Spider-Man! Does Whatever a Spider Can!
Here is the opening theme to the classic Spider-Man cartoon series from the 1960s!
Stan Lee's Pulp Inspiration For Spider-Man!
The Spider, Master of Men
![Origins of Marvel Comics [ 1974 ] by Stan Lee (Marvel presents the origins and history of its most famous creations, narrated by Stan (the Man) Lee, Included are the beginnings of The Fantastic Four, The Hulk, Spider-Man, Thor, Dr. Strange)](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/511gSJAP-gL._SL160_.jpg)
Origins of Marvel Comics [ 1974 ] by Stan Lee (Marvel presents the origins and history of its most famous creations, narrated by Stan (the Man) Lee, Included are the beginnings of The Fantastic Four, The Hulk, Spider-Man, Thor, Dr. Strange)
Amazon Price: $56.98 (as of 06/03/2012)
Lee, in a breezy and chatty manner, discusses the creation of the Fantastic Four, the Hulk, Spider-Man, Thor and Dr. Strange in Origins of Marvel Comics. The book also reprints the first appearance of all five, and for good measure adds in some newer stories to show how much the series had changed. I remember being thrilled when I got this as a present under the Christmas tree. It was a great surprise, because my mother always refused to get us comic books for Christmas because she didn't consider them to be appropriate gifts. I guess she decided since the stories were in book form it was OK. Thanks, Mom!
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Final Thoughts
Here's your chance to discuss this book, Spider-Man, comic books, this lens or anything else on your mind! Thanks for stopping by!
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Aboutlowercholesterol
May 30, 2012 @ 1:16 am | delete
- My grandson just loves Spiderman - I need to get him some of these products!
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ScottiesRock
Apr 24, 2012 @ 7:17 am | delete
- I bought some old Spiderman comic books for my son and framed them for his room about 10 years ago. I will have to go and check out which ones they are. He used to be a Spidey fanatic, now at 16, he is just into girls. :) Nice lens!
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goldenrulecomics
Apr 30, 2012 @ 10:36 pm | delete
- The same thing happened to me when I was in high school! Thanks for visiting!
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SuperHappy
Oct 15, 2011 @ 9:49 pm | delete
- Great lens! A lotta good info. I actually own a few of the books mentioned here, the Marvel Masterworks Amazing Spider-Man Vol. 1 is awesome.
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Timewarp
Jul 19, 2011 @ 3:54 pm | delete
- Gotta love some classic Spiderman, the cartoons from the 60s/70s were my favorite.
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by goldenrulecomics
I was a big, big fan of comics back in the 1960s and 1970s, and still have thousands of Marvel comics and DC comics in my attic. One of my best friend... more »
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