Comics Amazing from Beginning to End

iloveclones

spooky....
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So a little background: About a month ago, I got a new phone (Droid X), and was trying out the different apps. So, of course, some of the first ones I tried were the comic viewing apps ( ComiXology, Android Comic Viewer-ACV.) I had talked to Corpy about reading comics on an iPod, and his review was pretty underwhelming (that seemed to be the consensus, not just Corpy’s opinion.) So to be honest, I really wasn’t expecting much. And I have to say that I was very pleasantly surprised. I read Walking Dead #1 on ComiXology, and was very impressed. The only problem is, the limited titles you can get on it. I gave ACV a whirl, and while not as nice as ComiXology, still a very serviceable viewer.

Now, no-one will ever confuse a digital version with the one you hold in your hand. BUT, I have my phone with me all the time. So, on lunch breaks, while I’m waiting for the car to warm up, during shopping trips (you married guys know what I’m talking about)… I always have a comic with me.

Sooooo, I decided to do something that I’ve had in the back of my mind for a while….to read Amazing from start to finish. And I thought, if I’m going to do that, why not start a thread about it, sort of along the lines of TMOB’s countdown thread in reverse. I don’t know that I’ll talk about each and every issue, because they weren’t all gems. And I might poop out after a few issues. If I do, I invite anyone to pick up where I leave off. But who knows?

I invite all Spider-fans to join in. Post pics, give a review, whatever. There are some really corny things t make fun of in some of those early issues. I’m not that good at reviews, because I either like something or I don’t. So if you like words, invite Dread.

Clonesy’s only Rule(more of a polite request, really): The only thing I would request, is that you let me control the pace. Once I put an issue in bold, have at it.Otherwise, there will be a temptation to fast forward past a lot of issues. And really, what’s the hurry.

Clonesy’s Disclaimer: Since I’m reading these as digital versions, keep in mind that SHH has a no-tolerance policy concerning Comic Downloading. Please adhere to that here as well.

So, enjoy the stroll down memory lane......
 
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Amazing Spider-Man # 1 - What stands out re-reading these as an adult (sigh), is how much that defined the character was stuffed into this first issue (and AF 15 before it…strangely enough, I don’t have a copy of that to read on my phone, so feel free to discuss.) Guilt over Uncle Ben, money problems, contemplating using his powers for personal gain, Jonah turning the public against him, doing a heroic deed and having it turned against him.

I first read these issues in some pocket digests that Marvel published at the time. There were three of them. I betcha I have them squirreled away somewhere, probably not in very good shape, as I read them multiple, multiple times.

PocketDigest1.jpg


A strange detail stands out to me. I remember thinking how “authentic” this seemed to me because, when Pete was changing into Spidey, his belly-button was showing. I mean, come on, how unheroic can you be. Why not just have toilet paper hanging off his boot as he’s swinging along? But that’s the kind of small detail that really made Stan’s new brand of hero so relatable.

SMbellybutton.jpg


I always loved this scene, and reading it 30 years later, it reminds me of the SNL character Debbie Downer (Wah Wah Waaaaaaaah)

SpideyDebbiedowner.jpg
 
I know it may be a while but once you hit later issues, it might be nice to include Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man and other such things since they typically influenced Amazing as well.

And honestly, it's been so long since I read Amazing Fantasy and Amazing Spider-Man #1 that I barely remember them. That's been a thing with me lately. I want to go back and read the early Spider-Man comics again. Most of them I only read once and that was when I was maybe 12 (so around 17 years ago give or take). I remember that I loved seeing the Fantastic Four there because I was new to comics and didn't really know them outside of a single issue of FF I picked up because Spider-Man was in it. Yeah, and I remember that pay check scene.
 
Wait? You can buy the classic Spider-man comics on a smart phone? All the books up to the current issues?

I need me a new phone. Is it region locked? I'm from Europe?
 
I wish. But, with a few exceptions, no you can't. The short answer is that I have a library of digital comics. Marvel (through another company) used to sell a DVD with all the issues of Amazing up to that point. There is an app that you can buy comics for an iPad,so you can read them on iPhones I'd imagine, but I don't think they're content is that extensive.

Read the initial post for more info about viewers on the Android platform, and please pay particular attention to Clonesy's Disclaimer...
 
I forgot to add this. Seriously, this guy eventually goes toe to toe with Firelord?

SpideySobbing.jpg
 
I know it may be a while but once you hit later issues, it might be nice to include Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man and other such things since they typically influenced Amazing as well.

And honestly, it's been so long since I read Amazing Fantasy and Amazing Spider-Man #1 that I barely remember them. That's been a thing with me lately. I want to go back and read the early Spider-Man comics again. Most of them I only read once and that was when I was maybe 12 (so around 17 years ago give or take). I remember that I loved seeing the Fantastic Four there because I was new to comics and didn't really know them outside of a single issue of FF I picked up because Spider-Man was in it. Yeah, and I remember that pay check scene.

I hope I see you around here JH. The main reason I wanted to start the thread was to prompt people to go back and read those old issues. Certainly, they're not for everyone. A lot of the dialogue is dated. And the production standards don't compare with what they're able to do today. But if you can look past that a little, you'll see how solid the storytelling is, and how much was set up that's lasted for forty plus years.

I'll probably add in the other titles. Certainly, in cases like Kraven's Last Hunt, I won't have a choice. And I'm not always sure where the Annuals fit in. It would help me if someone has a chronology.

I hope no-one thinks this thread is about going digital. That's just a convenient method for me right now. But there are definitely other avenues, most notably the Essentials series:

essentialsmvol1.jpg


Check your library...you might be surprised how much in the way of comics (TPB, GN) they have.
 
HERE'S the Marvel chronology page. I use it a lot when trying to figure out where issues and guest appearances fit together. It should help you figure out where Annuals and such fit in.
 
You need to be a rocket scientist to figure out that list... I've been there before, and they psycho-analyze everything... including flashbacks...

I just glossed over the Spider-Man Vault by Peter David (it's since been taken off the shelves, only to be on sale prior to the Spider-Man Movie in 2012... I was lucky to grab a copy at CostCo before they took them away), and it's got a LOT of really neat stuff from the early days... I'd recommend the book if anybody can still get their hands on a copy (I hear that some Costco's still have a few)...

Great thread Clonesy...

:yay:
 
And for the record, ASM Annual #1 takes place between ASM #16 & 17... and even more precisely, between Untold Tales #18 & 19...

ASM Annual #2 takes place between ASM #28 & 29...

ASM Annual #3 takes place between ASM #41 & 42...

ASM Annual #4 takes place between ASM #52 & 53...

ASM Annual #5 takes place between ASM #62 & 63...

ASM Annual #6 is a reprint of ASM Annual #1...
 
Awesome! Thanks TMOB. If you're able to, post scans of the Vault stuff when we get to the issue at hand. And that goes for everybody. Post whatever pics you want, just stay as close as you can to the issue being talked about. I'm not planning on doing flashbacks or Untold Tales (which was a great little title), but I don't mind if people post pics as we go past them in continuity. I actually think it would be kind of interesting, so have at it....
 
There's a cool panel in the book....

Spider-Man.jpg


That about sums it up... :up:

:yay:
 
Wait? You can buy the classic Spider-man comics on a smart phone? All the books up to the current issues?

I need me a new phone. Is it region locked? I'm from Europe?

Aloha,
ACv is the free Android app that will read cbz and cbr files. They also have an app that will read pdf files. Years ago, Marvel officially contracted some companies to reproduce their comics on pdf mostly.
Spidey rules
 
You need to be a rocket scientist to figure out that list... I've been there before, and they psycho-analyze everything... including flashbacks...

I just glossed over the Spider-Man Vault by Peter David (it's since been taken off the shelves, only to be on sale prior to the Spider-Man Movie in 2012... I was lucky to grab a copy at CostCo before they took them away), and it's got a LOT of really neat stuff from the early days... I'd recommend the book if anybody can still get their hands on a copy (I hear that some Costco's still have a few)...

Great thread Clonesy...

:yay:


Aloha,
They're asking about $45-50 bucks for that gem right now.:wow:
Since we're going down memory lane, I would also suggest that we consult The Official Marvel Index-The Amazing Spider-Man.
IndexL.jpg

They give you the official synopsis of every Amazing from AF#15 through 18 as well as Amazing #1-600, all annuals, Giant Size and tie in issues(no revieiws of those).
Spidey rules
 
It occurred to me that there should be a review. I don't really do reviews, but I'm good at making fun of things (don't worry...myself included). So here's what passes in my world as a review. Following it is a link to Sam Ruby where you can read a real review...

Amazing Spider-Man # 1
Capsule Review - This issue takes place more or less right after the events of Amazing Fantasy #15, The Origin of Spider-Man. We get a double-header, with the first story pretty much establishing the world of J Jonah Jameson, and the role he’ll play in Pete’s life for the next 40 years. Without Uncle Ben around, the money problems start almost immediately. Rent is due for the Parkers, and Pete already starts contemplating a life of crime, but it grinds to a quick halt once he envisions himself behind bars breaking poor old Aunt May’s heart. So the show for Spider-Man must go on. Whereupon he runs into his first difficulty, the bank won’t cash his check (I’d imagine Stan had a lot of fun coming up with little ways to torture poor Pete over the years, and it starts here: Foiled by the Bank Teller!)

And if that isn’t enough, there’s a crusading newspaper publisher giving Spidey a bad name, riling up the public against him, and making it impossible for him to get a gig (while simultaneously pimping out his own hero son, astronaut John Jameson)

And to heap more angst upon Pete, he spies Aunt May hocking her jewelry for cash.

Despite all this going on in his life, he finds time to watch the launch of John Jameson into space (and despite all the launchings at Cape Canaveral, someone must have thought it would be groovy to light one of these puppies up inside one of the largest cities in the world.) When a piece falls off (****ing no-bid contactors at NASA), Spidey offers to put a replacement back in place. Since they’ve all seen him on the Tonight Show, everyone figures that’s a pretty good idea. Except JJJ. How bad is it that he’s actually the voice of reason in the room?

Well, to make a long story short, Spidey hijacks a jet, hitches a ride on the capsule, saves the day, even does the stoic hero thing and leaves before the adoring crowd arrives. And wakes up the next day to head lines of “What The **** ???!?” Man, when they decided this hero was gonna be the one who wasn’t going to get any breaks, they weren’t screwing around. Jameson manages to frame the story to make Spidey look like he staged the whole thing. And because it’s in the paper, people believe it (I actually think that’s pretty accurate…today with the internet, it would be even worse…) Even Aunt May hates him.

In the second story, Spidey gets the bright idea that, since the public hates him, and he hasn’t done anything in his career as yet, now would be a good time to apply for a job with the Fantastic Four. So, with credentials like that backing him up, he decides the best way to go about this is to break into their house, pick a fight with them, while simultaneously insulting them. Score. And then he leaves in a huff when they reject him (Pete really has a short fuse in those early days….) But the reports of this little event reaches the ears of one Chameleon, whose main powers back then seemed to consist of carrying a vest with lots of pockets filled with masks. They must be pretty good too, because no-one ever seems to say things like, “Hey, did you notice how rubbery Joe.s face was today?” Chameleon decides that he can impersonate Spidey while commiting his crimes, and Spidey will be the patsy. Once Spidey arrives on scene, is accused of the crime, he remembers a suspicious helicopter that just took off from the same building (???) and an anvil doesn’t need to drop on his head. After chasing away the commie sub (complete with a Hammer and Sickle….subtle….) that has surfaced to rendezvous with Chammy, spidey takes him into custody. But Chameleon has one more trick up his sleeve, and after giving Spidey and the cops the slip temporarily, dresses up like a cop, and convinces the legit cops that Spidey is the Chameleon. Spidey runs away and starts crying. Seriously. Luckily, before he ran away, he managed to rip the Chameleon’s cop costume revealing the Spidey one beneath. So Spidey gets the win, but only after review by the judges.


Links:
Sam Ruby: http://www.samruby.com/AmazingSpider-ManA/amazing_spiderman_001.htm
 
I wish Eric would continue his site... but internet rumours are stating that he's so peeves at the direction of the Spidey books that he just called it a day...

:csad:

And here I am just perpetuating a rumour... :o
 
^ That would be a bummer if it were true, because that is, Hand's Down, the best Spidey fan-site...
 
Amazing Spider-Man # 2


cover.jpg



Capsule Review - So, since Mr. Proportional Strength of a Spider has yet to fight up anyone with actual super powers, they decided to throw a costume on a 90 year old and let Spidey cut his teeth on the geriatric set. And, true to form, gets pwn’ed fussing with his camera. (Wah Wah Waaaaah).

We also get to see how Pete gets the idea to sell pictures of himself, and to the guy raggin’ on him to boot. Which really makes Pete *****e of the year, but in a good way!
After the aforementioned defeat, Petey whips up a device that will help him next time around. And ‘Next Time’ takes the form of the police not realizing that there are such things as underground garages (yes, even in the 60’s) and a parade of diamonds down the middle of the street isn’t strictly necessary. They also are carrying the guns that can’t shoot down, which is lucky for the Vulture, since he pops up out of a manhole cover. Thus begins: a chase scene, and aerial battle, and one press of Pete’s thingamajiggy cancels out Vulchie’s magnetic harness. Now, he’s just a harmless old man. In contrast to before, where he was a harmless old man who could fly. Pete finally comes out on top, defeating the villain, selling the pics to JJJ, and blowing all his cash on Blow and hookers (wellll, rent and appliances for Aunt May actually.).

In the second story, Pete gets a job as a lab assistant. As one of his duties, he has to go pick up a radio, which has been ALTERED BY ALIENS (I hope I didn’t give too much away there.) Apparently, we’re so interesting to these ET’s that they’re offering repairs at low low prices, and taking upon themselves to give us upgrades that we don’t want (At Microsoft, they call that never ending strategy a Service Pack.) Pete gets wise to the whole scheme, slaps around a few aliens bent on turning us all into the next Survivor:Earth, but they all get away in a fire, including the Repair Shop front man, The Tinkerer, who it turns out is really an alien….(not really, but I’m not supposed to know that yet.)



I love some of the third grade insults Flash and Pete throw around…..Dumbhead! Good One!!

Dumbheads.jpg




Pete doing his Dr. Evil impersonation…

PPasDrEvil.jpg




Spidey is the first superhero defeated because he was waiting for the flash….

SMwaitfortheflash.jpg




Pete’s kryptonite is actually lack of a financial planner. He’ll be broke again by next issue.

PPmoneybags.jpg



Okay, I’ve poking fun a lot, but here are a few examples of why I like Ditko so much. Early on, even though he came up with a stellar design, it seems like he always struggled with Spidey’s costume. His villains, though were great. There’s something so symmetrical and streamlined about Vulchy in this pic:

spideyvulture.jpg



Another thing that I always liked about Ditko is how he utilized light, and shadow. Here’s a good instance of it:

SDtinkerer.jpg



Links:
Sam Ruby: http://www.samruby.com/AmazingSpider-ManA/amazing_spiderman_002.htm
 
^ That would be a bummer if it were true, because that is, Hand's Down, the best Spidey fan-site...

I can't see it... here's the last communication I had with him back in December 2009... only 13 months ago...

Samruby said:
Mike,

Im back :yay:

Now all I have to do is get 9 months caught up

Its all in an excel spreadsheet and ready to go...JUst waiting on some of the more rare variants,

Eric

:o
 
I just saw I had a PM about this thread. Better late than never!
 
Spread the word, runawayboulder. I look forward to hearing your thoughts.

I'm kind of curious, how many of you out there have read the entire (or majority) run of Amazing? I would say that I've read all but about 12 issues, right around Identity Crisis. and there might be a few others here or there. But there are some I haven't read since they were on the newstands. So I'm sure there are many characters, etc that I've forgotten.
 
Consistently every issue I think it was 238 (1st Hobgoblin) until around 425 or shortly after. Then I came back just prior to Straczynski through the final issue of OMD. I've only read maybe 12 issues since then prior to BIG TIME. Prior to 238 I've read hit and miss. Most of the deep history I've read through the 90's Spider-Man Saga but not the actual issues.

As for the other Spidey titles, I only read consistently from the early 90's until the end of the Clone Saga. Again, hit and miss other than that.
 

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