Comics Spider-Man in the 60's

[Dark Spidey]

So... Today I bought my copy of what might as well be The Holy Bible for me... The Amazing Spider-Man Omnibus Vol.1. This unbelievably enormous hardcover features every single Spidey story as told by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko. Which I am very, very excited to be able to read all (except Amazing Fantasy #15) for the first time, and all in beautifully restored colour.

I plan on reading one each week.

In the meantime, I thought i'd make this thread for anyone who'd like to talk about this era. Your favourite issues? Which villain you think had the best origin story?

But here's something i'd really like to know... Who's art on ASM do you prefer, Steve Ditko's or John Romita's?

 

[The Joker]

Is this Omnibus in colour, or black and white??

My fav issues from Stan's and Steve's era.....Hmmmmm, definitely all of Doc Ock's ones. Particularly his first appearance in ASM #3, the unmasking of Spidey in ASM #12 [also showed us that Peter was susceptible to viruses], and the timeless Master Planner arc in ASM #31-33.

Really, there's so many great ones to choose from.

Villain with a best origin story?? [bias]Doc Ock again[/bias] Seriously, in his first appearance, he well and truly whups Spidey and gives him that classic b1tch slap [see my sig], causes Peter to hang up his webs, and then goes and takes over a nuclear power plant with the army staked outside helpless.

I loved Mysterio's origin story, too. And how he used his profession against Spidey.

And if I had to choose between Steve and John's art, I'd choose John. Not that I don't love Ditko's artwork, but Romita's was more vibrant and alive, IMO.

 

[Venom 1988]

I thought the Omnibus wasent coming come out till next month? Anyway yea Im definilty gonna get it.

 

[Dark Spidey]

I thought the Omnibus wasent coming come out till next month? Anyway yea Im definilty gonna get it.

Maybe your confusing the Omnibus with the first Hardcover of Stan Lee's Spider-man newspaper strip stories. That comes out next month.

 

[Dark Spidey]

Is this Omnibus in colour, or black and white??

My fav issues from Stan's and Steve's era.....Hmmmmm, definitely all of Doc Ock's ones. Particularly his first appearance in ASM #3, the unmasking of Spidey in ASM #12 [also showed us that Peter was susceptible to viruses], and the timeless Master Planner arc in ASM #31-33.

Really, there's so many great ones to choose from.

Villain with a best origin story?? [bias]Doc Ock again[/bias] Seriously, in his first appearance, he well and truly whups Spidey and gives him that classic b1tch slap [see my sig], causes Peter to hang up his webs, and then goes and takes over a nuclear power plant with the army staked outside helpless.

I loved Mysterio's origin story, too. And how he used his profession against Spidey.

And if I had to choose between Steve and John's art, I'd choose John. Not that I don't love Ditko's artwork, but Romita's was more vibrant and alive, IMO.

I really can't wait to read all this! And yes, the Omnibus is in colour.

 

[Prison Mike]

Ok, I have a question. I bought the Amazing Spider-Man CD which has all the issues until like 531 or something. I've been reading the early issues and when Peter first meets MJ and Gwen. MJ says "dad" a lot in the early issues. I know it's a 60s slang for something, but for what? She says it to Peter a lot.

 

[Venom 1988]

Maybe your confusing the Omnibus with the first Hardcover of Stan Lee's Spider-man newspaper strip stories. That comes out next month.

No Im not. Both Amazon and Barnes & Noble have it down for May 9th.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/07...TF8&coliid=I10ZTKWLNV83BC&colid=38ZRLNTUP59KI

Wherever you bought it must have started selling it early.

 

[Upset Spideyfan]

Its not really an amazing or ground breaking issue or anything, but I've always had a soft spot for the issue (I've forgotten which but I know it was during the Lee/Ditko days) where Spidey crashes the Human Torch's party and provokes a fight and ends up tangling with the entire Fantastic Four.

 

[Sloth7d]

No Im not. Both Amazon and Barnes & Noble have it down for May 9th.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/07...TF8&coliid=I10ZTKWLNV83BC&colid=38ZRLNTUP59KI

Wherever you bought it must have started selling it early.

Amazon ships alot of stuff earlier than expected though. My volume of I'S #13 wasn't supposed to come out until May, yet I already have it.

 

[Captivated]

Ok, I have a question. I bought the Amazing Spider-Man CD which has all the issues until like 531 or something. I've been reading the early issues and when Peter first meets MJ and Gwen. MJ says "dad" a lot in the early issues. I know it's a 60s slang for something, but for what? She says it to Peter a lot.

LOL. My impression... "dad" is the 60s version of "dude." t:

 

[Prison Mike]

thanks, I thought so too. They have a lot of funny slangs back then, like "pussycat". Aunt May keeps saying "pussywillow"! lol

 

[Kevin Roegele]

Your favourite issues?

Such a difficult question to respond to - the 60's Spider-Man comics were just one classic after another. It truly did deserve to be called Amazing.

To name them in order; I particualrly like the Green Goblin/Crime Master saga of Amazing #26 and #27; the supposedly final Green Goblin story of #39 and '40; the first Kingpin story of #50 to #52;

Which villain you think had the best origin story?

Hmmmmmm.....I would say Doctor Octopus or the Lizard. Both perfect, and perfectly 60's, style origins. Over-enthusiastic scientists don't head the power of nature itself and suffer the consequences. Kraven the Hunter doesn't so much have an origin as a reason to go after Spidey, but I love the idea of Tarzan's evil mirror image coming to New York to hunt Spider-Man like an animal.

But here's something i'd really like to know... Who's art on ASM do you prefer, Steve Ditko's or John Romita's?

As much as I admire Ditko's work, on a personal level I love John Romita Sr's work more. The Stan Lee/John Romita issues of Spider-Man are, to me, the very greatest Spidey comics.

 

[Traveller]

Your favourite issues?

It's a hard question, indeed. My vote goes for the Amazing #8 (Living Brain), 15 (Kraven), 20 (Scorpion) from the Ditko' era. But the Romita' there are very much. #43 (Rhino and Mary Jane), 47 (Kraven), 59-61 (Kingpin), 63-64 (Vulture), 82 (Electro), 83-85 (Schemer), 90 (Captain Stacy), 121-122 (of course).

Who's art on ASM do you prefer, Steve Ditko's or John Romita's?

I prefer to John Romita much more. I'm growing up with Ross Andru, though, but I always loved Romita's art very much.

 

[Kevin Roegele]

It's a hard question, indeed. My vote goes for the Amazing #8 (Living Brain), 15 (Kraven), 20 (Scorpion) from the Ditko' era. But the Romita' there are very much. #43 (Rhino and Mary Jane), 47 (Kraven), 59-61 (Kingpin), 63-64 (Vulture), 82 (Electro), 83-85 (Schemer), 90 (Captain Stacy), 121-122 (of course).


I prefer to John Romita much more. I'm growing up with Ross Andru, though, but I always loved Romita's art very much.

For me, Romita/Andru/Gil Kane are the Big Three of Spider-Man artists.

 

[Kirk Langstrom]

I love ALL the 60's stuff. Doesnt matter which issue, artist, or storyline.

 

[Traveller]

For me, Romita/Andru/Gil Kane are the Big Three of Spider-Man artists.

I agree, but I think Gil Kane was just good when Romita was his inker. I don't like the art of the Amazing #103 and 104.

 

[Dangerous]

Il be picking the omnibus up when it is availible through amazon.co.uk later this month.
I cannot wait!

 

[Dark Spidey]

Anyone who picks this up will be in for a real treat.

Check out this link for some more information on the Omnibus:
http://www.ditko.comics.org/ditko/newOMNI.html

Speaking of Ditko, one of the things I found very interesting is amongst the extras at the back of the Omnibus, it shows you Steve Ditko's unused cover to Amazing Fantasy #15. I'm probably the person who hadn't seen this yet. But it was so cool to see. It's not a bad cover, by any means. But you can definitely see why Stan prefered Kirby's. Ditko's lacked the dynamic impact that Spidey's first appearence deserved.

 

[Dangerous]

I actually prefer the original Ditko cover to AF#15 and think it has more impact.

Maybe it's just because I'm so used to seeing the final version.
It's more of a traditional superhero cover and I guess that's why Stan went w/ it, it was the safe option.
However the original is WAY more Spider-Man.

 

[Arkady Rossovich]

So..basically this Omnibus is a super paperback of Lee`s Spider-Man tales?

 

[Dark Spidey]

So..basically this Omnibus is a super paperback of Lee`s Spider-Man tales?

Yeah the Omnibus features every Spider-man story as told by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko. As well as every letters page for those issues, unused covers, critical essays and other goodies.

Oh and it's a hardcover.

 

[Super78]

Just picked it up last week.

AWESOME!!

Absolutely GREAT!!

Every Spidey fan must have this. I never had the chance to read the first Spidey comics (before my time, I started reading Spidey Comics in the early 80s).

I've seen excerpts from AMAZING FANTASY -Spidey's intro and some other stuff, but to have all the complete Stan Lee-Steve Ditko collection is just so awesome.

And the restoration is unbelievable. Restored color and its very clear.

 

[MaxCarnage]

I bought the Amazing Spider-Man DVD about two weeks ago. Same stuff, with ads and all that. I love it.

 

[Gamma Burst]

That's an amazing omnibus.Definitely a must buy!

 

[Dark Spidey]

Just picked it up last week.

AWESOME!!

Absolutely GREAT!!

Every Spidey fan must have this. I never had the chance to read the first Spidey comics (before my time, I started reading Spidey Comics in the early 80s).

I've seen excerpts from AMAZING FANTASY -Spidey's intro and some other stuff, but to have all the complete Stan Lee-Steve Ditko collection is just so awesome.

And the restoration is unbelievable. Restored color and its very clear.

Oh yeah, the restoration really does have to be seen to be believed, doesn't it? I flicked through a copy of one of the earlier ASM Masterworks hardcovers in my LCS the other week, and the Omnibus definitely has the better quality colouring.