The Amazing Spider-Man & Amazing Fantasy No.15

Spidey fans, this is the foundation-in affordable form. These are the original stories from 1962-63 that brought the Spider Man legend to the world. This is where we meet Peter Parker, see how the whole story started with our man being bitten by a radioactive Spider, how PP hooked up with J. Jonah Jamison and his rival Flash Thompson, and what happened to his Unle ben, who was never seen again after his initial appearance. In 1962-63, this was avant-garde stuff because it presented Peter Parker in a manner that the mostly geeky teenage boys who read such books could truly relate more than they cared to admit. PP is the target of bullies, girls avoid him, adults don't understand him, and the world just isn't ready for him. Even as superhero Spidey, he's still the same mistake-prone geek. This was revoutionary at the time and accounted for much of his early appeal. So read and see how the legend began in an economical format. Enjoy.

Apparently, Marvel issued this wonderful compilation with plans on bringing all the Spidey back issues out in the economical, easy-to-read-without-twisting-hardcover-spines PAPERBACK version before the accountants realized all the extra money that could be had by gussying it up and putting out the special "Masterworks" hardcover editions. I guess this is the only one available in softcover. Too bad. Great idea. This will only whet yourt appetite and entice you to buy the more expensive hard covers. Which I did.

All kidding aside, this is a wonderful collection. Steve Ditko's art may look a bit crude to the contemporary reader, but few comics artists before or since have approached his mastery of chiaroscuro and composition. Plus... it's got the Vulture! Doc Ock! J. Jonah Jameson! And Aunt May! And it's in color! What's not to like?A must own for any true believer. Nuff said!

"With great power must also come...great responsibility."-Stan Lee. With those words, Stan Lee closed the chapter on the first story of the Amazing Spider-Man. Spider-Man was unlike any super-hero before him. He didn't just pretend to be the wallflower like some other boy scout I could name. He was the social outcast, ostracized by his peers, rejected and alone. He was a teenager. Back then, teens were usually the sidekicks. As Peter Parker, he was the epitome of uncool. And Spider-Man didn't become a hero out of some notion of civic duty, or revenge for a past sorrow. Instead, he was driven by guilt. The guilt of knowing that had he simply stuck out his foot and tripped a passing burglar, his Uncle Ben wouldn't be dead. That story, and the first ten issues of Amazing Spider-Man, featuring the wall crawler in battle against deadly foes like Doctor Octopus, Doctor Doom, the Sandman, Electro, and The Chameleon, as well as guest appearances by the Fantastic Four. The oldest and most classic stories preserved for all time here in a hardcover bookshelf edition that you can be proud to show off to anyone. THIS is what comic books are all about.

Finally, if you'd like to have the very first 11 issues of amazing Spider-Man youhave to look no further of pay thousands of dollars for orignal 60's comics, this collection presents the first issues of Spider-man. Get to know his origins, the first villians he fought and his life a super hero. Printed in high quality gloss paper, in full, glorius colour, the pencil here may not be what newest readers are used to. These are simple, straight forward drawings that are now cult classics. The text by the master himself, Stan Lee, are interesting, yet funny and direct enough. I read it really fast, I only wish they would release the next issues. This book is for readers who maybe owned the original comics back in the 60's or 70's and want to relive those moments. Great also for fans of Spidey who want to witness his origins. Definetely a must.