Customer Reviews

Essential Amazing Spider-Man, Vol. 6 (Marvel Essentials)

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The sixth volume in the Essential Spider-Man series does not disappoint. Though Stan Lee steps down as script writer and artists change, the integrity of the original series is maintained admirably. True, story and art quality tend to be somewhat uneven from time to time, but the overall tone and spirit of the comic still shines through--Spider-Man as the good and decent but always beleagered super hero, eternally faced with agonizing decisions, choices, losses. Characterization in the first Spider-Man series was always unusually good for a comic book, and it is something of a minor miracle that reasonably consistent high quality was maintained through four decades, although the series tended to grow darker and edgier over time. In any case this volume, like the five that preceded it, was a joy to read for a long-time fan like me, who grew up in the sixties and seventies. It's a thousand pities that the second series, which revamped the whole Spider-Man saga, lacks the heart, wit and appeal of the original. With insipid art, sophomoric humor, and cynical tone, the second series is unlikely ever to make it into an "essential" format, nor is the embarrassingly adolescent character now portrayed as Spider-Man likely to win over all the fans the original did. Sarcasm passes for humor, sexy innuendo for tenderness, and a scrawny, awkward-looking little gremlin takes the place of the once-grown man in hero's costume. Luckily the original still lives on in the "essential" volumes, and, with all the comic stores and web sites selling back issues, the original Spider-Man will be with us for a long, long time.

This sixth "Essential" volume collects black-and-white reprints of "Amazing Spider-Man" issues #114-137 that Marvel Comics originally published between November 1970 and October 1972. Gerry Conway is the credited writer for all stories and Roy Thomas is the editor-in-chief. John Romita, Sr. provides the penciling for #114-119 and #132 and Gil Kane resumes his run for #120-124. Ross Andru assumed penciling duties for #125, beginning a run that would last until 1978.
Issues #114-115 conclude the three-part Hammerhead story that started in the "Essential ASM #5" collection. Stan Lee gets a co-writer credit for the three-issue (#116-118) reworking of Marvel's short-lived 1968 "Spectacular Spider-Man" oversized magazine. These issues feature a popular yet suspicious mayoral candidate Richard Raleigh promising "change" while the sinister Smasher wreaks havoc on New York.
Spidey tackles The Hulk in a mediocre two-parter before the highlight of this run of issues comes in #121-122: "The Death of Gwen Stacy and Norman Osborn". Another memorable run is #135-137 "The Green Goblin Lives Again" where Harry assumes his father's villainous mantle. Each of these two plotlines was adapted for key elements of the recent Spider-Man films.
#129 features the first appearance of The Punisher and #130-131 features the threat of Aunt May marrying Doctor Octopus. Other appearances include: Luke Cage (#123), Man-Wolf (#124-125), The Kangaroo (#126), The Vulture (#127-128), Molten Man (#132-133) and the Tarantula (#134). Many of these issues were also reprinted as #93-114 of the late 1970s "Marvel Tales" series (and reprinted again in MT #192-193).
I prefer the Amazing Spider-Man DVD-ROM for its complete collection of the entire ASM run in full color PDFs. However, the Marvel Essentials series offers convenient, inexpensive access to these 40-year old Spider-Man comics without needing a computer.

Once you get past the black & white pages (there is much to be said about how color enhances comicbook artwork), the Marvel Essentials stories really manage to pull you in.

Volume 6 has some of Spidey's best storylines ever in Amazing Spider-Man. The pinacle would have to be the character defining two-parter with the Death of Gwen Stacy at the hands of the Green Goblin. Powerful stuff even 30 years later. Other classic villains make appearances as well from Doc Ock to The Tarantula to the Molten Man and Hammerhead and the introduction of The Punisher and The Jackal. Of course there's also some rough spots in the reading like the plotline that had Doc Ock marrying Aunt May...shudder...silly...but keep reading and you'll find a good time with every turn of the page.

These issues cover Nov. 1972 to Oct. 1974, the first Giant-Size Superheroes, and the first two Giant-Size Spider-Man issues. Contrary to what it says above, the only writers in this edition are Gerry Conway and Len Wein (GSSM 1&2). John Romita, Ross Andru, and Gil Kane share credits for the art work. Stan Lee has a hand in the stories about the Smasher and the Disruptor.

This volume will be unforgettable because Gwen Stacy dies ("The Night Gwen Stacy Died"), the Green Goblin, a.k.a. Norman Osborne dies ("The Green Goblin's Last Stand"), Doc Oc almost marries Aunt May, and he gets killed along with Hammerhead in the same issue ("My Uncle...My Enemy") Jonah Jameson's son becomes a werewolf ("The Mark of the Man-Wolf" and "The Man-Wolf Strikes Again"), a new vulture tries to kill off MJ (in "The Dark Wings of Death" and "The Shadow of the Vulture"), Liz Allen returns and the Molten Man returns to meet his death ("The Master Plan of the Molten Man" and "The Molten Man Breaks Out"), and finally Harry Osborne picks up where his father left off, becoming the Green Goblin ("The Green Goblin Lives Again" and "The Green Goblin Strikes"). Thus Conway offers SM readers a superhero epic which combines action and melodrama quite adroitly even though some plot elements may be far-fetched, or left unexplained. Gwen Stacy's death is the most pivotal event here because Peter Parker's sentimental life revolved around her, and it is a source for internal conflict because Spidey has to deal with feelings of revenge as well as with depression. The Green Goblin defines himself as a major player in Spidey's life since he's the one who kills Spiderman, and when he gets himself killed (just like it happened in the movie), NYPD has a new motive to get him arrested, not to mention that it gives fuel to JJJ's anti-Spider-Man obsession). And then,of course, Harry Osborne overcomes his sense of futility and unhappiness by picking up where his father left. Also, MJ recovers some status in Petey's life by being a friend and confidant, but there is no promise of being a sentimental partner.

On the other hand, the story where Doc Oc almost marries Aunt May is quite ludicrous. First of all, where does Aunt May get her inheritance of a uranium plant? It is also awkward that during Spidey's persecution of Doc Ock, Aunt May is passive most of the time. She's not only an instrument to Doc Ock's plans, but she becomes a mere plot device that helps Conway write this incredible story. Besides this, what happened to the Spider-mobile and the money Spider-Man was going to receive for it? Readers know that Hammerhead smashed into it. But Spidey doesn't mention the Spider-mobile afterwards or the money he will miss for not turning the car in. And how does he get to fly an airplane to save him and his aunt's hide (By the way, Spidey flies once more in his "team-up" with Dracula)? Rereading this story, one gets the impression that Conway's speed through these two stories parallel Hammerhead's own desperate desire to get to the island where Doc Oc is, without knowing what he's after. The ending is the most disappointing part of all; both foes were quite interesting to have disposed of them in such an abrupt manner.

Albeit the melodrama involving Stacy's death, and the sudden death of Doc Ock and Hammerhead, Lee makes a comeback to write, in collaboration with Conway, what I consider to be the true gem of this volume's collection: those are the stories involving the Smasher, the Disruptor, and the liberal reformist mayoral candidate Richard Raleigh. This text is action packed, starting with the Smasher smashing through a Richard Raleigh poster board and attacking Spider-Man, getting us to know the charismatic politician in person and see his support (particularly from Gwen, MJ, and Harry), and having us watch Peter Parker try to hold the ceiling of the East Side Hotel as it crumbles upon an audience of 200 people. In the next two issues we are introduced to the Disruptor, the Smasher's creator and his master plan of killing off Richard Raleigh. Each villain and the charismatic Raleigh turn out to be quite interesting: they are as mad or obsessed as most of Spidey's villains. The conclusion to this great story is a surprise, and Romita's inclusion of an electronic banner announcing poll results in favor of Raleigh, while SM faces the Smasher and the Disruptor, is quite unique, and it helps build tension toward the end of this story. This definitely is one of the best in Spider-man's lore and perhaps the best in this volume.

Also, in these issues we see some new villains (the ones just mentioned above, Lucas Cage, the Jackal, the Scorpion, a Dr. Jonas Harrow, creator of Hammerhead, and the Man-Wolf). Morbius, the vampire returns in the GSSH #1 to confront the Man-Wolf. The stories in the giant-size issues are team-ups with Dracula and The Master of Kung-Fu, for those who are fans of horror characters
or karate flicks (these are not among my favorite stories). Readers also get to see the first appearances of the Punisher in "The Punisher Strikes Twice" and "Shoot-out in Central Park." The return of the Green Goblin, this time through Harry Osborn tops them all.

I do wonder, however, whether with all these deaths, Doc Ock and Hammerhead, the Green Goblin, and more importantly Gwen Stacy, Conway the young writer is in an oedipal conflict with Lee (son killing the father in a literary sense: someone called this once an anxiety of influence. This is an author's desire to distance himself from his literary mentor). This was just a thought.

In sum, most of these issues were quite dramatic and intense. If you enjoy reading comic books with good plots, these Essential Collections are a good source, although not every story can be satisfying to every reader.

A very sad day in comic book history. This was a major blow to Peter Parker. When the writers killed this character, fans were stunned. This had never happened before - killing off a female lead!

Included in this volume are:

"Gang War, Shmang War! What I Want to Know is... Who the Heck is Hammerhead?"
"The Last Battle!"
"Suddenly... The Smasher!"
"The Deadly Designs Of The Disruptor!"
"Countdown To Chaos!"
"The Gentleman's Name Is... Hulk!" (part 1)
"The Fight And The Fury!" (part 2)
"The Night Gwen Stacy Died" (part 1)
"The Goblin's Last Stand!" (part 2)
"...Just A Man Called Cage!"
"The Mark Of The Man-Wolf" (part 1)
"Wolfhunt!" (part 2)
"The Kangaroo Bounces Back!"
"The Dark Wings Of Death"
"The Vulture Hangs High!"
"The Punisher Strikes Twice!"
"Betrayed!" (part 1)
"My Uncle... My Enemy?" (part 2)
"The Master Plan Of The Molten Man!"
"The Molten Man Breaks Out!"
"Danger Is A Man Named...Tarantula"
"Shoot-Out In Central Park!" (part 1)
"The Green Goblin Lives Again!"
"The Green Goblin Strikes!"

He is considered by many, including myself, to be one of the GREATEST comic-book pencillers EVER. The man has a point- it IS generally accepted that kane's faces are some of the worst in the biz... they seem to have "snouts," I kid you not - but his layouts, composition, and anatomy (don't know WHERE that guy gets off) are brilliant. In fact, I find Kane's spidey to be one of the best renditions of the post-silver age, and LOTS of people seem to agree... and spidey doesn't even HAVE a nose while in costume, so Kane's facial eccentricities don't even come into play as it concerns our favorite web-headed wallcrawler. Jeez, the gall to dis GIL KANE...?!?! Next we'll be hearing how "terrible" Ross Andru's work was, and how "flawlessly rendered" Frank Miller's initial attempts at Spidey were...sheesh!
If anything, the WRITING is pretty weak and dated in these stories... I gotta go with the guy who was talking about Morbius being one of the most ridiculous spidey villains EVER! But classics are classics, and this is as classic as they come, so if you like spidey, pick it up already!

One of the BEST Spider-man Essentials, I gotta say...the stuff in here is GOOD! We open up with a couple issue arc involving Aunt May, Doc Ock and Hammerhead, move over into the Destroyer story, a two-issue Spidey and the Hulk BEAT-'EM UP in Canada, then KAPOW!! The Green Goblin returns, kills Gwen Stacy, turns the comic book universe into the dark side of the moon, and subsequently dies at his own hands (later retconned in...that...clone saga...ugh...) And from there it's a riptide of friends, foes, and heartache all in the classic Spidey fashion! From Man-Wolf to the PUNISHER (cough cough) to the Tarantula and the Molten Man, to the return of Liz Allen and the Vulture's sickening schemes, Doc Ock and Aunt May's marriage (WHAT??!!!), all concluding in a nice little, innocent two issue story where we learn (Although they build up to it for about 14 issues) that Peter's best friend has gone insane, rigged himself in the kooky outfit that Gwen Stacy's killer wore, and threatens to destroy everything Spidey holds dear!
Well now, the writing of this milestone in Spidey history is okay, I liked Stan the Man better, but Conway takes up the stead all right, although killing one of the nicest characters in the Spidey mythos makes him branded for sure. This begins with Gil Kane's art, which is now (thankfully) a LOT better than his TERRIBLE run from Spidey #99-105 (He did alright in the issues before that...doesn't make sense) and slowly moves in to Ross Andru's art which I actually like EXCEPT for when he once drew Mary Jane...yuck.
All in all, this is a great collection that any Spidey fan should surely add to their collection.

I have not read it yet but I lend it to a friend of mine that said that it was one of the best purchases

When Stan Lee bowed out, Gerry Conway took over. Then a young talent who struggled to find his place in the marvel universe. His writing was stiff and clunky. Of course the death of Gwen Stacy has some drama but "worm eating scum" is hardly clever writing. John Romita continues with Gil Kane and some others who prove impressive in style. I like Kane quite a bit. While his sketchy style and inability to render a face are problematic, his layouts are brilliant and he really unstiffens John Romita's art. However when Ross Andre took over, it was a serious decay in quality. Andre is a competent artist who tried to maintain the style of John Romita but that's it. Otherwise it's abismal to see both John and Stan leave Spiderman to far less talented people.
Storylines are mediocre at best. The death of Gwen could have been handled with much more drama and a long-term storyline but instead Peter is linked to Mary Jane. The reason for the death of Gwen was due to both John Romita and Gerry (and Stan at times) finding Mary Jane far more interesting to work with. Oh if they understood.

Somehow I missed the part where I was informed the book was in black and white. Major disappointment. The lack of color is a big deal. Be warned. Hey don't get me wrong, I love Spider-Man. He's my favorite but I'm letting people know that the book is not in color. I would think that that would be a good thing to know before anyone buys it.