Marvel Masterworks: Amazing Spider-Man Vol. 7 (v. 7) [Hardcover]

Stan Lee (Author), John Romita (Illustrator)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Marvel Enterprises (April 27, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0785116362
• ISBN-13: 978-0785116363
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 7.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,640,409 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Stan Lee is a man who needs no introduction. Nevertheless: Having begun his career with wartime Timely Comics and staying the course throughout the Atlas era, Stan the Man made comic-book history with Fantastic Four #1, harbinger of a bold new perspective in story writing that endures to this day. With some of the industry's greatest artists, he introduced hero after hero in Incredible Hulk, Amazing Spider-Man, X-Men and more -- forming a shared universe for rival publishers to measure themselves against. After an almost literal lifetime of writing and editing, Lee entered new entertainment fields and earned Marvel one opportunity after another. He remains one of Marvel's best-known public representatives.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Spider-Man at his silver-age pinnacle, August 18, 2006

By 

David Stager (West Hampstead, UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Marvel Masterworks: Amazing Spider-Man Vol. 7 (v. 7) (Hardcover)

There was a time when the quality of writing and artwork came together and hit a peak. This was in 1968 at the tail end of the silver-age of comics. The issues of Spider-Man reproduced in this volume are perhaps the best ever. Collected here are Amazing Spider-Man 62-67, Amazing Spider-Man Annual #5 and both issues of Spectacular Spider-Man Magazine.

Annual #5 is the "The Parents of Peter Parker" back in the days when the 25 cent annual contained original and quality material. Those were the days.

Spectacular Spider-Man magazine was a glossy magazine that sold for 35 cents in the 12 cent comic era. It didn't last or sell well and was cancelled after two issues, but the stories are stellar. Issue 1 contains what I believe is the definitive representation of the origin of Spider-Man -- in beautiful black and white. I can still recall finding this on a regular magazine rack within a store on Irving Street in San Francisco.

I walked to that store repeatedly looking for the next issue and issue #2 contained the definitive Green Goblin story - which later was adapted into elements of the first Spider-Man movie. Although I looked for months and months, the third issue never came.

The other issues contain Medusa, the old and new Vulture, and a really good Mysterio story. There is also a story where Spider-Man is arrested and taken to jail where Captain Stacy protects Spider-Man's right to a secret identity.

This volume has all good stuff. Although this is the peak John Romita era, the best complete works are drawn by Larry Lieber, i.e., Annual #5 and the origin tale from Spectacular Spider-Man #1. Jim Mooney and Don Heck are likewise major contributers to the very best Spider-Man era. Romita is such a good artist. He and Curt Swan (Superman's artist) truly were the best of the best.

Today's comic books can't come close to equalling the creativity and quality of this era. What a great collection. This is a must-buy. Spider-Man has not been done better before or since.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent collection, March 20, 2006

By 

R. Gale (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Marvel Masterworks: Amazing Spider-Man Vol. 7 (v. 7) (Hardcover)

Marvel has done an excellent job on this volume. The art reproduction and restoration is, with the exception of 2 issues, first rate (the weak efforts are issues 64 and 65), and the highlights are the inclusion of the 2 issues of the magazine "Spectacular Spiderman." Thankfully, the first issue is reproduced in its original black and white form, and even though the pages are smaller than in the original, the art looks terrific. Also worth commenting on is the fine introduction by John Romita -- unlike the usual vapid Stan Lee intros in this series, this one contains a lot of interesting historical info about the stories. The stories themselves are solid and entertaining, and are great examples of why Marvel comics were the best comics published in the late 60's.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Silver Age, January 29, 2009

By 

Vulture Girl "Rid" (San Diego, CA USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Marvel Masterworks: Amazing Spider-Man Vol. 7 (v. 7) (Hardcover)

I,m thankful that Marvel has published the Marvel Masterworks series for they can introduce the people of this generation to the 60s. The issues in this graphic novel debuted in 1968. This volume is filled from stem to stern with heroic Spidey battles against the likes of the villainous Vulture, Mysterio and Medusa of the Inhumans. Also included are 2 issues of Spectacular Spider-Man. There's also the issues that explain the origin of Peter Parker's parents as Spider-Man battles no less than the Red Skull.