Spider-Man: Death of the Stacys [Paperback]

Stan Lee (Author), John Romita (Illustrator), Gerry Conway (Illustrator), Gil Kane (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 11, 2012

The deaths that still shape the Spider-verse! During the early 1970s, a pair of plotlines changed comic-book mortality forever. Shock followed shock when Spider-Man lost a friend, a lover and an enemy in a dynamic drama that stunned readers as no comic deaths had before and few have since!

COLLECTING: Amazing Spider-Man 88-92, 121-122

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Marvel; First Edition edition (July 11, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0785167277
• ISBN-13: 978-0785167273
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 0.3 x 10.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #33,957 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.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The most pivotal Spider-Man story ever told April 28, 2007

By N. Durham HALL OF FAMETOP 1000 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

Just about every big name super hero in comics has at least one pivotal moment that always gets remembered by fans. For Spider-Man, what's collected here in Death of the Stacys is THE pivotal turning point for Marvel's celebrated character. The death of Gwen Stacy, Peter Parker's first true love before Mary Jane, meets her demise thanks to the Green Goblin, which leaves Spidey blaming himself for her death. This story alone makes Death of the Stacys worth picking up, and it begins with the death of Gwen's police captain father and mentor to Peter. After that, poor Gwen meets her maker, and the story concludes with the final (well, it was at the time) battle between Spider-Man and Norman "Green Goblin" Osborne. Though the dialogue may be dated, the overall story is ahead of it's time, thanks to the talent of the legendary Stan Lee, and the underrated Gerry Conway, who took over Amazing Spider-Man with big shoes to fill, and only ended up scripting the most pivotal event in Spidey's history (and would also create the Punisher to boot!). Not to mention artwork by the legendary John Romita Sr. and Gil Kane, and well, you get the idea. All in all, Death of the Stacys is the absolute pivotal event in the Spider-Man mythos, and for fans new and old, this handsomely designed hardcover is a must own. Just remember to ignore anything that was attempted to be undone with this story by J. Michael Straczynski's Sins Past storyarc in his Amazing Spider-Man run.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The end of the Silver Age May 21, 2007

By M. Walstrom

Format:Hardcover

What made Spider-Man different from the very start was the adversity he faced as Spider-Man and as Peter Parker. Even in the more innocent time known as the "Silver Age" he had to learn early in his super-hero career that even with all of his amazing powers he could not stop tragedy from befalling those he loved. What started with his Uncle Ben continues here with the deaths of Captain Stacy and his daughter Gwen.

Collected in this volume are the stories that marked the end of the Silver Age and the beginning of the more grim Bronze Age. Gwen's death in paticular is one of the watershed moments in comic history. And that death is followed the very next issue by the death of Spider-man's arch enemy, the Green Goblin, another shocking death in it's time, one that has lost some of it's significance with Norman Osborn's return in the 1990's.

What's also included in this volume is insight from the man who killed Gwen Satcy, Gerry Conway. In writing about her death, he tells us Gwen died not become of some grand plan, but rather he didn't like her, and he like Mary Jane Watson better.

I't amazing that in almost 35 years since Amazing Spider-Man #121 was published Gwen Stacy has managed to stay dead all this time when just about everyone else has come back to life. Hopefully this will remain as a classic story like this should not be cheapend to make a buck as part of some compnay-wide crossover epic.

Definitely worth picking up and adding to your collection!

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Quality... April 27, 2007

By Dave VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

Having just read this story makes me realize how die hard comic book fans had so many problems with Spider Man (the movie). Basically the first Spider Man movie takes this horrible trajedy of the death of Gwen Stacy and turns it on its ear by making it happen to a different girl (Mary Jane Watson), and making it a rescue instead of a trajedy. What a slap in the face to the fans who know how it really went down!

I am a new fan of Spider Man, so I am trying to catch up on my 40 plus years of being behind (and I aint even forty yet:). I feel this story is a milestone in my understanding of the character, and perhaps a milestone in my understanding of how great ideas can transform an industry.

This is my first Marvel Premiere book and it wont be my last. The quality of the pages is excellent, and it makes all the difference in my overall enjoyment of the story. The story is great, and surely pivitol in the life of Spider-Man, and perhaps the catalyst for many super hero stories who have had to deal with a dark chapter in their lives. If you don't know the story, then please get this book. You wont be disappointed.