Marvel Masterworks: The Amazing Spider-Man Vol 1. by Stan Lee

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This book collects Spider-man's first eleven adventures in Issue 15 of Amazing Fantasy and Issues 1-10 of the Amazing Spider-man in full color.

The introduction by Stan Lee is well worth reading. Perhaps the most amazing fact about Spider-man is how people at Marvel didn't want to green light Spider-man. Some feared he'd have too many problems to be heroic or that Spider-man was originally a teenager and that teenagers could only be sidekicks. Perhaps the strangest objection was that people didn't like Spiders. (Note to: Ancient Marvel editors: People aren't too thrilled about Bats either.) So Lee wrote the Spider-man story in the last issue of the anthology series Amazing Fantasy. With Spidey on the cover, Amazing Fantasy sold like crazy. Seven months later, Spidey hit as an every other month magazine in March 1963 before becoming monthly.

Reading through the book, it's easy to see the appeal of Spider-man to young readers of the time. Peter Parker was a quiet kid who had been orphaned and lost his Uncle. He was picked on by his peers and misunderstood both as Peter Parker and Spider-man.

I was surprised to find that even I had a misunderstood Spider-man along with the Fantastic Four. I read an extended version of Spider-man Attempt to join the Fantastic Four in Amazing Spider-man #1 in Fantastic Four Annual #1. The FF Annual version tells the the tale strictly from the Fantastic Four's perspective and it has Spider-man looking money-hungry as his interest in joining the Fantastic Four fades when he finds out there's no money in it. The context in Amazing Spider-man #1 tells that he needed money because his Aunt May was in bad financial straits.

The word relate-able was used often to describe the character and it fits. He is an every kid struggling with life, that's often hard, and is at least once left sobbing. And not without good reason. His Aunt who is constantly concerned with him and is broke and ill. Peter Parker can get money, but only by selling Spider-man snapshots to a man who will use them in crusader to turn Spider-man into Public Enemy #1.

However, what makes the character is heroic is that somehow or another after each defeat and hardship, Peter Parker and Spider-man come back again. It's truly reminiscent of the "Itsy Bitsy Spider" song.

The key foundations of the Spider-man world are introduced: This book includes the introduction of J Jonah Jameson, the Chamelon (though a pathetically low tech version of that character), the Vulture, Dr. Octopus, Sandman, Dr. Doom, the Lizard, and Electro. Most of these characters have been around for years in one form or another to torment Spider-man. There are many memorable battles in here including Spider-man playing hurt against the Vulture and a kind of throwback against the Vulture.

The interaction between Spidey and the Fantastic Four is interesting as well. While Spidey is inspired to try again after Johnny Storm speaks at the school, he clearly envies their respectability and this book chronicles tensions between Spider-man and Marvel's First Family that would last well into the late 70s.

There are negatives in the book. J Jonah Jameson is really too much of an unsympathetic villain. If his mustache were the right style, he could twirl it. He admits to his staff that he's only crusading against Spider-man for money and then later admits to himself that he does it because he envies Spider-man and knows he can never be as good a man as him, so he has to bring Spider-man down. Both are unlikely admissions and most people would practice some self-deception on that point. As it is, Jameson worst than most of the criminals Spidey faces.

In addition, there are a few amazingly unrealistic occurrences such as Peter Parker collecting six months rent for a picture of Spider-man. (Stinginess would be worked into the Jameson character later.)

However, Spider-man gives us a 360 view of the danger of a heartless media persecution. Jameson's crusade ruins Spidey's show biz career which he desperately needs to help his family financially survive. It also speaks to the dangers of judging and unkindness. Jameson was going after a "faceless menace" but was really hurting an orphaned boy.

Overall, this is a great collection that highlights Spidey at the beginning of his silver age run.



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