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Post by crazyoldhermit on Mar 15, 2015 23:22:07 GMT
The Amazing Spider-Man #28 (September 1965) "The Menace Of The Molten Man!" Script: Stan Lee Editor: Stan Lee Plot: Steve Ditko Art: Steve Ditko Letters: Sam Rosen Borders: Sam Rosen Cover: Steve Ditko Summary: At the beginning of his last day at Midtown High Peter is hailed by Principal Davis. He tells Peter that Flash told him everything about their fight the other day. Peter is appreciative of Davis telling him and Flash being so noble. He spots Liz and tries to say hi but she tells Peter (not "Petey") that she's busy. He bumps into Flash and thanks him for talking with the Principal but Flash blows it off. After school Pete sees Liz shun Flash as well and is happy she's not just bad at him, although he's worried that something is wrong with her. But he has more pressing business. He brings a couple of parcels to Spencer Smythe's house. Smythe remembers him from the Bugle and welcomes him in. The robot immediately attacks Peter and Smythe actually asks if he's Spider-Man but Peter thought ahead: One of his parcels is a jar of spiders for his research. Smythe deactivates the machine and the doorbell rings. Peter takes the opportunity to switch his phony costume, stashed in the other parcel, with the real one. Smythe comes back in the lab with a man named Raxton. Raxton takes a jar of yellow liquid, an alloy the two created, and plans to sell it to the highest bidder. The two struggle and Smythe activates the robot while Raxton breaks the jar. Peter is trapped and can only watch as the alloy spills on Raxton and turns him gold. He leaves to see a doctor while Peter using his web to deactivate the robot. Smythe is unconscious and doesn't notice anything. Out on the street Raxton gets in a bit of a traffic incident and smashes a car with his bare hands. The cops are alerted and Raxton runs back to his apartment. He plans to cash in on his new powers with big crimes and doesn't want to blow it. But Spider-Man (back in his original duds) shows up and wants him to turn himself in before he gets in real trouble. The two fight and Raxton (calling himself a Molten Man) turns out to be one of the toughest foes Spidey has faced yet. Impossibly strong and durable and with skin so slick webbing slides off it, he tackles Spidey through a door and down a flight of stairs. Spidey is cornered in the basement but he knocks out the lights, leaving Raxton swinging blind in the dark. Spidey works up some extra thick web ropes and uses the know-how of any Boy Scout worth his salt to tie up Raxton at his wrists and ankles. Leaving him for the cops Spidey swings off to his graduation. Aunt May is extremely proud of him and knows Uncle Ben would have been proud as well, as Peter is graduating with honors. Absent from the ceremony is Betty Brant, who is still angry with Peter. Principal Davis announces the two scholarships to Empire State University: Flash Thompson for athletics and Peter Parker for science (a reward for having scored the highest scholastic average in the school's history). Even though he has to go with Flash Pete is thrilled that he is able to go to college for free. The scholarship announcements are followed by a droning speech from J Jonah Jameson that puts everybody to sleep. After the ceremony Jameson schmoozes up to Peter and Aunt May (wishing to keep Peter as his photographer). Disgusted by his attempts at kindness Peter leaves to have a heart-to-heart with Liz. Now that they won't be seeing each other anymore, Liz spills it: She had a full blown crush on him but he always preferred Betty Brant and Mary Jane. She assumes he never really liked her because he thought of her as a ditzy blonde, but now that she's graduating she wants to leave that part of her life behind as well. Her parents call for her and she wishes Petey good luck for a final time. Jameson finally stops badgering Aunt May and reminds Peter that he still pays top rates for photos. May, Mrs. Watson and Peter take one last look at the school and leave. The narration promises that this isn't an ending as much as it is a new beginning. Observations: Talk about a milestone! While it took Robin the Boy Wonder 29 years to graduate from high school it only took Peter Parker three. Looking back it's astonishing how brief it really was. We're only thirty issues in (including AF #15 and the Annual) and we're done with high school. Considering how much media tends to linger on these early years it's a shock to see it go by so quickly. The soap opera emphasis of Marvel can't be mistaken. Peter's parting with Liz Allan is surprisingly emotional. She started out as a typical upper-class twit with a dumb jock boyfriend and over the last 28 issues has developed a surprising amount of self-awareness. She realizes that she has been an upper-class twit (and actually started feeling bad for Peter a couple of years ago) and knows now that if she had carried the qualities she admires Peter for he might have liked her in return. She takes Peter's rejection of her as a reason to change and become a person who Peter might have liked. Her goodbye is bittersweet and you get the feeling Peter wishes he'd been able to get to know Liz a little bit more during the last few years. Personally I think Liz was a much better fit for Peter than Betty ever was. Betty, it turns out, is still cranky and doesn't even show up at Peter's graduation. If I have any misgivings about the high school era it's that the supporting cast was quite small. Going into college we're keeping Flash and losing Liz. I think the transition would feel a little more significant if we were losing more than one character but that would mean having to develop more than two classmates. Still, it works and college is enough of a revelation as it is. Amidst all of this it's easy to forget about the Molten Man. He's probably the biggest villain to come out of this portion of the Ditko run and it isn't saying much. Here he has no characterization other than "jerk" and while he makes for a cool visual he's completely unspectacular otherwise. I have to admit I have a bit of a soft spot because the first Spider-Man comic I ever read (and one of two comics I was able to read as a child) was Web of Spider-Man #62, which featured the Molten Man. It was cool in that issue to see him lock Spidey in a fridge and drop him down an elevator shaft but here there just isn't much. The way Spidey defeats him is pretty neat though. It's more interesting than simply outpunching him as he did with Scorpion. In the end this issue is a mixed bag. After the glory days of the last few issues it's a let down on the Spidey front but the finale to the high school era more than makes up for the lackluster Molten Man plot. The jawdropping cover earns it an extra point. 4/5Other notes: - Stan's wacky credits now credit Sam Rosen as having "bordered" the issue. This refer to the letterer's practice of inking all of the panel borders. It's very strange that this job of all things would get a credit but Stan still seems to have difficulty with Ditko being credited more than everyone else. - Weirdly, the series has stopped progressing in real time. The last five issues have spanned less than two weeks, maybe even less than a week. The stories are also much more interconnected than they had been previously.
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Post by Ozymandias on Mar 16, 2015 8:02:39 GMT
We're only thirty issues in (including AF #15 and the Annual) and we're done with high school. […] Personally I think Liz was a much better fit for Peter than Betty ever was. Betty, it turns out, is still cranky and doesn't even show up at Peter's graduation. Here he has no characterization other than "jerk" and while he makes for a cool visual he's completely unspectacular otherwise. […] The way Spidey defeats him is pretty neat though. Marvel Time had not been implemented yet. […] +1 Also agreed on both accounts.
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Post by crazyoldhermit on Mar 16, 2015 14:39:44 GMT
The Amazing Spider-Man Annual #2 (1965) "The Wondrous World Of Dr. Strange!" Script: Stan Lee Editor: Stan Lee Plot: Steve Ditko Art: Steve Ditko Letters: Sam Rosen Borders: Sam Rosen Cover: Steve Ditko Summary: Spidey is spending his night looking for some action and finding nothing, not even a litterbug. Elsewhere, two massive dunderheads have beaten up every patron in a bar. A sorcerer named Xandu entrances him and makes them impervious to pain, as well as superhumanly strong. He sends them after Dr Strange to retrieve the second half of the Wand of Watoomb, as whoever wields the whole wand will possess great power. The two momos bust into Strange's sanctum sanctorum and are able to beat him senseless. They retrieve his half of the wand (hidden in a statue) and leave out the skylight. Spidey happens to be passing by and, thinking them to be common burglars, decides to stop him. Well, he certainly got the action he was looking for: Immune to all pain and injury, they beat seven shades of crap out of him! As they leave he is able to throw a tracer on one of them. Reuniting the two halves of the wand, Xandu is able to open portals between dimensions and look into any place he can think of. Worse, he can even attack through the portals. He's about the kill the still-unconscious Dr Strange when Spidey interrupts. He fights well enough but gets sucked into a portal. But as he goes he manages to snag the wand with a webline. Xandu sends Dumb and Dumber after him and they fight in a truly bizarre and surreal landscape strewn with portals to other worlds, miniature planets and strange liquids. Meanwhile, Strange regains consciousness and realizes the Wand has been taken. Using his amulet and his Cloak of Levitation he finds Xandu's lair. Strange attacks Xandu and without the wand Xandu stands no chance. But Xandu is rescued by the return of the two idiots, who have brought Spider-Man and the wand. Xandu snatches the wand and blasts strange out of his hall. Strange abandons his body and returns in astral form. He sees Spider-Man fighting the idiots and implants a thought in his brain: Grab and connect the hanging electrical wires. Spidey does so as the two hit him and the electrical surge breaks their spell. Strange returns to his body as Spidey goes after Xandu. Together they are able to take the wand back. Strange drains its power into his amulet and scans Xandu's mind to figure out just who he is: He's a student of the mystic arts who learned of the wand and stole one of the halves. Strange erases his memory and his evil ambition. He tells Spidey that he has earned his friendship and wishes is him well. The annual also features five pinups showing the new villains that have arrived since the last one: The Circus of Crime, the Scorpion, The Beetle, Smythe's robot and the Crime-Master. Observation: As an annual, this one just doesn't pack the punch that the first one did. How could it? That was a 41 page story featuring six villains, the Human Torch and Spidey's full cast of supporting characters as well as a half dozen cameos from other heroes. This is a 20 page story featuring a simple team-up with Dr Strange, where Peter Parker doesn't even appear, let alone his supporting characters. And while the last annual was packed with bonus features this one just has five measly villain pin-ups (which show just how drastically the direction of the book has changed in the last year) and three reprint stories (from ASM #1, #2 and #5). So what works? Well, it may be a simpler story but it's no less cool for it. This is the first team-up between Spidey and Strange. That alone is worth celebrating, as it's Ditko's two most famous creations together under his his pen for the first and last time. The story is also completely standalone. It drags in no continuity (although as the first Spidey/Strange story it is significant to subsequent continuity) and it could be reprinted as a one-shot today no sweat. As such, it's a great introduction to both characters. I have never read Dr Strange but this story is really cool and makes me want to check some of his stories out. And I imagine a fan of Dr Strange who had never read Spider-Man might want to check out some of Spidey's stories out. Not only is it great as a fan of only one character, it's great for complete newbies, kids who doesn't care about the soap opera in Peter's life and aren't familiar with the story so far. Aside from the historical significance and accessibility, it's just a neat little adventure. There isn't much to it besides just being a fun story. Dr Strange's magical world is kooky and odd and Ditko's representation of the inter-dimensional worlds is mindblowing. If you're going to do a crossover issue thats mostly action, this is how it's done right. A much better effort on this front than ASM #16. 4/5Other notes: - Dr Strange and Spider-Man will not meet again for another seven years, believe it or not.
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Post by Ozymandias on Mar 16, 2015 15:09:10 GMT
If you're going to do a crossover issue thats mostly action, this is how it's done right. A much better effort on this front than ASM #16. 4/5Other notes: - Dr Strange and Spider-Man will not meet again for another ten years, believe it or not. There's little difference between the two, but I favor ASM #16 over this annual. I find this plot less interesting. They would meet again seven years later, in ASM #109. What's funny about it, is that Stan signed a caption box (page 7) stating he didn't remember when had they met before. Coming from someone else, I'd take that as a joke.
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Post by crazyoldhermit on Mar 16, 2015 23:48:39 GMT
The Amazing Spider-Man #29 (October 1965) "Never Step On A Scorpion!" Script: Stan Lee Editor: Stan Lee Plot: Steve Ditko Art: Steve Ditko Letters: Sam Rosen Loafing: Sam Rosen Cover: Steve Ditko Summary: Peter finds that his clothes from last year are starting to feel a little snug. He decides to buy some new threads and withdraws some cash from the bank. While in the area he decides to visit Betty at the Bugle. Across town the Scorpion has escaped from prison. He pretended to go mad so the warden would return his costume to him. Now he will seek revenge on Jameson and Spider-Man. At the Bugle Peter overhears Jameson asking Foswell for new reports on a cat burglar or the series of thefts of scientific equipment. Foswell has no new info and says it's a lull before the storm. When Peter finds Betty she's talking to none other than Ned Leeds. Having finally returned from Europe, he's immediately back putting the moves on Betty. Peter is at a bit of a disadvantage here, as he hasn't seen Betty since their fight in #26, and he is rude and passive-aggressive to the still cordial Ned. A cop comes and informs Jameson that the Scorpion is on the loose and had threatened Jameson while in jail. Jameson is terrified and Peter leaves to go take care of Scorpion. He asks Betty out to dinner but she's already seeing a movie with Ned. As Spidey he decides to lure the Scorpion to him by swinging around in one area. This backfires immediately, as it draws attention from the Scorpion and leaves Jameson completely unguarded. Realizing his error, he gets back to the Bugle just in time to stop Scorpion from killing Jameson. As they battle in Jonah's office Ned comforts Betty and even offers some advice to Spider-Man, which makes him mad enough to tackle the Scorpion head on. The police show up just as Spidey and Scorpey have destroyed all of Jameson's furniture and the two leave out the window. Jameson cries out for his demolished furniture but really was hoping to get rid of that cheap junk years ago and will now be able to get a new luxurious setup from the insurance company. Ned takes Betty home (Jameson deducts the half-day off from her pay) while Jameson poses among the wreckage for the photographers, planning to portray himself as a hero in his paper. Then he realizes that if Spider-Man loses he'll be in danger for the rest of his life. Scorpion and Spidey battled across the rooftops, with Spidey using several web flails to keep Scorpion at bay. He's able to tie up Scorpion's legs but Scorpey uses his tail as a spring to tackles Spidey off the roof. But Spidey webs him and is able to carry him as he swings over to the waterfront. He flings himself and the Scorpion over the docks and into the water. Scorpion thrashes around but the water makes him easy to dodge. Spidey loads up a new cartridge and webs him completely, then waits until Scorpion falls unconscious for lack of breath. He hauls the villain ashore and leaves him for the cops. He wrings out his costume and heads back to the Bugle to see how Betty is doing. Jameson tells him the bad news: Betty went home with Ned. Unable to stand Jonah bragging about his defeat of the Scorpion, Peter tries to call Betty from a payphone but theres no answer. He wonders if she's out with Ned and wishes Ned wasn't an upstanding citizen so he could really hate him (you'll get your wish in 20 years Pete!). At home he calls again but Ned answers. He tells her they went to the doctor and Betty needs rest and can't come to the phone. Dejected, Peter hangs up. In the kitchen Aunt May has a dizzy spell and drops a glass. She hides this from Peter to keep him from worrying and as he walks away she wonders who would look after him if she wasn't around... Observations: After the climax of last issue this one takes the time to rearrange the pieces on the board. A cat burglar is on the loose (and will be dealt with next issue) and scientific equipment has been stolen (which will soon lead to the Master Planner saga). Aunt May's health concerns are back (so far she's been getting sick every 10 issues or so), as is Ned Leeds. The return of Ned Leed is the biggest development this issue because he seems to have won Betty over in a single day. Peter and Betty were on the rocks and Ned swooped right in. It's classic Parker luck: Not only are Peter and Betty at a low point, the major wrench in their relationship (Liz) is finally gone. It's the perfect time for them to rebuild and then here comes Ned. But worse for Peter is the fact that Ned is a genuinely good guy. Not only is he kind and considerate, he is also able to be there for Betty when she needs him. He protects her from the Scorpion, gets her to a doctor and makes sure shes at home with a friend to look out for her (I suppose in 1965 the idea of a man staying over alone with a woman he wasn't married to was a bit much). Ned is simply a better man for Betty. Her relationship with Peter has been dead for some time now but now theres a reason for her to break it off. Unfortunately, outside of that one development there isn't much more meat here. The Scorpion's motivations are foggy. He seeks vengeance on Jameson but last time he was only interested in killing Jameson to preserve his identity, which Jameson would never reveal anyway because it would implicate himself in the Scorpion's creation. Spidey beats him in a cool way but the battle doesn't have anywhere near the energy of their last encounter, which was much more grueling and violent. This about as run-of-the-mill as it gets in these early issues, which by today's standards is pretty damn good. Overall the tracks are laid for future greatness but this doesn't really deserve much more than a 3/5, and thats with my bias in favor of the Scorpion. Other notes: - Peter mentions that he has grown. Indeed, when Peter is wearing a T-shirt near the end his arms and upper body are much more muscular, in line with what the Annual said about Peter continuing to grow stronger as he ages. - The Daily Bugle is in the same neighborhood as Peter's local bank, but it was previously established in ASM #9 that there is a bank in Forest Hills. The only explanation is that the Daily Bugle is in Queens, which seems unlikely. - Ned's European trip was six months, starting in ASM #20. While it has been nine months of real time since then it has only been five months in story, as #24-28 took place over a short period of time. If it is now July 1965 then ASM #20 must have taken place in January and the gap between #20 and #24 must have been four months. - Ditko must have been The Scorpion's champion because doesn't return until 1975.
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Post by Ozymandias on Mar 17, 2015 8:41:25 GMT
The return of Ned Leed is the biggest development this issue because he seems to have won Betty over in a single day. Peter and Betty were on the rocks and Ned swooped right in. It's classic Parker luck: Not only are Peter and Betty at a low point, the major wrench in their relationship (Liz) is finally gone. It's the perfect time for them to rebuild and then here comes Ned. The Scorpion's motivations are foggy. He seeks vengeance on Jameson but last time he was only interested in killing Jameson to preserve his identity, which Jameson would never reveal anyway because it would implicate himself in the Scorpion's creation. Spidey beats him in a cool way but the battle doesn't have anywhere near the energy of their last encounter, which was much more grueling and violent. This about as run-of-the-mill as it gets in these early issues, which by today's standards is pretty damn good. - Peter mentions that he has growng. Indeed, when Peter is wearing a T-shirt near the end his arms and upper body are much more muscular, in line with what the Annual said about Peter continuing to grow stronger as he ages. Liz and Betty were about to be replaced by Gwen and MJ, I wonder how that situation would've played out under Ditko's watch. This is indeed a weak issue, compared to the ones that came immediately before and after. Peter's physical appearance, has nothing to do with that of the kid from AF #15.
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Post by crazyoldhermit on Mar 17, 2015 15:04:18 GMT
Amazing Spider-Man #30 (November 1965) "The Claws Of The Cat!" Script: Stan Lee Editor: Stan Lee Plot: Steve Ditko Art: Steve Ditko Letters: Artie Simek Borders: Artie Simek Cover: Steve Ditko Summary: After his battle with the Scorpion Spidey takes off into the night to prowl for crime. But he's so preoccupied with his concerns about Betty that he doesn't notice the Cat Burglar (mentioned last issue) breaking into an apartment. He uses a small explosive to blow open a safe and makes off with the contents. Later, Jameson returns to find his safe destroyed and his sticks, bonds and other important papers missing. He tells the police that he is offering a $1000 dollar reward ($7500 today) for his capture. Elsewhere, a truck delivering a load of uranium derivatives to Tony Stark's factory is attacked by a very well equipped gang of thieves. Spidey intervenes but he is hurled from the speeding truck and loses them. While searching for the truck he overhears Jameson talking about the reward. He pops his head in and tells Chucklehead to get his checkbook ready for him. Spidey leaves and Jameson realizes he just might have to praise and pay Spidey, which would result in very public humiliation. He calls Foswell and demands that he use every connection he has to track down the Cat Burglar before Spider-Man. The next morning Peter heads out at the crack of dawn to talk to Betty before she gets to work. He turns a corner and bumps into none other than Liz Allan. They take a moment to catch up. She asks Petey to do her a favor for old time's sake. Flash Thompson is following her to find out where she works and she asks Petey to stall him. Peter does but he spots a man on a roof that could be the cat burglar. He starts a little scuffle and quickly knocks Flash out. He changes into costume and investigates the mystery man but it turns out to be a disgruntled ex-employee holding someone at gun point. Peter webs him up and heads back to Flash. When Flash comes to he tells him they bumped heads and that Liz works at the Dillon department store. When Peter gets to Betty's apartment she tells him Ned asked her to marry him. Peter panics and realizes he needs to tell her he's Spider-Man and propose. He says that Ned can't compare to Spider-Man but Betty tells him not to mention Spidey and if Ned was anything like him she wouldn't even consider it. She says she's had enough excitement in her life and doesn't want to worry about her husband risking his life every day. She wants a normal guy with a nine-to-five who comes home to a quiet life. That is what attracted her to Peter in the first place. This really bugs Pete and he tells her to marry Ned and storms out of the apartment. Through the door Betty tries to tell him that she loves HIM and wonders about the terrible secret he keeps from her. Outside her building Peter finally admits that he has lost Betty for good. Peter's navel gazing is interrupted by a gunshot. He changes into his costume and finds a gang of bankrobbers fleeing the scene. Spidey busts them up good as a strangely costumed man, a member of the gang he fought earlier, watches from a van. He heads back to his hideout and reports the gang's failure to his boss. The upside is they were only hired hoods with no ties to their superiors. At home Aunt May is resting in bed after a dizzy spell when she hears Peter come home. She tells him Betty called him several times but Peter doesn't want to talk to her. It's better to ignore her than prolong the agony. He sees a news report on the Cat Burglar, a report being watched by the Burglar himself. The Burglar plans to make one final score and settle down anonymously. At an underworld bar Foswell -disguised as Patch - calls Jameson to tell him that he may have identified the Burglar as a second-story man who hasn't been seen lately. He plans to collect evidence before calling the cops. Betty calls Peter at home once more. Needing to get away from the phone he heads out to adventure as Spider-Man. The Cat Burglar hits a snag on his final score as another patron in the building he's breaking into spots him. The police are called and they stick spotlights up on the buildings. Jameson watches on TV at home but to his horror sees Spider-Man swing into the fray. Spidey and the Cat Burglar fight, with the Burglar using a few of his tools as improvised weapons. He manages to blow up one of the legs on a water tower and knock it off the building but Spidey dodges it and meets him on the roof. The Burglar holds Spidey at bay with gunfire until the cops reach the roof. Not wanting to be caught in the crossfire, Spidey backs off. The Cat Burglar sets off a smoke bomb to escape but the police notice his hiding spot, hanging from a rope down a chimney, He's arrested, saving Jonah from having to pay the reward. Spidey snaps some pictures and heads to the Bugle. Betty tries to talk to Peter but he wants nothing to do with her. He sells the photos (to a very cheery Jonah) and leaves with the spectre of Spider-Man standing between him and Betty, pushing them apart. Observations: I think this might be the most unjustly forgotten issue of Ditko's run. It features no flashy villain, there is very little humor and in the end Spidey leaves it up to the cops to beat the bad guy. It falls into that weird lull between the excellent Green Goblin/Crime-Master story and the legendary Master Planner saga (which is being built up to this issue) where Spidey's adventures felt a bit miscellaneous. The Cat Burglar story is just so-so. He's simply a highly competent burglar (who looks remarkably like Walter Kovacs from Watchmen, a character who was heavily inspired by Ditko's work) who plans to make one last score. A very generic character but I did dig how he used his burglary tools as weapons without it feeling gimmicky. The meat of the story is Peter's personal life. To put it simply, he's in freefall. Ned Leeds asks Betty to marry him (seriously, was there just no respect for relationships in 1965?) but the real killing blow comes from Peter: He realizes he could never have a happy relationship with Betty because she could never accept his double life. It turns out the whole Liz Allan thing was just concealing the real issue. Betty and Peter are completely incompatible for as long as he's Spider-Man and his sense of duty prevents him from quitting (for now, at least). And tragically, Betty can never know the real reason Peter has for walking away. It's an ugly situation to be in. The Betty drama is strong enough to compensate for the minimal presence of Flash Thompson and the almost total lack of Liz (who will be gone for a long, long time) and the final shot of Spidey standing between Betty and Pete is really genius on Ditko's part. Ditko's art throughout the entire story is excellent. While he's been on fire since the first Annual his art in this issue is particularly moody, with very strong lighting in the night scenes. The cover is my favorite of his run for the sense of scope and atmosphere. Overall it's not a total masterpiece but it's still quite overlooked for it's dramatic content. 4/5Other notes: - The timeline is adjusted once more. This issue starts on the day #29 ended on. This means #29 actually took place in August with this issue. So #20 must have taken place in February, with the first four months of his trip progressing in real time to June in #24, then #24-28 covering June and #29 featuring his return in August. If you remember, ASM #20 was cover dated for January and was released in November. We can see how Marvel time became necessary: Progressing in real time worked when each issue was standalone but Ditko choosing to have a much tighter story arc across several issues made real time impossible. But Ditko deserves credit for timing the stories in a way where Ned Leeds really was on a trip for the six months he said he would be. - Flash Thompson is pretty blatantly stalking Liz, something that a 21st century Liz probably wouldn't stand for. Of course, today he wouldn't have to stalk her to find out where she works, he would just need to find her on Facebook. The idea that classmates would completely lose touch just two months after graduation is ridiculous today, since it's pretty common practice for entire graduating classes to be Facebook friends. - Speaking Liz, she won't return again for nine years.
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Post by Ozymandias on Mar 17, 2015 15:59:36 GMT
[…] the final shot of Spidey standing between Betty and Pete is really genius on Ditko's part. Ditko's art throughout the entire story is excellent. While he's been on fire since the first Annual his art in this issue is particularly moody, with very strong lighting in the night scenes. I always loved that panel, which is why that page is the background of the forum. Facial expression was one of Ditko's strong points, his grip on shadows was one of the others, and this issues reflects that better than no other. In general, if I had to pick only one issue from Ditko's run, it would have to be this one. If not for that thing with Otto's gang talking about the Cat, as if they worked for him, I would've have rated it higher, too.
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Post by crazyoldhermit on Mar 17, 2015 23:01:38 GMT
The Amazing Spider-Man #31 (December 1965) "If This Be My Destiny...!" Script: Stan Lee Art: Steve Ditko Letters: Sam Rosen Cover: Steve Ditko Summary: The purple-garbed thieves from last issue are stealing a "radioactive atomic device" from a manufacturing plant. Their scheme is planned down to the second and goes off without a hitch until their helicopter escape is intercepted by Spider-Man. They spray him with sleeping gas but he holds his breath and keeps fighting. One of the thieves contacts their boss, the Master Planner, and is told to use Emergency Plan G, which is to encase the device in a waterproof cover, attach an electronic signaling device and throw it into the river. From an underwater base another group of minions swim out with scuba gear and retrieve it. On the helicopter Spidey is running out of breath. He uses his web to swing a broken door up into the rotors. Spidey, the thieves and the chopper are land in the river but the thieves quickly get away undetected. In his underwater base the Master Planner promises to be more care in dealing with Spider-Man. The next morning Peter heads off to the ESU campus for registration. He doesn't notice Aunt May is feeling ill, an illness she's concealing for his sake. At the campus he goes through the lengthy process of registration and heads home exhausted. When he gets there Aunt May collapses. He calls for a doctor who calls for an ambulance. Aunt May tells Peter to get home and rest for his firts day of school. But Peter is unable to get any sleep and goes to school horribly unprepared. At school Harry Osborn introduces himself and Gwen Stacy (graduates of Standard High) to Flash Thompson. Gwen has long been an admirer of Flash's football career. To Flash's dismay Peter in also in their class. He tries to introduce Peter to his new friends but Peter completely blows them off, lost in worry over Aunt May. Gwen is willing to give him benefit of the doubt for his rudeness. After all, Peter is already quite famed for his brilliance and is handsome as well. Throughout Peter's first day he unknowingly ignores prospective friends and is distracted from his classes. All he can think about is Aunt May. In chem lab Harry wants to knock Peter down a peg. He gets Gwen to distract Peter by asking for a pen. Peter barely notices her, which alows Harry to sabotage his experiment. Gwen is offended by his snub and his experiment explodes, earning him a reprimand from his professor. Gwen feels bad for getting Peter in trouble and to make it up for her Harry offers to invite him for a Coke after school. But Peter rushes out of class as soon as it's over to see Aunt May. She asks how his day went and he thinks it went great. When visiting hours end the doctor kicks him out and tells him that May's condition is quite poor and they can't be too optimistic. At home he finds a wad of bills waiting for him. He'd like to quit school and take up a full-time job but it would break Aunt May's heart. Instead he neglects his studies to take some pictures as Spider-Man. But the streets are deserted and he winds up wasting the entire night with no study and little sleep. At the Bugle Jonah is raging about the lack of news. He tells Foswell to go dig into the stolen science equipment. He asks Betty why Peter hasn't brought him pictures lately. Betty says she hasn't heard from him much lately. Ned Leeds asks her if she's made her mind up but she says she needs to be fair to Peter and talk to him about it. He'll get an answer when she learns Peter's secret. As Patch, Foswell hangs around sleazy bars until he finds a thief named Foxy Briggs asking a seaman about the cargo of nuclear devices he's been loading. Patch follows Foxy but loses him in a crowd. At school Peter has picked up a snobbish reputation. Gwen Stacy is determined to earn his attention, having gotten a "tumble" from every boy she's met. But Peter, wanting to spend more time with Aunt May, completely snubs her on his way out of class. She swears that he will regret it. Aunt May is concerned about him and swears she's getting along find while the doctor tells him that they're close to getting a diagnosis. Once more, Peter goes webslinging to look for photos. But what he finds is Patch. Patch can't go to the police with his tip about Foxy Briggs but he can tell Spider-Man about it. Spidey heads over to Pier 6 where the Master Planner's men incapacitate the crew with sleeping gas. Spidey drops in on him and they try to spray him with the gas but it doesn't affect him. He stops them from dumping the evidence in the water but gets caught in a cargo net. While he breaks free of the net they escape and leave him without a photo op. He congratulates himself on his gas mask and heads out to find some photos. At his base the Master Planner swears to destroy Spider-Man while at the hospital the doctors have diagnosed Aunt May's illness. It's fatal. Observations: This is a landmark issue. First, you have Peter starting college. HUGE change. And in typical Spidey style, this transition is a rough one. Circumstance have conspired to make sure Peter gets off to the rockiest start he could possibly have. For many people like Peter, college is a fresh start, an opportunity to become who they want to be without the baggage of high school. And Peter immediately lands right back where he was in the earliest issues of this magazine: Seen as an elitist bookwormy snob, except this time it's even worse. Gwen Stacy is the new Liz Allan, the gorgeous blonde who is intrigued by Peter, but Harry Osborn is all new. He makes immediate friends with Flash and is a new angle: While Flash is a lunkheaded alpha male jock, Harry just stinks of upper class snobbery with his bow tie and his crinkled "I smell dog crap" expression. Knowing what eventually becomes of all of these characters, it's bizarre to look at this first appearances. You'd have no idea just what fates would eventually befall these characters and all of that comes from this place. Aunt May's illness, hinted at in the last few issues, comes to a head. Aunt May had been keeping it from Peter which makes me suspect she's a goddamn dingbat. Listen lady, if you're ninety zillion years old and you're sick you aren't going to get better by keeping it from Peter. But instead of doing the reasonable thing and seeking help early Aunt May ends up collapsing at the worst possible time and is now knocking on death's door. The "Aunt May gets sick" idea is starting to get a little tired. It's barely been a year since her last illness and at some point you have to think "Y'know, maybe nature is trying to say something." The Master Planner, another plot built up last issue (and hinted at the issue before), comes to the forefront. Apparently he runs several task forces of goons and operates out of an elaborate underwater base. He also claims to have met Spider-Man before yet he didn't expect to deal with him again. It's a little hokey but it's by far the biggest threat Spidey has gone up against so far. Overall it's a major milestone. The setting has changed, there are new major characters, Aunt May is on death's door and Spidey faces his more organized foe yet. 5/5Other notes: - First appearance of Harry Osborn, Gwen Stacy and Miles Warren. - For the first time Peter goes to school with a more casual jacket rather than his suit jacket. - Flash tells Harry that girls like Gwen always go for eggheads. He's obviously remember Liz and her crush on Peter. - Ditko's plotting credit is dropped for this one issue
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Post by Ozymandias on Mar 18, 2015 7:13:42 GMT
Gwen Stacy is the new Liz Allan Aunt May's illness, hinted at in the last few issues, comes to a head. Aunt May had been keeping it from Peter which makes me suspect she's a goddamn dingbat. Listen lady, if you're ninety zillion years old and you're sick you aren't going to get better by keeping it from Peter. But instead of doing the reasonable thing and seeking help early Aunt May ends up collapsing at the worst possible time and is now knocking on death's door. The "Aunt May gets sick" idea is starting to get a little tired. It's barely been a year since her last illness and at some point you have to think "Y'know, maybe nature is trying to say something." - Flash tells Harry that girls like Gwen always go for eggheads. He's obviously remember Liz and her crush on Peter. Up to a point. I wonder if Ditko intended for her to die. I certainly get that vibe, from these early years. Actually, he says "chicks always seem to go for [eggheads]". He's thinking of Liz, no doubt, but he's not comparing Gwen with her.
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Post by crazyoldhermit on Mar 18, 2015 14:43:26 GMT
The Amazing Spider-Man #32 (January 1966) "Man On A Rampage!" Script: Stan Lee Editing: Stan Lee Plot: Steve Ditko Art: Steve Ditko Lettering: Artie Simek Kibitzing: Artie Simek Summary: In his undersea lair the Master Planner rages about Spider-Man costing him his radioactive material. The Master Planner turns out to be none other than Doc Ock, who attempting to become a master of lingering radiation in order to menace the world with its power. He orders one of his minions to search for more atomic equipment. Peter stops by the Daily Bugle to drop off some photos and runs into Betty. He doesn't want to give her the time of day and Ned tells him he owes her an explanation. Peter actually gets physical and shoves Ned into the wall, a ploy to try and get Betty to hate him. The scuffle attracts the attention of Jameson, who calls Peter's newest photos (of picketers) crap and won't buy them. Betty tells Peter that she knows his violent outburst was a trick and that she wants to work it out but he walks away. She wonders if he no longer cares for her, when really he just doesn't want to burden her with his secret. At the hospital the doctor tells Peter the bad news: A radioactive particle is in Aunt May's blood and they can't retrieve it, nor can they figure out how it got there. Peter realizes it came from the blood transfusion he gave her back in ASM #9 and is horrified by what he's done. At home he ruminates on how he will have caused the death of both his aunt and his uncle and destroys some furniture. But he realizes there is one man who can help her: Dr Curt Connors, an expert in the field! He makes some phone calls and finds out Connors is now living in New York. He swipes one of Aunt May's blood samples from the hospital and brings it to Connors. As repayment for his help in Florida Connors will help Spidey in any way he can. He analyzes the blood and tells Spidey that she needs a serum called ISO-36. Connors calls the West Coast lab where it is created and orders it in. Peter takes his prized scientific equipment (including the Microscope Uncle Ben bought him in AF#15) to a pawn shop to get the money for the serum. He brings the money to Connors, who told him the serum will be flown in on special order. Spidey immediately starts prepping the lab and the two work together preparing for the serum. At his base Ock receives word that Iso-36 is being shipped out from the West Coast. It is crucial to his research and he orders it stolen. When the Serum arrives at the airport it is immediately taken to the horror of Connors and Spidey. Spidey heads out after the Master Planner. First he stops in the Bugle looking for Foswell. A terrified Betty tells him he just left. Spidey spots him in the street and tells him he wants all of his information on the Planner. After that he spends hours terrorizing underworld bars looking for info. He finds a car theft operation. When the crooks try to escape Spidey destroys their vehicle and rips their staircase out of the wall! But they don't know anything. Spidey's search leads him to an empty alleyway but his spider sense detects a trap door under the floor. The hatch leads to an underground hideout filled with the Master Planner's men. He fights them valiantly and reinforcements come from a hidden door. He slips inside and heads down the tunnel to the planner's lair. But Ock is waiting for him and plans to use the serum as bait, a golden opportunity to trap and kill Spider-Man. At the end of the tunnel Spidey sees the serum but when he reaches for it he gets an electric shock. Ock comes out of a hidden door and attacks our hero. But as powerful as Ock is, he cannot stand up to the rampaging hero. But Spidey is too destructive and the battle destroys a support pillar. The upper levels of the lair collapse down on Spidey. Ock flees as Spider-Man, trapped under several tons of rubble, watches a small leak in the ceiling grow larger and larger. As she slips into a coma Aunt May calls for Peter while Connors waits for Spider-Man to return with the serum, which will soon lose potency. Spidey hangs his head in failure. Observations: Part 2 of this classic opens with a surprising flat note. Ditko completely missed the mark by opening the story with the reveal of the Planner's identity. Had he waited until Spidey was in the Master Planner's base it could have been an incredible twist. Instead it's only a missed opportunity. But the story improves quite quickly. Sticking with Ock, his character gets a major revision. In his first appearance his goal was to conquer the world using a hijacked nuclear lab. His second and third stories were about getting revenge on Spider-Man. But here he seems to have learned a bit. He's gone back to his original goal of world domination and has ignored Spider-Man completely. Some might think it's a bit hokey that Ock would adopt a second identity like that but it makes perfect sense. Instead of going on a rampage of Dr Octopus he's been working sneakily as the Master Planner. And after two stories of basic revenge and robbery he's back playing to his strengths, atomic science. He's also the first Spidey supervillain to successfully put together a criminal empire (something Goblin tried and failed to do three times now). And hey, he's finally wearing some sort of costume, donning the classic green jumpsuit and triangular goggles for the first time! Aside from the return to Ock's origins this story all calls back to two other stories. Dr Connors and the blood transfusion, both from stories two years ago (ancient history in the pre-reprint drug store days). It's a nice touch and it gives you the feeling Ditko is starting to wind things down. Peter consulting Connors is especially nice because Spider-Man finally has an ally he can call on for help. The only other disappointment this issue is the total absence of Empire State. No Harry or Gwen just one issue after their debut. But the pace of this issue is so frantic thats totally understandable. Despite the minor disappointments this issue is a blast. 5/5Other notes: - Fourth appearance of Dr Octopus. He is the second fourth-timer after the Green Goblin. - Connors is hardly an expert in this situation, as he was last seen as a biologist specializing in reptiles, not a medical doctor or radiation specialist. - As cool as it is to have Ock take up another identity, theres just no explaining his lair. Where did it come from? How did he build it? - "Never again will you interfere with the plans of those who are your superior!" Did Dan Slott derive Ock's future adjective from this moment? I think so.
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Post by Ozymandias on Mar 18, 2015 16:02:27 GMT
What I liked most about this issue, was to finally see Spider-Man pulling out all the stops. He cuts trough common thugs and Otto's minions, as if they weren't there. Even Octopus runs with his tail between his legs, and just sheer luck allows him to scape.
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Post by crazyoldhermit on Mar 19, 2015 1:15:41 GMT
The Amazing Spider-Man #33 (February 1966) "The Final Chapter!" Script: Stan Lee Editing: Stan Lee Plot: Steve Ditko Art: Steve Ditko Bordering: Artie Simek Lettering: Artie Simek Summary: Still trapped under the wreckage, Spidey tries and fails to save himself. He thinks of Aunt May and how he is failing her, just like how he failed Uncle Ben. He must use his great strength to save her and must prove himself worthy of that strength. With a mighty shove pushes the wreckage up and off of him in the greatest illustration of Spidey Ditko has done so far. But his right leg is now injured and he is incredibly fatigued. He grabs the serum as the ceiling caves in and the river floods the base. He goes limp and is carried through the tunnel. Barely managing to dodge wreckage he pulls himself into the vestibule's pool. Thugs in scuba gear try to hold them down but he ripped out their air hoses and forces them to surface. Spidey pulls himself out of the pool but an army of thugs is waiting for him. With his bum leg and battered body he is easily overwhelmed but the thought of Aunt May causes him to lose all inhibitions. When he regains control of himself he finds all of the thugs unconscious. He leaves the base and gets to Connors' lab. They work up the antidote and Spidey tests it on his own blood. Connors tests the sample and the serum worked to destroy the radiation. He gets the serum to the hospital (who accept it based on a phone call from Connors). The doctors administer the serum on Aunt May (who is barely alive) and they'll get the results in two hours. Spidey goes back to the Planner's base and uses the timer on his camera to photograph himself leaving the base. He also takes photos of the men inside. He calls Foswell and gives him the exclusive (secret photographing his and Foswell's conversation). When the cops come Spidey photographs the arrests as well. Foswell calls Jameson about the story and Jameson is thrilled, although he wishes he had photos. Peter arrives and Betty is horrified at his condition: Bruised, battered and limping. Reminded of her brother's death, she runs crying. Peter shows Jameson his photos and demands $100 apiece for them, enough to cover the medical bills and buy his equipment back. Jameson wonders what became of Peter and why he isn't a milktoast anymore. Peter returns to the hospital to check on Aunt May but the doctor is alarmed by his appearance and wants to check him out. Luckily he doesn't test Peter's blood but he advises he get some rest. He visits Aunt May and the attending tells him that the treatment was a success. Peter leaves satisfied and the doctor thinks it a shame that kids don't idolize good, honest, devoted people like him instead of the mysterious Spider-Man. Observations: What a climax. The opening scene is probably the most famous scene in Spidey history, barring the origin, and deservedly so. Theres no other scene that sums up the pathos of Spider-Man quite as well. It's a perfect five pages. Spidey's subsequent escape of the base is also great. His journey back through the tunnel is the whole story in a nutshell: Injured and weak he's pulled through a rough current but is able to pull himself out of it through sheer will. His defeat of the Master Planner's gang is the best gang fight Spidey has had so far. He just loses all sense of himself and bludgeons all of them into oblivion. Nothing can stop the Spider-Man! After that it's all downhill. Not in terms of quality but in pacing. Aunt May is saved and Peter finally has a good scoop for the Bugle. In a way it really does feel like the Final Chapter. The story gives you the feeling that Ditko is cleaning house a bit. Costume villain introductions have ground to a half, previous villains don't come back as much (Goblin, Scorpion and Ock are the only ones to return so far), Betty's relationship with Peter is winding down (he receives final confirmation here that she could never accept Spider-Man), Peter is in college (which doesn't factor into this or the last issue), long forgotten plot points return and while it's not even mentioned, Peter has finally found a cure for being Spider-Man if he so desires it (as Iso-31 successfully removes radiation from blood). Knowing that Ditko has only five issues left, this issue feels like a climax of the entire run and indeed it is the last gasp of greatness in the Ditko run. A perfect conclusion. 5/5Other notes: - Ock escapes! For the first time he doesn't end a story behind bars and in fact he doesn't appear at all. - Peter sells Jameson nine photos. At $100 a pop thats $900 or $6600 in today's dollars. - This issue's brilliant cover was painted by Dean White for the fourth Marvel Masterwork TPB:
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Post by Ozymandias on Mar 19, 2015 7:12:06 GMT
The opening scene is probably the most famous scene in Spidey history […] After that it's all downhill. Using your words, although not your meaning, that's how I would describe this issue.
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Post by crazyoldhermit on Mar 19, 2015 16:15:05 GMT
The Amazing Spider-Man #34 (March 1966) "The Thrill Of The Hunt!" Script: Stan Lee Editing: Stan Lee Plot: Steve Ditko Art: Steve Ditko Letters: Sam Rosen Relishing(?!): Sam Rosen Cover: Steve Ditko Summary: In his Nairobi trophy room Kraven takes a big swig of his magic potion and swears to successfully hunt Spider-Man. The potion pumps him up and he attacks a rogue lion. He bests the beast and sends it off to lick its wounds. At the port he packs up a shipment of caged animals (is Kraven the only villain - besides the Green Goblin, though we don't yet know it - to have a day job?) for American zoos and travels with them to hunt Spider-Man. In New York Peter confesses his secret identity to Betty and climbs on the ceiling: He's Spider-Man! Betty wakes up from this nightmare screaming. Whatever Peter's secret is that can't be it. Contemplating her relationship, she realizes she can't put off her decision any longer. In Forest Hills Peter finishes a night of studying and does a few cartwheels. He's clearly been rejuvenated by Aunt May being on the mend. The next day at the hospital the doctor tells him that May can return home and she'll be good as new in a few days. At ESU Gwen is teasing all of the boys with a date to the football game. She shoos them away and grabs some things from her locker (college campuses have lockers?) but drops a book. Peter, deciding to be a good samaritan, tries to get it for her but she tells him not to dare. He doesn't understand the situation (and it's doubtful he even recognizes Gwen) but Harry sets him straight: The whole school hates him for being snobby about his scholarship. Peter realizes what's going on but doesn't care enough to set things straight. He has more important things to worry about. In chem lab Gwen wonders if Peter had a reason for being rude while Peter doesn't even kid himself about having zero chances with Gwen. Of course, he doesn't realize that Gwen, apparently of thin skin, is planning to win him over. After class Peter sees some cop cars zooming after a criminal but he decides against doing anything since he still has some money from his last batch of photos (he should, he made quite a haul). He goes home, happy to be an average American student. Across town, Kraven finds The Chameleon's old hideout (which is decorated with giant head busts that make no sense but look great). He changes into his hunting garb, chugs some of his strange brew and thinks of a way to catch Spidey. After a few hours he has the right idea. At home Aunt May is stuffing Peter full of food while on the streets Spider-Man insults, threatens and attacks J. Jonah Jameson. This Spidey is Kraven in disguise. Peter sees the news report but is reluctant to leave Aunt May so soon after her illness. He decides to sit on it while Kraven continues to harass Jameson. Eventually Peter catches a lucky break when Mrs. Watson comes to visit. Using a movie as an alibi Peter heads out after the ersatz. Spidey finds him quarry quite easily: He's signaled by a spider signal! Kraven leads him to a block of condemned buildings and reveals his true self. He sprays Spidey with a jungle scent that will allow Kraven smell his presence wherever he is. Also, he has rigged the buildings with traps. Kraven lures him through his funhouse while a gang of hoods, having spotted Spidey, go in through the front entrance to take him down. Spidey easily nets them and plays a game of cat and mouse with Kraven. It ends with Spidey facing Kraven man-to-man. He wins with pure fisticuffs and leaves Kraven tied up with the gang. When the cops make the arrest Spidey considers snapping a couple pics but decides not to, not needing the money enough for it to be worth facing Betty. Kraven admits to the whole scheme, claiming it to be a matter of honor and Jameson isn't happy to find out that he doesn't have a legitimate case against Spidey. He has his correspondence handed to him by his secretary... Except it isn't Betty! Betty has quit her job and left town, forcing Jameson to replace her. Back at home Peter puts on a brave face for Aunt May and Mrs. Watson but alone in his room he wonders if he's afraid of telling Betty the truth or if he's more afraid of her reaction. But he puts an end to such thinking by reminding himself that for as long as he is Spider-Man she will never accept her and he must not think about her. Observations: We're in the home stretch folks. The first issue of the end of Ditko's run is mixed bag, and that's understating it. As a villain Kraven seems to come from a prior generation when really he's only a year and a half old. This sort of story seems more like an issue from the first half of the run but the signature Ditko-feel that has dominated the second half keeps it from really feeling like one. There is very little humor to be had and it just isn't as creative as his previous stories. Of all the villains of the Lee-Ditko era I don't think any of them has fallen so hard so quickly as Kraven. In his first story he was a truly lethal predator. In his second story (in the Annual) he was little more than a footnote. And here he resorts to stealing the Chameleon's gimmick (dressing up as Spider-Man is the trick The Chameleon pulled way back in ASM #1) and is beaten not by Spider-Man's quick thinking but by his simple inability to stand toe-to-toe with Spidey and trade blows. It's a pretty rapid descent and truly disappointing after his stunning debut. Are there any high points for Kraven between his debut and Kraven's Last Hunt? As is the norm for this string of issues, the Peter Parker side of things is far more interesting. After two issues away Peter is finally back at ESU. The transition hasn't totally settled in but it already feels more refreshing than the final days at Midtown High and the prospects of the Gwen Stacy are immediately more interesting than Betty's jealous whining. Speaking of Betty, she does all of the readers a favor by finally making up her mind and leaving town. Good for her, better for us. Looking back from the perspective of 2015, it's straight-up weird to see the Peter/Betty romance taken so seriously. History seems to have forgotten it. Betty has barely featured in the movies and even in the 1967 cartoon she was nothing more than a secretary (incidentally, as a kid I had no idea who Betty Brant was and, not having an ear for the particulars of the dialog, I assumed Mary Jane was J. Jonah Jameson's secretary). So there it is. A major plot development amidst a totally pathetic villain encounter. Ditko's artwork is as glorious as ever but the writing is on the wall and Ditko has already checked out. 3/5, just for finally getting rid of Betty. Other notes: - Kraven calls the lion he fights "simba." Obviously the word has other meaning but it's just funny that Kraven is now owned by Disney.
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