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Mars Will Send No More

Tag Archives: Amazing Spider-man

Todd McFarlane Amazing Spider-Man TPB Set

25 Wednesday Mar 2015

Posted by Mars Will Send No More in superhero

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Amazing Spider-man, David Michelinie, graphic novel, Marvel Comics, Spider-man, Todd McFarlane

Todd McFarlane Amazing Spider-man TPB Set (2)


Even though retail prices have come down from their 1990s peaks on Amazing Spider-man issues by David Michelinie and Todd McFarlane, collecting them all could still put a big dent in your wallet. Those readers on a sacred mission to collect every issue of Amazing Spider-man will overcome this challenge. The rest of us wouldn’t mind having them collected in three trade paperbacks.

Marvel complicated things by publishing the three paperbacks under two different banners. Readers searching in databases at retailers or libraries might find one, but not the other. Let us clear things up for you.

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The first of the three is under the “Visionaries” banner. You can find many good stories from Marvel’s flagship characters in various Visionaries collections. The Todd MacFarlane one includes Amazing Spider-man #298-305, notable for taking Spidey’s black suit from the first Marvel Superheroes Secret Wars and bonding it to Eddie Brock to create Venom. Spider-man Visionaries Todd McFarlane #1 is listed at MyComicShop and Amazon.

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Marvel then moved the series over to the “Marvel Legends” banner. The first of the two Marvel Legends collects Amazing Spider-man #306-314, plus a story from Spectacular Spider-man Annual #10 with McFarlane art. This one may be our favorite of the series. We can’t find it at MyComicShop, but it is listed correctly on Amazon despite not having the right cover currently.

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Marvel wrapped it up with a second Legends collection that includes Amazing Spider-man #315-323, #325, and #328. Although the listing on Amazon doesn’t have the right cover at the time of this post, it is the right book.

As much as we love McFarlane’s rendering of Spidey’s world, these stories succeed in large part due to Michelinie’s writing. It’s a shame these collections dont say “Michelinie and McFarlane” on them. Marvel remedied that bit of rudeness in 2011 by printing the Amazing Spider-man Omnibus by David Micheline and Todd McFarlane. Last time we checked, you could get one for about $100.

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The collections are an enjoyable romp through Spidey’s rogues’ gallery, with drama, humor, and interesting developments in the lives of newlyweds Mary Jane Watson-Parker and her wall-crawling hubby. Michelinie breaks with the “hard-luck hero” tradition of Spidey. Peter Parker marries an incredibly fun, smart, super-model. He gets famous for his Spider-man photos in the Daily Bugle and goes on a book-signing tour. Peter and Mary Jane move into a nice place. They have some money for a change, and even Aunt May has a cool boyfriend now. This was a fresh approach to the character at the time. It reminded us that even though Parker has lots of bad luck, he still totally kicks ass.

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Spidey looks great zipping through these books in a mass of webs with a look McFarlane seems to have invented. The webs have since been copied, but we don’t recall ever seeing anyone draw Spidey’s webs like McFarlane before these books.

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The creative team brought back one of our favorite Spidey supporting characters: the Prowler. In the Prowler’s claws, mask, and swirling cape, you might be witnessing McFarlane get the ideas for his Spawn character worked out on the page in these Spidey stories.

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The following bonus “pin-up” was also printed as a postcard by Marvel, and we’ve always loved this image.

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Venom’s gleeful sadism and obvious mental illness are good signs he might be a keeper as a Spidey villain.

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Another nut job and total loser from Spidey’s gallery of bad guys shows up: the Scorpion. The Scorpion never looked so awesome as he did in this story. Spidey must rescue J. Jonah Jameson from the guy in green armored tights with a fatal tail. It’s a hoot.

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McFarlane made his mark on The Lizard, too. Just a hideous rage ball of claws and teeth. McFarlane would again draw our favorite evil reptile in a lab coat when he started his own Spider-man series.

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Spidey looks pretty awesome crouching in the snow in a graveyard.

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And that’s all the photos we had time to snap before selling these wonderful books on eBay. We read them not long after they first came out, in their original single issue form. It was fun to read through them again and enjoy them in these collections. It’s a good chunk of Spidey stories that deserves a place on even a casual Spidey collector’s shelf.

Marvel Tales Collection: John Romita’s Spider-man

21 Friday Feb 2014

Posted by Mars Will Send No More in superhero

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

Amazing Spider-man, collection, John Romita, Marvel Comics, Marvel Tales, Peter Parker, Spider-man, Spidey, Stan Lee

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John Romita’s run on Amazing Spider-man brought a whole new energy to a book once defined by Steve Ditko’s unique illustration style. Peter Parker remains beset by all sorts of problems, but being treated like a wimp is no longer one of them. He has both Mary Jane Watson and Gwen Stacy competing for his attentions, and he doesn’t mind telling his rival Flash Thompson to go take a flying leap. But between his aunt’s failing health and a slew of supervillains that beat him down repeatedly, Spider-man exemplifies the underdog appeal of many Marvel from the 1960s. Though these books cost quite a bit of money, many Marvel Tales reprints from the early 1970s cost substantially less.

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Spidey’s classic A-list foes — Dr. Octopus, the Vulture, the Lizard, Mysterio, Electro, the Rhino, Kraven, and the Chameleon — all take turns clashing with the web head. New villains like the enduring Prowler stake early claims to Spidey’s rogues gallery, and Captain Stacy’s investigation into Spidey’s identity meets an unexpectedly tragic end.

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Along the way, Stan Lee adopts a groovy-man-groovy tone to some of his dialogue, and even places Spidey on campus for a student protest. While it might seem dated to some readers, it shows Lee’s constant aspiration to make his heroes more relevant and relatable to his audience. It blends well with his tendency to address readers directly and the melodramatic voices of the villains, giving these stories a unique voice.

While Peter enjoys unprecedented romantic success, Lee takes an issue to hand Spidey a lesson in humility from a strong woman: Medusa of the Inhumans. Despite the hand-to-hand combat (or hand-to-hair, in this case) Lee keeps a comedic tone about greed, advertising, and misunderstandings.

But things turn more grim near the end of Romita’s tenure, where a fatal confrontation with Dr. Octopus sets the tone for the subsequent tragedy-ridden days of Gerry Conway and Gil Kane’s run.

Still, the majority of the run dishes out personal tragedy, epic struggles, heroic triumphs, and comedic banter in equal parts for our hero. Artists John Buscema and Jim Mooney, among others, fill in a few issues but maintain Romita’s overall tone and style.

Let’s see some more of the interior artwork, below!

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Venom: The Boneyard Hop!

09 Thursday May 2013

Posted by Mars Will Send No More in superhero

≈ 1 Comment

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Amazing Spider-man, Boneyard Hop, David Michelinie, Erik Larsen, Randy Emberlin, Spider-man, Venom, Venom Returns

Amazing Spider-man #347 brings a multi-part Spider-man story to its climactic conclusion in “The Boneyard Hop.” On a deserted island, Spidey and Venom wage a life-or-death battle. While many Spider-man villains pursue the usual world domination or petty heists for their own self-interest, Venom gleefully revels in the sheer horror he can inflict on Spider-man.

Writer David Michelinie first brought together Eddie Brock and Spidey’s black “symbiote” suit to form Venom. The art team of Erik Larsen and Randy Emberlin carry the stylistic torch established by the previous penciller, Todd McFarlane. Together, they make Venom just as much fun as he is evil!

We also enjoy the look Larsen brought to Spidey’s traditional threads, filling in most or all of the blue areas with black. Some fans disagreed with this rendition, but we love it. Bring back the red and black!

Collector’s Guide: From Amazing Spider-man #347; Marvel Comics, 1991. Reprinted in Venom Returns TPB (collecting ASM #330-333 and 344-347).

Mark Ginocchio, who chronicles his quest to collect every issue of Amazing Spider-man at Chasing Amazing, counts this as his fourth favorite Spider-man battle of all time.









Amazing Spider-man Civil War: Decisions!

22 Monday Apr 2013

Posted by Mars Will Send No More in superhero

≈ 2 Comments

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Amazing Spider-man, Civil War, Decisions, Gabrielle Dell'Otto, Spider-man

We liked this pencils-only cover by Gabrielle Dell’Otto so much we picked it up just to hang on our wall. It’s one of our favorite renditions of Spider-man’s short-lived suit from Tony Stark.

Decisions completely reprints the hard-to-find issues Amazing Spider-Man #529-532. It culminates in the scene just before Spidey announces his secret identity to the world in Civil War. Decisions also includes all the covers and variant covers without their logos and other design elements, some of which we’ve included in our gallery today along with a few choice splash panels.

Collector’s Guide: From Amazing Spider-man Civil War: Decisions; Marvel, 2006. Spider-man’s Civil War story continues in the Amazing Spider-Man Civil War trade paperback, which collects ASM #532-538.




The Lizard Has Only One Desire that Will Never Die!

03 Tuesday Jul 2012

Posted by Mars Will Send No More in superhero

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Amazing Spider-man, Jim Mooney, John Buscema, lizard, Marvel Tales, Spider-man, Stan Lee

Being a super-villain must be awesome. You never have an existential crisis. Every day when you wake up, you know exactly what you want most in life. One purpose. One plan. One desire that will never die.

Collector’s Guide: Reprints Amazing Spider-man #76. From Marvel Tales #57.



This Weapon Will Reanimate These Noble Skeletons!

23 Saturday Jun 2012

Posted by Mars Will Send No More in dinosaur, superhero

≈ 1 Comment

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Amazing Spider-man, Amazing Spider-man 165, dinosaur, Essential Amazing Spider-man, lizard, Spider-man, Stegron, Stegron Stalks the City

The Lizard, Stegron, and dinosaur skeletons come to life. It’s so much awesomeness that you barely need Spider-man to show up! Len Wein picks up Stegron’s story from Marvel Team-Up #20. Dr. Curt Connors co-starred in that saga, even though he never went full Lizard. Well, here’s his chance!

The Lizard and Stegron would co-star again in Sensational Spider-man #23-27.

Collector’s Guide: From Amazing Spider-man #165; Marvel, 1977. Story concludes in Amazing Spider-man #166. Reprinted in Essential Amazing Spider-man TPB #8.





Spidey Smashes Out!

14 Wednesday Mar 2012

Posted by Mars Will Send No More in superhero

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Amazing Spider-man, John Romita, lizard, Marvel Tales, Spider-man, Spidey Smashes Out, Stan Lee

Stan Lee and John Romita spun one of our favorite Lizard stories in this two-part epic from 1967. The Lizard totally freaks out (as usual) and knocks Spider-man off the side of a building. Spidey in a splint?! Oh no! But getting a little banged-up doesn’t keep Spidey from a spectacular showdown with The Lizard at a railway station. Guess what’s on the train? Thousands of hideous reptiles! YES!

Collector’s Guide: From Marvel Tales #185. Reprints Amazing Spider-man #45. Reprinted in black and white in Essential Spider-Man Vol. 3






Where Crawls the Lizard!

13 Tuesday Mar 2012

Posted by Mars Will Send No More in superhero

≈ 1 Comment

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Amazing Spider-man, John Romita, lizard, Marvel Tales, Spider-man, Stan Lee

Stan Lee and John Romita spun one of our favorite Lizard stories in this two-part epic from 1967. The Lizard totally freaks out (as usual) and knocks Spider-man off the side of a building. Spidey in a splint?! Oh no! But getting a little banged-up doesn’t stop Spidey from a spectacular showdown with The Lizard at a railway station. Guess what’s on the train? Thousands of hideous reptiles! YES!

Collector’s Guide: From Marvel Tales #184. Reprints Amazing Spider-man #44. Reprinted in black-and-white in Essential Spider-Man Vol. 3




Spider-man’s First Battle against the Lizard!

08 Thursday Mar 2012

Posted by Mars Will Send No More in superhero

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Amazing Spider-man, Curt Connors, Face to Face With the Lizard, lizard, Marvel Tales, Spider-man, Spider-man Classics, Stan Lee, Steve Ditko

Mutating Reptiles taking over the world? YES! Too bad Spider-man shows up to give Dr. Curt “The Lizard” Connors his medicine and make him all normal again. Shucks! Didn’t you ever just want The Lizard to win for once?

Enjoy the scene in our gallery below. It’s the very first showdown between Spider-man and The Lizard!

Collector’s Guide: From Spider-man Classics #7. Reprints Amazing Spider-man #6. Reprinted in Marvel Tales #143. Reprinted in Marvel Masterworks Amazing Spider-man #1.




Spider-man’s First Battle with Dr. Doom!

07 Saturday Jan 2012

Posted by Mars Will Send No More in superhero

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Amazing Spider-man, Dr. Doom, Marvel Tales, Spider-man, Stan Lee, Steve Ditko

It Had to Happen! Spider-man meets Dr. Doom for the first time. Stan Lee and Steve Ditko take us inside Doom’s secret hideaway. There, we witness web-head battle a barrage of high-tech gadgets in a spectacular display of Ditko fireworks and special effects! Check it out!

Collector’s Guide:
– From Marvel Tales #142.
– Reprints Amazing Spider-Man #5.
– Reprinted in Spider-man Classics #6
– Reprinted in Marvel Masterworks Amazing Spider-man #1.





Spider-Man Meets Medusa!

18 Friday Nov 2011

Posted by Mars Will Send No More in superhero

≈ 2 Comments

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Amazing Spider-man, Don Heck, hair products, Inhumans, John Romita, Make Way For Medusa, Marvel Tales, Medusa, Spider-man, Stan Lee

Medusa, a member of the Inhumans, comes to New York City to study the humans. She tangles with Spider-man on the rooftops — all a big misunderstanding, of course. Then she decides to study people by… getting a job?! But the sleazebag who hires her to promote his line of hair products only causes more grief for the ol’ web-slinger. We took the liberty of editing out all the sub-plots from this issue so you can just kick back and enjoy Marvel’s hottest heroine and the amazing wall-crawler going toe-to-toe.

Collector’s Guide: From Marvel Tales #45. Reprints Amazing Spider-Man #62. Reprinted in Marvel Masterworks Amazing Spider-man #7.

Art & Story by Stan Lee, John Romita, and Don Heck.








Spider-Man Does His Laundry!

08 Saturday Oct 2011

Posted by Mars Will Send No More in superhero

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Amazing Spider-man, John Romita, laundromat, laundry, Marvel Tales, Spider-man, Stan Lee

Spider-man probably spends more time than any other superhero attending to his domestic chores. Sure, Dr. Doom cooks dinner, Superman vacuums his fortress — but when do they ever worry about their costumes getting dirty?

Spider-man, the original hard-luck hero, shows us how to get your laundry done at the laundromat without blowing your secret identity!

Collector’s Guide: From Marvel Tales #63. Reprints Amazing Spider-man #82. Reprinted in Marvel Masterworks Amazing Spider-man #7.

By Stan Lee and John Romita with Jim Mooney.

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