Spectacular Spider-man 21

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Doctor Strange, Fantastic Four, Kingpin, Paul Jenkins, poker, Spectacular Spider-man, Spider-man

 
Spider-man was our first great superhero enthusiasm and this is one of our favorite stories of his. It has no big fights between men in tights and other misfit miscreants of science. It merely shows a poker game, and a few old friends telling funny stories.

You can buy it as Spectacular Spider-man #21 (Marvel Comics, 2005). If you buy the otherwise awesome Spectacular Spider-man TPB collections, you will discover they omitted this issue from the paperbacks.

This isn’t a comic book you give to someone who has never read comics before. This material assumes you know and like these characters already. It gives you a chance to spend an evening shooting the breeze with a few of your favorite Marvel superheroes. Paul Jenkins spent his Spider-man run exploring Peter’s psychological and emotional landscape. But here, at the end of his run, he leaves us with something lighthearted. And for that, it qualified for runner up in our second round of Top Ten favorite single issues of all-time.

Spectacular Spider-man: Disassembled!

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Disassembled, Humberto Ramos, Paul Jenkins, Spectacular Spider-man, Spider-man

The Avengers made such a splash getting “Disassembled” back in 2004 that sometimes Spider-man’s creepy role in that event gets overlooked. Paul Jenkins took advantage of the wave of weirdness coursing through the Marvel Universe to have a bit of horrific fun with our favorite web-slinger.

A femme fatale takes a shining to Spidey. Her diabolical plan? To transform Spidey into some kind of hideous spider mutant. Throughout the four issues of this story, we see Spider-man in various stages of grotesqueness as he mutates into something that, we guess, the lady wants to mate with. The build-up is intense, and the resolution is as cool as it is unexpected. Captain America guest stars. Have a look at some of the splash pages in our gallery today!

Collector’s Guide:
– From Spectacular Spider-man #17-20; Marvel, 2004.
Story by Paul Jenkins. Pencils & Covers by Humberto Ramos.

The Lizard’s Tale – Part 2!

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Curt Connors, Daimon Scott, lizard, Paul Jenkins, Spectacular Spider-man, Spider-man

Paul Jenkins took a more psychological approach to Spider-man and his villians when he wrote The Spectacular Spider-man. In “The Lizard’s Tale,” Jenkin hypothesizes that maybe Dr. Curt Connors doesn’t really lose control. Maybe he just uses his Lizard persona to act out all his violent fantasies – his dark side. Kind of like people who drink too much and use it as an excuse to be dumb jerks.

Collector’s Guide:
– From The Spectacular Spider-man #12-13.
– Reprinted in Spectacular Spider-man TPB #3, 2004.
Story by Paul Jenkins, Pencils by Daimon Scott.

The Lizard’s Tale – Part 1!

Tags

Curt Connors, Daimon Scott, lizard, Paul Jenkins, Spectacular Spider-man, Spider-man

Paul Jenkins took a more psychological approach to Spider-man and his villians when he wrote The Spectacular Spider-man. In “The Lizard’s Tale,” Jenkin hypothesizes that maybe Dr. Curt Connors doesn’t really lose control. Maybe he just uses his Lizard persona to act out all his violent fantasies – his dark side. Kind of like people who drink too much and use it as an excuse to be dumb jerks.

Collector’s Guide:
– From The Spectacular Spider-man #12-13.
– Reprinted in Spectacular Spider-man TPB #3, 2004.

Story by Paul Jenkins, Pencils by Daimon Scott. Nice work by the colorist, too! We love how the color articulates every web on Spidey’s costume and every scale on The Lizard.

Compulsion: College Kids Take on Spider-man!

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Blaze, Compulsion, Human Torch, Peter David, Rich Buckler, Spectacular Spider-man, Spider-man

“Super-heroes are a superstitious and cowardly lot!” Three bored Empire State University students create an imaginary villain called “Blaze” to harass Spider-Man. However, the prank goes too far!

Collector’s Guide:
– From Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-man #103. Marvel Comics, 1985.

Script by Peter David; Pencils and Inks by Rich Buckler and Armando Gil.

Black Cat: She’s So Totally Amoral!

Tags

Alicia, Black Cat, Spectacular Spider-man, Spider-man

Ah, romance.  Spidey, how many times have we told you not to get involved with criminals? Here’s a cool split-panel showing Spider-man and the Black Cat musing over their little drama.

Collector’s Guide:
– from Peter Parker Spectacular Spider-man #98; Marvel Comics.