Amazing Spider-Man Omnibus - Volume 1 (New Printing)

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Peter fights a jigsaw-puzzle Hulk that can't be killed because it's already dead. It's charming that JMS is playing in the science side of the Marvel universe pool, and he lets Peter be a bit of a scientist too. But so much of this arc is a big fight against an unstoppable foe (until it's ready to be defeated in the end), which is pretty much never a good look. Fortunately, the arc also has moral dilemmas and the rebuilding of the Peter/MJ relationship, to give it some depth [3+/5]. Desperation, struggle, perseverance. This issue is rightly remembered as one of the greats. There are some frustrating Betty Brant panels, but this is the last great Lee-Ditko collaboration. No fights needed, only responsibility. It’s a pure character and consequences issue, and I am here for it.

A máme tu hlavně origin Spider-mana provázaný s jeho osudovou lekcí o zodpovědnosti, který se neobešel bez legendárního "S velkou mocí..." řečeným ve žlutém vypravěčském rámečku a ne strejdou Benem. Origin a první výskyt zde nachází i většina slavných Spider-manových záporáků. The best part of this issue is the cover. The Molten Man will more interesting much later, but right now, he’s just a hood. The Liz Allan sections humanize her right as she leaves the book for awhile, aside from a minor appearance in a few issues. The graduation is fine, but brief. It’s important, but not really for the villain stuff.The hatred is, of course, all about the darkening of Gwen Stacy's character thrrough the introduction of a severe character flaw: that she would fall victim to the charms of Norman Osborn. And perhaps JMS should have seen that coming, because Gwen Stacy was (and is) such a beloved character. But I find it a believable twist that takes her '60s era saccharine sweetness and gives it just a little depth.

This omnibus includes the run by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko (who co-created Spider-Man with Stan Lee). The volume includes Spidey's debut in Amazing Fantasy #15, the first 38 issues in the Amazing Spider-Man series as well as the first two Spider-Man annuals.

4th Quarter 2023

So, I like Mysterio, but this issue seems like a lot of repeated themes. Spider-Imposter stealing things, Betty frustratingly worrying, and J. Jonah Jameson being webbed at the end, Even Mysterio seems to mostly just have smoke. He does a few other things, but that’s all to confound Spidey before the smoke. The movie studio fight is fun, and Mysterio posing as a hero is nice, but it just leads to very samey Jonah stuff. It’s not a bad issue, this is where the series starts to spin its wheels sometimes. Interlude (#37). The best part of JMS' first story arc was the tiny bit of focus we got on Peter as a person (and now a teacher). That's repeated here, with Peter encountering social problems that he can't punch [5/5].

This is not so much a review of the content as a review of the form. I am a huge fan of the Marvel Masterworks and Omnibus series because they reproduce the classic works in such beautiful, high-quality hardcovers. This edition however, the Second Edition, First Printing 2013 is markedly inferior quality. The beginning of the Master Planner Saga! It’s also the first Empire State University story, but Gwen and Harry are kind of jerks in their first appearances. This isn’t helped by Flash, and I can’t help but long for the time when they will all be friends. The continuation of the outsider stuff from high school is out of place because college is very different. I think the Master Planner arc starts of well as Peter’s life spins out of control. In this omnibus, the reader is not only introduced to Spider-Man/Peter Parker but a supporting cast including Peter's Aunt May and Uncle Ben (who taught Peter an important lesson with those now iconic words: "With great power, there must also come great responsibility."), Flash Thompson, J. Jonah Jameson, Gwen Stacy, as well as some of Spider-Man's most well-known villains such as the Vulture, Doctor Octopus, Electro, Kraven the Hunter and the Green Goblin. The end of an era. Ditko leaves after this issue. Unfortunately, this is kind of a nothing issue. It’s status quo for the college scenes, and the Joe stuff is very silly and standard.

October 2023

COLLECTING:Demon Wars: The Iron Samurai (2022) 1, Demon Wars: Shield of Justice (2022) 1, Demon Wars: TBD A (2023) 1, Demon Wars: TBD B (2023) 1 Stephen King's The Dark Tower: The Gunslinger Omnibus– October 24, 2023 Morwen (#503-504). Peter has been interacting with a ridiculous number of supernatural foes under JMS, and I'm not sure it's made any better by Peter saying in the comic that he's been interacting with a ridiculous number of supernatural foes. It makes one wonder if JMS really wanted to write Dr. Strange (or Thor). This is a fine enough story about Peter interacting with Loki, but as with close to half of JMS' run to date, it doesn't feel much like a spider-story [3+/5]. I own a number of these Marvel Omnibus editions now, but this is the one I would grab if there was a fire and I could only take one with me. Sure, most of the material in this volume has been reprinted endlessly elsewhere, but it's never looked this good anywhere else, nor has all the great letter columns and in-house ads of the day been so lovingly restored and included. In 1962, Stan Lee & Steve Ditko revolutionized both the comics industry and popular culture when they created Spider-Man, giving readers a superhero they could relate with. Unlike other superheroes, Spider-Man had the issues of a regular teenager such as school & college, girl trouble, trouble finding a job, and troubles at home. Now these stories may seem somewhat quaint and even "silly" (as one friend said to me) in comparison to the dark "realism" of contemporary comics, but viewed in the perspective of their times it is easy to see why they represented such a unique and refreshing take on the increasingly moribund comics industry.

Whereas the previous story redid another issue badly, this issue is essentially the new and improved issue 10. This issue uses both the Goblin and Foswell’s mysteries to craft a new and impressive story. It helps that the Crime Master seems like he stepped from the pulp era. Also, it’s a two parter that has a really good cliffhanger, even the fact that Spider-Man lost his suit plays into this.The art is always pretty solid with some standout fight scenes and moments of Spider-man posing. I'm not always a mega-fan of Romita Jr. art but he fits Spider-Man very well. Especially when Peter is fully suited, it looks amazing. The faces on the human characters though can use some work sometimes. Meanwhile (#39). One of the dreaded 'Nuff Said issues, but this one isn't bad, giving some insight into what's going on in the heads of MJ and May (and Peter) [4+/5].