Featuring: Spider-Man
Release: October 8, 1964
Cover: January 1965
12 cents
Illustrated by: Steve Ditko
Written by: Stan Lee
Lettered by: S. Rosen
20 pages
| Previous | #282 | Next |
|---|---|---|
| Tales to Astonish #63 | Reading order | Sgt. Fury #13 |
| Amazing Spider-Man #19 | Amazing Spider-Man | Amazing Spider-Man #21 |
I find the credits interesting. I know that eventually Stan and Steve will fall out over a number of problems, including Stan not giving Steve proper credit for his role in the book. I don’t know where they are at this moment in time. Not long ago, we read the Amazing Spider-Man Annual in which Ditko illustrated a story that poked fun at their working relationship. It seemed in good humor and implied to me a mostly positive working relationship.
The credits for this issue also seem to be in good humor. But Ditko has no involvement with the credits. They’d be added after he turns in the art. They are all Stan and Sam. Perhaps Steve appreciated the humor… or perhaps he did not. I have no way of knowing.
“Many readers have asked why Stan’s name is always first on the credits! And so, big-hearted Lee agreed to put Stevey’s name first this time! How about that?!!”
“…But we still have a feeling that sneaky Stan put something over on us!”
In a similar vein, the letters page notes that Steve is drawing 40 pages a month and “still finds time to argue with Stan for a few hours each week”. Again, seems good-humored on Stan’s part, at least.
Last issue did something new for this series, in that it had a scene that existed only to set up this issue. There had been a mystery man following Peter, reporting to a mystery boss.
This issue, we learn the man is Mac Gargan, hired by Jameson to learn how Peter got his Spider-Man photos. While he fails in that task, Jameson has a new plan for him: subject himself to an experiment that will transform him into a human scorpion.
Dr. Farley Stillwell is a strong character. A relatively ethical scientist who knows it’s wrong to start experimenting on humans with the intent of creating a weapon for Jameson, but who also needs money to finance his experiments.
By the end, he will realize the enormity of what he has done, and attempt to get an antidote for the Scorpion, dying in the attempt.
Jameson pays each of Stillwell and Gargan $10K for their role in his experiment. That’s around $100K in today’s dollars. Personally, I would want to be paid more money before I underwent a dangerous and experimental procedure to transform myself into a human scorpion.
The Scorpion is probably the first Ditko design where I prefer later versions of the character to Ditko’s. Admittedly, those later versions are just minor tweaks on Ditko’s design. The basic concept is all here. It just needs some tweaks around the tail and mouth to convey a little more menace.
Here’s a take from the 90s by Sal Buscema that’s closer to the version in my mind. You can see the concept is changed little, but there’s a pointy tail, claws, and tweaks to the mask to convey a bit more menace.
Even this take from Gene Colan 6 years later which hasn’t made any particular changes to the costume conveys more menace than Ditko’s version.
Peter and Betty’s relationship isn’t entirely clear to me. He’s clearly jealous about Leeds, but doesn’t think he has any say in who she dates. Yet, they are certainly going steady. My understanding of relationship dynamics of the 60s is limited, in part because these comics are pretty much all I have to go on. It seems like Peter wants an exclusive relationship with Betty but Stan doesn’t seem to recognize any pre-engagement form of commitment. Unless you’ve proposed to a girl and given her a ring, it’s apparently an open relationship. Of course, Betty is constantly jealous over Peter’s friendship with Liz.
Lucky for Peter, Ned Leeds, his only real competition for Betty’s affections, is off to an assignment in Europe. He will be covering a disarmament conference, likely referring to ongoing talks in Geneva regarding nuclear weaponry.
This is generally recognized as one of the best issues of the series for pure action. Spider-Man and Scorpion have quite the slugfest, leaving Spider-Man down for the count.
We haven’t really yet seen a hero look quite so defeated as that.
Because these comics are held to a pretty strict non-violence code (though one Lee has been gradually pushing the boundaries of), we don’t quite see that Dr. Stillwell died, yet it’s made clear. We see no body. We instead see the crowd gathered around what we don’t see. The narration describes a “doomed scientist”.
When Spider-Man has had enough, he finally rips off Scorpion’s tail.
Like modern action movies, the physical toll of the battle is visually evident. There isn’t yet much blood in these comics, but Spider-Man has a torn costume, and is clearly bruised and battered. You can tell he’s been in a fight.
I’ve had many mixed and complicated feelings over the decades regarding Jameson’s characterization in this issue, and am still not settled on my take. Generally, it seems wrong to me that this guy who hates super-powered vigilantes would go and create one. That said, people aren’t always rational, and Jameson is less rational than most. By the end of the issue, he does seem to realize how stupid he had been. His mistake was thinking he could control the Scorpion, and that a super-powered animal-themed guy under his control would be fine. His actions seem off to me, but they do spend a bit of time showing him learn and grow from his mistakes.
We’ll check back in a few issues and see if he really has learned his lesson.
Again, I’m left to wonder how much attention Stan is paying to the indications of time in the narration. We are told it is “moments later” from Gargan agreeing to the experiment to it being underway. You would think that takes a bit of time to set up.
Similarly, the “meanwhile at the airport” note Jameson and Gargan left for Stillwell around when Peter and Betty left to take Leeds to JFK. By the time Ned’s plane had taken off, Gargan was apparently the Scorpion, costume and all.
The issue features a pin-up of Peter Parker and Spider-Man.
Rating: ★★★½, 69/100
Significance: ★★★v☆
I read this story in Amazing Spider-Man Omnibus vol. 1. You can also find it in Marvel Masterworks: The Amazing Spider-Man vol. 3. Or on Kindle.
Characters:
- Spider-Man/Peter “Petey” Parker/Spidey
- Scorpion/Mac Gargan/Scorpey
- Flash Thompson
- Liz Allan
- Aunt May
- J. Jonah Jameson
- Ned Leeds
- Dr. Farley Stillwell
Story notes:
- Dr. Farley Stillwell had found a way to cause artificial mutations in animals.
- Ned Leeds took assignment in Europe to cover disarmament conferences.
- Stillwell had altered a rat to swim like a fish and a fish to breathe air.
- Jameson offers Stillwell and Gargan $10K each for their role in creating the Scorpion to defeat Spider-Man.
- Stillwell’s experiment gives Gargan the strength and coordination of a Scorpion. He also fashions a mechanical tail.
- Scorpion stronger than Spider-Man, able to shred webs with pincers.
- Stillwell realizes Scorpion may become evil as his strength increases.
- Scorpion robbed Carter’s Jewelry Store.
| Previous | #282 | Next |
|---|---|---|
| Tales to Astonish #63 | Reading order | Sgt. Fury #13 |
| Amazing Spider-Man #19 | Amazing Spider-Man | Amazing Spider-Man #21 |
