Featuring: Spider-Man
Release: January 12, 1965
Cover: April 1965
12 cents
Written in the spell-binding style of Stan Lee
Illustrated in the magnificent manner of Steve Ditko
Lettered in the frenzied fashion of Artie Simek
20 pages
| Previous | #320 | Next |
|---|---|---|
| Fantastic Four #37 | Reading order | Sgt. Fury #16 |
| Amazing Spider-Man #22 | Amazing Spider-Man | Amazing Spider-Man #24 |
Maybe I should start writing down a list of my favorite covers (I do like lists). Early on, there weren’t many, so I was confident when we came across a great one, I could call it my favorite cover yet. Now I’m beginning to wonder. This is a great cover. Is it the best cover yet? Maybe.
I appreciate the Green Goblin on this cover. And only on this cover. Outside of this cover, he’s a lame villain. For evidence, let’s look inside the comic.
Green Goblin is trying to set himself up as a local crimelord. By the time I was reading comics, local crimelords were guys like the Kingpin, who looked the part better to my mind. I suspect Marlon Brando’s Godfather left an indelible impression of what a crimelord should look like to me and to many, but this predates that by several years. Still… they can do better. Lucky Lobo has a much better “crimelord” look.
The previous kingpin had been Frederick Foswell, the Big Man. He looked the part better. Coincidentally, Foswell returns, having been released from prison. He was the leader of every mob in town, behind numerous crimes, yet he was released after less than a year and given his old job back.
I guess my issue is that the Goblin’s plans in this issue are subtle. Turn over a listing of a mobster’s finances to the police to indict him for tax fraud (Capone style), leaving room for you to take over. Yet, the Goblin’s M.O. so far has been to fly around and throw pumpkin bombs. The subtle approach is too odd a contrast. It’s never sat right with me.
A scene whose significance is not immediately apparent is the introduction of the Midtown Business Executives Club, of which Jameson is a member. It’s here Jameson hob-nobs with his other wealthy friends. We don’t learn the names of many other members, but as with Peter’s classmates, Ditko draws the people distinctively whether we meet them or not, and will draw them consistently in the issues to come. The member to notice is the one with the somewhat unusual hair, red-headed, perhaps curly. Just standing quietly in the background of two panels.
How Peter makes his life work is beyond me. He washes his costume and leaves it to dry in the attic, noting May “hardly ever” goes up there. I would want more certainty. Later, he is unable to go into action because his costume is still wet.
At another point, Spider-Man needs to pause a fight because Peter had promised May he would call if running late.
At another point, Spider-Man runs out of web fluid in the middle of a fight. Neither the first nor the last time this will occur.
Peter mentions wanting a scholarship to State U. That’s Reed and Ben’s college, where we recently saw Peter visiting. That’s a good use of cross-title continuity. Ultimately, State U is not where Peter will end up.
Ned Leeds is still in Europe. He had sent Betty a letter. Peter learned about it and was afraid Betty was hiding something from him. Really, Betty just forgot to tell him. It’s Peter’s turn to be jealous for once. But just why is this guy writing letters to Pete’s gal?
This aerial battle with Spider-Man is a much better use of the Green Goblin than his subtle machinations. I think this is the issue where my negative attitude toward Green Goblin sets in. I don’t have any real objection to the character as portrayed in issues 14 or 17.
I’m going to use some foreknowledge of coming comics to construct the character listing below, so there is a very, very subtle spoiler of what’s to come.
Rating: ★★★☆☆, 55/100
Significance: ★★★☆☆
Characters:
- Green Goblin
- Spider-Man/Peter Parker
- Lucky Lobo
- Betty Brant
- J. Jonah Jameson
- Frederick Foswell
- Aunt May
- Merriweather
- Jameson’s friend at club
Story notes:
- Betty received letter from Ned Leeds in Europe. Peter concerned that she’s hiding it from him.
- Foswell released from prison and given back job at Bugle.
- One of Lucky’s men betrays him to the Goblin, giving evidence that can indict Lucky for tax fraud.
- Jameson at Midtown Business Executives Club.
- Green Goblin gets the evidence to Foswell, who brings it to Jameson.
- Lucky Lobo orders his gambling joints closed and records burned.
- Spider-Man runs out of web fluid in fight.
- Aunt May visiting Mrs. Watson.
| Previous | #320 | Next |
|---|---|---|
| Fantastic Four #37 | Reading order | Sgt. Fury #16 |
| Amazing Spider-Man #22 | Amazing Spider-Man | Amazing Spider-Man #24 |
How hard would it have been to sew a second costume so he could wash the one he had more often?
The costume does not seem at all easy to sew to me. But of course he does make a second costume very soon… and then loses both of them.