Featuring: Spider-Man
Release: July 9, 1963
Cover: October 1963
12 cents
Written by: Stan Lee
Drawn by: Steve Ditko
21 pages
The opening page tells us the names of many characters, two named for the first time. We learned last issue that Peter’s blonde classmate was named Liz. We now get the full name: Liz Allan. Last issue, we met Jameson’s secretary Miss Brant. We learn on that first page her name is Betty.
We’ve now seen plenty of crossover amongst the heroes of the titles; now they’re starting to share villains. One week earlier, Thor brought his archfoe Loki along with him for Avengers #1. Now, the Fantastic Four will lend their favorite villain to Spider-Man. Of course, they’ll also be showing up to lend a hand.
Because they’re borrowing a villain, this is the first issue of Amazing Spider-Man where Ditko doesn’t create a timeless villain. He’ll get back to that practice next issue.
Perhaps for that reason or others, this is one of the weaker Spider-Man stories yet. Of course, a weak Spider-Man story is still on par with the best of the other titles.
They summarize Doom’s most recent appearance in Fantastic Four, showing tight continuity. Also taken from Doom’s previous appearance is his use of robot doubles.
The conceit of the issue is cleverly timed. Based on their argument about Spider-Man earlier, Flash decides to dress as Spider-Man to scare Peter. He does this just as Doom’s Spider-Man-tracking-gizmo draws him to Peter. Doom’s sensors are picking up Peter, but he sees Flash in the costume, so assumes they are leading him to Flash. From a storytelling point-of-view, Ditko had to figure out how to frame 3 parallel stories in 8 panels to show how they all interrelate. That’s no easy ask.
Aunt May is watching the Ed Sullivan show. Good and topical. He has a guest juggler and is about to have a guest musical group. About 7 months after this issue comes out, he will have perhaps his most famous musical guests.
We get a couple panels where Peter considers being less than noble to his classmate Flash who is often mean to him. In particular, he briefly considers leaving Flash a prisoner of Doom. What would Captain America do, Pete? You know, if he hadn’t disappeared a decade earlier.
Stan Lee apologizes for the build-up. He needn’t as the build-up is quite good. I don’t have too much to add to what I’ve said about Ditko’s work the previous issues. There is strong character work which flows with the action to make a singular story. It’s really the only title that feels like one smooth arc for its 22 pages. He seems to invent new poses for Spider-Man every panel.
And he doesn’t skimp on the action.We’ve seen lots and lots of battles resolve themselves in a couple panels. Spidey and Doom slug it out for 7 choreographed pages. We’ve really seen nothing like this in the other titles.
There is a bit of flirtation between Peter and Betty at the end of the issue. This will be an important detail.
This issue comes out only one month after the previous one. The first 4 issues came out on a bimonthly schedule. A note at the end explains Spider-Man is now monthly due to fan response.
Rating: ★★★½, 60/100
Significance: ★★★☆☆
I read this story in Amazing Spider-Man Epic Collection vol. 1: Great Power. You can also find it through Kindle.
Characters:
- Peter Parker/Spider-Man
- Doctor Doom
- J. Jonah Jameson
- Betty Brant
- Flash Thompson
- Liz Allan
- Human Torch
- Thing
- Invisible Girl
- Mr. Fantastic
Story notes:
- Jameson makes television program to expose Spider-Man as a menace; Peter and his classmates watch from bowling alley. Jameson offers $1000 reward to anyone who can disclose his true identity.
- Liz suspects Spider-Man is handsome under his mask.
- Dr. Doom captures a spider to send a message on a wavelength Spider-Man will hear. Chameleon did something similar in #1.
- Dr. Doom wishes to join forces with Spider-Man; Spider-Man refuses.
- Crowd blames Spider-Man for building Doom blew up.
- Flash’s girlfriends sew fake Spider-Man costume for Flash.
#103 story in reading order
Next: Strange Tales #113
Previous: Tales of Suspense #46
