Amazing Spider-Man #35

The Molten Man Regrets…!

Featuring: Spider-Man
Release: January 11, 1966
Cover: April 1966
12 cents
Script + editing: Stan Lee
Plot + artwork: Steve Ditko
Lettering + loitering: Art Simek
20 pages

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Amazing Spider-Man #34Amazing Spider-ManAmazing Spider-Man #36

“Once I’ve beaten you, there’ll be nobody left to stop me!”
“Don’t kid yourself! There’s always Irving Forbush!”
“Who’s he?”
“Forget it! It’s an ‘in’ joke!”

Last issue’s story was… Spider-Man fights Kraven again.

This issue… Spider-Man fights Molten Man again.

Spider-Man happens to be swinging past the jewelry store just as a disguised Molten Man is robbing it. That’s just lazy writing.

But then Peter uses his wits to solve the mystery. “Boy he sure packed a punch like iron… Iron! Iron’s a metal! And his punch felt like metal! It’s a long shot– but it could be– the Molten Man!” That’s some crackerjack reasoning, Peter.

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Amazing Spider-Man #28

The Molten Man!

Featuring: Spider-Man
Release: June 8, 1965
Cover: September 1965
12 cents
Written and edited with loving care by Stan Lee
Plotted and drawn with talent rare by Steve Ditko
Lettered and bordered with a vacant stare by Sam Rosen
20 pages

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Journey Into Mystery Annual 1Reading orderAmazing Spider-Man Annual 2
Amazing Spider-Man #27Amazing Spider-ManAmazing Spider-Man #29

Your Uncle Ben would have been so proud of you.

Check out that cover. It’s based on effects Ditko has used before, of letting the blue of Spider-Man’s costume blend into black shadow and disappear, but here fully realized. The negative space defines the cover.

The issue opens picking up on a subplot from last issue. Flash and Peter had a fight; Peter was in trouble until Flash went to the Principal and accepted blame. The matter resolves itself. But leads into Peter and Flash noticing that something is bothering Liz.

Weirdly, Peter calls her Liz Hilton. He knows her name is Liz Allan, but must have been momentarily confused. Mrs. Watson shows some similar confusion later in the issue, referring to her niece Mary Jane as her daughter. Weird.

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