Classic Comics - The Amazing Spider-Man #1 (plus a bit of Amazing Fantasy #15)
Hot off the heels of the Fantastic Four being introduced to Marvel Comics by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, they strived to create a new character, one who the teenagers of the 1960s could relate to on a more personal level.
Enter young Peter Parker. Just your typical teenager of the day, who has to deal with the usual problems of a high school student. He gets bullied by Flash Thompson, he has to look after his elderly aunt, after the death of his Uncle Ben. He has to do all of these things with the added baggage of also having super-powers, which he gained after being bitten by a radioactive spider. His origin is now timeless, and instantly recognisable to almost all in the comic book community. His success is vast, with action figures, animated television programs, and a few live action movies (all to different levels of success).
He made his debut in the pages of Amazing Fantasy #15 in August 1962, which so happened to be the final issue of that series for a while. Stan Lee and Steve Ditko decided that, as the book was coming to an end, it wouldn't be a problem to randomly introduce a new character. If it didn't work, then it was no big deal, but as it turns out, Peter Parker turned out to be a massively popular character.
This issue deals with the origin of Spider-Man, with the radioactive spider bite, and his self-professed 'failure' to save his Uncle Ben, when he had had the chance to stop the burglar earlier on, which would have prevented the events from ever happening.
When they realised how popular the character of Peter Parker was, he received his own solo series the following year, which would chronicle his adventures on a monthly basis.
In the very first issue, Spider-Man met The Fantastic Four, which ensured that readers would pick up that first ever issue of the series, as The Fantastic Four were vastly popular, and held the distinction of being the first super team in Marvel in their super hero renaissance.
This first issue also introduced along-time foe of Spider-Man, The Chameleon, who was a Soviet spy, like many of the villains had been back during the Cold War era. That story features The Chameleon impersonating various people, including Spider-Man himself, and committing different crimes in their name, before Spider-Man catches him out and he is captured.
This issue also introduces another nemesis of Spider-Man, J.Jonah Jameson, who is a newspaper and magazine editor who hates the web-slinger with a passion, even after Spidey has saved Jonah's son John from a crashing shuttle.
As you may have been able to tell in this post, Spider-Man is one of my favourite characters in all of comics, as his struggles in school and general life are recognisable to me and I can relate to him in various different ways. Even with the more modern stories are enjoyable for me, with Peter now being a millionaire, with his own company.
Thank you for reading this edition of Classic Comics.
Enter young Peter Parker. Just your typical teenager of the day, who has to deal with the usual problems of a high school student. He gets bullied by Flash Thompson, he has to look after his elderly aunt, after the death of his Uncle Ben. He has to do all of these things with the added baggage of also having super-powers, which he gained after being bitten by a radioactive spider. His origin is now timeless, and instantly recognisable to almost all in the comic book community. His success is vast, with action figures, animated television programs, and a few live action movies (all to different levels of success).
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| The original cover of Amazing Fantasy #15, August 1962 |
This issue deals with the origin of Spider-Man, with the radioactive spider bite, and his self-professed 'failure' to save his Uncle Ben, when he had had the chance to stop the burglar earlier on, which would have prevented the events from ever happening.
When they realised how popular the character of Peter Parker was, he received his own solo series the following year, which would chronicle his adventures on a monthly basis.
 |
| The first ever cover for The Amazing Spider-Man (1963) |
This first issue also introduced along-time foe of Spider-Man, The Chameleon, who was a Soviet spy, like many of the villains had been back during the Cold War era. That story features The Chameleon impersonating various people, including Spider-Man himself, and committing different crimes in their name, before Spider-Man catches him out and he is captured.
This issue also introduces another nemesis of Spider-Man, J.Jonah Jameson, who is a newspaper and magazine editor who hates the web-slinger with a passion, even after Spidey has saved Jonah's son John from a crashing shuttle.
As you may have been able to tell in this post, Spider-Man is one of my favourite characters in all of comics, as his struggles in school and general life are recognisable to me and I can relate to him in various different ways. Even with the more modern stories are enjoyable for me, with Peter now being a millionaire, with his own company.
Thank you for reading this edition of Classic Comics.
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