Confessor
CCF Mod Squad
Not Bucky O'Hare!
Posts: 10,197 
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Post by Confessor on Jul 24, 2014 11:01:14 GMT -5
So, following on from a discussion I had earlier this week with Ozymandias, here's the first of (hopefully) a few Spider-Man-centric threads I'll be starting. Everybody knows that the whole Stan Lee/Steve Ditko run of Amazing Spider-Man -- including ASM Annual #1 and #2 -- is absolutely fantastic, with perhaps the exception of ASM #38 "A Guy Named Joe", which I've always felt was an unfitting climax to an otherwise legendary run. Myself, ASM #5 (featuring Dr. Doom and Flash Thompson impersonating Spider-Man) and ASM #20 (the origin of the Scorpion) are always vying for the top spot in my affections, but if I had a gun to my head, I'm gonna have to go with Amazing Spider-Man #20 as my favourite. The reason is because this issue just packs in so much story, mystery, character development, and action into 20 short pages. Like most of the run, Ditko's artwork in issue #20 is really on point, but the panels where the shadowy stranger who has followed Peter Parker home is stood outside, while our hero anxiously watches him from his darkened bedroom are brilliantly atmospheric.  Likewise, the panel where Dr. Stillwell desperately clambers up a tall building in pursuit of the Scorpion and desperately hurls the antidote which he knows can stop the super-villain, only to miss his target and plunge to his death, is a panel that has stuck with me over the years. The rooftop fight between the Scorpion and Spidey, with huge chunks of masonry and brickwork flying about, is really spectacular too and wonderfully staged. Stan Lee's firing on all cylinders in this issue as well, with the basic premise being a strong one that unfolds at a perfect pace and the character moments are genuinely captivating. In particular, I'm talking about J. Jonah Jameson's realisation that he's gone too far with his obsessive hatred of Spider-Man and created a monster with the Scorpion. This was really the point where JJJ finally became a fully fleshed out, three dimensional character IMO.  Mac Gargan makes for a good, and somewhat tragic, antagonist and the punishment that Spidey takes during their confrontation is pretty bone crunching. And yet, our hero still fights on, despite the pounding that he's receiving, never giving up. Oh, and the ending, in which Spider-Man manages to defeat the Scorpion and save J. Jonah Jameson's life, only to see Jonah cast as the hero in the public's eyes for catching Scorpion, is just classic Peter Parker luck.  So, which Lee/Ditko issue of Amazing Spider-Man does it for you and why? |
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Post by Cei-U! on Jul 24, 2014 12:13:33 GMT -5
ASM #20 would be my favorite Lee/Ditko Spidey story IF Annual #1 didn't exist. The Annual does such a great job of epitomizing the appeal of early Spider-Man. It explores Peter's inner conflict, gives us quick but accurate sketches of the supporting cast (Jonah, Betty, May, Flash), spotlights six of his best villains, provides plenty of action (including those drop-dead gorgeous full page panels) and is chockful of cameos by the rest of the Marvel Universe. That's not even taking into consideration all the awesome fatures and pin-ups and the hysterical "How Stan and Steve Create Spider-Man" three-pager. Add in my own childhood nostalgia (it was my introduction to Iron Man, Dr. Strange, The Wasp, The Avengers and The X-Men) and, well, it's no contest.
But #20 definitely rules, too.
Cei-U!
I summon the creme de la creme!
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Post by Deleted on Jul 24, 2014 12:22:59 GMT -5
I will go with Amazing Fantasy #15, since it's the only one I've read.
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Post by Hoosier X on Jul 24, 2014 12:33:40 GMT -5
I'd vote for Amazing Spider-Man Annual #1 because it has Stan Lee, Steve Ditko, Spider-Man, Peter Parker, Aunt May, Betty Brant, Flash Thompson, J. Jonah Jameson, Doctor Octopus, the Vulture, Kraven, the Sandman, Electro, Mysterio, the Human Torch, Mister Fantastic, the Invisible Girl, the Thing, Doctor Strange, Daredevil, Giant-Man, the Wasp, Captain America, Thor, Iron Man, and plus, it's all super-amazing!
My favorite comic book.
Spidey #20 would be a good second choice, but it's probably in a tie with #4, #6, #17-#19, #22, #26-#27 and #34. That run is wall-to-wall classics.
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Crimebuster
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Making comics!
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Post by Crimebuster on Jul 24, 2014 12:56:30 GMT -5
I have to go with the Master Planner storyline in #31-33. If I have to pick one single issue, it would be #33.
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Post by Ish Kabbible on Jul 24, 2014 13:25:15 GMT -5
I'll go with #18. I had been reading comics a couple of years by then and started with Spider-Man at #10. I was blown away by the story where everthing in Spidey's life was going bad and he was trying the whole issue to avoid a fight. I've never seen a hero go thru the wringer like Spider-Man did up to then. I knew for sure the book was something special  |
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Post by Reptisaurus! on Jul 24, 2014 14:32:55 GMT -5
I wouldn't have guessed this, but my first response is one of the pure comedy issues - # 7s fight with the Living Brain, or # 21 (I think?) the Human Torch/Dori Evans/Beetle thing. (But everything between # 3 and 33 is a classic for the ages, so it's tough.)
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Post by Rob Allen on Jul 24, 2014 15:13:27 GMT -5
My sentimental favorite has to be #7, "The Return of the Vulture!", because it's the first comic book I ever read, and I still have the copy I bought in 1963.
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Post by coke & comics on Jul 24, 2014 16:00:06 GMT -5
The truth is my love of Spider-Man almost entirely stems from his origin story in Amazing Fantasy #15. I obviously love the Master Planner Saga and Sinister Six, and both of those certainly feature richer Ditko art, but Spider-Man is one of those rare* characters whose defining story is his origin story.
*How rare is it. I don't think the first appearance/original origin story is even close to the top for: Batman, Superman, Fantastic Four, Daredevil, Thor, Avengers, X-Men, etc. etc.
Dr. Strange comes closer as his origin issue is high among his great stories. But even there I feel like the Eternity Saga is the definitive Dr. Strange story.
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Post by Action Ace on Jul 24, 2014 19:16:35 GMT -5
I'm also going with Amazing Fantasy #15. Spidey's origin story is my all time favorite one.
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Post by benday-dot on Jul 24, 2014 20:27:56 GMT -5
For me it has to be #14's "The Grotesque Adventures of the Green Goblin".
First off I dig the Enforcers. They are kind of losers, but lovable losers nonetheless, especially The Ox.
Also the whole sequence in the cave is suitably atmospheric and drawn with aplomb by Ditko. The lurking Hulk in the depths is the topper.
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Post by coke & comics on Jul 24, 2014 22:36:41 GMT -5
For me it has to be #14's "The Grotesque Adventures of the Green Goblin". First off I dig the Enforcers. They are kind of losers, but lovable losers nonetheless, especially The Ox. Also the whole sequence in the cave is suitably atmospheric and drawn with aplomb by Ditko. The lurking Hulk in the depths is the topper. I think Slam Bradley has expressed something similar. He at least also speaks very highly of the issue. It is among my least favorite. I have trouble getting past the absurdities in the plot, and I just find Green Goblin in his initial appearance less compelling than pretty much every other Ditko villain. The introduction of the Enforcers with the Big Man I think is a great story. But this one I have trouble with. |
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Post by Slam_Bradley on Jul 24, 2014 22:43:00 GMT -5
For me it has to be #14's "The Grotesque Adventures of the Green Goblin". First off I dig the Enforcers. They are kind of losers, but lovable losers nonetheless, especially The Ox. Also the whole sequence in the cave is suitably atmospheric and drawn with aplomb by Ditko. The lurking Hulk in the depths is the topper. I think Slam Bradley has expressed something similar. He at least also speaks very highly of the issue. It is among my least favorite. I have trouble getting past the absurdities in the plot, and I just find Green Goblin in his initial appearance less compelling than pretty much every other Ditko villain. The introduction of the Enforcers with the Big Man I think is a great story. But this one I have trouble with. I haven't read it in a number of years. Probably close to a decade. But it was one of my favorite stories as a kid. The Enforcers and the Goblin both totally tickled my fancy. |
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Post by benday-dot on Jul 24, 2014 22:51:48 GMT -5
For me it has to be #14's "The Grotesque Adventures of the Green Goblin". First off I dig the Enforcers. They are kind of losers, but lovable losers nonetheless, especially The Ox. Also the whole sequence in the cave is suitably atmospheric and drawn with aplomb by Ditko. The lurking Hulk in the depths is the topper. I think Slam Bradley has expressed something similar. He at least also speaks very highly of the issue. It is among my least favorite. I have trouble getting past the absurdities in the plot, and I just find Green Goblin in his initial appearance less compelling than pretty much every other Ditko villain. The introduction of the Enforcers with the Big Man I think is a great story. But this one I have trouble with. I agree Chris, the plot is definitely nuts, but the whole scenario of the film being shot just seems to so typify the often ludicrous, but breezy and fun pop aesthetic of Silver Age Marvel. Anyway that's how it strikes me. Plus, I really do have a soft spot for the early Marvel notion that Hulk used to spend much o his time in caves away from the madding crowd. I think I can recall every panel of this comic, and I was unaware of Slam's shared opinion, but am somewhat surprised as I pretty much assumed my opinion would be very much a minority one on this. |
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Post by pinkfloydsound17 on Jul 24, 2014 23:14:00 GMT -5
I agree with a lot of these picks but I will personally go for ASM #26 and by extension, #27 for a couple of reasons.
It was the earliest and first Ditko issue I ever read and owned and it really grabbed me. The artwork was fantastic and, looking at it now having read the first Green Goblin appearance online, I think this is the first true great Goblin story (followed by #27 which ties in and is equally as strong). The tale was very intriguing too and after reading it, I had to go online and read the sequel issues. To this day, finding a good copy of #27 to add to my collection is on the docket and I think it is high time I bump it to the top and get on it because it is such a great cover too.
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