|
|
Post by kirby101 on Aug 2, 2024 8:05:53 GMT -5
I hear you Confessor. I made my point and agree we should move on to these wonderful books. And then we can discuss how Peter is a dick to all the women.  |
|
Confessor
CCF Mod Squad
Not Bucky O'Hare!
Posts: 10,197 
|
Post by Confessor on Aug 2, 2024 8:19:03 GMT -5
I hear you Confessor. I made my point and agree we should move on to these wonderful books. And then we can discuss how Peter is a dick to all the women. Ha! Well, Peter's a teenager: all teenage boys are dicks to the women in their lives!   |
|
|
|
Post by kirby101 on Aug 2, 2024 8:39:21 GMT -5
I wasn't. But maybe because I was too shy to talk to girls. |
|
|
|
Post by Cei-U! on Aug 2, 2024 14:08:53 GMT -5
The secretary who greets Peter outside Jameson’s office is probably supposed to be Betty Brant who will become a major cast member soon enough.  Unlikely. In the original, the lady in question is wearing glasses, something Betty has never needed (though whoever retouched the art for this reprint likely wanted to imply this was her).
Cei-U! I summon the impromptu lasik surgery!
|
|
|
|
Post by jtrw2024 on Aug 2, 2024 15:28:29 GMT -5
The secretary who greets Peter outside Jameson’s office is probably supposed to be Betty Brant who will become a major cast member soon enough. Unlikely. In the original, the lady in question is wearing glasses, something Betty has never needed (though whoever retouched the art for this reprint likely wanted to imply this was her).
Cei-U! I summon the impromptu lasik surgery!
Wow! Good catch Cei-U. I double checked that just now. All these times reading this story, and I never picked up on the glasses in the originals. |
|
|
|
Post by jtrw2024 on Aug 2, 2024 15:39:45 GMT -5
THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 3 (reprinted in Marvel Tales 140 )  “Spider-man versus The Strangest Foe of All Time … Doctor Octopus” Credits (as they appear in the comic): Story: Stan Lee Art: Steve Ditko Lettering: John Duffy Coloring: Andy Yanchus Plot Synopsis: Spider-man faces Doctor Octopus for the first time!  Comments: This issue starts off with Spidey catching some regular crooks, which, other than the Burglar in the first story, is the first time he’s dealt with normal “street level” crime I like to think this issue is the first real Spider-man story where all the basic elements fall in to place. It’s got Spidey out on patrol and fighting regular crime; scenes with Pete and his usual supporting cast, Aunt May, the kids at school, at the Bugle with JJJ. Not to mention the introduction of a great villain who poses a real challenge for our hero! It’s even got the Spider-signal! The Human Torch shows up of course for a small yet important cameo to remind us this comic takes place in the shared Marvel Universe. All this story is missing is Spidey taking pictures of himself. The formula for this story is pretty similar to the Vulture story from the previous issue, and is repeated with the usual Lee and/or Ditko twists over the next few issues as Spidey meets a few more new villains. It's a good formula of course, and with all the great stuff happening I don't think it gets old anytime soon!  Doctor Octopus, aka Otto Octavius, is introduced here and he’ll go on to become one of Spider-man’s major enemies for a long time. Everything about Ock’s classic status quo is established right here in this issue. His origin, his real name, everything. Some future writers may change things up from time to time, and add backstory, but things always seem to default back to this version. Doctor Octopus is of course one of Spider-man's top villains! Some might even argue he's Spidey's arch-enemy, though he generally has lots of competition on that front (and usually has to share the number one spot with another colourful villain who hasn't shown up here yet). I actually think it's kind of cool that Spider-man has so many great villains, and so many who can vie for the arch-enemy position.   The action in this issue is great, and Doctor Octopus is such a visually unique character. The Atomic Research Centre is a great set-piece for this issue's big action sequence at the end. Spidey and Ock's big battle is a whole six pages which is probably the most action we've seen thus far. Of course this is also the longest story we've had too! Spider-man's first encounter with one of his most dangerous foes is such a big-deal that it really does need an entire issue to itself!    Oh, and I gotta mention that scene where Spidey uses his web to slingshot himself over the fence! He did the same trick in ASM 1, but I forgot to mention it in my earlier review! This trick made its way into the first two Spider-man movies too. It took me a moment to realize what he was doing the first time I watched the 2002 movie and saw that scene, but once I caught on, I thought it was awesome! Not sure if anyone else in the audience was as excited as me for that bit, but too bad for them!  Notable differences in the reprint: There’s one panel in the original where Doc Ock calls Spider-man “Super-man”. It’s corrected for the Marvel Tales reprint. I assume, it was originally just a mistake, but I kinda like it since it fits Ock’s arrogance that he can’t even bother to call Spidey by the right name (even though he obviously knows it, since he said it correctly just a few panels earlier). It's just a throwaway line of course, and none of the characters in the scene acknowledge it, so changing it doesn't really impact things! I think it's fine the way it is, and doesn't necessarily jump out at you as an obvious mistake the way "Peter Palmer" does!  There’s a pinup page of Spidey at the end. It’s pretty much the one that appears in the actual ASM 3, but instead of Spidey's autograph, there’s an announcement promising Marvel Tales new letters page next issue  Personal anecdotes: I bought this and Marvel Tales 137 (the origin) on the same day in 1986. I’d make several trips to that same comic store over that summer and eventually pick up a few more of these early issues.  Definitely one of my favorite issues!  |
|
|
|
Post by kirby101 on Aug 2, 2024 15:49:42 GMT -5
Doc Ock proved to be an all time great villain. I prefer him as Spidey's main foe over the Goblin.
This being the first full issue really gave Ditko a chance to shine as far as action. I also think he was getting a better feel of how he wanted Spider-Man to look and move.
On a side note. It's commonly accepted that one of those early Spidey villains was created by Kirby, but nobody can agree on which. The two most widely noted are Doc Ock and Sandman. Maybe one of our resident historians has more info.
|
|
|
|
Post by Cei-U! on Aug 2, 2024 16:34:13 GMT -5
Doc Ock proved to be an all time great villain. I prefer him as Spidey's main foe over the Goblin. This being the first full issue really gave Ditko a chance to shine as far as action. I also think he was getting a better feel of how he wanted Spider-Man to look and move. On a side note. It's commonly accepted that one of those early Spidey villains was created by Kirby, but nobody can agree on which. The two most widely noted are Doc Ock and Sandman. Maybe one of our resident historians has more info. Given that he would become a major Fantastic Four villain (as one of the Frightful Four) and that Kirby generally preferred not to use other peoples' characters unless Stan insisted, I suspect it was Sandman.
Cei-U! I summon the hunch!
|
|
|
|
Post by Slam_Bradley on Aug 2, 2024 16:59:56 GMT -5
Doc Ock proved to be an all time great villain. I prefer him as Spidey's main foe over the Goblin. This being the first full issue really gave Ditko a chance to shine as far as action. I also think he was getting a better feel of how he wanted Spider-Man to look and move. On a side note. It's commonly accepted that one of those early Spidey villains was created by Kirby, but nobody can agree on which. The two most widely noted are Doc Ock and Sandman. Maybe one of our resident historians has more info. Given that he would become a major Fantastic Four villain (as one of the Frightful Four) and that Kirby generally preferred not to use other peoples' characters unless Stan insisted, I suspect it was Sandman.
Cei-U! I summon the hunch!
 What hunch? Sorry...that just sprung to mind. |
|
|
|
Post by tarkintino on Aug 2, 2024 17:57:02 GMT -5
THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 3 (reprinted in Marvel Tales 140 ) “Spider-man versus The Strangest Foe of All Time … Doctor Octopus” Credits (as they appear in the comic): Story: Stan Lee Art: Steve Ditko Lettering: John Duffy Coloring: Andy Yanchus I would comfortably say Doc Ock's potential was there, but by no means would he be utilized at his best, nor would the comic place the depths of his sociopathic, malevolent self on full display more than in The Amazing Spider-Man #53-56, and most infamously in #88-90, where he did not know the personal crater he carved into Spider-Man, but his uncaring nature about the threat to the innocent as he tore through a plane carrying a Chinese general headed for the U.N. and city was so grave, Spider-Man himself said this about Ock in #89: "I'll have to defeat the deadliest killer i've ever faced!" That was the Doc Ock. |
|
|
|
Post by jtrw2024 on Aug 2, 2024 18:55:07 GMT -5
Doc Ock proved to be an all time great villain. I prefer him as Spidey's main foe over the Goblin. This being the first full issue really gave Ditko a chance to shine as far as action. I also think he was getting a better feel of how he wanted Spider-Man to look and move. The Goblin is definitely my favourite Spider-foe, but I do agree that Ock works better as the arch-villain. I think GG's best stories were the early ones where the mystery was one of the big selling points. Even the few times he showed up after his identity was revealed were still pretty epic, but there's only so far you can go. I thought they ended the Green Goblin's story at just about the right time. I was even actually really excited when he returned in the 90s, but after he came back I don't think there were too many great stories which were good enough to justify the resurrection. I have the same issue with most "back-from-the-dead-for-no-good-reason" stories |
|
|
|
Post by jtrw2024 on Aug 2, 2024 19:04:09 GMT -5
I would comfortably say Doc Ock's potential was there, but by no means would he be utilized at his best, nor would the comic place the depths of his sociopathic, malevolent self on full display more than in The Amazing Spider-Man #53-56, and most infamously in #88-90, where he did not know the personal crater he carved into Spider-Man, but his uncaring nature about the threat to the innocent as he tore through a plane carrying a Chinese general headed for the U.N. and city was so grave, Spider-Man himself said this about Ock in #89: "I'll have to defeat the deadliest killer i've ever faced!" That was the Doc Ock. Those are great stories. Hopefully it won't be too long before I get to those reviews. I actually read some of those appearances even before I read any of the ones from the Ditko era. I do like the way that even though these characters do get the chance to evolve, a lot of what makes them great is established right here in their earlier appearances. Writers don't have to stray too far from the original Doc Ock, or Vulture to write good stories with them. I still follow the current stories, but do often find myself scratching my head at certain creative decisions. I'm not sure why Ock needs to pump green slime into his tentacles to make himself anymore dangerous than he already was! |
|
|
|
Post by chadwilliam on Aug 2, 2024 19:09:10 GMT -5
Selling photos to Jameson will become a regular part of the status quo for many years to come. At first Spidey is just taking pictures of the villains. Eventually he’ll rig his camera to take automatic pictures of himself in action. I’ll have to see if I can pinpoint when he actually starts doing this because I can't really remember offhand. For some reason, I can't type outside of the Quote function, so...
****CHAD WRITES****
Peter asks that his photos be credited to an anonymous staff photographer I suppose so that people won't start asking the same question Jameson does here. However, I believe that this either becomes a very open secret or Lee and Ditko simply drop the premise of Peter acting so secretively altogether. Is there some point at which it becomes public knowledge that Peter Parker is the guy taking all these photos within these stories or does it just happen without any fanfare.
I believe that Kurt Busiek covered this in Untold Tales of Spider-Man, but I'm wondering about in real time. For all the "I wonder what Flash would say if he knew 'Puny Parker' was his hero Spider-Man?" hypothetical's Peter threw out there, I'd have loved to have seen Flash Thompson's face when he discovered that all of those Spider-Man photos he had in his scrapbook were taken by his arch-nemesis. |
|
|
|
Post by kirby101 on Aug 2, 2024 20:07:32 GMT -5
The photo thing. Never understood why Peter didn't just go to another paper. He didn't have a contract. JJJ was always trying to cheat him, and he was a pain in the a$$. Not to mention the whole "menace" stuff.
In the 60s there were at least 4 daily newspapers in NY.
I mean I understood why they did that for the book, but it did make you wonder.
|
|
|
|
Post by codystarbuck on Aug 2, 2024 20:22:38 GMT -5
The photo thing. Never understood why Peter didn't just go to another paper. He didn't have a contract. JJJ was always trying to cheat him, and he was a pain in the a$$. Not to mention the whole "menace" stuff. In the 60s there were at least 4 daily newspapers in NY. I mean I understood why they did that for the book, but it did make you wonder. Maybe JJJ was actually the least exploitive and nasty of the 4. We are talking about the newspaper business, with people like Hearst and Pulitzer and later Murdoch and Maxwell. Compared to others J Jonah might be close to a saint! |
|
