Post by richardvasseur on May 6, 2022 22:58:15 GMT
Marvel Masterworks: The Amazing Spider-Man volume 9
Collecting issues in color reprint form issues 78-87
Arthur: Stan Lee
Artist: John Romita and John Buscema and Jim Mooney
Printing year 2007
Hard cover
Marvel Comics
Reviewed by: Allen Klingelhoets
Jazma online
Volume 9 had 2-page introduction about stories included in this book. Introduction was written in 2007. The issues in book were wrote between November 1969 and August 1970.
I had very difficult time getting this volume through library. I am going to read future volumes in not -colored black and white versions. I found some of the issues rather weak in story ideas. Issues 78 and 79 were about a window washer of sky scrapers that created costume and weapons. He was called The Prowler. He tried to fight Spider-Man. This idea did not work out so well. The person never really broke any laws. Spider-Man got him to stop attempting to use costume and weapons. He also appeared in future issue to help Spider-Man in case of telling friends was actually Peter Parker.
Issue 81 had another character known as The Kangaroo. Not really that memorable of story. “The coming of the Kangaroo!” was title.
Electro was in issue # 82.
The Kingpin was written into 83-85. There was a bad person named The Schemer written into those issues. How the Kingpin and The Schemer were related was rather genius story telling. I really wanted to read more about Kingpin. He was left in catatonic state of shock after identity of the Schemer was revealed. I ordered The Essential Spider-Man picking up with issues after # 87.
Issue # 86 of The Amazing Spider-Man # 86, July 1970 was called: “Beware…The Black Widow.”
Spider-Man was not feeling very healthy in issue. It turned out had a really bad case of the flu. The story talks about how Madame Natasha was transformed into the costumed Black Widow. She was powers enough to be a challenge to Iron Man. Again, this was in early days of Marvel Comics. Only about decade after Fantastic Four # 1 and Amazing Fantasy # 15 was published. Natasha learned. Natasha learned how to make web-line to help her swing between tall building. She also created something called Powerlets to give widow’s bite when in costume. She also created newer costume. J. Jonah Jameson saw Black Widow swing past The Daily Bugle while he was in his Publisher office.
I quote what he saw: Spider-Man, swing past…. No! It isn’t the wall-crawler! It’s a girl …copping his act! That’s all this blasted town needs! Another crummy web-swinger and a female to boot! Spider-Man probably put her up to it--- to confuse everybody!
Spider-Man has very difficult time in battle with Black Widow. He thinks losing powers. He does not know has serious case of the flu.
The last issue had Peter having bad fever. He was not aware had flu. The story was called “Unmasked at Last!” Peter decided that without powers might as well reveal identity to Gwen, Captain Stacy and some of his other friends. This did not go over. No one really believed that Peter was actually Spider-Man even though came into Gwen’s party with Spider-man’s mask in hand. It was obvious to all present at party that Peter was very ill. Harry Osborn recalled that Peter once dressed up as Spider-Man to fight Doctor Octopus. It happened in issue 12. Doctor Octopus knew was not real Spider-Man. Pete got a good bawling out for impersonating the web-slinger to get some good news pictures of Doc Octopus.
No one really expected Peter was actually real Spider-Man. A little later in issue Peter goes to doctor who does not ask for blood test. The doctor makes diagnosis that has bad flu. Spider-Man gets some help from The Prowler to dress up as Spider-Man to help Peter out of bind that revealed identity.
The book closed with some unused pencil drawings by John Romita. Also, colored cover to 1969’s all reprints of The Amazing Spider-Man Annual # 6.
Also, several other pages of original art. One by John Romita. The other by John Romita, Jim Mooney and John Buscema. The final page had one page of The Prowler character design by John Romita.
The book of reprints again just gives feel for early foundation Spider-Man stories. Aunt May is also written into several of stories in volume 9.
Allen Klingelhoets