The Spectacular Spider-Man
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The Spectacular Spider-Man is a comic book and magazine series starring Spider-Man and published by Marvel Comics.
Following the success of Spider-Man's original series, The Amazing Spider-Man, Marvel felt the character could support more than one title. This led the company in 1968 to launch a short-lived magazine, the first to bear the Spectacular name. In 1972, Marvel more successfully launched a second Spider-Man ongoing series, Marvel Team-Up, in which he was paired with other Marvel heroes. A third monthly ongoing series, Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man, debuted in 1976.
Magazine (1968)
The Spectacular Spider-Man was initially a two-issue magazine published by Marvel in 1968,[1] as an experiment in entering the black-and-white comic-magazine market[2] successfully pioneered by Warren Publishing and others. It sold for 35 cents when standard comic books cost 12 cents and Annuals and Giants 25 cents. It represented the first Spider-Man spin-off publication aside from the original series' summer Annuals, begun in 1964.
The first issue (
The feature story was reprinted in color, with some small alterations and bridging material by Gerry Conway, in The Amazing Spider-Man #116–118 (Jan.–March 1973) as "Suddenly...the Smasher!", "The Deadly Designs of the Disruptor!", and "Countdown to Chaos!" (with additional inking by Tony Mortellaro on the latter two). These versions were themselves reprinted in Marvel Tales #95–97 (Sept.-Oct. 1978).
The second and final issue (Nov. 1968) also sported a painted cover and the interior was in color as well. Lee, Romita and Mooney again collaborated on its single story, "The Goblin Lives!", featuring the Green Goblin. A next-issue box at the end promoted the planned contents of the unrealized issue #3, "The Mystery of the TV Terror". A version of the Goblin story, trimmed by 18 pages, was reprinted in The Amazing Spider-Man Annual #9 (1973), and portions of the "TV Terror" costume were reused for the costume of the Prowler.[2]
Both issues of the magazine were reprinted in their entirety (albeit reduced to comic size) in the collection Marvel Masterworks: The Amazing Spider-Man #7 (
Volume 1 (1976–98)
Titled Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man on its December 1976 debut, and shortened to simply The Spectacular Spider-Man with #134 (Jan. 1988), this was the second Amazing Spider-Man monthly comic-book spin-off series, after Marvel Team-Up, which also featured Spider-Man. The monthly title ran 264 issues (including a #−1 issue) and 14 Annuals until November 1998.[5]
The series was launched by writer/editor Gerry Conway and artist Sal Buscema and Mike Esposito.[6][7] Conway explained the concept and origin of the series:
[Spectacular Spider-Man] was in response to the fact that I had a deal to script several ongoing [series] for Marvel at the time. Stan [Lee] wanted me back on Spider-Man, in particular, but I didn't want to take
Amazing Spider-Man from Len Wein, who was by this time the regular writer, so Stan saw it as an opportunity to launch a second Spider-Man title, which was something he'd wanted to do for a while. ... the full, original title was "Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man." The notion was we'd focus more on the supporting characters and Peter's social life, but before we could really develop that I left Marvel again, not long after that.[8]
Buscema drew the title until mid-1978. After Buscema's departure, a succession of artists (including
With issue #134 (Jan. 1988), the "Peter Parker" part of the title was removed and the series became simply The Spectacular Spider-Man. The logo changed from a distinctive design to using the same design as that of The Amazing Spider-Man and the 1968 Spectacular Spider-Man magazine; this logo did not change until issue #218 (Nov. 1994). Sal Buscema returned as the regular artist, staying with the title from early 1988 to late 1996; throughout the series' run, Buscema drew over 100 issues, making him by far the series' most frequent contributor.[23]
After his story arc "Return of the Sin-Eater" (#134–136 (Jan.–March 1988)), Peter David was removed as writer. Editor Owsley said editor-in-chief
J. M. DeMatteis became the regular writer in mid-1991, injecting a grim, psychological tone into the series. DeMatteis began his run with the story arc "The Child Within" (#178–184 (July 1991–Jan. 1992)), featuring the return of the Harry Osborn version of the Green Goblin. As written by DeMatteis, Harry sank further into insanity and gained the same super-strength possessed by his father, battling Spider-Man again in #189 (June 1992), before being killed in #200 (May 1993).[29] In an undated 2000s interview, DeMatteis said, "I really loved the two years on Spectacular Spider-Man that I wrote with Sal Buscema drawing. Talk about underrated! Sal is one of the best storytellers and a wonderful collaborator. I loved that run."[30] During this period, Spider-Man editor Danny Fingeroth would hold conferences in New York with all the Spider-Man creative staff, allowing them to brainstorm ideas and discuss future storylines.[28]
DeMatteis left the book in mid-1993 to write The Amazing Spider-Man. Steven Grant had a brief run before the book was set adrift with a succession of fill-in issues which ran through late 1994, when former Amazing Spider-Man writer Tom DeFalco took over. By this time, all the Spider-books were being affected by the controversial "Clone Saga" that culminated with Spectacular Spider-Man #226 (July 1995), and Fingeroth convinced DeFalco that the series needed a regular writer to help guide the crossover story.[28] This story revealed (though it was later reversed) that the Spider-Man who had appeared in the previous 20 years of comics was a clone of the real Spider-Man. This tied into a publishing gap after #229 (Oct. 1995), when the title was temporarily replaced by The Spectacular Scarlet Spider #1–2 (Nov.–Dec. 1995), featuring the "original" Peter Parker. The series picked up again with #230 (Jan. 1996). Initially newcomer Todd Dezago wrote the scripts for DeFalco's plots, since DeFalco was already writing two other series and wanted to groom DeZago to be the long-term writer on Spectacular Spider-Man.[28]
Todd Dezago then wrote for a year before DeMatteis returned through May 1998. DeMatteis later commented, "We did some nice stories, like the one about Flash Thompson's childhood. But, in general, I don't hold that last run...very dear to my heart."[28] Luke Ross succeeded Sal Buscema as the artist and remained until the series ended, but there was no regular writer for the last half-year with Glenn Greenberg, Roger Stern, John Byrne and Howard Mackie all contributing during this time. The final issue was #263 (Nov. 1998).
Volume 2 (2003–05)
Spectacular Spider-Man (vol. 2) titled without the definite article "The", is a 27-issue monthly series published from September 2003 to June 2005.[31] Each issue was written by Paul Jenkins[32] (except #23–26, by Samm Barnes). The book's primary pencillers were Humberto Ramos and Mark Buckingham.
The comic included the storyline Spider-Man: Disassembled in which Spider-Man met a new enemy called the Queen who wanted him as her mate. Her kiss caused him to slowly mutate into a giant spider who metamorphosed into human form with enhanced strength and agility, along with organic webbing and a psychic link with insects and arachnids.
This comic also included the sequel to "
Spectacular Spider-Man Adventures
Spectacular Spider-Man Adventures was a title published by Panini Comics in the United Kingdom from November 1995 to September 2005, although the Adventures portion of the title was often dropped from the cover page. It featured a mix of reprinted American material, as well as originally produced British material, including a guest appearance from Captain Britain.[33] Spectacular was aimed at a younger audience than Panini's other Spider-Man reprint title Astonishing Spider-Man, and was loosely based on the continuity of the 1990s animated series[citation needed].
Volume 3 (2017–18)
Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man (vol. 3) was published from June 2017 to December 2018. After the first six issues, the series reverted to legacy numbering with issue #297 as part of the line-wide
Various issues, as well as the one Annual, were illustrated by guest artists; Kubert's final issue as artist was #307, excluding covers. Zdarsky left the series with issue #310. The series ended with issue #313, the final three issues being a tie-in to the Spider-Geddon crossover event written by Sean Ryan.
The Spectacular Spider-Men
The Spectacular Spider-Men is a currently ongoing series that was published beginning March 2024. The series is written by
Collected editions
- Essential Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man
- Volume 1 collects issues #1–31, 568 pages, May 2005, ISBN 978-0785116820
- Volume 2 collects issues #32–53, Annual #1–2, 592 pages, February 2006, ISBN 978-0785120421
- Volume 3 collects issues #54–74, Annual #3, 536 pages, March 2007, ISBN 978-0785125013
- Volume 4 collects issues #75–96, Annual #4, 576 pages, August 2009, ISBN 978-0785130710
- Volume 5 collects issues #97–114, Annual #5, 576 pages, July 2011, ISBN 978-0785157557
- Volume 1 collects issues #1–31, 568 pages, May 2005,
- Spider-Man: The Original Clone Saga includes #25–31, 149, 162–163, Annual #8, 496 pages, July 2011, ISBN 978-0785155232
- Spider-Man by Roger Stern Omnibus includes #43–61, 85, Annual #3, 1296 pages, April 2014, ISBN 978-0785188278
- Spider-Man: Origin of the Hobgoblin
- First printing includes #85, 160 pages, May 1993, ISBN 978-0871359179
- Second printing includes #43, 47–48, 85, 256 pages, December 2011, ISBN 978-0785158547
- First printing includes #85, 160 pages, May 1993,
- Spider-Man: The Complete Alien Costume Saga
- Book 1 includes #90–95, 488 pages, August 2014, ISBN 978-0785188674
- Book 2 includes #96–100, Annual #4, 504 pages, May 2015, ISBN 978-0785190035
- Book 1 includes #90–95, 488 pages, August 2014,
- Life in the Mad Dog Ward – includes #133, 144 pages, November 2013, ISBN 978-0785185031
- Tombstone – includes #137–150, 368 pages, June 2016, ISBN 978-1302900649
- The Amazing Spider-Man: The Death of Jean DeWolff
- First printing collects #107–110, 96 pages, April 1991, ISBN 978-0871357045
- Second printing collects #107–110, 134–136, 168 pages, March 2013, ISBN 978-0785167143
- First printing collects #107–110, 96 pages, April 1991,
- ISBN 978-0785131113
- Spider-Man vs. Silver Sable Vol. 1 includes #128–129, 144 pages, January 2006, ISBN 978-0785118824
- ISBN 978-0871355522
- ISBN 978-0785155478
- ISBN 978-0785144922
- Spider-Man: The Cosmic Adventures includes #158–160, 192 pages, March 1993, ISBN 978-0871359636
- Acts of Vengeance Omnibus includes #158–160, 744 pages, March 2011, ISBN 978-0785144649
- Spider-Man: Son of the Goblin includes Spectacular Spider-Man #189 and 200, 144 pages, July 2004, ISBN 978-0785115632
- ISBN 978-0785109877
- Spider-Man Epic Collection Vol. 26 Lifetheft includes Spectacular Spider-Man #211, 496 pages, November 16, 2021, 978-1302930691
- Spider-Man and the New Warriors: Hero Killers includes Spectacular Spider-Man Annual #12, 232 pages, March 2012, ISBN 978-0785159674
- Spider-Man: The Complete Clone Saga Epic
- Book 1 includes Spectacular Spider-Man #217, 424 pages, April 2010, ISBN 978-0785144625
- Book 2 includes Spectacular Spider-Man #218–221, 480 pages, June 2010, ISBN 978-0785143512
- Book 3 includes Spectacular Spider-Man #222–224, 464 pages, September 2010, ISBN 978-0785149545
- Book 4 includes Spectacular Spider-Man #225–227, 480 pages, December 2010, ISBN 978-0785149552
- Book 5 includes Spectacular Spider-Man #228–229 and Spectacular Spider-Man Super Special #1, 472 pages, February 2011, ISBN 978-0785150091
- Book 1 includes Spectacular Spider-Man #217, 424 pages, April 2010,
- Spider-Man: The Complete Ben Reilly Epic
- Book 2 includes Spectacular Spider-Man #230, 424 pages, November 2011, ISBN 978-0785156123
- Book 3 includes Spectacular Spider-Man #231–233, 432 pages, January 2012, ISBN 978-0785156130
- Book 4 includes Spectacular Spider-Man #234, 464 pages, April 2012, ISBN 978-0785161318
- Book 5 includes Spectacular Spider-Man #235–239, 464 pages, July 2012, ISBN 978-0785163831
- Book 6 includes Spectacular Spider-Man #240–241, 448 pages, November 2012, ISBN 978-0785165521
- Book 2 includes Spectacular Spider-Man #230, 424 pages, November 2011,
- Spider-Man: Revelations includes Spectacular Spider-Man #240, 112 pages, October 1997, ISBN 978-0785105602
- Spider-Man: Spider-Hunt includes Spectacular Spider-Man #254–256, 272 pages, June 2012, ISBN 978-0785160519
- Spider-Man: Identity Crisis includes Spectacular Spider-Man #257–258, 200 pages, May 2012, ISBN 978-0785159704
- Spider-Man: Hobgoblin Lives includes Spectacular Spider-Man #259–261, 184 pages, May 2011, ISBN 978-0785155126
- Spider-Man: The Gathering of Five includes Spectacular Spider-Man #262–263, 248 pages, January 2014, ISBN 0-7851-8529-1
- The Spectacular Spider-Man
- Vol. 1: The Hunger collects The Spectacular Spider-Man (vol. 2) #1–5, 120 pages, December 2003, ISBN 978-0785111696
- Vol. 2: Countdown collects The Spectacular Spider-Man (vol. 2) #6–10, 120 pages, May 2004, ISBN 978-0785113133
- Vol. 3: Here There Be Monsters collects The Spectacular Spider-Man (vol. 2) #11–14, 144 pages, October 2004, ISBN 978-0785113331
- Vol. 4: Disassembled collects The Spectacular Spider-Man (vol. 2) #15–20, 136 pages, December 2004, ISBN 978-0785116264
- Vol. 5: Sins Remembered collects The Spectacular Spider-Man (vol. 2) #23–26, 96 pages, May 2005, ISBN 978-0785116288
- Vol. 6: The Final Curtain collects The Spectacular Spider-Man (vol. 2) #21–22 and 27, 144 pages, October 2005, ISBN 978-0785119500
- Vol. 1: The Hunger collects The Spectacular Spider-Man (vol. 2) #1–5, 120 pages, December 2003,
- Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man
- Vol 1: Into The Twilight collects Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man (vol. 3) #1–6 and material from Free Comic Book Day 2017 (Secret Empire) #1, 144 pages, December 2017, ISBN 978-1302907563
- Vol 2: Most Wanted collects Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man #297–300, 112 pages, April 2018, ISBN 978-1302907570
- Vol 3: Amazing Fantasy collects Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man #301–303 and Annual #1, 112 pages, August 2018, ISBN 978-1302911188
- Vol 4: Coming Home collects Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man #304–310, 112 pages, December 2018, ISBN 978-1302911195
- Vol 5: Spider-Geddon collects Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man #311–313, Spider-Geddon: Spider-Man Noir Video Comic #1 and Spider-Geddon: Animated Video Comic #1, 112 pages, February 2019, ISBN 978-1302914530
- Vol 1: Into The Twilight collects Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man (vol. 3) #1–6 and material from Free Comic Book Day 2017 (Secret Empire) #1, 144 pages, December 2017,
See also
References
- ^ The Spectacular Spider-Man (magazine)' at the Grand Comics Database
- ^ ISBN 978-1-84576-324-4.
- ^ "John Romita Sr. and Harry Rosenbaum – The Spectacular Spider-Man #1 Cover Original Art (Marvel, 1968)". Heritage Auctions. July 29, 2004. Archived from the original on January 30, 2012.
- ISBN 978-0785108320.
- ^ The Spectacular Spider-Man at the Grand Comics Database
- ISBN 978-0762437726.
- ISBN 978-0756641238.)
Spider-Man already starred in two monthly series: The Amazing Spider-Man and Marvel Team-Up. Now Marvel added a third, Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man, initially written by Gerry Conway with art by Sal Buscema and Mike Esposito.
{{cite book}}
:|first2=
has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link - ^ Williams, Scott E. (October 2010). "Gerry Conway: Everything but the Gwen Stacy Sink". Back Issue! (#44). Raleigh, North Carolina: TwoMorrows Publishing: 16.
- ^ Saffel "Weaving a Broader Web", p. 73: "Frank Miller was the guest penciler for The Spectacular Spider-Man #27, February 1979, written by Bill Mantlo. [The issue's] splash page was the first time Miller's [rendition of] Daredevil appeared in a Marvel story."
- ISBN 978-0756692360.)
Hector Ayala, aka the White Tiger, had already made history as Marvel Comics' first Hispanic super hero. In [Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man #9's] tale, by writer Bill Mantlo and penciler Sal Buscema, he would join Spider-Man's cast of recurring characters in both his identities.
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:|first2=
has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link - ^ Manning "1970s" in Gilbert (2012), p. 101: "Bill Mantlo was the regular scribe of both Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man and The Champions...The Champions had recently been cancelled, and Mantlo decided to tie up a few of the title's loose ends in his other comic."
- ^ Manning "1980s" in Gilbert (2012), p. 113: "In the conclusion to a tale that had begun in the pages of Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man #42 (May), writer [Bill] Mantlo and artist John Byrne had the latest incarnation of the Frightful Four face off against their Fantastic Four counterparts.
- ^ Mantlo, Bill (w), Zeck, Mike (p), Mooney, Jim (i). "Give Me Liberty Or Give Me Death!" Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man, no. 42 (May 1980).
- ^ Mantlo, Bill (w), Byrne, John (p), Sinnott, Joe (i). "When A Spider-Man Comes Calling!" Fantastic Four, no. 218 (May 1980).
- ^ Manning "1980s" in Gilbert (2012), p. 114: "Writer Roger Stern would begin his long tenure as a Spider-scribe with an impressive run on Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man, beginning with this issue illustrated by Mike Zeck."
- ^ DeFalco, Tom "1980s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 207: "Cloak and Dagger's first appearance was written by Bill Mantlo and illustrated by Ed Hannigan. A socially conscious writer, Mantlo used the characters to address the problems of teenage runaways and the dangers of illegal drugs."
- ^ Manning "1980s" in Gilbert (2012), p. 133: "Shot and stabbed and at death's door, the Black Cat truly needed her nine lives, but luckily began the long road to recovery thanks to the hard work of local hospital staff."
- ^ Mantlo, Bill (w), Hembeck, Fred; Milgrom, Al (p), Milgrom, Al; Albelo, Joe; Mooney, Jim (i). "Bugs!" Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man, no. 86 (January 1984).
- ^ Manning "1980s" in Gilbert (2012), p. 147: "In the final issue of Al Milgrom's stint as writer on Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man, which had begun with issue #90 (May 1984), Milgrom once again served as both author and artist in a tale that wrapped up the Spider-Man/Black Cat romance."
- ^ Priest, Christopher J. (James Owsley) (May 2002). "Adventures in the Funny Book Game: Chapter Two Oswald: Why I Never Discuss Spider-Man". Digital-Priest.com. Archived from the original on July 22, 2012.
- ^ Manning "1980s" in Gilbert (2012), p. 150: "Revered as one of the finest Spider-Man stories ever told, this four-part saga, written by Peter David and penciled by Rich Buckler, was a decidedly dark tale for the usually lighthearted web-slinger."
- ^ DeFalco "1980s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 231: "The six-issue story arc...ran through all the Spider-Man titles for two months."
- ISBN 978-1605490212.
- ^ Priest, "Ball Game" (requires scrolldown).
- ^ Douglas, Brad, ed. (October 9, 2005). "Peter David interview". Spider-ManCrawlSpace.com. Archived from the original on July 23, 2011.
- ISBN 9780810938212.
- ^ DeFalco "1980s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 238: Created by writer Gerry Conway and artist Sal Buscema, Carlos and Eduardo Lobo possessed the mutant ability to transform into werewolves.
- ^ a b c d e f Aushenker, Michael (October 2010). "Not Amazing, but Spectacular". Back Issue! (#44). TwoMorrows Publishing: 53–62.
- ^ Manning, Matthew K. "1990s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 263: "The 200th issue of The Spectacular Spider-Man, written by J. M. DeMatteis and with art by Sal Buscema, featured the shocking death of Spider-Man's close friend, Harry Osborn."
- ^ Epstein, Dan (June 24, 2002). "Interview: J.M. DeMatteis". SlushFactory.com. p. 3. Archived from the original on March 6, 2005.
- ^ Spectacular Spider-Man vol. 2' at the Grand Comics Database
- ^ Manning "2000s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 316: "With Peter Parker: Spider-Man coming to a close in August [2003], writer Paul Jenkins once again took up his seat behind the computer to document Spider-Man's life."
- ^ Lowrey, Nigel (August 2008). "The Saga of Captain Britain". Back Issue! (29). Raleigh, North Carolina: TwoMorrows Publishing: 35–43.
- ^ Stevens, Tim (February 15, 2017). "Spider-Man Goes Spectacular". Marvel.com. Marvel Comics. Retrieved April 10, 2017.
- ^ "'Spectacular Spider-Men' Proves Two Webheads Are Better Than One". www.marvel.com. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
- ^ Schedeen, Jesse (November 14, 2023). "The Spectacular Spider-Men: Marvel Comics Reveals New Series From Greg Weisman". IGN. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
- ^ Corley, Shaun (March 6, 2024). "Spectacular Spider-Men #1 Begins a Joyous New Era of Peter & Miles' Relationship (Review)". Screen Rant. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
- ^ Brooke, David (March 6, 2024). "'Spectacular Spider-Men' #1 is a visual feast for the eyes". AIPT. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
External links
- The Spectacular Spider-Man at the Unofficial Handbook of Marvel Comics Creators
- "Priest: A Writer's Confessions". (Christopher Priest interviewed by comics writer Joe Casey), Newsarama.com. 2004. Archived from the original on November 7, 2004.
- The Trades (Aug. 14, 2002): "Peter David: An Apropos Conversation"