Essential Amazing Spider-Man, Vol. 9 by Marv Wolfman

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This book is one of the larger Marvel Essential Collections featuring 25 issues of the Amazing Spider-man (186-210), along with 2 Amazing Spider-man Annuals and the first Spectacular Spider-man Annual.

The majority of the book is by Marv Wolfman, with Roger Stern doing a guest issue for #206 before Denny O'Neil takes over for Issues 207-210.

There were some good stories told in here. Wolfcouman hits a good stride with the introduction of Black Cat coupled with re-appearances by old favorite rogues such as the Kingpin, Electro, Doctor Smythe, and Mysterio. The Amazing Spider-man Annual #13 combined with the Spectacular Spider-man Annual #1 makes for an epic Doctor Octopus story. The multi-issue storyline regarding the apparent death of Aunt May is a superb lead in to the events of Issue 200, a huge milestone for the webslinger. Peter Parker faces a moral dilemma when Betty Brant, estranged from her husband, tries to rebound with Peter. Also, we see Jonah Jameson put through the ringer as he suffers personal tragedy and then a nervous breakdown.

The negatives of the book are few. The early going for O'Neil on Marvel's best known title are a bit mixed. He has an interesting story featuring Kraven the Hunter, but Spider-man's match-ups against Mesmero and Fusio are uninspired. And Amazing Spider-man Annual #14's story with Doctor Strange and Doctor Doom is interesting but feels like Spidey's become a guest character in his own book. Still, this is balanced out by Issue #210 introducing the mysterious Madam Web.

Overall, the late 1970s and early 1980s were a great time for the Amazing Spider-man and this title is a worthwhile read for Spidey fans.



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