Essential Amazing Spider-Man, Vol. 7 by Gerry Conway

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This book collects Amazing Spider-man Issues 138-160, Giant Size Spider-man #4 and #5 and the Amazing Spider-man Annual #10. The first more than half of the book is the end of the Gerry Conway era as represented in Issues 138-149 and the two Giant Sized issues, Archie Goodwin wrote Amazing Spider-man #150 and then handed off the book to Len Wein who wrote Issues 151-160 and Amazing Spider-man Annual #10. The art chores are handled mostly by Ross Andru with assists from Gil Kane (Spiderman #150 and AS Annual #10) and Sal Buscema (AS #154 and #155)

The Conway era was great for Spider-man. Taking over for Stan Lee in Amazing Spider-man #111, his run took the character in the new directions with the death of Gwen Stacy (in the previous volume.) In this book, we get the start of the clone saga which has gotten a bad name, but that's due to the botched 1990s attempt to bring back the saga. Conway's final 12 issues work through the mystery of who the Jackal is as a question that's occasionally in the foreground but is always working through the background. During Conway's run we saw the return of Mysterio and the Scorpion plus Spider-man taking on some unique 1970s villains like the Grizzly and the Cyclone.

In Giant Sized Spider-man #4, we have a team up between Spidey and the Punisher which is notable for the lack of rancor that typically accompanies the team-ups these days. Giant-sized Spider-man #5 has a team up with Man-thing (because every Marvel hero in the 70s had to team up with Man-thing.)

Conway told great tale and built a very good arc. Whatever, the problems with the follow up, the original was a nice piece of 1970s storytelling. While I think one reason he killed off Gwen Stacy, he didn't know what to do with her, he did manage to really solidly establish the relationship between Peter and Mary Jane that would be so important for decades.

Archie Goodwin's Issue #150 is an enjoyable issue that manages to put a period on the end of the Clone saga.

Wein's writing is far more varied. We saw the return of some old villains, but also a few intriguing issues without premier Supervillains. Issues 153 and 155 are the type of things you'd see in a Batman comic of the era. Issue 153 has a scientist being blackmailed by men who kidnapped his daughter and the story is somewhat with a great tearjerker ending. Issue #155 is a full fledged Spider-man whodunit that fixes a hanging thread from a Daredevil story. Issue #156 has Spidey having to thwart robbers at Ned Leads and Betty Brant wedding. I enjoyed all these issues, though #156 was probably the weakest.

Returning supervillains was a big focus of this one as this era saw the return of Shocker (#151 and #152), Sandman (#154). Doctor Octopus and Hammerhead . (#157-#159.) The final issue of that arc has a team up between Spider-man and Doctor Octopus which is surreal. Wein brings back these villains without them feeling old or cliched.

He introduces a villain of his own in Amazing Spider-man Annual #10 where we meet the Human Fly, another villain created courtesy of J. Jonah Jameson and a mad scientist (ala the Scorpion.) However, this felt more than a retread, partially because it had a fascinating first part where Spider-man foiled the future Human Fly's attempt at kidnapping.

Finally, we have Amazing Spider-man #160 where Len Wein ties up the biggest loose end from the Conway era-the Spider-mobile. Spider-man had left the car in the river and in the book's finale, it's out for revenge. It's a great final chapter to that silly saga.

Overall, this was a great era for Spider-man and a great collection full of wonderful action, some good character moments, solid art, and great writing.



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