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Spider-Man Omnibus Collection
Untold Tales of Spider-Man Omnibus
Join acclaimed tale-spinner Kurt Busiek as he weaves an intricate web of "lost" stories from Peter Parker's earliest days as the Amazing Spider-Man! Swing along with Spidey during a series of untold gems in which he encounters the likes of the Human Torch, Dr. Octopus, the Vulture, Sandman and more classic characters - along with some new ones like Batwing and Bluebird - on his way to becoming Marvel's premiere super hero! Collecting AMAZING FANTASY (1995) #16-18; UNTOLD TALES OF SPIDER-MAN #1-25, #-1, ANNUAL 1996-1997 and STRANGE ENCOUNTER; and material from AMAZING SPIDER-MAN ANNUAL #37.
801 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2012
14 people are currently reading
251 people want to read
About the author
Kurt Busiek
1,858 books627 followersKurt Busiek is an American comic book writer notable for his work on the Marvels limited series, his own title Astro City, and his four-year run on Avengers.
Busiek did not read comics as a youngster, as his parents disapproved of them. He began to read them regularly around the age of 14, when he picked up a copy of Daredevil #120. This was the first part of a continuity-heavy four-part story arc; Busiek was drawn to the copious history and cross-connections with other series. Throughout high school and college, he and future writer Scott McCloud practiced making comics. During this time, Busiek also had many letters published in comic book letter columns, and originated the theory that the Phoenix was a separate being who had impersonated Jean Grey, and that therefore Grey had not died—a premise which made its way from freelancer to freelancer, and which was eventually used in the comics.
During the last semester of his senior year, Busiek submitted some sample scripts to editor Dick Giordano at DC Comics. None of them sold, but they did get him invitations to pitch other material to DC editors, which led to his first professional work, a back-up story in Green Lantern #162 (Mar. 1983).
Busiek has worked on a number of different titles in his career, including Arrowsmith, The Avengers, Icon, Iron Man, The Liberty Project, Ninjak, The Power Company, Red Tornado, Shockrockets, Superman: Secret Identity, Thunderbolts, Untold Tales of Spider-Man, JLA, and the award-winning Marvels and the Homage Comics title Kurt Busiek's Astro City.
In 1997, Busiek began a stint as writer of Avengers alongside artist George Pérez. Pérez departed from the series in 2000, but Busiek continued as writer for two more years, collaborating with artists Alan Davis, Kieron Dwyer and others. Busiek's tenure culminated with the "Kang Dynasty" storyline. In 2003, Busiek re-teamed with Perez to create the JLA/Avengers limited series.
In 2003, Busiek began a new Conan series for Dark Horse Comics, which he wrote for four years.
In December 2005 Busiek signed a two-year exclusive contract with DC Comics. During DC's Infinite Crisis event, he teamed with Geoff Johns on a "One Year Later" eight-part story arc (called Up, Up and Away) that encompassed both Superman titles. In addition, he began writing the DC title Aquaman: Sword of Atlantis from issues 40-49. Busiek was the writer of Superman for two years, before followed by James Robinson starting from Superman #677. Busiek wrote a 52-issue weekly DC miniseries called Trinity, starring Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman. Each issue (except for issue #1) featured a 12-page main story by Busiek, with art by Mark Bagley, and a ten-page backup story co-written by Busiek and Fabian Nicieza, with art from various artists, including Tom Derenick, Mike Norton and Scott McDaniel.
Busiek's work has won him numerous awards in the comics industry, including the Harvey Award for Best Writer in 1998 and the Eisner Award for Best Writer in 1999. In 1994, with Marvels, he won Best Finite Series/Limited Series Eisner Award and the Best Continuing or Limited Series Harvey Award; as well as the Harvey Award for Best Single Issue or Story (for Marvels #4) in 1995. In 1996, with Astro City, Busiek won both the Eisner and Harvey awards for Best New Series. He won the Best Single Issue/Single Story Eisner three years in a row from 1996–1998, as well as in 2004. Busiek won the Best Continuing Series Eisner Award in 1997–1998, as well as the Best Serialized Story award in 1998. In addition, Astro City was awarded the 1996 Best Single Issue or Story Harvey Award, and the 1998 Harvey Award for Best Continuing or Limited Series.
Busiek was given the 1998 and 1999 Comics Buyer's Guide Awards for Favorite Writer, with additional nominations in 1997 and every year from 2000 to 2004. He has also received numerous Squiddy Awards, having been selected as favorite writer four years in a row from 1995 to 1998,
Busiek did not read comics as a youngster, as his parents disapproved of them. He began to read them regularly around the age of 14, when he picked up a copy of Daredevil #120. This was the first part of a continuity-heavy four-part story arc; Busiek was drawn to the copious history and cross-connections with other series. Throughout high school and college, he and future writer Scott McCloud practiced making comics. During this time, Busiek also had many letters published in comic book letter columns, and originated the theory that the Phoenix was a separate being who had impersonated Jean Grey, and that therefore Grey had not died—a premise which made its way from freelancer to freelancer, and which was eventually used in the comics.
During the last semester of his senior year, Busiek submitted some sample scripts to editor Dick Giordano at DC Comics. None of them sold, but they did get him invitations to pitch other material to DC editors, which led to his first professional work, a back-up story in Green Lantern #162 (Mar. 1983).
Busiek has worked on a number of different titles in his career, including Arrowsmith, The Avengers, Icon, Iron Man, The Liberty Project, Ninjak, The Power Company, Red Tornado, Shockrockets, Superman: Secret Identity, Thunderbolts, Untold Tales of Spider-Man, JLA, and the award-winning Marvels and the Homage Comics title Kurt Busiek's Astro City.
In 1997, Busiek began a stint as writer of Avengers alongside artist George Pérez. Pérez departed from the series in 2000, but Busiek continued as writer for two more years, collaborating with artists Alan Davis, Kieron Dwyer and others. Busiek's tenure culminated with the "Kang Dynasty" storyline. In 2003, Busiek re-teamed with Perez to create the JLA/Avengers limited series.
In 2003, Busiek began a new Conan series for Dark Horse Comics, which he wrote for four years.
In December 2005 Busiek signed a two-year exclusive contract with DC Comics. During DC's Infinite Crisis event, he teamed with Geoff Johns on a "One Year Later" eight-part story arc (called Up, Up and Away) that encompassed both Superman titles. In addition, he began writing the DC title Aquaman: Sword of Atlantis from issues 40-49. Busiek was the writer of Superman for two years, before followed by James Robinson starting from Superman #677. Busiek wrote a 52-issue weekly DC miniseries called Trinity, starring Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman. Each issue (except for issue #1) featured a 12-page main story by Busiek, with art by Mark Bagley, and a ten-page backup story co-written by Busiek and Fabian Nicieza, with art from various artists, including Tom Derenick, Mike Norton and Scott McDaniel.
Busiek's work has won him numerous awards in the comics industry, including the Harvey Award for Best Writer in 1998 and the Eisner Award for Best Writer in 1999. In 1994, with Marvels, he won Best Finite Series/Limited Series Eisner Award and the Best Continuing or Limited Series Harvey Award; as well as the Harvey Award for Best Single Issue or Story (for Marvels #4) in 1995. In 1996, with Astro City, Busiek won both the Eisner and Harvey awards for Best New Series. He won the Best Single Issue/Single Story Eisner three years in a row from 1996–1998, as well as in 2004. Busiek won the Best Continuing Series Eisner Award in 1997–1998, as well as the Best Serialized Story award in 1998. In addition, Astro City was awarded the 1996 Best Single Issue or Story Harvey Award, and the 1998 Harvey Award for Best Continuing or Limited Series.
Busiek was given the 1998 and 1999 Comics Buyer's Guide Awards for Favorite Writer, with additional nominations in 1997 and every year from 2000 to 2004. He has also received numerous Squiddy Awards, having been selected as favorite writer four years in a row from 1995 to 1998,
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
August 5, 2022
This is fun, and very true to the Lee/Ditko run (which, in my not-so-humble opinion, doesn't match up to the Lee/Romita stuff, but that's just my well-informed and correct take).
December 30, 2021
Untold Tales of Spider-Man Omnibus collects Amazing Fantasy 16-18, Untold Tales of Spider-Man 1-25, -1, annuals 1996 and 1997, and material from Amazing Spider-Man Annual 37.
I read a handful of these as they were coming out and the 1996 annual is one of my favorite single issues of all time. This was on my radar forever and I jumped on it when InstockTrades.com had it marked down to $35.
The 1990s were kind of a shit show for comics and Spider-Man didn't escape the splatter with the clone saga, Maximum Carnage, and other events. With chaos in the main Spidey books and Ben Reily seemingly the real Spidey, Kurt Busiek and Pat Oliffe's Untold Tales of Spider-Man was touted as a breath of fresh air.
Set during Spider-Man's first couple years in action, Kurt Busiek and Pat Oliffe crafted some back to basics, no baggage Spider-Man tales. Busiek did a great job walking the tightrope between the early Amazing Spider-Man issues, telling compelling stories without upsetting the apple cart.
In this tome, Spidey takes on old favorites like Green Goblin, Doctor Octopus, and the Vulture, new threats like Supercharger, Scorcher, and The Headsman, and established villains with no connection to Spider-Man like Radioactive Man, The Eel, and the Human Top. The supporting cast is fleshed out a bit, giving new depth to Flash Thompson and Liz Allan, and establishing new supporting characters like Sally (who I think was in one or two panels in early Spider-Man comics), Tiny, and Jason.
Pat Oliffe's art wasn't flashy for the time period, modern but still subdued enough that it felt right for the bulk of these neo-Silver Age tales. The tales feel Silver Age but with modern sensibilities. I like that Busiek wove things into Spider-Man's history without contradicting anything and even used some of Stan Lee's dialog snafus to launch new stories, like Aunt May calling Mrs. Watson Mrs. Watkins being symptoms of impending health problems.
I really don't have any gripes about this book. It's a mammoth tome at 800 pages but I'd read 800 more.
Untold Tales of Spider-Man Omnibus is a perfect companion to the early Stan Lee/Steve Ditko issues of Amazing Spider-Man. 4.5 out of 5 stars.
I read a handful of these as they were coming out and the 1996 annual is one of my favorite single issues of all time. This was on my radar forever and I jumped on it when InstockTrades.com had it marked down to $35.
The 1990s were kind of a shit show for comics and Spider-Man didn't escape the splatter with the clone saga, Maximum Carnage, and other events. With chaos in the main Spidey books and Ben Reily seemingly the real Spidey, Kurt Busiek and Pat Oliffe's Untold Tales of Spider-Man was touted as a breath of fresh air.
Set during Spider-Man's first couple years in action, Kurt Busiek and Pat Oliffe crafted some back to basics, no baggage Spider-Man tales. Busiek did a great job walking the tightrope between the early Amazing Spider-Man issues, telling compelling stories without upsetting the apple cart.
In this tome, Spidey takes on old favorites like Green Goblin, Doctor Octopus, and the Vulture, new threats like Supercharger, Scorcher, and The Headsman, and established villains with no connection to Spider-Man like Radioactive Man, The Eel, and the Human Top. The supporting cast is fleshed out a bit, giving new depth to Flash Thompson and Liz Allan, and establishing new supporting characters like Sally (who I think was in one or two panels in early Spider-Man comics), Tiny, and Jason.
Pat Oliffe's art wasn't flashy for the time period, modern but still subdued enough that it felt right for the bulk of these neo-Silver Age tales. The tales feel Silver Age but with modern sensibilities. I like that Busiek wove things into Spider-Man's history without contradicting anything and even used some of Stan Lee's dialog snafus to launch new stories, like Aunt May calling Mrs. Watson Mrs. Watkins being symptoms of impending health problems.
I really don't have any gripes about this book. It's a mammoth tome at 800 pages but I'd read 800 more.
Untold Tales of Spider-Man Omnibus is a perfect companion to the early Stan Lee/Steve Ditko issues of Amazing Spider-Man. 4.5 out of 5 stars.
August 12, 2017
I really enjoyed these three issues and the story that they told, about a young boy named Peter Parker struggling to figure out his responsibilities and how he can fit into a world with superheroes and villains. I loved watching Peter grow and figuring out his rhythm as Spider-Man. This comic really drove home that lesson of you have to do all that you can to help people, no matter what. I love that J. Jameson was in here and that you kind of find out why he hates Spider-Man so much (or find out one of the reasons anyway). I can't wait to read more about the web-slinging hero and his adventures.
Merged review:
Another good story about Peter wrestling with his decisions and what his responsibilities are. I enjoy that this isn't some big hero, knowing exactly what he needs to do and doesn't have a care in the world. This is a story about a young kid trying to fit into two worlds. One where he is lonely, geeky Peter Parker and one where he is Spider-Man, hero to the little guy. Even in this comic, you see the change from trying to figure out where he belongs (in issue #16) to knowing he has to do the right thing and to try to do his best to help people. I can't wait to read the last issue of Amazing Fantasy and to see Peter truly become the hero we know as Spider-Man!
Merged review:
Another good story about Peter wrestling with his decisions and what his responsibilities are. I enjoy that this isn't some big hero, knowing exactly what he needs to do and doesn't have a care in the world. This is a story about a young kid trying to fit into two worlds. One where he is lonely, geeky Peter Parker and one where he is Spider-Man, hero to the little guy. Even in this comic, you see the change from trying to figure out where he belongs (in issue #16) to knowing he has to do the right thing and to try to do his best to help people. I can't wait to read the last issue of Amazing Fantasy and to see Peter truly become the hero we know as Spider-Man!
March 3, 2014
Amazing Fantasy (16-18). This was a somewhat unexpected intro to the book; I wasn't even aware Busiek had written them. They fall somewhat in style between the more verbose Marvels and the more true-to-the-era Untold Tales .. and they're quite good stories, full of terrific characterizations and quiet explanations for how things came to be in the Spider-man mythos [7+/10].
Untold Tales (1-25+). The main bulk of the book is just plain fun. The stories may not be as "artistic" as those Amazing Fantasy tales, but they feel very true to the era while also having the additional depth you'd expect of a modern comic. They're enjoyable to read, whether you understand the interrelations with the original Amazing Spider-Man comics of not [7/10].
Overall, the Untold Tales volume is a really big book of great Spider-nostalgia.
Untold Tales (1-25+). The main bulk of the book is just plain fun. The stories may not be as "artistic" as those Amazing Fantasy tales, but they feel very true to the era while also having the additional depth you'd expect of a modern comic. They're enjoyable to read, whether you understand the interrelations with the original Amazing Spider-Man comics of not [7/10].
Overall, the Untold Tales volume is a really big book of great Spider-nostalgia.
August 2, 2017
Untold tales from the golden spidey years, when Peter Parker is still going to school, told with 90s artwork. It begins with some beautifully drawn sketch style art, i wished the could do that the whole book because it was phenomenal, but i have to say the other art styles are very good aswell. its intertwined with the first omnibus from Lee and Ditko and takes place 'between' those stories. prepare to see alot of favorites in this omnibus, the fantastic four, Daredevil, the x men, some avengers, all make appearances, and the same can be said about the classic villains line up. I had lots.of fun with this book.
February 15, 2022
I think this was over-hyped for me.
I expected maybe a little to much of it. There is a guide for these issues that it includes. The issues are supposed to be read in between different Stand Lee and Steve Ditko issues of The Amazing Spider-man. I reda all of the issues just straight on through. But I didn´t feel that they added to mcuh to the Lee Ditko era. Could be my lack of nostalgia.
I expected maybe a little to much of it. There is a guide for these issues that it includes. The issues are supposed to be read in between different Stand Lee and Steve Ditko issues of The Amazing Spider-man. I reda all of the issues just straight on through. But I didn´t feel that they added to mcuh to the Lee Ditko era. Could be my lack of nostalgia.
June 18, 2024
Kurt Busiek really captures that Silver Age Spidey feeling, and much like his earlier work on Marvels, he weaves these new stories in and out of Marvel continuity without missing a beat. That being said, I'm not one who thinks you should read these alongside the original Lee/Ditko run. At least, not your first time through.
The Lee/Ditko run is a comic book masterpiece and should be enjoyed as such, but do go back and read this later.
The Lee/Ditko run is a comic book masterpiece and should be enjoyed as such, but do go back and read this later.
September 18, 2016
Die "lost stories" aus Spideys frühen Tagen, gezeichnet im Geiste Dittkos - unbeschwerter Lesespaß pur.
June 29, 2023
I read this along with my
Amazing Spider-Man Omnibus #1
, so I made reference to how they fit in. I followed the timeline at the back of the volume, and I have commented issue by issue.
Amazing Fantasy #16 ⧫ 4 Stars “Amazing Tales”
This is probably the best bridge to the actual Amazing Spider-Man #1. It’s a very atypical superhero story about scams, which allows the focus to be on Peter and Aunt May’s relationship. It also starts a mini-arc for Spider-Man’s forgotten agent that mostly works.
Amazing Fantasy #17 ⧫ 3.5 Stars “Amazing Adventures”
Here’s where this bridge starts to lose me. This is about Peter’s isolation, so they introduce a female powered friend for Peter. I think her look threw me off the most. The previous issue feels very 60s, but Joey looks very 90s with her bare midriff and backwards baseball hat. I guess it could be 80s, which would work with the sliding timescale, but that makes Peter incredibly dweeby. It’s a weird choice. I like the themes and the early introduction of a classic villain.
Amazing Fantasy #18 ⧫ 3 Stars “The Amazing Spider-man”
Okay, I actually like the agent stuff here, though if you read Amazing Spider-Man #1 after this, it feels like the start is scattered through these new Amazing Fantasy issues. I think the biggest issue is that Supercharger becomes Peter’s first supervillain as opposed to Vulture, or maybe the Chameleon, and Supercharger sucks. I think Busiek was commenting on 90s heroes, but he definitely did that better elsewhere, see Astro City. It’s fine, but it clashes the most with everything else. What bumps it up a little bit is the addition of J. Jonah Jameson and John Jameson that give Jonah’s hatred more context and a little more rationality. It’s uneven, but alright.
Untold Tales of Spider-Man #1 ⧫ 3.5 Stars “To Serve and Protect”
The first Untold Tales is neat with the early introduction of Captain Stacy and new villain Scorcher. I think Busiek is a little too didactic in this one with Spider-Man needing to learn about the complexities of criminal investigations. Also, these Untold Tales issues weave much better into continuity than the earlier Amazing Fantasy issues.
Untold Tales of Spider-Man #2 ⧫ 4 Stars “Castles in the Air”
This one is also didactic as it works to expand Peter’s high school friends, but I think the tragedy at the end makes it worthwhile. I like Batwing and I genuinely think that the issues brought up surrounding him are interesting.
Untold Tales of Spider-Man #3 ⧫ 4 Stars “Sandblasted”
I’m torn. I like the Sandman, and more Betty is almost always better, especially since this is more like the best versions of her. However, we get hurt and grump Peter, which to be fair, I get. Being hurt sucks, but it is a bit annoying to read. Also, if you’re reading this chronologically, Peter was just hurt by the Vulture in Amazing Spider-Man #7 and even before that got a pep talk from Johnny Storm in Amazing Spider-Man #3. Still, Betty and Sandman!
Untold Tales of Spider-Man #4 ⧫ 3 Stars “The Measure of a Man”
I like the idea of John Jameson trying to figure out if Spider-Man would join NASA. His reasoning at the end doesn’t make too much sense to me, but it is interesting. The problem is that it’s handled in a very straightforward manner. Plus, the Space Men suck.
Untold Tales of Spider-Man #5 ⧫ 4 Stars “Vulture on the Wing”
This begins a three issue arc that takes place entirely during page 5 of Amazing Spider-Man #10. It is a good beginning with more clever Vulture fight scenes, including an impressive opening in the rain. The Vulture won’t be seen in the main title for awhile, I appreciate his use here. It also deepens Peter’s classmates and begins some nice character development for them. The Hulk’s General Ross is a fun cameo and the ending provides a nice dilemma.
Untold Tales of Spider-Man #6 ⧫ 3.5 Stars “Double Jeopardy”
Some Human Torch and Spider-Man fun while the classmates storyline continues. Early Strange Tales Wizard is kind of a deep cut, and I think the Spidey/Torch relationship fits in well with the timeline. They’re a little antagonistic, but almost friends.
Untold Tales of Spider-Man #7 ⧫ 4 Stars “On the Trail of the Amazing Spider-Man”
The Electro plot is a little silly, but I think the main thrust of this trilogy is to give Untold Tales its own identity, and I think it succeeds. Jason and Sally are certainly developing their own identities.
Untold Tales of Spider-Man #8 ⧫ 3 Stars “Harry’s Story”
Just after a fun and more independent trio of issues, this is a continuity heavy story that I’m not sure does much. It spoils the Green Goblin mystery if you’re reading this with the original run, though that isn’t much of a spoiler thanks to the films. It sets up Harry and Gwen, but the comic does that. They do have a touching working dad commiseration moment, which redeems it a bit. Oh, and the Headsman is almost a nonentity. It’s the first partial dud of Untold Tales.
Untold Tales of Spider-Man #9 ⧫ 3.5 Stars “Cry… Lizard!”
Lizard stories almost all follow a fairly predictable pattern, and this one has most of them. However, I think the addition of Batwing at least provides some good reasoning for them as does the additional school gang stuff.
Untold Tales of Spider-Man #10 ⧫ 2.5 Stars “Call Her… Commanda!”
A one-off cheesecake villain who has some interesting powers and potential, but doesn’t go anywhere. The stuff with Sally is the only essential stuff here. There’s also technically the Betty Brant stuff, which is really misleading in this issue. I wonder if Busiek had it figured out then because it seems like jealousy here… It’s not.
Untold Tales of Spider-Man #11 ⧫ 4 Stars “Shock follows Shock!”
The Eel is another Strange Tales deep cut, though there’s only a Human Torch mention this time. The Eel teams up with Electro, but the main show is Bluebird and Flash. This is what I like in Untold Tales.
Untold Tales of Spider-Man #12 ⧫ 4 Stars “The Secrets of Betty Brant”
Another Untold Tales gem! Betty’s behavior gets a good explanation, aside from issue 10. Also, there’s more Bluebird fun and a new villain.
Untold Tales of Spider-Man #13 ⧫ 5 Stars “Without Warning”
Wow, not the issue I was expecting. It subverts pretty much everything I was expecting and has some very cool Spidey-Torch stuff at the end. I kind of wish it had been a two parter.
Untold Tales of Spider-Man #14 ⧫ 4 Stars “One Thing Right”
An all-around good episode that picks up on the emotional baggage from the previous issue while also making it a bit lighter. I will say Amazing Spider-Man #13 felt a little weird before this issue, which is the first I’ve really noticed since Amazing Fantasy 17 and 18, and it’s really not that big an issue.
Untold Tales of Spider-Man #15 ⧫ 3 Stars “The Battle for the Daily Bugle”
I appreciate Busiek trying to give more reason to Stan’s character assassination of Betty, but it’s still unfortunate. The Terrier is a threat, but not a very interesting one outside of his connection to Betty.
Untold Tales of Spider-Man #16 ⧫ 4 Stars “Who’s that Girl?”
I didn’t much care for “Harry’s Story” in issue 8 because it didn’t do much but set an earlier date for their meeting. This story introduces Mary Jane early and adds in a bit of continuity from an excellent graphic novel called “Parallel Lives,” which I highly recommend. It also expands on Mary Jane’s uncertainty about Peter and helps explain her avoidance at meeting him. It’s a good character piece for a classic character that ties together two excellent things very nicely.
Untold Tales of Spider-Man #17 ⧫ 4.5 Stars “Spidey Battles Hawkeye the Marksman”
I actually think the theming is spot on here. Clint’s romantic troubles reflect Peter’s romantic troubles indirectly. It’s a cool issue, and I went back and looked at the Tales of Suspense issues featuring Clint and Natasha (Tales of Suspense 57, 60, & 64), and this issue fits in and expands on Hawkeye’s thoughts. Old Iron Man comics are tough to read, so I really enjoyed this look into how good the title could be; also, Spidey vs. Hawkeye isn’t a very common fight.
Untold Tales of Spider-Man: Strange Encounter ⧫ 3 Stars
Kind of a weird little drop in published the year after the Untold Tales Series ended. Why such a low rating? It’s kind of a normal Doctor Strange story, though it does show a new first meeting between Spidey and Strange. Also, the ending is rather predictable and disappointing.
Untold Tales of Spider-Man #18 ⧫ 4 Stars “Unseen Dangers”
This issue does a great job at putting together many pieces. Notably, it makes Betty less erratic by showing one of the most uncomfortable dates in history. It also lets the Green Goblin be kind of a badass (I say this as a known Goblin hater [Not entirely true, but he’s overrated]).
Untold Tales of Spider-Man #19 ⧫ 4 Stars “Eight Arms to Hold You!”
Another solid issue, Doc Ock is on Peter’s home turf, and Peter’s community spirit is tested. There’s a shortage of Forest Hills stories, so it’s nice to get one here.
Untold Tales of Spider-Man #20 ⧫ 4.5 Stars “Wings of Hatred”
A genuinely great story featuring the Vulture’s backstory. It’s funny that this story deals so much with influence, yet it isn’t a big villain, just the Vulture. It’s a feels issue with plenty of combat that actually fits in at a time when Spidey wasn’t active.
Untold Tales of Spider-Man #21 ⧫ 3 Stars “Menace!”
This story is a little standard. I mostly like the Betty stuff at the start. The X-Men are okay here, and the only team that doesn’t comment on Spidey’s cowardice at the start of Amazing Spider-Man #18, so it’s a nice addition at least. It also sets up more of the cowardice arc that continues throughout that issue.
Untold Tales of Spider-Man #22 ⧫ 2 Stars “The Spider and the Scarecrow”
Busiek just gets too clever here. Busiek is riffing off a letter in the letter page in the 60s Spider-Man that requested this battle, so that’s interesting, I guess. This story takes place at the same time as Amazing Spider-Man #18, and on its own, it’s average. However, part of what makes that story more interesting is that it doesn’t have a supervillain fight in it. It’s pretty much all character development, so this story feels like it undercuts that. If it was an impressive story, I’d give it more slack, but enh.
Untold Tales of Spider-Man #23 ⧫ 3.5 Stars “In the Shadow of the Crime-Master”
It’s a nice Spidey tale that has a good core and bridges some Betty/Peter stuff in the main book. It introduces the Crime Master earlier and makes him more involved than in the main book. It’s a solid Spidey issue.
Untold Tales of Spider-Man Annual ‘97 ⧫ 2.5 Stars “It’s Always Darkest...”
So, this is only half a story. It’s a little more common since this title to write forgotten villains into the pasts of heroes. However, if you’re just reading it in the Omnibus, it feels very forgettable. It’s just a prologue; all the meat is in Amazing Spider-Man Annual ‘98. So, this is going to be really forgettable unless you have access to that annual. I wish it was included.
Untold Tales of Spider-Man Annual ‘96 ⧫ 4.5 Stars “A Night on the Town!”
This story feels like it’s written for me; I smiled through the whole issue. It’s an adorable story that could only be told in this era. There’s a little creative shifting in the timeline, taking the backup story from Amazing Spider-Man #8 and placing it after (the terrible) Amazing Spider-Man #21 and before this issue. However, Spidey asking out the Invisible Girl to spite the Human Torch is gold. This is the kind of fun I want. Also, bonus points for the making of Untold Tales in the style of the making of Amazing Spider-Man with Ditko/Lee from the first annual in the 60s as well as a rogue’s gallery in that style.
Untold Tales of Spider-Man #24 ⧫ 3 Stars “‘What Would Spidey Do?!’”
A cute story with Batwing that has an ending that’s just far too convenient. The Jason Ionello stuff concludes with some good character development for Flash, and honestly, that’s the best part of the issue. The Batwing stuff is basically just an altered copy of the first Lizard story.
Untold Tales of Spider-Man #25 ⧫ 3.5 Stars “Bad Men on Campus!”
The series concluded with a bang, giving a nice transition to Peter’s college life, though he won’t be in college for a few issues in Amazing Spider-Man. This issue actually syncs more with Fantastic Four #35. It once again spoils one of the mysteries in the original Amazing series, so it might be best to read it after the Crime Master’s identity is revealed.
Amazing Spider-Man Annual #37 ⧫ 3 Stars “‘Make Mine Marvel!’”
A fun little story about the bullpen written years after the series ended.
Untold Tales of Spider-Man #-1 ⧫ 3 Stars “There’s a Man Who Lives a Life of Danger!”
The negative ones were another 90s gimmick, and this one expands on Peter’s parents. If you’re reading this with the original Amazing Spider-Man and don’t know about Peter’s parents, you may want to wait after Amazing Spider-Man Annual #5. It’s a fine issue to go out on.
Untold Tales of Spider-Man is a largely solid throwback collection that has rightly been integrated into canon. It’s fondly remembered and other than assuming that the readers know more about the classic Amazing Spider-Man than they might, it fits in with a classic read. I understand expecting people to know MJ and Norman Osborn, but the Crime Master? Anyway, other than that, I think it blends spectacularly well with the classic series and is a must for Spider-Fans.
Other Omnibus Reviews
Amazing Spider-Man Omnibus #1
Amazing Spider-Man Omnibus #2
Amazing Spider-Man Omnibus #3
Amazing Spider-Man Omnibus #4
Amazing Spider-Man Omnibus #5
Spectacular Spider-Man Omnibus #1
Amazing Fantasy #16 ⧫ 4 Stars “Amazing Tales”
This is probably the best bridge to the actual Amazing Spider-Man #1. It’s a very atypical superhero story about scams, which allows the focus to be on Peter and Aunt May’s relationship. It also starts a mini-arc for Spider-Man’s forgotten agent that mostly works.
Amazing Fantasy #17 ⧫ 3.5 Stars “Amazing Adventures”
Here’s where this bridge starts to lose me. This is about Peter’s isolation, so they introduce a female powered friend for Peter. I think her look threw me off the most. The previous issue feels very 60s, but Joey looks very 90s with her bare midriff and backwards baseball hat. I guess it could be 80s, which would work with the sliding timescale, but that makes Peter incredibly dweeby. It’s a weird choice. I like the themes and the early introduction of a classic villain.
Amazing Fantasy #18 ⧫ 3 Stars “The Amazing Spider-man”
Okay, I actually like the agent stuff here, though if you read Amazing Spider-Man #1 after this, it feels like the start is scattered through these new Amazing Fantasy issues. I think the biggest issue is that Supercharger becomes Peter’s first supervillain as opposed to Vulture, or maybe the Chameleon, and Supercharger sucks. I think Busiek was commenting on 90s heroes, but he definitely did that better elsewhere, see Astro City. It’s fine, but it clashes the most with everything else. What bumps it up a little bit is the addition of J. Jonah Jameson and John Jameson that give Jonah’s hatred more context and a little more rationality. It’s uneven, but alright.
Untold Tales of Spider-Man #1 ⧫ 3.5 Stars “To Serve and Protect”
The first Untold Tales is neat with the early introduction of Captain Stacy and new villain Scorcher. I think Busiek is a little too didactic in this one with Spider-Man needing to learn about the complexities of criminal investigations. Also, these Untold Tales issues weave much better into continuity than the earlier Amazing Fantasy issues.
Untold Tales of Spider-Man #2 ⧫ 4 Stars “Castles in the Air”
This one is also didactic as it works to expand Peter’s high school friends, but I think the tragedy at the end makes it worthwhile. I like Batwing and I genuinely think that the issues brought up surrounding him are interesting.
Untold Tales of Spider-Man #3 ⧫ 4 Stars “Sandblasted”
I’m torn. I like the Sandman, and more Betty is almost always better, especially since this is more like the best versions of her. However, we get hurt and grump Peter, which to be fair, I get. Being hurt sucks, but it is a bit annoying to read. Also, if you’re reading this chronologically, Peter was just hurt by the Vulture in Amazing Spider-Man #7 and even before that got a pep talk from Johnny Storm in Amazing Spider-Man #3. Still, Betty and Sandman!
Untold Tales of Spider-Man #4 ⧫ 3 Stars “The Measure of a Man”
I like the idea of John Jameson trying to figure out if Spider-Man would join NASA. His reasoning at the end doesn’t make too much sense to me, but it is interesting. The problem is that it’s handled in a very straightforward manner. Plus, the Space Men suck.
Untold Tales of Spider-Man #5 ⧫ 4 Stars “Vulture on the Wing”
This begins a three issue arc that takes place entirely during page 5 of Amazing Spider-Man #10. It is a good beginning with more clever Vulture fight scenes, including an impressive opening in the rain. The Vulture won’t be seen in the main title for awhile, I appreciate his use here. It also deepens Peter’s classmates and begins some nice character development for them. The Hulk’s General Ross is a fun cameo and the ending provides a nice dilemma.
Untold Tales of Spider-Man #6 ⧫ 3.5 Stars “Double Jeopardy”
Some Human Torch and Spider-Man fun while the classmates storyline continues. Early Strange Tales Wizard is kind of a deep cut, and I think the Spidey/Torch relationship fits in well with the timeline. They’re a little antagonistic, but almost friends.
Untold Tales of Spider-Man #7 ⧫ 4 Stars “On the Trail of the Amazing Spider-Man”
The Electro plot is a little silly, but I think the main thrust of this trilogy is to give Untold Tales its own identity, and I think it succeeds. Jason and Sally are certainly developing their own identities.
Untold Tales of Spider-Man #8 ⧫ 3 Stars “Harry’s Story”
Just after a fun and more independent trio of issues, this is a continuity heavy story that I’m not sure does much. It spoils the Green Goblin mystery if you’re reading this with the original run, though that isn’t much of a spoiler thanks to the films. It sets up Harry and Gwen, but the comic does that. They do have a touching working dad commiseration moment, which redeems it a bit. Oh, and the Headsman is almost a nonentity. It’s the first partial dud of Untold Tales.
Untold Tales of Spider-Man #9 ⧫ 3.5 Stars “Cry… Lizard!”
Lizard stories almost all follow a fairly predictable pattern, and this one has most of them. However, I think the addition of Batwing at least provides some good reasoning for them as does the additional school gang stuff.
Untold Tales of Spider-Man #10 ⧫ 2.5 Stars “Call Her… Commanda!”
A one-off cheesecake villain who has some interesting powers and potential, but doesn’t go anywhere. The stuff with Sally is the only essential stuff here. There’s also technically the Betty Brant stuff, which is really misleading in this issue. I wonder if Busiek had it figured out then because it seems like jealousy here… It’s not.
Untold Tales of Spider-Man #11 ⧫ 4 Stars “Shock follows Shock!”
The Eel is another Strange Tales deep cut, though there’s only a Human Torch mention this time. The Eel teams up with Electro, but the main show is Bluebird and Flash. This is what I like in Untold Tales.
Untold Tales of Spider-Man #12 ⧫ 4 Stars “The Secrets of Betty Brant”
Another Untold Tales gem! Betty’s behavior gets a good explanation, aside from issue 10. Also, there’s more Bluebird fun and a new villain.
Untold Tales of Spider-Man #13 ⧫ 5 Stars “Without Warning”
Wow, not the issue I was expecting. It subverts pretty much everything I was expecting and has some very cool Spidey-Torch stuff at the end. I kind of wish it had been a two parter.
Untold Tales of Spider-Man #14 ⧫ 4 Stars “One Thing Right”
An all-around good episode that picks up on the emotional baggage from the previous issue while also making it a bit lighter. I will say Amazing Spider-Man #13 felt a little weird before this issue, which is the first I’ve really noticed since Amazing Fantasy 17 and 18, and it’s really not that big an issue.
Untold Tales of Spider-Man #15 ⧫ 3 Stars “The Battle for the Daily Bugle”
I appreciate Busiek trying to give more reason to Stan’s character assassination of Betty, but it’s still unfortunate. The Terrier is a threat, but not a very interesting one outside of his connection to Betty.
Untold Tales of Spider-Man #16 ⧫ 4 Stars “Who’s that Girl?”
I didn’t much care for “Harry’s Story” in issue 8 because it didn’t do much but set an earlier date for their meeting. This story introduces Mary Jane early and adds in a bit of continuity from an excellent graphic novel called “Parallel Lives,” which I highly recommend. It also expands on Mary Jane’s uncertainty about Peter and helps explain her avoidance at meeting him. It’s a good character piece for a classic character that ties together two excellent things very nicely.
Untold Tales of Spider-Man #17 ⧫ 4.5 Stars “Spidey Battles Hawkeye the Marksman”
I actually think the theming is spot on here. Clint’s romantic troubles reflect Peter’s romantic troubles indirectly. It’s a cool issue, and I went back and looked at the Tales of Suspense issues featuring Clint and Natasha (Tales of Suspense 57, 60, & 64), and this issue fits in and expands on Hawkeye’s thoughts. Old Iron Man comics are tough to read, so I really enjoyed this look into how good the title could be; also, Spidey vs. Hawkeye isn’t a very common fight.
Untold Tales of Spider-Man: Strange Encounter ⧫ 3 Stars
Kind of a weird little drop in published the year after the Untold Tales Series ended. Why such a low rating? It’s kind of a normal Doctor Strange story, though it does show a new first meeting between Spidey and Strange. Also, the ending is rather predictable and disappointing.
Untold Tales of Spider-Man #18 ⧫ 4 Stars “Unseen Dangers”
This issue does a great job at putting together many pieces. Notably, it makes Betty less erratic by showing one of the most uncomfortable dates in history. It also lets the Green Goblin be kind of a badass (I say this as a known Goblin hater [Not entirely true, but he’s overrated]).
Untold Tales of Spider-Man #19 ⧫ 4 Stars “Eight Arms to Hold You!”
Another solid issue, Doc Ock is on Peter’s home turf, and Peter’s community spirit is tested. There’s a shortage of Forest Hills stories, so it’s nice to get one here.
Untold Tales of Spider-Man #20 ⧫ 4.5 Stars “Wings of Hatred”
A genuinely great story featuring the Vulture’s backstory. It’s funny that this story deals so much with influence, yet it isn’t a big villain, just the Vulture. It’s a feels issue with plenty of combat that actually fits in at a time when Spidey wasn’t active.
Untold Tales of Spider-Man #21 ⧫ 3 Stars “Menace!”
This story is a little standard. I mostly like the Betty stuff at the start. The X-Men are okay here, and the only team that doesn’t comment on Spidey’s cowardice at the start of Amazing Spider-Man #18, so it’s a nice addition at least. It also sets up more of the cowardice arc that continues throughout that issue.
Untold Tales of Spider-Man #22 ⧫ 2 Stars “The Spider and the Scarecrow”
Busiek just gets too clever here. Busiek is riffing off a letter in the letter page in the 60s Spider-Man that requested this battle, so that’s interesting, I guess. This story takes place at the same time as Amazing Spider-Man #18, and on its own, it’s average. However, part of what makes that story more interesting is that it doesn’t have a supervillain fight in it. It’s pretty much all character development, so this story feels like it undercuts that. If it was an impressive story, I’d give it more slack, but enh.
Untold Tales of Spider-Man #23 ⧫ 3.5 Stars “In the Shadow of the Crime-Master”
It’s a nice Spidey tale that has a good core and bridges some Betty/Peter stuff in the main book. It introduces the Crime Master earlier and makes him more involved than in the main book. It’s a solid Spidey issue.
Untold Tales of Spider-Man Annual ‘97 ⧫ 2.5 Stars “It’s Always Darkest...”
So, this is only half a story. It’s a little more common since this title to write forgotten villains into the pasts of heroes. However, if you’re just reading it in the Omnibus, it feels very forgettable. It’s just a prologue; all the meat is in Amazing Spider-Man Annual ‘98. So, this is going to be really forgettable unless you have access to that annual. I wish it was included.
Untold Tales of Spider-Man Annual ‘96 ⧫ 4.5 Stars “A Night on the Town!”
This story feels like it’s written for me; I smiled through the whole issue. It’s an adorable story that could only be told in this era. There’s a little creative shifting in the timeline, taking the backup story from Amazing Spider-Man #8 and placing it after (the terrible) Amazing Spider-Man #21 and before this issue. However, Spidey asking out the Invisible Girl to spite the Human Torch is gold. This is the kind of fun I want. Also, bonus points for the making of Untold Tales in the style of the making of Amazing Spider-Man with Ditko/Lee from the first annual in the 60s as well as a rogue’s gallery in that style.
Untold Tales of Spider-Man #24 ⧫ 3 Stars “‘What Would Spidey Do?!’”
A cute story with Batwing that has an ending that’s just far too convenient. The Jason Ionello stuff concludes with some good character development for Flash, and honestly, that’s the best part of the issue. The Batwing stuff is basically just an altered copy of the first Lizard story.
Untold Tales of Spider-Man #25 ⧫ 3.5 Stars “Bad Men on Campus!”
The series concluded with a bang, giving a nice transition to Peter’s college life, though he won’t be in college for a few issues in Amazing Spider-Man. This issue actually syncs more with Fantastic Four #35. It once again spoils one of the mysteries in the original Amazing series, so it might be best to read it after the Crime Master’s identity is revealed.
Amazing Spider-Man Annual #37 ⧫ 3 Stars “‘Make Mine Marvel!’”
A fun little story about the bullpen written years after the series ended.
Untold Tales of Spider-Man #-1 ⧫ 3 Stars “There’s a Man Who Lives a Life of Danger!”
The negative ones were another 90s gimmick, and this one expands on Peter’s parents. If you’re reading this with the original Amazing Spider-Man and don’t know about Peter’s parents, you may want to wait after Amazing Spider-Man Annual #5. It’s a fine issue to go out on.
Untold Tales of Spider-Man is a largely solid throwback collection that has rightly been integrated into canon. It’s fondly remembered and other than assuming that the readers know more about the classic Amazing Spider-Man than they might, it fits in with a classic read. I understand expecting people to know MJ and Norman Osborn, but the Crime Master? Anyway, other than that, I think it blends spectacularly well with the classic series and is a must for Spider-Fans.
Other Omnibus Reviews
Amazing Spider-Man Omnibus #1
Amazing Spider-Man Omnibus #2
Amazing Spider-Man Omnibus #3
Amazing Spider-Man Omnibus #4
Amazing Spider-Man Omnibus #5
Spectacular Spider-Man Omnibus #1
August 18, 2019
The problem with these kinds of retroactive continuity stories is that you can't expect huge amounts of story changes... There are sets events that are bound to happen, Spidey can't meet foes for the first time he met in another issue for the first time and obviously nobody can die or learn the identity of someone... So what do you do?
Rehashing villians of course! A lot of these issues tell little side stories about villians Peter already thought and they fit surprisingly well into the timeline. I've read those issues in the exact order the timeline works and it's great how much attention to detail there is in this book. There are a few instances where I thought "I don't know if this fits THAT well into the continuity" but those were never real plotholes but rather questionable actions that could be explained if you try hard enough. If anything this does a good job at fleshing out some characters more and this also foreshadows some of the twists that get revealed later on in the main comic. Unfortunately some of those can be considered a spoiler. So if you barely know anything about some of the twists of Spider-Man (the identity of the Green Goblin for example) you might want to read this later down the line. If you don't mind this kind of stuff you can easily read this in the order of events.
Another great thing about this comic is the introduction of some new characters. I especially liked the short Sally arc and the characters Tiny and Jason are pretty interesting as well. It's almost a shame that they won't appear ever again. There are also some other villians that get introduced here like the Scorcher or the Beetle. My knowledge of Marvel comics is a bit limited but I can imagine Spider-Man never faced those in any other comic, so this probably fits into the timeline just right. There are also quite a few crossover events. Of course Peter is interacting a lot with Johnny Storm like he always does but there are even more characters who make an appearance.
The art in this is pretty great. They've tried to capture the old style of the 60s and definitely nailed it in my opinion. It really looks good with more modern coloration.
Overall a worthwhile read, but you have to decide for yourself WHEN to read this.
Rehashing villians of course! A lot of these issues tell little side stories about villians Peter already thought and they fit surprisingly well into the timeline. I've read those issues in the exact order the timeline works and it's great how much attention to detail there is in this book. There are a few instances where I thought "I don't know if this fits THAT well into the continuity" but those were never real plotholes but rather questionable actions that could be explained if you try hard enough. If anything this does a good job at fleshing out some characters more and this also foreshadows some of the twists that get revealed later on in the main comic. Unfortunately some of those can be considered a spoiler. So if you barely know anything about some of the twists of Spider-Man (the identity of the Green Goblin for example) you might want to read this later down the line. If you don't mind this kind of stuff you can easily read this in the order of events.
Another great thing about this comic is the introduction of some new characters. I especially liked the short Sally arc and the characters Tiny and Jason are pretty interesting as well. It's almost a shame that they won't appear ever again. There are also some other villians that get introduced here like the Scorcher or the Beetle. My knowledge of Marvel comics is a bit limited but I can imagine Spider-Man never faced those in any other comic, so this probably fits into the timeline just right. There are also quite a few crossover events. Of course Peter is interacting a lot with Johnny Storm like he always does but there are even more characters who make an appearance.
The art in this is pretty great. They've tried to capture the old style of the 60s and definitely nailed it in my opinion. It really looks good with more modern coloration.
Overall a worthwhile read, but you have to decide for yourself WHEN to read this.
January 27, 2023
Wow. What a FUN comic.
I want to thank my wife for buying this for me on my Birthday in 2021. Her rationale? "It's called UNTOLD TALES, so I figured maybe you hadn't read them!"
I hadn't, for the most part. I bought a few issues during the original run, and remember disliking them intensely. I have no idea why, at this point.
Nearly three decades later...I loved every page. UNTOLD TALES scratched my itch for Spidey the way he was when I first met him: Someone close to my age, who didn't fit in, but still strived to do the right thing, because "With great power, comes great responsibility!". I loved revisiting his aborted romance with Betty Brant (Still my favorite Spider-love-interest), seeing Mary Jane's perspective on her Aunt Anna's quiet young neighbor, watching J.J.J. rage against our hero, watching Peter interact with his peers, and seeing Spidey grow and become a part of the greater Marvel Universe. Writer Kurt Busiek did a great job of dancing between the continuity raindrops, and still managed to create a book with it's own identity, supporting cast, and flavor, all while giving that classic Lee/Ditko feel.
I can't recommend this book enough.
I want to thank my wife for buying this for me on my Birthday in 2021. Her rationale? "It's called UNTOLD TALES, so I figured maybe you hadn't read them!"
I hadn't, for the most part. I bought a few issues during the original run, and remember disliking them intensely. I have no idea why, at this point.
Nearly three decades later...I loved every page. UNTOLD TALES scratched my itch for Spidey the way he was when I first met him: Someone close to my age, who didn't fit in, but still strived to do the right thing, because "With great power, comes great responsibility!". I loved revisiting his aborted romance with Betty Brant (Still my favorite Spider-love-interest), seeing Mary Jane's perspective on her Aunt Anna's quiet young neighbor, watching J.J.J. rage against our hero, watching Peter interact with his peers, and seeing Spidey grow and become a part of the greater Marvel Universe. Writer Kurt Busiek did a great job of dancing between the continuity raindrops, and still managed to create a book with it's own identity, supporting cast, and flavor, all while giving that classic Lee/Ditko feel.
I can't recommend this book enough.
January 24, 2024
Gems include Spidey v. Undertaker & Joey Pulaski, Spidey get the lamest first supervillain, Spidey v. Scorcher & bootleg Man-Bat, Sandman bricks Spidey, Spidey v. evil FF, Vulture heists Thunderbolt Ross, Wizard riddles Torch, Electro allies w/ a crooked optometrist, Spidey v. first-draft Green Goblin, bootleg Man-Bat v. Lizard, Spidey v. bootleg French Emerald Empress, Electro allies w/ Eel, Bluebird communes w/ Scarlet Beetle, Torch stops Spidey from killing Black Knight, Scorcher’s origin, Spidey v. Terrier, MJ watches Spidey v. Radioactive Man, Spidey v. Hawkeye, Baron Mordo gags JJJ, Goblin wrecks first-draft Goblin, May thanks Ock, Vulture insults Kingpin, Spidey & X-Men v. Menace, Scarecrow spurns Goblin, MCU v. Sundown, Namor wrecks Spidey for dating Invisible Girl, Flash is on the case, & Crime-Master thinks JJJ is Goblin.
The lowlight is one of the dumbest Marvel comics ever, Peter’s parents teaming-up w/ Wolverine.
The lowlight is one of the dumbest Marvel comics ever, Peter’s parents teaming-up w/ Wolverine.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 25, 2021
Un hommage aux récits spidey des années 60 (se placant d'ailleurs durant le silver age de spidey), avec une narration et une façon de dessiner l'action digne de la fin 90's début 00s. En bref, un petit road trip down memory lane qui devrait plaire à tout fan du tisseur et de l'ère d'argent.
Un récit ponctué d'insouscience dans la narration, où chaque issue commence et se termine, sans besoin de continuer leur histoire sur 20 issues, elles se suffisent à elle même. Mais évidemment pour garder un minimum d'intérêt, un fil rouge et une continuité dans l'évolution des personnages et la récurrence de certains ennemis / persos, font de ce récit une très bonne aventure à suivre.
Un récit ponctué d'insouscience dans la narration, où chaque issue commence et se termine, sans besoin de continuer leur histoire sur 20 issues, elles se suffisent à elle même. Mais évidemment pour garder un minimum d'intérêt, un fil rouge et une continuité dans l'évolution des personnages et la récurrence de certains ennemis / persos, font de ce récit une très bonne aventure à suivre.
March 4, 2023
Son unos números muy chulos tanto para tener un primer contacto con el personaje, como para seguir profundizando en él. Se nota un montón que toma como base la época primigenia del personaje, y que partiendo del legado de Lee y Ditko, se dan el placer de juguetear con el imaginario del personaje para crear un tomo muy digno. El dibujo me parece espectacular y el guión me parece que representa muy bien lo que es Peter Parker en esa época de adolescente. Sabe expresar su crecimiento personal, su empatía, su valentía o heroísmo, sin olvidarse de reflejar algunos de sus defectos como su temperamento.
Recomendadísimo.
Recomendadísimo.
August 3, 2022
Me gustó mucho. Está hecho para ser leído entre medio de los primeros issues de Amazing Spider-Man, y así fue como lo leí yo, por lo que pude entender y apreciar más la historia.
Te dan más info de personajes secundarios, cuentan boludeces como por ej como Peter dejó los lentes y cosas así, pero las historias las sentí súper dinámicas y entretenidas, dibujadas con un estilo similar a las de los 60, por lo que el cambio no se siente tan brusco.
Además nos dieron algunos momentos spideytorch, algo que siempre aprecio.
Te dan más info de personajes secundarios, cuentan boludeces como por ej como Peter dejó los lentes y cosas así, pero las historias las sentí súper dinámicas y entretenidas, dibujadas con un estilo similar a las de los 60, por lo que el cambio no se siente tan brusco.
Además nos dieron algunos momentos spideytorch, algo que siempre aprecio.
October 12, 2025
I find it very funny that there is two panels where its this kid holding up peters gym bag saying "I swiped his street clothes, his gym uniform. his whole darned gym bag!" "he hasn't got a stitch to wear isn't it great?!" and then you flip to the next page and it's a different kid saying "oog! I dunno I've had dreams like that" and he's like crouching down and the guy next to him looks disgusted. 😭😭
August 20, 2022
It was really fun to read these side-by side with the Original Amazing Spider-man issues (7-23), it really flowed together almost seamlessly and added an amount of depth to the characters and relationships that I really appreciated.
September 5, 2022
Marvel did a good job of collecting all Untold Tales-related issues into one book.
The writing and art are solid throughout. The stories are well-made in that you can truly believe they took place in between original Lee-Ditko issues.
The writing and art are solid throughout. The stories are well-made in that you can truly believe they took place in between original Lee-Ditko issues.
September 1, 2017
My favorite Spider-book from my youth holds up surprisingly well. It's good to know it wasn't just some nostalgia-tinged memory.
June 14, 2021
Read the audible version and it was a fun read. Lots of side stories of the favorite web-head.
December 21, 2022
Meat and potatoes superhero stuff that sometimes leans a little heavily into cliché, but goddamn it I like those clichés!
March 16, 2023
really great collection of Spidey stories. tons of cool villains and other characters
November 22, 2021
Super fun.
September 1, 2012
You almost need spider-strength to lift this book, but it's worth the effort. I've now bought some of these stories 3 times: as the original monthly issues, then as the TPB, and now as the hardback omnibus. My only quibble is that they didn't take this opportunity to fix the (few) lettering mistakes but never mind.
This is basically a retcon rather than a reboot, but it adds to the original stories rather than undoing them. Nowadays, the "all ages" stories tend to be drawn in a simplified stylised way, but I quite like the old fashioned look to these stories.
When I read the original issues, the letters page gave a brief overview of how they fitted into the original timeline. This omnibus doesn't have that, but there are 4 pages at the very end with a summary, so it's worth flicking to that as you go along if you want to keep track.
This is basically a retcon rather than a reboot, but it adds to the original stories rather than undoing them. Nowadays, the "all ages" stories tend to be drawn in a simplified stylised way, but I quite like the old fashioned look to these stories.
When I read the original issues, the letters page gave a brief overview of how they fitted into the original timeline. This omnibus doesn't have that, but there are 4 pages at the very end with a summary, so it's worth flicking to that as you go along if you want to keep track.
November 19, 2014
I usually don't like retroactive continuity. Usually the writers take short-cuts and are lazy about the research. Not so with Kurt Busiek and Untold Tales of Spider-Man. Busiek has done as fine a job at inserting new material into the classic Spider-Man stories by Ditko and Lee as could possibly be achieved. This is the mark of true craftsman at work.
April 2, 2015
This is really, really good.
Parts of it simply don't pay off. And probably large parts of it don't make sense if you really want to merge the continuities.
But this is how you tell a "no-frills" Spider-Man story, both at an issue and arc level.
Interesting thought: Maybe Peter Parker is actually unlikeable most of the time.
Parts of it simply don't pay off. And probably large parts of it don't make sense if you really want to merge the continuities.
But this is how you tell a "no-frills" Spider-Man story, both at an issue and arc level.
Interesting thought: Maybe Peter Parker is actually unlikeable most of the time.
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