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The Amazing Spider-Man (Marvel Pocketbook) #5
The Amazing Spider-Man Vol. 5: To Crush The Kingpin
The life of shy High School student Peter Parker is changed forever after he is bitten by an irradiated spider. Blessed by the accident with extraordinary strength, amazing ability, lightning speed and a curious spider sense that warns him of danger. Peter transforms himself into New York's newest crime-fighter, the amazing Spider-Man!
In this latest collection of classic tales, Spider-Man finds himself battling to stop a mysterious stone tablet from falling into the hands of Winston Fisk, New York's self proclaimed Kingpin of Crime. However Fisk is not the only one who desires the ancient artifact. A relentless swarm of opponents, including Maggia Boss Silvermane, also wishes to possess it. But the webbed wonder must find a to stop them, for if one of his foes is able to decipher the tablet, they will learn a secret so powerful it would make them unstoppable!
Reprints/Collects:
The Amazing Spider-Man (1963) #68-77
In this latest collection of classic tales, Spider-Man finds himself battling to stop a mysterious stone tablet from falling into the hands of Winston Fisk, New York's self proclaimed Kingpin of Crime. However Fisk is not the only one who desires the ancient artifact. A relentless swarm of opponents, including Maggia Boss Silvermane, also wishes to possess it. But the webbed wonder must find a to stop them, for if one of his foes is able to decipher the tablet, they will learn a secret so powerful it would make them unstoppable!
Reprints/Collects:
The Amazing Spider-Man (1963) #68-77
217 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2005
1 person is currently reading
23 people want to read
About the author
Stan Lee
7,565 books2,338 followersStan Lee (born Stanley Martin Lieber) was an American writer, editor, creator of comic book superheroes, and the former president and chairman of Marvel Comics.
With several artist co-creators, most notably Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko, he co-created Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four, Thor as a superhero, the X-Men, Iron Man, the Hulk, Daredevil, the Silver Surfer, Dr. Strange, Ant-Man and the Wasp, Scarlet Witch, The Inhumans, and many other characters, introducing complex, naturalistic characters and a thoroughly shared universe into superhero comic books. He subsequently led the expansion of Marvel Comics from a small division of a publishing house to a large multimedia corporation.
With several artist co-creators, most notably Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko, he co-created Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four, Thor as a superhero, the X-Men, Iron Man, the Hulk, Daredevil, the Silver Surfer, Dr. Strange, Ant-Man and the Wasp, Scarlet Witch, The Inhumans, and many other characters, introducing complex, naturalistic characters and a thoroughly shared universe into superhero comic books. He subsequently led the expansion of Marvel Comics from a small division of a publishing house to a large multimedia corporation.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
February 1, 2021
Book 5.
Spider-Man finds himself caught up in the criminal underworld's attempts to seize a mysterious ancient stone tablet, leading him into conflict with the Kingpin, the Shocker, the Lizard and the crimelord Silvermane.
The biggest problem with this book is that, despite featuring the Shocker and the Lizard, it largely focuses on Spider-Man battling the much more mundane villains of organised crime. What this means is that this book is actually a bit boring a lot of the time, lacking even the personal drama of Peter's private life which very much takes a backseat here.
On top of being a bit tedious, another problem relating to the villains of this story is that it repeatedly refers to them as 'the Maggia'. Was Marvel afraid of infringing the Mafia's copyright or something? It's weird and jarring every time.
The final villain-based problem is Lee's attempt to introduce a new face to Spidey's brilliant rogues gallery in the form of Man-Mountain Marko. Everything about the character is as terrible as that name and its no wonder that the villain didn't catch on.
Added to all of these problems is the fact that Lee once again engages in the annoying trope of having Spider-Man fight another hero for no good reason. In fact, to be entirely accurate, he does it twice again. Here both Quicksilver and the Human Torch pop up to battle Spidey for a bit for no reason at all.
There is one significant redeeming feature to the book as a whole and it's in the form of a surprising subplot.
Throughout the book Robbie Robertson of the Daily Bugle and his son face the struggles of being black men in 1960s America. They have frank and insightful discussions about whether Robbie's success within the establishment is kowtowing to white supremacy or whether Randy's more militant student protests are a better way of influencing racial emancipation.
I was very impressed by how sensitively Lee, a white guy, handles this subject. It was a brave subject to tackle in a superhero comic amid the civil rights movement and remains depressingly relevant today.
* More reviews here: https://fsfh-book-review2.webnode.com *
Spider-Man finds himself caught up in the criminal underworld's attempts to seize a mysterious ancient stone tablet, leading him into conflict with the Kingpin, the Shocker, the Lizard and the crimelord Silvermane.
The biggest problem with this book is that, despite featuring the Shocker and the Lizard, it largely focuses on Spider-Man battling the much more mundane villains of organised crime. What this means is that this book is actually a bit boring a lot of the time, lacking even the personal drama of Peter's private life which very much takes a backseat here.
On top of being a bit tedious, another problem relating to the villains of this story is that it repeatedly refers to them as 'the Maggia'. Was Marvel afraid of infringing the Mafia's copyright or something? It's weird and jarring every time.
The final villain-based problem is Lee's attempt to introduce a new face to Spidey's brilliant rogues gallery in the form of Man-Mountain Marko. Everything about the character is as terrible as that name and its no wonder that the villain didn't catch on.
Added to all of these problems is the fact that Lee once again engages in the annoying trope of having Spider-Man fight another hero for no good reason. In fact, to be entirely accurate, he does it twice again. Here both Quicksilver and the Human Torch pop up to battle Spidey for a bit for no reason at all.
There is one significant redeeming feature to the book as a whole and it's in the form of a surprising subplot.
Throughout the book Robbie Robertson of the Daily Bugle and his son face the struggles of being black men in 1960s America. They have frank and insightful discussions about whether Robbie's success within the establishment is kowtowing to white supremacy or whether Randy's more militant student protests are a better way of influencing racial emancipation.
I was very impressed by how sensitively Lee, a white guy, handles this subject. It was a brave subject to tackle in a superhero comic amid the civil rights movement and remains depressingly relevant today.
* More reviews here: https://fsfh-book-review2.webnode.com *
Displaying 1 of 1 review