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The Amazing Spider-Man (1963-1998) #1-6
Stan Lee Presents The Amazing Spider-Man
160 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 1977
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47 people want to read
About the author
Stan Lee
7,564 books2,353 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 - 8 of 8 reviews
May 4, 2020
Je to hrozně ukecané a postavy jako Flash nebo teta May jsou v podání Stana Lee docela otravné, ale jinak je to důležitý kus komiksové historie a většina postav už dnes zkultovněla. Také spoustu Spider-manových póz od Ditka můžete vidět v komiksech do dnes.
January 10, 2016
This book is a straightforward reprinting of the earliest appearances of Marvel Comics' flagship superhero, Spider-Man. It contains his origin story from Amazing Fantasy #15 as well as the first six issues of his own title. Unlike today's "graphic novels", this was published at standard paperback size, which means that the original pages had to be considerably reduced to fit. On a positive note, at least the reproductions retain the original color, unlike some later collections.
Anyone who's likely to be reading this material is pretty certain to have an idea of what to expect -- early appearances of any popular character typically vary a bit from where the character ends up, as the creators test various ideas to see what does or doesn't work. In this case we see that Peter Parker (Spider-Man) is much more money oriented than he would later become, and many familiar supporting characters (Gwen Stacy, Mary Jane Watson, Harry Osborne, etc.) have yet to be introduced. Most of the stories involve the entrance of a new enemy, and follow a pretty straightforward arc.
By most standards, the storytelling and artwork here seem quite crude compared to their modern counterparts. And yet, there is a joy and an energy present that I find largely lacking in the bulk of modern comics work. There is a glorious freshness that comes through despite the minuscule reproduction and carries the reader along for the ride. Despite the superficial simplicity of the adventures presented, there's an underlying perfection that's undeniable. This may be the Hero's Journey in its simplest form, but these stories also resonated with countless readers who would never have given more 'serious' literature a second glance. Thanks, Spider-Man (and Stan and Steve!),and long may you spin your webs.
Anyone who's likely to be reading this material is pretty certain to have an idea of what to expect -- early appearances of any popular character typically vary a bit from where the character ends up, as the creators test various ideas to see what does or doesn't work. In this case we see that Peter Parker (Spider-Man) is much more money oriented than he would later become, and many familiar supporting characters (Gwen Stacy, Mary Jane Watson, Harry Osborne, etc.) have yet to be introduced. Most of the stories involve the entrance of a new enemy, and follow a pretty straightforward arc.
By most standards, the storytelling and artwork here seem quite crude compared to their modern counterparts. And yet, there is a joy and an energy present that I find largely lacking in the bulk of modern comics work. There is a glorious freshness that comes through despite the minuscule reproduction and carries the reader along for the ride. Despite the superficial simplicity of the adventures presented, there's an underlying perfection that's undeniable. This may be the Hero's Journey in its simplest form, but these stories also resonated with countless readers who would never have given more 'serious' literature a second glance. Thanks, Spider-Man (and Stan and Steve!),and long may you spin your webs.
March 9, 2023
My Mom bought me this paperback at a B. Dalton or Waldenbooks in the mall way back when I was a 10-year-old comic book nut circa 1977. It was the first time I read the early Lee and Ditko Spiderman stories. I sought out and bought the next two volumes that reprinted the Spidey saga through #20.
These are faithful reprints of Amazing Fantasy #15 and the first six issues of Spidey's own title. I emphasize faithful because many reprints in the 1970s-'90s would snip out a page or two, update 1960's references, and correct typos like Doc Ock calling Spidey "Superman" (oops, but an easy mistake with all that blue and red, right?).
I have read these issues many, many times and they still hold up a whopping sixty years later! Imaginative stories boasting the first appearances of characters that are household names now, like Peter Parker, Aunt May, J. Jonah Jameson, Flash Thompson, Betty Brant, the Vulture, Dr. Octopus, the Lizard. Plus early appearances drawn in the distinctly Ditko style of the Fantastic Four and Dr. Doom. And true to many a kid's complaint about deceptive covers, Electro does not appear herein! (Electro is introduced in Spidey #9.)
My favorite story in this collection comes from Spiderman #2 and features a character who is not a household name: The Tinkerer! It's a wild story of aliens implanting devices in the repaired radios of prominent figures. Of course, the Wallcrawler foils that quixotic conquest plan. I love these early transitional stories that show Lee and Ditko still on Atlas-era momentum and incorporating elements of those sci-fi and fantasy tales they created in the years preceding this... the Marvel Age of Comics!
Yeah, I now have the Amazing Spiderman Omnibus that reprints these issues (and the complete Ditko-era run), but for nostalgia I enjoy pulling out this old, battered, cracked-spine paperback and reading these yarns in the book where I first read 'em. Of course, I have to take off my bifocals and hold the book about two inches away from my face to read the darn thing, but it's worth it. For a 1977 paperback, the lines are crisp and clear and the colors true. Some of the panels actually look better in this old paperback than in the omnibus! But what the omnibus offers are the letters pages and all those penciled pages that give an old fan insight into how Ditko created his classic run.
These six issues have a simplicity and a standalone satisfaction to them that would unfortunately start to erode as Stan adopted soap operatic subplots and melodrama (as in the next book's Betty hates Spiderman while crushing on Peter storyline). The whole run is awesome, but there is something extra-special to these first six, and something extra-special to have them in the very paperback in which I first encountered and embraced them forty-five years ago!
These are faithful reprints of Amazing Fantasy #15 and the first six issues of Spidey's own title. I emphasize faithful because many reprints in the 1970s-'90s would snip out a page or two, update 1960's references, and correct typos like Doc Ock calling Spidey "Superman" (oops, but an easy mistake with all that blue and red, right?).
I have read these issues many, many times and they still hold up a whopping sixty years later! Imaginative stories boasting the first appearances of characters that are household names now, like Peter Parker, Aunt May, J. Jonah Jameson, Flash Thompson, Betty Brant, the Vulture, Dr. Octopus, the Lizard. Plus early appearances drawn in the distinctly Ditko style of the Fantastic Four and Dr. Doom. And true to many a kid's complaint about deceptive covers, Electro does not appear herein! (Electro is introduced in Spidey #9.)
My favorite story in this collection comes from Spiderman #2 and features a character who is not a household name: The Tinkerer! It's a wild story of aliens implanting devices in the repaired radios of prominent figures. Of course, the Wallcrawler foils that quixotic conquest plan. I love these early transitional stories that show Lee and Ditko still on Atlas-era momentum and incorporating elements of those sci-fi and fantasy tales they created in the years preceding this... the Marvel Age of Comics!
Yeah, I now have the Amazing Spiderman Omnibus that reprints these issues (and the complete Ditko-era run), but for nostalgia I enjoy pulling out this old, battered, cracked-spine paperback and reading these yarns in the book where I first read 'em. Of course, I have to take off my bifocals and hold the book about two inches away from my face to read the darn thing, but it's worth it. For a 1977 paperback, the lines are crisp and clear and the colors true. Some of the panels actually look better in this old paperback than in the omnibus! But what the omnibus offers are the letters pages and all those penciled pages that give an old fan insight into how Ditko created his classic run.
These six issues have a simplicity and a standalone satisfaction to them that would unfortunately start to erode as Stan adopted soap operatic subplots and melodrama (as in the next book's Betty hates Spiderman while crushing on Peter storyline). The whole run is awesome, but there is something extra-special to these first six, and something extra-special to have them in the very paperback in which I first encountered and embraced them forty-five years ago!
June 1, 2021
An entertaining collection of early Spider-Man stories. Ditko's art is great, and its really enjoyable seeing iconic panels in their original context. While some of the dialogue is noticeably dated, Stan Lee's stories are still good. I found that the early instances of the "Parker Luck" (things not going well for the titular hero) really added something to these stories, as, even though the dialogue and logic of the stories didn't always make sense, the stories downbeat endings added a sense of realism and consequence that was missing from even the best early issues of Lee's other comic, The Fantastic Four. Also, I've criticised the dialogue, but it still does a great job of establishing the early characterisations for Spider-Man's cast of characters.
April 5, 2024
Classic Spider-Man comics really defined my belief system in an much larger way than I ever gave it credit for.
These first few issues are a lot of fun, seeing them flesh out the world of Spider-Man, and whilst the writing is hammy to the extreme, there are still some really unique elements on display.
Electro is NOT in this collection as he doesn't show up until issue #9, so weird cover choice.
These first few issues are a lot of fun, seeing them flesh out the world of Spider-Man, and whilst the writing is hammy to the extreme, there are still some really unique elements on display.
Electro is NOT in this collection as he doesn't show up until issue #9, so weird cover choice.
January 7, 2020
Fantastic collection of the classic Stan Lee & Steve Ditko stories!
January 15, 2024
I had these books as a kid, and I am loving them again, although now I find the print pretty small. Spidey rules!
December 13, 2025
A handy little paperback containing Spider-man's first six issues by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko! The format does shrink the panels down quite a bit, making this a more difficult read than it should be.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews