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Albion
King of Crooks
From the comics vault comes a classic tale of terror and intrigue introducing a villain equipped with an amazingly versatile exoskeleton and a brain to match — the British comics character, The Spider!
His greatest ambition is to become the ‘King of Crime’. To achieve this goal, he organises a gang of criminals including such specialists as ‘Professor’ Pelham, a brilliant crooked scientist, and Roy Ordini, ace safecracker, and embarks on his felonious spree!
Reprinted in hardback for the first time in forty years this collection brings together the earliest adventures of devious arch-criminal and twisted mastermind, the “King of Crooks”. Originally created by writer/artists Ted Cowan and Reg Bunn for British comic Lion, he was the ultimate anti-hero. In a time saturated by square-jawed and multi-colour superheroes, the British Spider character was in it for himself. These are extremely rare, long out of print stories not seen since the 1960s, and the collection also contains an introduction by IPC's Andrew Sumner, a story checklist, an article chronicling the history of the character, and a new cover by acclaimed artist Garry Leach.
An amazing trip through the Silver Age of British comics, a piece of history every person interested in comics should own!
His greatest ambition is to become the ‘King of Crime’. To achieve this goal, he organises a gang of criminals including such specialists as ‘Professor’ Pelham, a brilliant crooked scientist, and Roy Ordini, ace safecracker, and embarks on his felonious spree!
Reprinted in hardback for the first time in forty years this collection brings together the earliest adventures of devious arch-criminal and twisted mastermind, the “King of Crooks”. Originally created by writer/artists Ted Cowan and Reg Bunn for British comic Lion, he was the ultimate anti-hero. In a time saturated by square-jawed and multi-colour superheroes, the British Spider character was in it for himself. These are extremely rare, long out of print stories not seen since the 1960s, and the collection also contains an introduction by IPC's Andrew Sumner, a story checklist, an article chronicling the history of the character, and a new cover by acclaimed artist Garry Leach.
An amazing trip through the Silver Age of British comics, a piece of history every person interested in comics should own!
112 pages, Hardcover
First published November 1, 2005
31 people want to read
About the author
Jerry Siegel
623 books82 followersJerome "Jerry" Siegel, who also used pseudonyms including Joe Carter, Jerry Ess, and Herbert S. Fine, was the American co-creator of Superman (along with Joe Shuster), the first of the great comic book superheroes and one of the most recognizable icons of the 20th century.
He and Shuster were inducted into the comic book industry's Will Eisner Comic Book Hall of Fame in 1992 and the Jack Kirby Hall of Fame in 1993.
He and Shuster were inducted into the comic book industry's Will Eisner Comic Book Hall of Fame in 1992 and the Jack Kirby Hall of Fame in 1993.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
April 21, 2025
Interesting character. The artwork is gorgeous.
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March 23, 2025This volume contains the first three stories featuring The Spider, no other name ever revealed. The Spider is a criminal mastermind who seeks to become the ruler of crime, at least in New York. Although it does say he wants to become the King of Crime it is never said if that is on a national basis or something lesser. The feature ran in the British comic Lion from June of 1965 to April of 1969. At that point Lion incorporated the Comic Eagle and The Spider was not carried over, although reprints of some of the earliest stories would appear a few years later. Lion was a weekly comic so The Spider was only one of several features appearing in the title. The stories were serialised and usually ran about 2 pages each week, at least at this point in time. The credits for this feature are also interesting. The first two stories were written by Ted Cowan, who was a longtime writer of British comics. However with the third story Jerry Siegel took over and would write it for most of its subsequent run. The last two stories appear the only two he didn't write. He also wrote the first adventure that appeared in the Stupendous series of the Fleetway Super Library. I have also read that he created the character as well but I have also read that Cowan was the creator. Methinks the truth is somewhere in the middle. The artist for these stories, and most if not all of The Spider's run in Lion, was Reg Bunn, well-known British comics artist.
This volume contains the first three Spider serials from Lion. In the first he is starting to set up his Army of Crime. His first two recruits are Rey Ordini, an expert safecracker, and Prof. Phelham, a criminal scientist who is second only to The Spider himself. His opposition in this story consists of two detectives who have been assigned to capture him, Bob Gilmore and Pete Trask. This story could not have appeared in an American comic as there are times that The Spider is successful in his criminal endeavours, and such is not allowed by the Comics Code. Ah well, America's loss is Britain's gain.
The second story introduces the first supervillain, for want of a better term, to oppose The Spider. This one was known as The Mirror Man and his schtick was using equipment that could project extremely realistic images where he wanted them. He uses them to steal a gold bullion shipment that was also being targeted by The Spider. As well, the two detectives from the previous story make appearances here. Interestingly, at one point the two have fallen into a death trap of The Mirror Man's but are rescued by The Spider. He comments he is no friend of the police but he isn't prepared to let them die either. He also remarks to himself the his opponent is quite willing to kill and thus there is another reason to eliminate him. When I first started reading Lion it was the last few installments of this story that served as my introduction to The Spider. It quickly became one of my favourite features in Lion, and I was sad to see it disappear when Lion and Eagle merged.
The third and final story introduced another villain. This one was another criminal scientist by the name of Dr. Mysterioso. As well, our two detective friends have now been permanently assigned the job of capturing The Spider. Also, at some point between the conclusion of the previous story and the beginning of this one The Spider has added some more criminals to his army. This is also the first story written by Jerry Siegel. Dr. Mysterioso was an intriguing villain. He was a scientific genius comparable to The Spider. However when one of The Spider's henchmen suggests the two team up he is lucky to escape The Spider's wrath with his life. That beings up one interesting aspect of our main character (hard to say hero in this case). Although he can kill and will if necessary it seems, though we never see him do so, he doesn't kill if it is not necessary. In one instance he comments the gas he is using can kill, but since he saw no reason to do so he used it at a lower setting which will merely put its victims to sleep. He also generally arranges for his adversaries to be caught by the police, rather than killing them. He threatens death at times, but we never see him carry out those threats. An interesting facet of the character and one that might be of importance later in the series.
There is one other story in this book. It is from the 1969 Lion Annual and is thus quite short. It pits The Spider against someone who calls himself The Red Baron, who has a rather incredible Airship. Even The Spider is impressed. No appearance by Snoopy in the story however. There has been a slight change in the feature by this time. Art was done by Reg Bunn but I have no idea who wrote it. There is also a text introduction. This includes a listing, with credits where known, of all the appearances of The Spider.
This book was published by Titan Books and is now out of print. However, Rebellion, who now owns the copyright on the material, has published three volumes, so far, of The Spider. Since they are publishing the stories in order I presume the intent is to publish everything. If I have read things correctly the first volume in the series actually includes the first four stories, but likely does not contain the story from the annual. If you are intrigued by the feature those books might be of interest. Happy reading.
This volume contains the first three Spider serials from Lion. In the first he is starting to set up his Army of Crime. His first two recruits are Rey Ordini, an expert safecracker, and Prof. Phelham, a criminal scientist who is second only to The Spider himself. His opposition in this story consists of two detectives who have been assigned to capture him, Bob Gilmore and Pete Trask. This story could not have appeared in an American comic as there are times that The Spider is successful in his criminal endeavours, and such is not allowed by the Comics Code. Ah well, America's loss is Britain's gain.
The second story introduces the first supervillain, for want of a better term, to oppose The Spider. This one was known as The Mirror Man and his schtick was using equipment that could project extremely realistic images where he wanted them. He uses them to steal a gold bullion shipment that was also being targeted by The Spider. As well, the two detectives from the previous story make appearances here. Interestingly, at one point the two have fallen into a death trap of The Mirror Man's but are rescued by The Spider. He comments he is no friend of the police but he isn't prepared to let them die either. He also remarks to himself the his opponent is quite willing to kill and thus there is another reason to eliminate him. When I first started reading Lion it was the last few installments of this story that served as my introduction to The Spider. It quickly became one of my favourite features in Lion, and I was sad to see it disappear when Lion and Eagle merged.
The third and final story introduced another villain. This one was another criminal scientist by the name of Dr. Mysterioso. As well, our two detective friends have now been permanently assigned the job of capturing The Spider. Also, at some point between the conclusion of the previous story and the beginning of this one The Spider has added some more criminals to his army. This is also the first story written by Jerry Siegel. Dr. Mysterioso was an intriguing villain. He was a scientific genius comparable to The Spider. However when one of The Spider's henchmen suggests the two team up he is lucky to escape The Spider's wrath with his life. That beings up one interesting aspect of our main character (hard to say hero in this case). Although he can kill and will if necessary it seems, though we never see him do so, he doesn't kill if it is not necessary. In one instance he comments the gas he is using can kill, but since he saw no reason to do so he used it at a lower setting which will merely put its victims to sleep. He also generally arranges for his adversaries to be caught by the police, rather than killing them. He threatens death at times, but we never see him carry out those threats. An interesting facet of the character and one that might be of importance later in the series.
There is one other story in this book. It is from the 1969 Lion Annual and is thus quite short. It pits The Spider against someone who calls himself The Red Baron, who has a rather incredible Airship. Even The Spider is impressed. No appearance by Snoopy in the story however. There has been a slight change in the feature by this time. Art was done by Reg Bunn but I have no idea who wrote it. There is also a text introduction. This includes a listing, with credits where known, of all the appearances of The Spider.
This book was published by Titan Books and is now out of print. However, Rebellion, who now owns the copyright on the material, has published three volumes, so far, of The Spider. Since they are publishing the stories in order I presume the intent is to publish everything. If I have read things correctly the first volume in the series actually includes the first four stories, but likely does not contain the story from the annual. If you are intrigued by the feature those books might be of interest. Happy reading.
March 17, 2022
I do not remember when I first bought and read this but possibly about 2016. This contains the first three stories which featured the Spider reprinted from the Lion comic from 1965 and 1966, a short story from 1968 and some biographical information about the writers and artists. It's juvenile stuff but Reg Bunn's artwork is quite nice.
July 12, 2013
A master safecracker is surrounded by the police after a job gone wrong, when a mysterious man in black offers him safety and wealth, in exchange for his absolute obedience. This is the Spider (no relation), a master criminal of great strength and cunning. He’s putting together a gang to steal a million dollars in uncut diamonds Soon, he has also recruited a criminal inventor and acquired a permanent enemy in police detectives Peter Gilmore and Bob Trask.
The adventures of the Spider started in 1965, in the pages of the British comic paper, Lion. His background was never explained, especially not his resemblance to Black Adam. Mutant? Alien? Brilliant misanthrope driven to crime by his unfortunate appearance? Never revealed. After the first storyline, the emphasis shifted from the Spider committing crimes as such, to his competition with other, lesser criminals who challenged him for supremacy. This became even more obvious when Jerry Siegel (as in Superman) took over the writing chores.
Being somewhat of a megalomaniac, the Spider lived in a castle he’d had brought over from Europe, and tended to announce his goals in public (while keeping the actual plan a secret.) He seldom killed, preferring to have his victims suffer the humiliation of defeat while still alive.
This volume collects the first three storylines. The art is serviceable, though clearly rushed in places (this was a weekly serial, after all.) The writing is also typical of the boys’ comics of the time. Some nice moments of the Spider demonstrating his wrath, though, and the Mirror Man is a memorable character.
This book is mostly of interest as a historical curiosity, unless you grew up reading the Spider in the pages of Lion.
The adventures of the Spider started in 1965, in the pages of the British comic paper, Lion. His background was never explained, especially not his resemblance to Black Adam. Mutant? Alien? Brilliant misanthrope driven to crime by his unfortunate appearance? Never revealed. After the first storyline, the emphasis shifted from the Spider committing crimes as such, to his competition with other, lesser criminals who challenged him for supremacy. This became even more obvious when Jerry Siegel (as in Superman) took over the writing chores.
Being somewhat of a megalomaniac, the Spider lived in a castle he’d had brought over from Europe, and tended to announce his goals in public (while keeping the actual plan a secret.) He seldom killed, preferring to have his victims suffer the humiliation of defeat while still alive.
This volume collects the first three storylines. The art is serviceable, though clearly rushed in places (this was a weekly serial, after all.) The writing is also typical of the boys’ comics of the time. Some nice moments of the Spider demonstrating his wrath, though, and the Mirror Man is a memorable character.
This book is mostly of interest as a historical curiosity, unless you grew up reading the Spider in the pages of Lion.
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April 17, 2016Libro del universo Albion.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews