Amazing Spider-Man Epic Collection, Vol. 12: Spider-Man: Threat or Menace?

Amazing Spider-Man Epic Collection

by Dennis O'Neill

Big name creators take on the world of Spider-Man, including the wall-crawler debut of Spidey awrtist legend John Romita Jr.!

In this Epic Collection, Dennis O’Neil and John Romita Jr. make their Amazing Spider-Man debuts and bring with them the first appearance of Madame Web! New York City has always been a defining element in Spider-Man’s world, and, like many a New Yorker, the city’s going to drive him crazy—if it doesn’t kill him first. From an New York Marathon assassination plot to Peter Parker’s paper-thin apartment walls; from a merged Hydro-Man/Sandman to running into your ex-girlfriend’s new beau Biff Rifkin, the City That Never Sleeps just won’t give Spidey a break. And the knocks keep coming when Peter Parker is accused of causing a prison break. Also featuring the Aunt May solo “adventure” you demanded and two iconic Dennis O’Neil/Frank Miller Annuals co-starring Doctor Strange and the Punisher!

COLLECTING: AMAZING SPIDER-MAN (1963) #207-223 & ANNUAL (1964) #14-15

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Spider Man

480 pages, Paperback

Published January 6, 2026

Reviews

[Gavin Dawson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I should point out that there were enjoyable moments in this epic but it is an inconsistent and slightly frustrating read. The quality varied for me between 3 stars one issue, then more often than not 3 and a half stars, sometimes for several issues at a time (I liked the Hydroman/Sandman issues for example) with the annuals raising its game to 4 stars. Denny O’Neil, a fantastic writer elsewhere, never really gets a decent handle on Peter Parker or Spider-Man really, (as I’m sure it’s been said before, maybe even by himself), although it’s a pleasant if uneventful read nonetheless. Nothing amazing (ironically) really happens in the monthly issues, it’s all just okay, middle of the road plots and scripts. The very minor subplot (if you can call it that) of the country and western singer next door is grating or dull at best. The Debra Whitman love interest has always made Peter seem like an arse as well and I never understood what the point of it really was. However, art wise Romita’s style and sense of composition are developing well here, early in his career, and with an inker like Sinnott for one lone issue, it looks great. (I seem to recall he did return later on in the next volume). The trouble is other inkers like Mooney or Milgrom who cover far more of these issues don’t seem to do him justice, and it looks fairly ordinary and generic somehow. The fill in issues are fairly dreadful overall and feel like rejected Spider-Man cartoon scripts. The highlights of course are the two Frank Miller annuals, bookending the start and end of the volume. They both look glorious and elevate the stories, although I’d be curious to see those stories competed by a lesser artist, just to see what they would look like.
Overall then there may be worse Spider-Man stories around but there are certainly far better ones too. This one may be more for completists like myself.

[Jamie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good Spider-Man book, but not exactly amazing and far from one of the strongest of the Epic Collections.
This book has some good issues, including the first appearances of Madame Web and Hydroman, as well as other returning villains such as Sandman, Kraven, Doctor Octopus and Doctor Doom.
There are also guest appearances from other popular characters such as Doctor Strange, Sub-Mariner and Moon Knight! I really liked the variety in issues and all the different characters we got to see.
The artwork is pretty solid throughout the book with classic drawings/colours and features the debut of John Romita Jr as a Spidey penciller!
I did find it a little annoying when Peter was constantly trying to date and then would ultimately turn down his latest love interest, Debbie Whitman. Her constant complaining was just a bit jarring.
The team-up story of Hydro-Man and Sandman was pretty good, and once they physically combine into the Mud-Thing, the story turns into a Spider-Man version of King Kong.
The following 3 issues with Moon Knight, Ramrod and Speed Demon are not particularly interesting, but not too bad.
However, the story of the Red Ghost and his Apes slightly brought things back and intrigued me again. The final issue was Annual 15, with appearances from The Punisher and Doctor Octopus. Much like a lot of the last issues (not drawn by JRJR), I found some of the drawings a little crude; particularly the pencils of Spider-Man himself.
Overall, I’m glad I got this one and would recommend!

[Shawn Gallagher · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Annuals are all time great. the monthly issues are pretty bland.

[Carson · Rating 3 out of 5]

nothing too crazy