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The Amazing Spider-Man Classic Newspaper Comics - 1979
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
June 24, 2026
This contains Spidey's newspaper adventures from 1979. Spidey takes on some thugs trying to muscle in on Flash & Harry's disco, a cult, Kraven the Hunter, the Prowler, and being broke on Christmas. Jazzy John Romita draws the fuck out of this. As much as I don't hold Stan Lee's writing in high regard, his Spider-Man dialogue is always several notches above pretty much everything else his written according to my taste.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Spider-Man is back for 1979, the newspaper comics!
In the first story arc, Spider-Man foils fiends determined to catch him and bully a local disco joint. Spider-Man escapes and ends the scheme, but Kingpin is still out to get him.
In the next story arc, the Kingpin was trying to gaslight Spider-Man again, making him think he might be committing crimes in his sleep - and helping to ensure the people (and police) of NYC thought he was criminal - but it was just an acrobat pretending to be Spider-Man. Spider-Man cleared his name.
After clearing his name, Peter Parker was dating Carole Jennings, but a charismatic madman has escaped an asylum and remade himself as a cult leader named Loomis - and Carole joins the cult. Spider-Man struggles with fighting a cult, but he manages to reveal who Loomis actually is - but even after Loomis is returned to the asylum, the cult is still in force, and they drive Carole from NYC, and Peter can't find her. I liked Carole Jennings and hated to see her go. She seemed less fickle than MJ. Apparently Carole is unique to the newspaper strips.
Next, Kraven the Hunter ws hunting for Spider-Man again, turning NYC against him, and managing to get a drop of his blood. Spider-Man defeats him by saving his life.
The final story arc featured The Prowler, which I was very much looking forward to. I first encountered the Prowler in "The Amazing Spider-Man #93" as a child, so seeing the Prowler again was wonderful! This was my favorite story arc in this volume. The Prowler wants to join with Spider-Man, then decides he needs money, then realizes that makes him a jerk, and the whole thing resolves nicely for him. Spider-Man, however, ends the volume upset that he's still broke and can't really monetize the hero business.
All in all, this volume was a lot of fun. The Prowler was the high point for me. I'm not such a big Kraven fan, but even he was okay in this volume.
In the first story arc, Spider-Man foils fiends determined to catch him and bully a local disco joint. Spider-Man escapes and ends the scheme, but Kingpin is still out to get him.
In the next story arc, the Kingpin was trying to gaslight Spider-Man again, making him think he might be committing crimes in his sleep - and helping to ensure the people (and police) of NYC thought he was criminal - but it was just an acrobat pretending to be Spider-Man. Spider-Man cleared his name.
After clearing his name, Peter Parker was dating Carole Jennings, but a charismatic madman has escaped an asylum and remade himself as a cult leader named Loomis - and Carole joins the cult. Spider-Man struggles with fighting a cult, but he manages to reveal who Loomis actually is - but even after Loomis is returned to the asylum, the cult is still in force, and they drive Carole from NYC, and Peter can't find her. I liked Carole Jennings and hated to see her go. She seemed less fickle than MJ. Apparently Carole is unique to the newspaper strips.
Next, Kraven the Hunter ws hunting for Spider-Man again, turning NYC against him, and managing to get a drop of his blood. Spider-Man defeats him by saving his life.
The final story arc featured The Prowler, which I was very much looking forward to. I first encountered the Prowler in "The Amazing Spider-Man #93" as a child, so seeing the Prowler again was wonderful! This was my favorite story arc in this volume. The Prowler wants to join with Spider-Man, then decides he needs money, then realizes that makes him a jerk, and the whole thing resolves nicely for him. Spider-Man, however, ends the volume upset that he's still broke and can't really monetize the hero business.
All in all, this volume was a lot of fun. The Prowler was the high point for me. I'm not such a big Kraven fan, but even he was okay in this volume.
Did Not Finish
July 1, 2026My husband's book, keeping it on my list for record keeping.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews