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Marvel's Spider-Man: From Amazing to Spectacular: The Definitive Comic Art Collection
Explore over fifty years of Spider-Man with this deluxe art book, featuring exclusive interviews and content from the incredibly talented people who brought this amazing hero to life.
Since he first appeared in the pages of Amazing Fantasy #15 in 1962, Marvel’s number one web-slinger has been swinging into the hearts of super hero fans everywhere. Originally portrayed as the chronic underdog, Spider-Man has grown from amazing to spectacular to ultimate and beyond, dominating the comics sphere and consistently ranking among the most popular super heroes of all time. With the proportionate strength of a spider, a genius mind, and a fully loaded arsenal of quips, it’s no wonder why Spider-Man is the best arachnid around.
Marvel’s From Amazing to Spectacular celebrates the incredibly rich and expansive history of this iconic character in a brand new and unparalleled way—showcasing the jaw-dropping art of the Spider-Man comics and diving deep into the remarkable stories that have shaped Spider-Man into the super hero he is today. Featuring the best of Spider-Man comic art and exclusive interviews from leading Spider-Man creators like Brian Michael Bendis, Gerry Conway, Tom DeFalco, J.M. Dematteis, David Michelinie, Mark Millar, Alex Ross, Dan Slott, J. Michael Straczynski, Roger Stern, and many more, this spectacular compendium truly captures the great power and great responsibility of developing one of the most monumental heroes in comics history.
Since he first appeared in the pages of Amazing Fantasy #15 in 1962, Marvel’s number one web-slinger has been swinging into the hearts of super hero fans everywhere. Originally portrayed as the chronic underdog, Spider-Man has grown from amazing to spectacular to ultimate and beyond, dominating the comics sphere and consistently ranking among the most popular super heroes of all time. With the proportionate strength of a spider, a genius mind, and a fully loaded arsenal of quips, it’s no wonder why Spider-Man is the best arachnid around.
Marvel’s From Amazing to Spectacular celebrates the incredibly rich and expansive history of this iconic character in a brand new and unparalleled way—showcasing the jaw-dropping art of the Spider-Man comics and diving deep into the remarkable stories that have shaped Spider-Man into the super hero he is today. Featuring the best of Spider-Man comic art and exclusive interviews from leading Spider-Man creators like Brian Michael Bendis, Gerry Conway, Tom DeFalco, J.M. Dematteis, David Michelinie, Mark Millar, Alex Ross, Dan Slott, J. Michael Straczynski, Roger Stern, and many more, this spectacular compendium truly captures the great power and great responsibility of developing one of the most monumental heroes in comics history.
184 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
April 24, 2024
"[Co-creator] Stan Lee affectionately referred to his Marvel readers as 'True Believers.' It's a corny name, but a fitting one [.] You don't read Spider-Man comics just for entertainment. You read to believe - to believe in the idea of a hero who is selfless and empathetic and never gives up, simply because it's the right thing to do. His constant wisecracks shouldn't fool anyone - Spider-Man is the most sincere comic book character. He is the most devout True Believer of all." -- on page 183
Though it may be subtitled The Definitive Comic Art Collection - and it is definitely a joy to simply page through nearly sixty years (1962-2019) worth of illustrations from a number of fine artists (including Steve Ditko, John Romita, Todd McFarlane, and Mark Bagley) who each worked their particular magic on our friendly neighborhood wall-crawler - Marvel also wisely chose film critic / TV host Matt Singer to write the accompanying text on the publishing history and background of said company's flagship character. Singer - who authored one of my favorite books of 2023, the excellent Opposable Thumbs: How Siskel & Ebert Changed Movies Forever - appears to be a knowledgeable fan of the arachnid-influenced superhero while his abundant amount of research is also evident. He did a damn fine job keeping it detailed enough for the legions of enthusiasts yet also still accessible for more of a mainstream audience. For once a descriptive title gets it right - this WAS spectacular.
Though it may be subtitled The Definitive Comic Art Collection - and it is definitely a joy to simply page through nearly sixty years (1962-2019) worth of illustrations from a number of fine artists (including Steve Ditko, John Romita, Todd McFarlane, and Mark Bagley) who each worked their particular magic on our friendly neighborhood wall-crawler - Marvel also wisely chose film critic / TV host Matt Singer to write the accompanying text on the publishing history and background of said company's flagship character. Singer - who authored one of my favorite books of 2023, the excellent Opposable Thumbs: How Siskel & Ebert Changed Movies Forever - appears to be a knowledgeable fan of the arachnid-influenced superhero while his abundant amount of research is also evident. He did a damn fine job keeping it detailed enough for the legions of enthusiasts yet also still accessible for more of a mainstream audience. For once a descriptive title gets it right - this WAS spectacular.
January 29, 2022
"The Super-Hero who could be... you!"
These words in a panel from Amazing Spider-Man #9 - the OG Lee/Ditko era - end this ebullient and (to put it mildly) impressive collection of comic art going over nearly 60 years of Spider-ness along with some wonderful and earnest writing from film and culture critic Matt Singer, and it sums up a major part of the appeal (maybe the crucial one) with Peter Parker, Spider-Man and the dozens of incarnations of the character: he isn't defined by this spider-bite but rather by how ordinary he is (at least usually depending on who's writing him). He's not meant to be a messianic figure or someone who has to pretend to be a normal guy - he is raised by a single parent-nay-aunt and barely has enough money to pay the rent most days. He's been dejected and run down at times and at others he's both lucky in love and unlucky out of love.
What this book manages to make so clear and succinctly in equally exhaustive and yet easily digestible detail (that may sound like a contradiction but such is Marvel in a nutshell) is how for all of the myriad of characters with their own messed up backstories and very significant problems and powers and their own quiet (or not) tragedies, Parker is someone who sees good in others and takes the responsibility he has seriously. Of course things do get in the way, whether it's deep dark tragedy (oh no not Gwen again) or Uncle Ben (again! ok they dont actually keep killing him too much in New iterations) or his clones or Venom. But I liked a lot how Singer makes special time and space for those issues the comics creators took damn seriously where Parker connects and helps regular people, like that one guy Kenneth, or how he just messes up like so many of us do. What does he do to pick things up from there?
Of course one might argue that Singer could be soft or gloss over some of the more questionable gaffs in Spider-man's storied history, but I think what makes it not be a problem is the other key point that spider-man comics with the character go on like a pendulum: it may go into the parts of the lore we are comfortable and familiar with and then the pendulum swings to stuff that is kind of... out there (ie that Doc Ock/Peter brain-swap for Superior Spiderman... goodness gracious), or trying intentionally to shake things up (again the Clones or 2099).
Also, Singer manages to make clear through the interviews with the subjects that art sometimes has to go into the process of things that don't entirely work, and even one interviewee makes the point (I'm paraphrasing here) that comic fans may say they want new and different things, but they don't, they want what they saw as kids. And I think Singer does a superb job of making clear the ideas and concepts that weren't great in the context of this larger story where in a way it's ok if something didn't work out (a brief mention of a Peter Parker comic of Ben to a child Peter to the NY Mets game and losing and it makes the winning "sweeter" seems like the perfect metaphor).
And ultimately while the historical writing is brilliant and clear, the art is what counts and it's all gorgeously rendered in a book that is about coffee-table sized and is sure to give many comics fans, even if you're just a casual spiderman reader a real thrill (and im more versed in the Ultimate series than anything else). It manages to pack in so many iconic moments that even the most casual people like those who've picked up like 3 single issues in their lives Will know what it is, but lots of little obscurer finds as well. You see how styles evolve and change and wax and wane, how the 90s were a uh... "radical" Sick time dude, and how in the 21st century we're now in this era where just when it seems like ideas are burned out that by embracing *everything* than everything is possible. It's essential comic context.
These words in a panel from Amazing Spider-Man #9 - the OG Lee/Ditko era - end this ebullient and (to put it mildly) impressive collection of comic art going over nearly 60 years of Spider-ness along with some wonderful and earnest writing from film and culture critic Matt Singer, and it sums up a major part of the appeal (maybe the crucial one) with Peter Parker, Spider-Man and the dozens of incarnations of the character: he isn't defined by this spider-bite but rather by how ordinary he is (at least usually depending on who's writing him). He's not meant to be a messianic figure or someone who has to pretend to be a normal guy - he is raised by a single parent-nay-aunt and barely has enough money to pay the rent most days. He's been dejected and run down at times and at others he's both lucky in love and unlucky out of love.
What this book manages to make so clear and succinctly in equally exhaustive and yet easily digestible detail (that may sound like a contradiction but such is Marvel in a nutshell) is how for all of the myriad of characters with their own messed up backstories and very significant problems and powers and their own quiet (or not) tragedies, Parker is someone who sees good in others and takes the responsibility he has seriously. Of course things do get in the way, whether it's deep dark tragedy (oh no not Gwen again) or Uncle Ben (again! ok they dont actually keep killing him too much in New iterations) or his clones or Venom. But I liked a lot how Singer makes special time and space for those issues the comics creators took damn seriously where Parker connects and helps regular people, like that one guy Kenneth, or how he just messes up like so many of us do. What does he do to pick things up from there?
Of course one might argue that Singer could be soft or gloss over some of the more questionable gaffs in Spider-man's storied history, but I think what makes it not be a problem is the other key point that spider-man comics with the character go on like a pendulum: it may go into the parts of the lore we are comfortable and familiar with and then the pendulum swings to stuff that is kind of... out there (ie that Doc Ock/Peter brain-swap for Superior Spiderman... goodness gracious), or trying intentionally to shake things up (again the Clones or 2099).
Also, Singer manages to make clear through the interviews with the subjects that art sometimes has to go into the process of things that don't entirely work, and even one interviewee makes the point (I'm paraphrasing here) that comic fans may say they want new and different things, but they don't, they want what they saw as kids. And I think Singer does a superb job of making clear the ideas and concepts that weren't great in the context of this larger story where in a way it's ok if something didn't work out (a brief mention of a Peter Parker comic of Ben to a child Peter to the NY Mets game and losing and it makes the winning "sweeter" seems like the perfect metaphor).
And ultimately while the historical writing is brilliant and clear, the art is what counts and it's all gorgeously rendered in a book that is about coffee-table sized and is sure to give many comics fans, even if you're just a casual spiderman reader a real thrill (and im more versed in the Ultimate series than anything else). It manages to pack in so many iconic moments that even the most casual people like those who've picked up like 3 single issues in their lives Will know what it is, but lots of little obscurer finds as well. You see how styles evolve and change and wax and wane, how the 90s were a uh... "radical" Sick time dude, and how in the 21st century we're now in this era where just when it seems like ideas are burned out that by embracing *everything* than everything is possible. It's essential comic context.
May 24, 2023
This book is a must read for any Spider-Man fans out there, it provides a nice overview of his now 60 year career, and it's oversized coffee table book nature lets you marvel (pun intended) at the fantastic artists work that have drawn your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man over the years.
July 4, 2022
An awesome book for any fan of the webslinger. Spidey has always been my favorite Marvel character, and this is a beautiful collection of art from throughout the years. Highly recommended.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews