The complete Frank Miller Spider-Man

The Amazing Spider-Man (1963-1998) #Annual #14-15

by Frank Miller

Presenting visionary writer/artist Frank Miller's unique take on the world-famous wall-crawler -- including appearances by the Punisher, Dr. Octopus, Dr. Doom and the Fantastic Four.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Marvel, Bande Dessinée, Comic Book, Spider Man, Superheroes

192 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1994

About the author

Frank Miller is an American writer, artist and film director best known for his film noir-style comic book stories. He is one of the most widely-recognized and popular creators in comics, and is one of the most influential comics creators of his generation. His most notable works include Sin City, The Dark Knight Returns, Batman Year One and 300.

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Reviews

[Patrick · Rating 2 out of 5]

I picked this up on a whim, as I'm a fan of Frank Miller's work, and I enjoy Spider-Man as much as the next guy.

I'd assumed it was a run of Spider-Man Miller had *written* but it wasn't. It's just all the spider man stuff Miller worked on back in the day. Some comics he did art for, some he did pencils, some he co-wrote...

Because of this, there's no storyline, just a bunch of random comics. What's more all the comics are from the early 80's which means the storytelling is pretty clunky and cumbersome, with lots of people thinking things like, "She's using her invisible force shield!"

So, yeah. This is more a historical curiosity than any sort of cohesive collection. I'd probably be irritated if I hadn't bought it half-price.

[Chad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Collects the few Spider-Man comics that Frank Miller worked on from the early 1980's. Most of them Miller drew. A few he co-plotted as well and one he wrote for Herb Trimpe to draw. My favorite was the one with Dr. Doom and Dr. Strange. It's not really a team-up as Spider-Man eventually just shows up and saves the day before a magician can kill Dr. Strange. Marvel Team-Up #100 was really good too. Spidey teams up with the Fantastic Four to fight Karma and her twin brother in Karma's first appearance.

[Al Burke · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great collection of webslinger tales. The stories are relatively old, and the artwork and overall vibe reflect it, which is cool, and the stories are a lot of fun. The stories prey on his weaknesses a lot. For example, Spidey is struck blind and has to be rescued by Daredevil, and he seems to fall foul of mind control a lot. Also, there aee appearances by Spidey regulars, as well as some less well known characters such as Moon Knight and the Purple Man. Thoroughly recommened.

[Justin Partridge · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Sheesh! How do I get myself into messes like this!”

What a very interesting, very revealing little volume of Spidey from Frank “Nothin’ but My Mitts” Miller! It’s funny, I’m obviously a lot more experienced with his works as a writer/artist and his style gets so HIM pretty quickly around the time he leaves Marvel, but boy oh boy is this a very interesting window into what if (heh) he just kept up the Ditko stuff and just leaded a little bit harder into the tights and fights.

But this stuff is wonderful. And he even writes a whole Team Up Annual that’s got Herb Trimpe and Mike Esposito on the pencils and it’s just gorgeous. And also reveals that Frank can write a pretty funny and engaging Peter when he wanted to? While also balancing all these soapy stuff that was coursing through Spectacular and Peter Parker: Spider-Man atm. It’s interesting that someone as singular as he ends up being adapted pretty well to the state and style of the comics at the time.

Plus you got a whole cadre of guest stars (since most of these are Team Up issues anyway)! You got the FF, you got Luke and Danny, Doctor Strange AND doom! Even Moon Knight and obviously, DD! Who co stars in the opening two parter of Spectacular Spidey that kicks off this volume.

And then just a bunch of rad covers in the back. Compete with full credits and even original trade dressing, that’s always cool to see. So yeah! Interesting to see Ol’ Frank in a different gear (and to speculate as of what might have been had he kept up this gear for later than he did) but kind of a slight collection tbh. It would be neat to read this in tandem with the DD stuff. I bet there would be a ton of visual overlap here.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have always wanted a copy of this book.

The Complete Frank Miller Batman is one of my prized possessions, a leatherbound collection that Waldenbooks put out a few years ago featuring the ultimate Frank Miller collection of Batman stories- Batman: Year One, The Dark Knight Returns, and the oddball Santa Claus: Wanted Dead or Alive.

Both Year One and DKR are inarguably classics. The material in The Complete Frank Miller Spider-Man is not, by any stretch of the imagination.

Mostly this is a hodgepodge of one shots, fill ins, and annuals that Frank Miller drew for the House of Ideas before hitting it really big with Daredevil. Let me stress the word DREW, people… because Miller wrote only one of the issues collected in this book, and it’s early in his writing career. Still, give the guy his props early on, he does have Spidey sing “Oliver’s Army”.

[Nicolas · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're picking this up because you're a Dark Knight fan and want to see what Frank does with Spidey, get ready for a let down. It's not that. It's classic Miller drawn Spidey comics and a few that he scripted or plotted too. They are fun. I haven't read much from this era and was impressed. I especially like the Miller scripted team up with Spidey, Moon Knight, Daredevil, Luke Cage and Iron Fist vs. the Purple Man. It is definitely worth picking up, but it helps to know what it is before you start.

For more on this odd collection tune in to this special Spider-Man spotlight on the All the Books Show! https://soundcloud.com/allthebooks/of...

[Airy Peña-Camacho · Rating 3 out of 5]

Recuerdo que cuando me topé con este volumen mis finanzas en ese momento no eran muy buenas, sin embargo estaba muy emocionada por añadirlo a mi colección, después de todo llevo años amando el trabajo de Frank Miller y ¿a qué fanático de Marvel no le gusta Spider-Man?

Asumí erróneamente que era una compilación de comics escritos por Miller cuando en realidad resultaron ser varias historias para las que colaboró en varios momentos de su carrera (tanto como co-escritor de la historia y en el arte como ilustrador)
Ese detalle resulta ser importante porque la colección en si no sigue una trama, sino que tiene un montón de comics randoms sin ninguna relación entre si (aparte del hecho de que todos tratan de Spider-Man).

Los comics son bastante buenos—a decir verdad las historias fueron entretenidas y el arte retro de las ilustraciones es perfección pura—pero si fue algo decepcionante enterarme de que esto es mas bien una compilación a modo de enciclopedia que una historia completa. Me arrepiento un poco de haber dado tarjetazo para comprarlo (tal vez estaría menos defraudada si lo hubiera agarrado en oferta, no lo sé)
Eso si, el comic inicial donde Spider-Man pierde la vista y Daredevil le ayuda me encantó (después de esto voy a investigar donde puedo conseguir esa historia completa)

3/5 estrellas

[Μιχάλης · Rating 2 out of 5]

Having read those comics ages ago, while binge-reading Spiderman comics, I am instantly put off by the title.
This is pre-daredevil Miller, a young tyke doing the pencil for the second (or third) rate SM titles. Technically the title is true, but at the same time it promises of Miller-level quality which we do not get here...

[Tânia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Este volume de banda desenha, que tem como protagonista do Homem-Aranha, reúne todos as participações de Frank Miller. Gostei bastante das aventuras com o Demolidor (como já disse, é um dos meus heróis preferidos) e do sentido de humor do Peter.

[Drew Canole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Collecting the early work of Miller on Spider-man. Nothing essential here at all but for fans of his Wolverine and early Daredevil work - this is worth seeking out.

Spectacular Spider-Man #27-28
Amazing Spider-Man Annual #14
Marvel Team-Up #100
Marvel Team-Up Annual #4
Amazing Spider-Man Annual #15

[David · Rating 1 out of 5]

In both style and substance, this collection is a loser. And given the cost you'll have to pay to acquire the thing - it's a no-brainer: Pass on it.

[Harumi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the stories and mixture of characters

[Andy Robles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Muy bueno y divertido

[Mulviterso Infinito · Rating 3 out of 5]

Historias cortas de un Miller primerizo pero prometedor.

[Pablo Muñoz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un comic muy bueno, con unas historias bastante buenas, la verdad no sabía que Frank Miller había hecho Spiderman.

[Glen Engel-Cox · Rating 2 out of 5]

Until recently, most of the hardcover reprint collections from both Marvel (the Marvel Masterworks series) and DC (the Archives) series have focused on either the "Golden Age" or the beginning of the "Silver Age" of comics publishing. The success of both the recent X-Men and Spider-Man movies, and the increasing market for graphic novels in traditional bookstores (rather than just the direct-to-market specialty stores) has both of the large publishers looking to see what they can repackage and gain some "found" money (i.e., don't have to pay for production, just publish and rake in the dough).

I'd decry such simple-minded money-grubbing except that along the way the art department of both companies must have gotten involved, because some of the most recent repacks have been providing comics scholars like myself some much-needed works that were previously only available to a few people (e.g., the Spirit archives) or forgotten by many, such as this collection of Frank Miller's earliest comics work. Sure, Marvel is pushing this not only on Miller's name (and the furor over his Dark Knight Returns 2) but also because it's Spider-Man, for gosh sakes. But if you want to see where Miller's style (both writing and artistic) evolved from, this is the book.

I remember owning a couple of these comics in their original form, but never connected them with Miller, whom I later admired for Ronin and his work on Daredevil and Batman. If anything, the stories here are the weak points, because they typically come from stand-alone "annuals" or team-up books, where Marvel often had a revolving door policy for writers and artists. The two best comics here are those that reveal Miller's work with cross-hatching (Spider-Man Annual #14) and the unique panel arrangements and interest in Eastern themes (Marvel Team-Up #100).

I'm not sure this is worth $30, for the originals don't have the complex color separations that benefit from this nice paper. But as an archive resource, and for Miller fans, it's easier than hunting down the originals in dusty bins.

[Carla · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was a fan of the 90's TV animated series but had never read a comic (I had the one in which he marries Mary Jane, but since I don't like her I've never read it :P ) so this was somewhat interesting. I liked the stories with Daredevil, made me want to read more about that character (only seen the movie and I believe I'm one of the few people that actually liked it), and Doctor Strange who seemed a really misterious character (didn't even knew him but if Martin writes a story for him I want to read!).

The drawings were nice (though Dilby from the first story seemed a lot like Doctor Octopus O_o) and love Spidey's sense of humor. :D Was a pity the last story wasn't continued but I did like that it was summed up.

[Alex Sarll]

Between being blinded, mind-controlled and fighting invisible demons, Spidey spends an awful lot of this book in ridiculous panels ripe for a Jay Pinkerton detournement - I kept muttering 'Fappo!' as I read (so thank heavens I was reading it at home). See Spidey fall off a roof, punch out a chimney, hang upside-down from a lamp-post reciting Shakespeare (and knowing shamefully little of it)! Sadly, Miller only draws five of the issues here (plus some covers) and writes the other one, so there's no chance to see the full Miller macho approach unleashed on a character who is as gloriously unsuitable to it as the goddamned Spider-Man.

[Todd · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is why it's sad to read Frank Miller's current work. He was actually able to write nuanced stuff at some point and draw people that didn't look as if they'd been taking steroids for years.

It's fun good time old comics where most of the story line is wrapped up in one issue rather than six.

It's funny though because Spidey isn't really the main focus in any of these stories. They almost all involve some sort of Team Up. So you can tell that Miller wasn't particularly interested in Parker. It was cool seeing the FF and DD and Heroes for Hire.

I really need to read more Dr. Strange.

[Randy Lander · Rating 3 out of 5]

Though best known for Daredevil, Miller also did a handful of Spider-Man stories at Marvel, mostly as artist while someone else wrote, and there are some fun stories in there as well. The Denny O'Neil scripted annual, which featured Punisher and Spidey teaming up to take on Doc Ock as he attempted to poison the city, is the highlight. None of them are phenomenal stories, and neither is it Miller's best artwork, but it's an interesting collection for fans of Miller and Spidey, and I'm both.

[Glenn Morris · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Frank Miller Spidey was shrink wrapped when I bought it. Couldn't help but wonder if this was done intentionally after making my way through. What people think of as Frank Miller, this aint it. Imagine reading some pretty decent Spider-Man comics that aren't particularly notable or talked about years later. What you're buying here is Frank-for-hire, and the character fits his technique far less than Daredevil or Batman. Pretty ok stuff, bound in a giant sized hardcover.

[Mathieu Lubrun · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some fun stories and some really good art from Frank Miller. Definitely not the best thing he did at Marvel (I'm looking at you Daredevil) but Miller knows his stuff and doesn't get crass or political when he writes so you only have strong super hero story with the only exception of a Team Up with the FF that deals a bit with Vietnam but only uses it as an excuse to introduce an uninteresting character courtesy of Miller and Claremont.

[Annie · Rating 1 out of 5]

(1,5)
Só posso dizer que esta classificação deve-se ao facto de eu odiar o Homem-Aranha. Não consigo gostar desta personagem, deste herói. Desta forma o protagonismo que este herói neste livro foi óbvio desde a capa e só o li para ver se conseguia apreciar mais a personagem em si, mas não.

Se gostarem de Homem-Aranha com certeza que vão adorar este graphic novel.

[Gina · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was pretty good in terms of plot and artwork. The dialogue is pretty repetitive, but I realize that this is following some genre traditions that I understand a little better now. In addition to Spidey you get several other Marvel characters, including Daredevil and Punisher.

[Matt Piechocinski · Rating 3 out of 5]

Remember when Frank Miller was great, and didn't become crazy and jump the shark? Although not as seminal as his DD run, these Spider-Man issues were a fun read ... taking you back to a simpler time, when comic heroes were wholesome with no shades of gray.

[Fugo Feedback]

Hace rato que Miller dejó de ser uno de mis autores favoritos, pero este tomo es de hace más rato aún, así que tengo fe de que voy a encontrarle varias de las virtudes del buen Miller.

[Robin · Rating 2 out of 5]

The art was great, but the SPiderman writers are subliterate

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Worth reading.

[Brandon Bellm · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad. I really enjoyed the Karma story.

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

The stories are nothing special - and most weren't written by Miller - but this is still a half decent collection of Spidey stories. Some interesting crossovers and great artwork throughout.