Amazing Spider-Man Epic Collection, Vol. 15: Ghosts of the Past

Amazing Spider-Man Epic Collection

by Tom DeFalco, Ron Frenz (Illustrations)

The Hobgoblin is back! The high-flying villain is after Norman Osborn's journals...and he's targeted Mary Jane and the pregnant Liz Osborn! Plus: Mary Jane reveals the secrets of her childhood! The Scorpion attacks as J. Jonah Jameson ties the knot! Spidey battles the symbiotic alien costume in a senses-shattering showdown! The Kingpin strikes after the Beyonder turns a skyscraper to gold! Spidey faces the cosmic power of Firelord! The new Spider-Slayer attacks the person he believes to be Spider-Man: Mary Jane! And things get downright silly when Spidey must deal with Spider-Kid, Frog-Man and the Toad, and track a thief to...the suburbs! Featuring the return of Black Fox and Crusher Hogan, and the debuts of Silver Sable and Slyde! Collecting AMAZING SPIDER-MAN (1963) #259-272 and ANNUAL #18-19, and WEB OF SPIDER-MAN (1985) #1 and #6.

Genres: Comics, Spider Man, Marvel, Graphic Novels, Comic Book, Superheroes, Science Fiction

472 pages, Paperback

First published June 3, 2014

About the author

Tom DeFalco is an American comics writer and editor, well-known for his association with Marvel Comics and Spider-Man.

Reviews

[Sean Gibson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Look, it ain’t exactly Stan and JR. There are some weird-ass stories here (notably one in which an entire building (and its contents) gets turned into gold, thereby threatening a global economic collapse, but also resulting in Kingpin scoring some golden typewriters—because that’s naturally what an organized crime boss would demand in response for his apparently helping the U.S. government deal with the situation). Spidey beats the ever-loving crap out of Firelord, a galactic-level heavy hitter (maybe Spidey was on steroids?). And, I’m not sure how I feel about MJ knowing Spidey’s identity at this point.

Still…it’s Spider-Man. He’s great. These are generally solid, entertaining superhero stories. Worth a read for fellow Spidey obsessives.

[Zack! Empire · Rating 4 out of 5]

I purchased this book online, without ever seeing it in real life. I wanted to get one of the two currently available Spider-man Epic Collections, and this one sounded more interesting than the other. When it arrived in the mail I excitedly looked through it, and I was really...disappointed. It just looked so boring.
I won't go so far as to say it's badly drawn. The art is very clear, and the storytelling is great. I would much rather have an artist who draws poorly with great story telling skills, then a guy who draws amazingly well but can't tell a story for shit. The art is this book just looks so uninspired. Where's the action? Where's the drama? It just doesn't seem to be there.
While we are on the subject of things the books lacks, where were the villains? Looking through the book the only guy I knew was Hobgoblin. And I've never been a big fan of all the different Goblin's running around in Spider-Man. Now who else seems to show up? The Toad! Yeah, that guy! Needless to say I was regretting my decision to buy this book, sight unseen, right away.
But wait a minute, didn't I give this book a four star rating? Yeah, I did. And here's why: this book is actually a great read. It does have the problems I mentioned before, but the stories really make up for it. There's a great issue that's all about the history of Mary Jane, which I knew none of. Did you know MJ has a sister? I sure didn't. The Hobgoblin appears and we see how he is a very different villain than Norman's Green Goblin. Norman was a lunatic, obsessed with killing Spider-Man, while the Hobgoblin couldn't give two fucks about Spider-Man. He just wants to make money.
The Toad issue was really great! (A sentence I never thought I'd write). It's all about how the Toad wants to be Spider-Man's partner, but goes about it in a messed up way. Meanwhile, a character called Frog Man is pissed at the Toad for moving in on his turf: being a superhero who leaps around. And just to add more flavors to this already tasty cake, the Spectacular Spider-Kid, basically an over-weight nerd with glasses, in a Spidey suit, and Doc Ock arms, shows up too! It was so funny.
This book was definitely a case of being judged based on looks alone. I was only going to read it begrudgingly, since I spent money on it, but I ended up really liking it.

[Sam Poole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes. This was outstanding. At LEAST six great stories. "All my pasts remembered", "jump for my love, or spring is in the air", "whatever happened to crusher hogan" are my absolute highlights. Just so...personal. Relatable. Realistic in terms of humanizing basically every character and showing a vast array of emotions. And the combination of pathos and tragedy Peters sense of responsibility bears on him and the delightful one/two off nature of most of the stories while pitted against a larger thematic backdrop is just perfect. Really excellent all around. I laughed out loud multiple times. Even the gold building and Slude were appealing and basically perfectly constructed. I'm hooked hooked hooked. One of the best superhero collections I've read, period.

[Marcelo Soares · Rating 4 out of 5]

Voltamos ao Teioso lá por 85, acho.
Muita coisa acontece por aqui, primeiro descobrimos segredos da MJ Watson e como ela descobriu que o Parker é o Homem Aranha; depois o Jonah Jameson casa - coitada - e o Escorpião aparece para estragar o casório; também tem umas bobagens sobre as Guerras Secretas 2 - essa não tem salvação mesmo; o Duende Macabro aparece e toca o terror na família Osborn e ninguém vai me convencer que o Ned Leeds não era o Duende Macabro; o filho do Smythe - o cara do esmaga-aranha - descobre quem é o Homem Aranha: Mary Jane Watson.
Pois é, é uma história para lá de capenga que envolve o chapéu da Tia May também, única coisa que vale é a cena em que a MJ tira a bota e fica com os pés desnudos enquanto é carregada por um robô-disco-voador-gigante-com-tentáculos pela cidade até o Amigão da Vizinhança aparecer e resolver a situação.
Também temos uma divertida história com o Raposa - sempre é tri ver o tiozão contando uma historinha triste pro Aranha - e a estreia da Silver Sable - acho que teria valido um investimento do Peter por aqui viu, só falando.
No que deve ser o grande momento da edição, o Senhor do Fogo para na Terra para pegar uma pizza - infelizmente, não fica claro qual é o sabor - e, depois de uma confusão, sobra pro Aranha partir pra cima de um ex-arauto de Galactus.
E o pau come.

[Malum · Rating 3 out of 5]

The highlights here are the first arc (Spider-Man vs. Hobgoblin), Web of Spider-Man 1 (with the now famous church bell/symbiote scene), and maybe the two annuals if you are interested in Scorpion, Spider-Slayers, or Jonah Jameson's love life. The rest is pure filler; one-shots with, at best, D-list villains and, at worst, characters that appeared one time and were barely (if ever) heard of again (remember The Mistfits, a group consisting of Toad, Frog-Man, and Spider-Kid? Me neither, because they existed for about one panel and were never heard from again).

[RG · Rating 3 out of 5]

A few good story arcs but mainly filler

[Bruno Poço · Rating 3 out of 5]

#259 - 261 e annual #18 (tom de falco e ron frenz) o passado da mj, retorno do duende macabro , volta o uniforme original , o escorpião foge da prisão e vai atrás de Jameson que se casa com Marla

#262 (bob layton) o aranha é apanhado com a máscara na mão e fotografado sem ela por um fotógrafo de má fama , la terá o nosso herói de correr atrás do prejuízo

#263 ( tom e ron) surge o espetacular garoto aranha q tenta ser o novo herói da vizinhança , peter volta ao uniforme negro

Web of spiderman #1 (louise simonson e greg la rocque)o simbiote escapa do edifício baxter e encontra de novo o aranha

#264 (craig anderson e paty) peter tenta resolver uma confusão burocrática sobre um velhote q vai ser despejado por estar declaro como falecido sem o estar 🤨🤨🤨

#265 (tom e ron) apresenta silver sable e o comando selvagem q persegue o raposa negra

#266 - 267 (peter David , sal buscema e bob mcleod )o grouxo e o homem sapo lutam pela atenção do aranha e para completar está salada , junta se o garoto aranha , o aranha persegue um ladrao nos subúrbios( mais para o cómico)

Web #6 (danny fingeroth e mike harris) faz parte do evento guerras secretas 2 onde o beyonder transforma um prédio em ouro e o aranha tem de salvar as pessoas q la ficaram

#268 - 271 (tom e ron) o rei do crime tenta ficar com uma parte do ouro que beyonder transformou , confronto com o senhor do fogo (TOP TOP TOP) , o quebra ossos

Annual #19 (louise simonson e mary wilshire) o filho do criador dos vários robôs caça aranha , procura vingar seu pai e vai atrás do aranha (MUITOOOOO FRACO)

#272 (tom e sal buscema) enfrenta o slyde (esquivo)


——-Aqui usam e abusam do clichê do vilao atacar inocentes para ocupar o aranha
——-falta o spectacular spiderman 100 q é importante pois o aranha acaba com a gata negra
——- falta os momentos do simbiote a vagar de corpo em corpo até ao peter (cria momentum , tensão e ansiedade)

[Molly Mortensen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I remembered liking issues more than I did this read. Don't get me wrong, most of them are still good, but there was nothing amazing here either.

Previously in Spiderman:

Mary Jane is back. She left town after she turned down his proposal. (Months ago.) And she just revealed that she's known Peter is Spiderman!

Peter is fighting with Aunt May because he dropped out of graduate school.

And Peter knows that his girlfriend, the Black Cat, is keeping secrets from him.

259 - ★★★★
We learn all about MJs past, which is rather depressing, but we learn nothing about how she figured out that Peter is Spidey.

Annual 18 - ★★★
Jameson's wedding. A boring Scorpion issue.

260-261 ★★★
Previously I enjoyed the Hobgoblin issues, but these were nothing special.

262-263 ★★★
A couple of One Shots. A speedy reporter gets a photo of Spidey without his mask on and the kid who wanted to be the next Doc Oct is back wanting to be Spidey's side kick.

Web of Spiderman #1 (Simonson)
★★★★
The alien symbiote is back! One of the better issues of this book.

264 (Craig Anderson) ★★★
Peter helps an old man who's been mistakenly declared dead.

265 (DeFalco) ★★★★
Good issue with Silver Sable

266-267 (Peter David) ★★★
Two one Shots. I really liked David's Spectacular run but there's weren't great. The first is a dumb one with various characters trying to become Spidey's partner/ sidekick. In the second, Spidey chases a robber everywhere around town.

Web of Spiderman #6 (Danny Fingeroth) & ASM 268 (DeFalco)
★★★
Secret Wars II tie ins. Stupid like all of Secret Wars II. The Beyonder turns a building and everything in it to gold

269-270 (DeFalco) ★★★★
Spidey fights an ex herold of Galactus, Firelord. The Avengers guest star.

Annual #19 (Simonson) ★★★★
Smithe Jr kidnapped MJ and her aunt.

271 (DeFalco) ★★★★
Crusher Hogan (the guy Spidey fought back when he first got his powers) has an issue with a bad guy at his gym and Aunt May's boyfriend Nathan's paat catches up with him.

272 ★★★
New Villain Slyde and more of Nathan's story. Aunt May sure was treating Peter badly!

[Adam Stone · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this as part of my attempt to read more books that contain Venom, but there isn't much Venom to be found in this book.

There is an annual issue where The Symbiote (not yet named Venom) sneaks back to Peter's house, pretends to be his red and blue suit, and then morphs into its usual form and hinders Spider-Man from taking on a bunch of Vulture wannabes. That was worth the read.

Most of the issues in this collection, while not pertaining to Venom, were, at least fun. Sometimes good. We open with an issue focused on Mary Jane's backstory that, while filled with 80's cliche ideas, is written very well and adds some depth to her character aside from "Model who Peter Parker sometimes dates."

Sadly, Aunt May isn't represented well in this book, as she spends most of the book being angry with Peter for not being Exactly Who She Wants Him To Be, which doesn't really fit with her contemporary character, or how I remember her behaving in the old books. I might be wrong here. I've read a ton of Spider-Man books, but until I started on this Venom readthrough, I hadn't read many of them recently, this might be in line with her portrayal in the 80s.

If you like 80s comics with a tight focus on character and only peripheral wackiness, this is a great read. It feels like a pivotal era where the writing has started to shift from the Stan Lee/Chris Claremont exposition heavy stories to the more modern teleplay style writing I'm used to.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some fun, but mostly forgettable stories. This story picks up shortly after Secret Wars and Spider-Man discovered he had brought back a costume that was a living creature, often referred to as the symbiote. Though removed, the symbiote hasn't given up on being bonded with Peter, and they have a showdown that Spider-Man 3 borrowed heavily from. One of the highlights is the Peter David written story where Spider-Man chases a criminal into the suburbs and is a fish out of water because there are no buildings to climb or swing from. Spider-Man: Homecoming did a brief homage to this story. The other noteworthy story is the famous (infamous probably better describes it) battle between Spider-Man and Firelord. The battle is fun, and is a classic Marvel trope where a character goes up against a far, far more powerful foe. Unfortunately, this type of battle has already been done better. See, for example, Spider-Man's fight with the Juggernaut by Roger Stern and John Romita, Jr. Several stories are entertaining, but for the most part, this book is for completists only.

[Francisco · Rating 3 out of 5]

A slightly underwhelming volume of the epic collection, being the 15th volume of Spider-Man and collecting Amazing Spider-Man #259-272, Annuals #18-19 and Web of Spider-Man #1 and #6. The problem with these issues isn't that they are ever individually bad, not at all, but the diversity of writers and artists and well as the quick turn-over of stories kind of makes everything a bit disconnected.

You do get some interesting stuff here like the stories featuring Hobgoblin or the first stirrings of what would become the Venom symbiote, but it's a bit all over the place. It actually has a very 60s feel for a mid-80s comic, not in terms of originality but in terms of some disjointedness. Unfortunately the volume never really rises above good, on the other hand it never really has low lows. Very much a 3 star book.

[Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the Spider-Man I grew up with and loved. The collection is from around 1985 and yes there are a few of the big names (Kingpin, Hobgoblin) but this is back when Spidey was amazing. They are stand alone comics with one off bad guys and characters (Slyde, Red Nine, Black Fox, Spider Kid). We didn't have to deal with six+ issue stories with the weight of the world on Spider-Man's shoulders every freaking week. These were comics you picked up at the local drugstore, went home and read them, loaned them to friends and reread them many times over the years because they were fun. Yes the characters were great and there is some weighty storylines but at the end of the day these are just fun, well written, well drawn comic books, the stuff I grew up loving.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent collection of 80's Spider-man. I had no idea that 80's Spider-man could be this good! I loved reading every minute of it. A few highlights of the book were two early Peter David issues, both very humorous and completely comedic. Another highlight features Mary Jane in an Annual written by Louise Simonson. And then there's the cover story where Peter takes on cosmic badass Firelord, an enemy on the scale of the Silver Surfer. I'd always heard that the DeFalco era wasn't so hot. But I really loved this book and wish there were more Epic Collections from this era.

[Gerky · Rating 3 out of 5]

A much more enjoyable collection than I was expecting, really. Not as awkwardly matched as the Alien Costume Saga Book 1 (which ends literally the issue before this book starts), and no Acts of Vengeance crossover (or obsession with replicating the silver age feel) to bring things down like the Cosmic Adventures Epic Collection. The characters aren't filled with quite as much repetitive self-pity as usual (Aunt May's judgement is dialed way back, MJ has returned and Black Cat is gone) so it's a much easier read. Not as much Hobgoblin as the cover implies, though.

[Terrance · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book captures the actual issues that started me collecting comic books. I remember distinctly being enthralled by the idea of Spider-Man fighting and defeating a herald of Galactus, even though I didn't quite fully understand the heft of that feat. Reading it again, I still enjoyed those particular issues, but this collection is full of a lot of throwaway issues, throwaway villains, and subpar storylines.

[Gyan Chansrichawla · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this era of Spider-Man and this collection is a ton of fun! There’s nothing overtly special and outstanding about any of these stories but this does contain the classic Web of Spider-Man #1 with the iconic bell tower moment. I really like Peter finally being forced to face the consequences of his choices from balancing his life between Spider-Man and Peter Parker. It’s great seeing MJ back as a part of Peter Parker’s life before a couple of big issues up ahead too.

[Bob · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some truly terrible fill-ins & Secret Wars II tie-ins, but gems include Hobgoblin rampages, Scorpion & JJJ take a bride, Hobgoblin busts in on Harry, MJ shovels on of the Rose’s goons, Spidey candid camera, the alien costume saves Peter, Wild Pack v. Black Fox, Toad v. Frog-Man, Spidey in suburbia, Spidey v. Firelord, Cap has to stop Spidey from punching Firelord, Alistair Smythe mistakes MJ for Spidey, & Spidey v. Manslaughter Marsdale & Slyde

[Rock · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some of the most forgettable comic events seemed to slid in between this volume. The fat spider guy, the slyde (man who could slide) and the post event of the weak Secret Wars II arc. Not the best so far.

[Matt Fuller · Rating 5 out of 5]

There’s some great stuff in here, highlights being the story featuring Mary Jane’s past and the secret of Crusher Hogan. Spider-Man switched between his classic and black suit depending on the tone. Covers 1984-1986. 9/10

[Eldon Farrell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nothing spectacular here, and hardly amazing. These Spiderman stories lacked punch.

[Brent · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5*

[Ryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Hobgoblin story with Harry standing up for his family at the end was fine but I really loved the gag at the end that the Hobgoblin already had all the information from Osbornes journal so basically the kidnapping was for nothing. I found the flow was a little weird with Peter and black cats break-up constantly being brought up but then it would show a flashback where they are working together. Then the next issue would once again show them pre breakup. Totally a nit-pick issue but it made me stop and try to think about continuity more than I would normally try to. Also after the symbiote takes Peter over he never really mentions it again which I thought was strange.
Spidey beating up firelord at the end has been brought up in some modern ASM issues so I thought it would be more significant but I felt like he just beats him up, cap stops him and everyone moves on. It didn't quite reach me on an emotional level where I felt like he was really going overboard but that could just be because violence like that is more intensified nowadays.

[Dan Barker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice tribute

This collection contains some milestones, such as J.J.J.'s marriage and Spider whooping on Firelord, a Herald of Galactus! Well worth your money.
But my favorite part was Ron Frenz' artwork, which was clearly a tribute to Steve Ditko. It was like having more early issues of the Amazing Spider-Man. And Bob Layton helped, as well as doing some great art himself.
Pick it up or download the Kindle version. You won't regret it.

[Harrison Delahunty · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lot of really iconic moments and great stories—259 is an all-time great, with MJ’s backstory; Peter’s first confrontation with the symbiote; the Firelord issues. There are a lot of more filler or fun issues here that are for the most part fine but are more hit or miss.