Mighty Marvel Masterworks: The Amazing Spider-Man Vol. 4 - The Master Planner

by Stan Lee, Leonardo Romero (Cover Art)

Collects Amazing Spider-Man (1963) #29-38. Stan Lee and Steve Ditko created an unabashed cultural phenomenon in AMAZING SPIDER-MAN! Their dramatic blend of Peter Parker's everyday woes mixed with his web-slinging alter ego's exploits was something undeniably special. And after years of perfecting that formula, Lee and Ditko unleashed their Spider-Man the Master Planner saga! It's as perfect a Spider-Man story as you'll ever find, including one of the most iconic moments in Marvel history! Peter's first days on campus at Empire State University introduce you to Gwen Stacy, tease something strange afoot with Norman Osborn and feature villains from the colorful (Kraven the Hunter) to the crazed (J. Jonah Jameson)!

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels

216 pages, Paperback

Published July 11, 2023

About the author

Stan Lee (born Stanley Martin Lieber) was an American writer, editor, creator of comic book superheroes, and the former president and chairman of Marvel Comics.

With several artist co-creators, most notably Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko, he co-created Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four, Thor as a superhero, the X-Men, Iron Man, the Hulk, Daredevil, the Silver Surfer, Dr. Strange, Ant-Man and the Wasp, Scarlet Witch, The Inhumans, and many other characters, introducing complex, naturalistic characters and a thoroughly shared universe into superhero comic books. He subsequently led the expansion of Marvel Comics from a small division of a publishing house to a large multimedia corporation.

Reviews

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This collects the last part of Steve Ditko's run as the artist on Amazing Spider-Man, #29-38. I enjoy Ditko's Spidey run but I think maybe it went a little too long, like maybe Ditko should have left a couple issues before he did. The art is up to par but I don't think the last two issues have as much heart in them as the previous ones, like Ditko had already had it but hadn't quite convinced himself of it. Still, the arc of #31-33 when Spidey races the clock to save Aunt May's life is some of the best storytelling silver age Marvel had to offer.

[William Yates · Rating 4 out of 5]

If this be my destiny is actually sooo good

[Hunter McCall · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty fun, easy read. First comics i’ve read and I enjoyed seeing the marvel spiderman and villains I know so well from the movies in the form they were originally made.

[Mr. Stick · Rating 4 out of 5]

"THAT'S IT! TAKE A LOT OF SHOTS OF ME, HERE IN THE RUINS OF BATTLE! IT'LL MAKE A GREAT FRONT-PAGE STORY! 'FEARLESS, COURAGEOUS PUBLISHER SAVES HIS EMPLOYEES FROM DEADLY COSTUMED KILLERS!' I'LL BE A HERO! MAKE SURE THESE PICTURES DO ME JUSTICE! GET MY COURAGEOUS EXPRESSION... MY DETERMINED, FIGHTING STANCE... MY IRON FISTS, CLENCHED AND READY!"
- J. Jonah Jameson displaying his humility to a Daily Bugle photographer after his office got trashed by Spidey and Scorpion.

"ACTUALLY, I'VE NEVER MET A MODEST COSTUMED SCRAPPER BEFORE! USUALLY, THEY START OFF BT SAYING 'NOBODY CAN DEFEAT THE PURPLE PANTY-WAIST', OR 'YOU FOOL! DON'T YOU REALIZE YOU'VE NO CHANCE AGAINST THE HUMAN WINDSHIELD WIPER!'"
- Spidey in battle with a villain who refuses to monologue.

Peter just started college. Flash is there too, probably on dual scholarships of collegiate bullying and sexual harrassment. Which should cover not only school fees, room and board, but also books, supplies, flavored crayons and legal counsel. Gwen Stacy finally enters the scene. She's as warm and cuddly as a frozen porcupine. Pete meets Harry Osborn. Not warmly. Norman, also. Aunt May has health problems. She's gotta be pushing ninety, so there's no way they'll be able to write her in for another sixty years... right?
Spidey really hits his stride in this one. Panel count is way down, but Stan manages to pack in as many words as possible. JJJ is just so delightfully douchey! This was very fun. I know it'll get better, but this was still pretty awesome. Four stars.

[Gary Sassaman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the end for Steve Ditko on Spider-Man; this volume collects Amazing Spider-Man #29-38, when Ditko left the book—and Marvel—leaving behind one of his signature co-creations in comics. It’s a mixed bag of stories, too. On the one hand you have what many people regard the pinnacle of Ditko’s Spidey work, the “Master Planner” three-parter in issues 31, 32, and 33; on the other hand, a few mediocre at best stories, featuring “The Uncanny Looter,” a robot, and “Just a Guy Named Joe,” not Ditko’s finest hour. As a kid, I much more appreciated John Romita’s Spider-Man, which will start in the next volume, with issue #39, and it was Romita’s art that propelled Spidey to become Marvel’s top seller. Still, Ditko’s mark on the character and his plotting contributions made it such an unusual book and who knows what might have happened if he had stayed on the title.

[Benjamin Kimble · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the final volume of the Lee/Ditko Spider-Man run. What we see here is the peak of their collaborative talent. The first two issue are fine, we see the return of the scorpion and a new villain the cat burglar, typical Spider-Man action. But then issue #31 is something special “If This Be My Destiny…” This is the fist part of a three issue saga in which Spider-Man fights the villain known as the master planner. We meet Gwen Stacy and Harry Osborn, who absolutely hate Peter for his perceived arrogance, aunt May is in the hospital so he’s only focused on that. The master planner’s gang steals a special compound that could save aunt May’s life and Peter tracks them to their base. At the end of issue #32 Peter gets trapped under a pile of rubble while the base collapses. Issue #33 “The Final Chapter” starts with one of the greatest sequences in comics, possibly the best Spider-Man sequence. Peter has the impossible task of lifting thousands of pounds of metal off of him. He thinks of aunt May and uncle Ben, his love for them, and he gets strength, it’s such a beautiful scene. After the master planner arc is over we return to typical Spider-Man stuff. We see him adjusting to college, trying to make friends, failing at making friends. It’s good, but after the final chapter it doesn’t have the same impact. This book ends with introducing Norman Osborn, who had previously only been in the background of one issue or only as Green Goblin, but it doesn’t tell us who he actually is. Instead it sets up this mystery and ongoing plot to be resolved later. Lee and Ditko really were some of the best to ever do it, and this volume proves that.

[Jamie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book - includes gripping classic Spidey stories!