Drew Allen’s Reviews > Mighty Marvel Masterworks: The Amazing Spider-Man Vol. 4 - The Master Planner > Status Update

Spider-Man #37 marks the debut appearance of Norman Osborn.

Amazing Spider-Man #36 introduces a new lesser-known menace named the Looter.

Spider-Man #35 is a fun, standalone issue with the Molten Man from #28 from several months back when I read it.

Spider-Man faces against Kraven the Hunter—who’s been missing in action for a while. Betty Brant leaves the Daily Bugle.

I loved this 5-part arc of Spider-Man and the mysterious Master Planner, who turned out to be Doctor Octopus. Issue 33 is a wonderful climactic end to this tale. Spider-Man never gave up on his aunt, and I shouldn’t give up on my EMT studies. I should face front and plunge in!

Amazing Spider-Man #32—the Master Planner is none other than Doc Ock himself.

WOW!! Just wow!! On the surface, #31 doesn’t look like anything special—to the contrary, it’s crucial for the Spider-Man mythos we know today in 2026. The very first appearances of Harry Osborn and Gwen Stacy on Peter’s first day at ESU.

What makes this issue great is the relationship drama between Peter and Betty. The action just complements the story.

What a superhero thriller indeed! An exhilarating square off between Spider-Man and the Scorpion, just a month before they do the same thing in Brand New Day on July 31. It’ll be good to take a break from Superman and Wonder Woman to finish the Lee/Ditko run of Spidey before the movie comes out.