by Webslinger, CMRO User
Amazing Fantasy
Issue #1
Written by Stan Lee, Art by Steve Ditko
Published: September 1962
So here it comes: First we’ve got the Fantastic Four, a group that didn’t fit together perfectly. Then we have the Incredible Hulk, a creature that is barely a hero in a classic sense. Next we’ve got Thor, an all-powerful god of thunder that can travel in time, summon storms, and ask Odin some help. Finally came Ant Man, a scientist-come-crime fighter that doesn’t go into a lot of personal life details.
After all those characters were introduced, we finally get to Peter Parker. It all starts up with a pin-up page where we learn he is a social outcast in high school, being called “bookworm” and “wallflower”. If you’re reading through all the order and get time to see the secondary stories in Tales to Astonish, Strange Tales, etc. maybe you’ve already seen this formula: “the not popular guy saves the world” or something, if not try 1961′s Amazing Adventure #2 – This is Manoo.
Anyway, in one page we learn he is beloved by his family (Uncle Ben and Aunt May), dedicated at school, girls won’t go with him, is mocked by everyone. Not surprising, after all he invites people to a science exhibit instead to a pub or some dance club (ed. note: or school dance/football game since this was the 1960’s. Not a lot of dance clubs).
Next page we change environment, and color palate, and the show gets on the road. In 6 panels the origin of his powers are told and we learn two (or three, if counting the not yet mentioned spider sense) of them in the following panels.
What I particularly liked is this is the first comic where the character isn’t ethical at first with his powers. He quickly goes to cashing in on his powers, resulting in the events that will turn him into the hero we all know.
Spider-Man is my favorite Marvel character, so surely there is some lack of objectivity, but I hope everyone enjoys this issue as much as me.
3 Responses to “Amazing Fantasy #15 Review”
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That’s what I like about Marvel characters too – They seem more like real people, and have to actually learn their right from wrong like the rest of us. Of course, learning right from wrong is a much bigger deal when you’ve got super powers, but we can still relate
I guess I must say this review was edit by Travis, as my poor English prevents me to write with a good fluency. Generally I can write most of what I intend to, but the text seem broken or bad to read, and a cool review is that one that flows and you haven’t even noticed it.
Specially, when I wrote this, a few months ago I was catching up with the site, and didn’t know clearly what was meant for reviews, synopsis or comments, or what the hell were blurbs. Firstly, when I saw my review edited I was a little bugged, I could see the English was better, but my text was edited… I didn’t complain, as the basic idea was there, but now, seeing it months after, I have to thanks Travis, as not only the wording is better but the hole essence I meant is there too.
Sorry if the editing bugged you. I tried very hard to keep your points and opinions about the issue in place, and make it readable to the general public. You had some really good points that I wanted to see put out there, especially how you lined up all of the introductions prior to Spider-Man, it helps put the character in context of the world and makes his story more interesting.