Set Description:
My Amazing Spider-Man collection
I am a relatively new collector of the Amazing Spider-Man (ASM) comics, but plan to build my collection in the future. My main interest in this set is the Silver Age (comics #1-95 and annuals #1-6), and those written after this by Stan Lee (#1-100 and #105-110). Here, I identify my favourite comics in my collection at present, including three Signature Series (SS) from the late Stan Lee and one from Todd McFarlane. I also summarise the publication history from 1963-1998 (#1-441), and then from 1999-date.
The pride of this set collection is my Amazing Fantasy #15 CGC SS NG, page 7 only. It is hand signed in black sharpie, with perfect positioning of the signature, by the late Stan Lee. It was then encapsulated into the prestigious CGC Signature Series. It features the first page of the story of The Bell Ringer shown below (left):
  
Also shown (centre) is my ASM Annual #1 from 1964, featuring the first appearance of the Sinsister Six and cameos of Thor, Giant-Man, Dr. Strange and Fantastic Four. The third comic shown (right) is my ASM #29. I like this one as it was published in the month/year of my birth (October 1965). It features the second appearance of The Scorpion.
I also love signed comics. Here are my Signature Series ASM comics:
Signatures Series - Writers:
• AF #15 signed by Mr Marvel, Stan Lee+ (shown above);
• ASM #95 signed by Stan Lee+;
• Spider-Man #1 (1990) signed by Todd McFarlane and Stan Lee+.
Publication history: 1963-98 and beyond
The Spider-Man character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko. The pair produced 38 issues from March 1963 to July 1966. Ditko left after the 38th issue, while Lee remained as writer until issue 100, and 105-110. Since then, many writers and artists have taken over the monthly comic through the years, chronicling the adventures of Marvel's most-identifiable hero.
The Amazing Spider-Man has been the character's flagship series for his first fifty years in publication, and was the only monthly series to star Spider-Man until Peter Parker - The Spectacular Spider-Man in 1976, although 1972 saw the debut of Marvel Team-Up, with the vast majority of issues featuring Spider-Man along with a rotating cast of other Marvel characters. Most of the major characters and villains of the Spider-Man saga have been introduced in Amazing, and with few exceptions, it is where most key events in the character's history have occurred. The title was published continuously until #441 (November 1998), including 38 annuals and three other / special editions. There are thus 482 comics in this set.
Beyond this set, Marvel Comics relaunched the comic as Volume 2 #1 (January 1999, with 59 issues until November 2003). On Spider-Man's 40th anniversary in December 2003, Vol. 2 reverted to using the numbering of the original series, beginning again with issue #500 (December 2003) and lasting until the final issue, #700 in February 2013. The publication since then is of relaunches and breaks, starting from the 701st edition in 2013:
• Superior Spider-Man Vol. 1 #1-32 (701-732, 2013-14)
• Amazing Spider-Man Vol. 3 #1-20 (733-753, 2014-15)
• Amazing Spider-Man Vol. 4 #1-32 (754-788, 2015-17)
• Amazing Spider-Man Vol. 2 #789-801 (2017-18)
• Amazing Spider-Man Vol. 5 1-93 (802-894, 2018-2022)
• Amazing Spider-Man Vol. 6 1-12 (895-906), as of November 2022
Notes:
Note 1: On 20th January 2024, my little set received its 225th viewing - thank you for looking!
Excelsior!
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