| Slot: |
Amazing Spider-Man 194 |
| Item: |
Amazing Spider-Man 194 Modern |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
4061086005
|
Owner Comments
The Amazing Spider-Man (1963) 194
Never Let the Black Cat Cross Your Path!
Cover Price: US $0.40
Writer(s): Marv Wolfman
Penciller(s): Keith Pollard
Inker(s): Frank Giacoia
Colorist(s): Ben Sean
Letterer(s): John Costanza
Editor(s): Marv Wolfman
Cover Artist(s): Keith Pollard
Synopsis:
A costumed female named the Black Cat begins her criminal career by breaking into an office to steal some files. She manages to get what she is looking for before the staff returns from break. After reading the files, she dumps them off a rooftop. She tracks down a musclebound thief named Bruno Grainger while he is in the process of stealing tires. The Black Cat tests his strength and although she easily overpowers she is still impressed and offers him a job. She next interrupts demolitions expert Boris Kropse as he is trying to blast his way into a safe in a US government facility and offers him employment as well.
The following morning, Peter Parker pays a visit to his Aunt May at the Restwell Retirement Home. Although his Aunt appears to be adjusting well, Peter can't help but cry. As he leaves, he is unaware that he is being watched by the administrator, Doctor Reinhart and the Burglar who shot his Uncle Ben. Reinhart points out how Peter visits his aunt every day and asks the Burglar why he is doing this. The Burglar threatens to kill Reinhart if he interferes, saying that May Parker knows the location of the riches that he was looking for the night he shot Ben Parker. When Reinhart balks at this, the Burglar strikes him across the face with a beer bottle and threatens to shoot him where he stands if the administration refuses to do something about the Parker kid.
Meanwhile, things at the Daily Bugle are far from rosy. Ned Leeds demands answers from his wife Betty regarding her attempts to get back together with Peter Parker. While in the editor's office, J. Jonah Jameson learns that Parker has started taking photos for the Daily Globe. Jameson is furious and refuses to accept responsibility considering he fired Peter in the first place. Just then, Spider-Man arrives in the window to give Jameson some grief. Jonah is furious at this point and tells the wall-crawler that he has a surprise for him. Fearing that Jonah has figured out his secret identity, the web-slinger angrily demands to know what Jameson is talking about. When Jonah begins screaming for help, Spider-Man stops himself and quickly flees the scene. Spider-Man then slings over to the Daily Globe where he meets with editor Barney Bushkin who congratulates Peter for all the great photos he has taken since he started working for the Globe. This comes as a surprise to Peter who is used to getting grief from his former employers.
Later, Spider-Man is patrolling the city when he spots the Black Cat traveling by rooftop. He is impressed with her abilities and decides to follow her, hoping that she is not a criminal and ask her out on a date. Meanwhile, the Black Cat meets with arms dealer Emil Greco to purchase weapons for her plan. When Spider-Man sees this illegal arms deal going down he swings in to interrupt it. The Black Cat tells Greco to let her handle it and is able to keep up with Spider-Man. Somehow, Spider-Man trips up, almost as though the Black Cat has cursed him with bad luck. When a rack of guns falls on the wall-crawler, the Black Cat tries to flee with the weapon she purchased. However, Spider-Man catches up with her, but she manages to throw him off by first being flirtatious, then by lifting up his mask enough to steal a kiss. Caught off guard, Spider-Man is unable to stop the Black Cat when she flees when the authorities arrive. Back at her hideout, the Black Cat tells Boris Korpse and Bruno Grainger that they are going to break into prison.
The following morning, Peter Parker leaves his apartment and finds Ned Leeds waiting for him. Ned demands to fight to keep his wife. Peter isn't interested in talking and shoves Ned aside. When he arrives at Empire State University, he is confronted by Flash Thompson and Harry Osborn. They want to know why he stood them up for the surprise graduation party they were going to throw for him. Upset at being constantly hassled, Peter loses his temper with his two friends and storms off. Later, back at the Daily Globe, Peter catches a news report about how the Black Cat stole files from a police precinct regarding Boris Korpse, Bruno Grainger, Walter Hardy a once famous cat burglar, as well as arms dealer Emil Greco. Seeing a connection, Peter rushes from the office, snubbing April Maye, a Globe reporter who offers to take him out for lunch. April vows that Peter won't be able to ignore her the next time they meet.
Doing some investigating of his own, Peter learns that Walter Hardy has been locked up in prison for the past few decades and is terminally ill. Realizing that the Black Cat plans on breaking him out of prison, Spider-Man goes there to prevent it from happening. Outside of Hardy's cell, Spider-Man is attacked by the Black Cat. While the two fight it out, Boris and Bruno work to blast Walter free from his cell. Spider-Man is caught in the blast and left buried under a pile of rubble. As the alarms sound, the femme fatale tells Spider-Man that this is what happens when you let a black cat cross your path.
Featured Characters:
Spider-Man (Peter Parker)
Supporting Characters:
Daily Globe
Barney Bushkin
April Maye (First appearance)
Aunt May
Harry Osborn
Flash Thompson
Antagonists:
Black Cat (First appearance)
Boris Korpse (First appearance)
Bruno Grainger (First appearance)
Burglar
Other Characters:
Dr. Reinhardt
Daily Bugle
J. Jonah Jameson
Betty Brant
Glory Grant
Joe Robertson
Ned Leeds
Walter Hardy (First appearance)
Emil Greco (First appearance)
Locations:
New York City
Manhattan
Daily Bugle Building
Daily Globe building
Greenwich Village
Peter's Chelsea Apartment
Long Island Military Base
Restwell Nursing Home
Empire State University
New York Prison
Items:
Spider-Man's Web-Shooters
|
| Slot: |
Amazing Spider-Man 265 |
| Item: |
Amazing Spider-Man 265 Modern |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
1355691022
|
Owner Comments
Amazing Spider-Man 265 06/85 1st appearance of Silver Sable. "After The Fox!"
Cover Price: US $0.65
Writer(s): Tom DeFalco
Penciller(s): Ronald 'Ron' Frenz
Inker(s): Josef 'Joe' Rubinstein
Colorist(s): Bob Sharen
Letterer(s): Phil Hugh Felix
Editor(s): Jim Shooter, James Christopher 'Jim' Owsley
Cover Artist(s): Josef 'Joe' Rubinstein, Ronald 'Ron' Frenz
Synopsis: The Black Fox is selling a valuable diamond to his fence, André Bullion. While going over the details André asks if the rumors of the Black Fox's retirement are true. The Fox confirms this, telling his friend that after his next heist he is going to retire indefinitely. Boullion suggests that they have a toast to Fox's career. However, the celebrations is interrupted by the sudden arrival of the police. André tells the Fox to make a run for it, but the police come bursting through the front door. Grabbing the jewels, the Black Fox covers his escape with a gas bomb and leaps out a nearby window. As the Black Fox flees down the street, he is unaware if he is being tracked by two men in a car. Suddenly, a van carrying a number of armed men start chasing the Black Fox. The Fox slips into an alleyway, and when the van tries to stop there, it accidentally rear-ends another car. When the owner of the car demands to know who is going to pay for the damage, he is surprised when one of the men in the van writes him a check, payable by Silver Sable International. In the alley, the Black Fox realizes that these armed men mean business when they begin opening fire on him, but he manages to leap over a fence and get to cover.
Meanwhile, at the Columbia Presbyterian Hospital, Peter Parker is introduced to Harry and Liz Osborn's newborn son, Norman. They are soon joined by Mary Jane Watson who finds the baby adorable. By this time, Peter tells them that he has to go to the Daily Bugle and leaves. As he leaves, Peter is happy for Harry and Liz but grew uncomfortable with Mary Jane's presence especially after she revealed that she knows his secret identity. More upsetting was the fact that she calling him by her old pet name for him, ""Tiger"", which opens up old feelings. This is more trouble for Parker who is still concerned about his Aunt May being upset with him for quitting grad school and how his relationship with the Black Cat is turned sour. Deciding that some web-slinging is in order, Peter slips into the elevator and changes into Spider-Man. As he web-slings across the city, Spider-Man decides to go looking for an opportunity to take some crime photos as he needs the money. He just happens to come across the armed men who are pursuing the Black Fox. The Black Fox is pinned down and is begging to surrender, prompting Spider-Man to leap in and attack the men shooting at the Fox.
While Spider-Man is busy trouncing the armed men, the Black Fox takes the opportunity to escape. When the battle is over, the NYPD's Lieutenant Kris Keating scolds Spider-Man for interfering with a joint effort of the NYPD and the Symkarian government to capture an international jewel thief. Humiliated, Spider-Man leaves, but his presence isn't escaping the notice of the men who were watching the Black Fox. They decide that their employer, Silver Sable, will want to know about Spider-Man's interference. The news soon reaches the Symkarian embassy, and Silver Sable's Uncle Mortimer brings her the news and his concerns about cost overruns. However, Silver Sable already knows about the situation, and given the funding, she is getting she believes that she and her Wild Pack can continue their operation for fifteen days and still turn a profit. As she begins a training session, Mortimer reminds her that Silver Sable International wasn't formed to make money. Silver knows this all too well, how her father founded the Wild Pack to hunt down Nazi war criminals. However, times have changed, and so must the Wild Pack's mission. She quickly incapacitates the men fighting with her, although she accidentally shatters the kneecap of one of the fighters. Suddenly, one the servants tries to attack Sable with a knife. However, Silver Sable is agiler and quickly knocks out this would-be assassin. Suspecting that this killer was sent by one of her enemies, Silver Sable orders Mortimer to have the woman interrogated.
Meanwhile, in Forest Hills, Aunt May is looking through old photographs in the attic of her home. She is called down by her fianceé, Nathan Lubensky, calls her down. He tells her to patch things up with Peter, pointing out while she is upset with him for giving up on his future, she has given up on him. Nathan gets through to May, and she decides to call her nephew. However, whenever she tries to call the line is busy. Incidentally, this is because Peter is trying to call May, but her line is busy since they have been trying to call each other at the exact same time. Peter really wants to talk to Aunt May, but every time he has attempted to see her, something gets in the way of that goal, the incident with the Black Fox being the latest. Unfortunately, Peter can't shake his responsibility and must catch the Black Fox. With his red and blue costume rank from sweat, Peter decides to wear the black and white costume made for him by the Black Cat. As he swings across the city, Spider-Man wonders what he is to do about his costume situation. Although he likes the new black costume, he still has an attachment to the red and blue. However, his thoughts are interrupted by his spider-sense warning him that a nearby helicopter is following him. As Spider-Man ducks for cover, the two Wild Pack agents in the chopper are surprised by how quickly the wall-crawler can move.
At that moment, at a shady dock-side bar, the Black Fox is making arrangements to be smuggled out of the country. He is unaware that one of Sable's agents is present. When the call is put in, the helicopter following Spider-Man is called to that location. Seeing the chopper turning away, Spider-Man decides to follow it and see what is going on. Quickly, the wall-crawler swings up and attaches himself to the bottom of the helicopter. While the Wild Pack prepare to surround the Black Fox, Spider-Man manages to find the thief first. However, the Black Fox manages to escape Spider-Man by using a smoke bomb. Unfortunately for the Fox, when he rounds the corner it is right into the clutches of the Wild Pack. The mercenaries begin opening fire on the Fox. Spider-Man is disgusted by the scene but is thankful that the Wild Pack are using mercy bullets instead of live rounds. Spider-Man webs up the mercenaries and swings away with the Black Fox. Safely on a rooftop, Spider-Man asks what the Black Fox why he is in this area and learns about the thief's attempt to smuggle himself out of the country. Spider-Man is about to turn the Black Fox over to the authorities, but the thief begs him not to, telling the hero that he has a family back in Europe that is depending on him to support them. The Black Fox goes on to say that he let the years slip away. Reminded of the situation with Aunt May, Spider-Man understands and helps the Black Fox escape from the Wild Pack.
While Spider-Man holds off the soldiers, the Black Fox escapes in a motorboat. He gloats about how he was able to trick Spider-Man into letting him go and looks forward to his retirement. However, when he checks his pockets for the jewels he stole, he finds a note from Spider-Man instead. Back ashore, Silver Sable is upset that Spider-Man allowed the Black Fox to escape. She is less upset when he turns over the stolen jewels to her. As the wall-crawler leaves the scene, Silver Sable can't help but find the masked hero interesting and wants to learn more about him. Later, Peter Parker makes a visit to Aunt May's house. When Nathan answers the door, Peter's voice is such a shock to May that she drops a plate on the floor. Peter rushes to her side to help her pick up the pieces. Finally face-to-face with each other, both Peter and Aunt May admit that they both missed each other.
Characters: Featured Characters:
Storm
Gambit
Mystique
Dr. Valerie Cooper
Shadow King in the body of FBI agent Jacob Reizs
Lian Shen
Hounds
Nanny
Orphan-Maker
In Mystique’s photo:
Younger Mystique and Destiny
Story Notes:
This marks the first appearance of Gambit.
The interference the Shadow King senses is probably due to Roma’s spell, which was meant to make the X-Men immune from all forms of detection including telepathy. [Uncanny X-Men #229]
What happens between Val Cooper and Mystique is explained in X-Factor (1st series) #70.
A reason for the Shadow King’s hatred for Mystique hasn’t been given so far.
Featured Characters:
Spider-Man (Peter Parker)
Supporting Characters:
Harry Osborn
Liz Osborn
Mary Jane Watson
Aunt May
Nathan Lubensky
Silver Sable (First appearance)
Antagonists:
Black Fox
Other Characters:
André Boullion (First appearance)
Lt. Kris Keating
Normie Osborn
Wild Pack (First appearance)
Mortimer (First appearance)
Black Cat (Vision)
Ben Parker (Photo)
Locations:
Earth
United States of America
New York
New York City
Manhattan
Lenox Hill
Columbia Presbyterian Hospital
Symkarian Embassy
Peter Parker's Apartment
Queens
Forest Hills
Aunt May's House
Items:
Spider-Man's Web-Shooters
The Black Costume (Not the Symbiote)
Silver Sable's Chai (First appearance)
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