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), those written after this by Stan Lee (#96-100 and #105-110), as well as each 100th anniversary edition:
• #100 September 1971 (Vol.1)
• #200 January 1980 (Vol. 1)
• #300 May 1988 (Vol. 1)
• #400 April 1995 (Vol. 1)
• #500 December 2003 (Vol. 1)
• #600 September 2009 (Vol. 1)
• #700 April 2013 (Vol. 1)
• #800 July 2018 (Vol. 1)
• #900 September 2022 (Vol. 6)
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 signed by the late Stan Lee in black sharpie, with perfect positioning of the signature, and graded 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+.
Signatures Series - Artists:
• Volume 5, #55. ASM #856. Third printing/"Virgin" edition, signed by cover artist Patrick Gleason
Publication history: 1963-98 and beyond
The Spider-Man character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko for Amazing Fantasy #15 in August 1962. The pair produced 38 issues of ASM 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 58 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 alternative titles and re-launches, starting from the 701st edition in 2013. The full run is summarised below:
• Amazing Fantasy #15 THIS SET
• #1-441 THIS SET (Volume 1, then #500-700, #789-801)
• #442-499 (Volume 2, #1-58)
• #500-700 (Volume 1)
• #701-733 (Superior Spider-Man Volume 1, #1-33)
• #734-751 (Volume 3, #1-18)
• #752-756 (Amazing Spider-Man Renew Your Vows #1-5)
• #757-788 (Volume 4, #1-32)
• #789-801 (Volume 1)
• #802-894 (Volume 5, #1-93)
• #895-956 (Volume 6, #1-62 at November 2024)
Notes:
Note 1: On 26th September 2024, this set received its 275th viewing - thank you for looking.
Excelsior!
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| The gallery tab shows only items with images. Click the thumbnails to enlarge. |
| Slot: |
Amazing Fantasy 15 |
| Item: |
Amazing Fantasy 15 Universal |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
1118556003
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Owner Comments
Amazing Fantasy #15 (AF15) provided the origin and first appearance of Spider-Man (Peter Parker), as well as the first appearances of Uncle Ben and Aunt May. It was the last Amazing Fantasy comic until 1995. It was also the first one called Amazing Fantasy instead of Amazing Adult Fantasy.
CGC census 12/2019: 3271 (+201)
CGC census 12/2018: 3070
I have the 7th page - the start of The Bell Ringer story. It was neatly signed in a lightly-coloured space (as shown) in black sharpie by the late Stan Lee on 13/10/2012, and encapsulated into the prestigious CGC Signature Series.
The Bell Ringer story: On a small Mediterranean Island of Fisherfolk, Old Pedros is the town bell-ringer. One day the volcano atop the island begins to errupt. The villagers evacuate and put out to sea. Old Pedros, though, stays at the church. "The bells must ring" he tells himself. "Someone will hear. For centuries someone has always heard!" Molten rock streams toward the church. Before it reaches Old Pedros, a ray of sunlight surrounds him. The superstitious villagers swear they saw him ride that ray into the sky. Did their eyes play tricks on them, or did someone hear the bells?
This page is from an incredibly rare and valuable comic, as it represents the origin and first appearance of Spider-Man. There were 3070 copies (22/12/2018) listed in the Registry, of which almost half (1413) are graded at 3.0 or lower. There are six copies graded at the highest-presenting rank of 9.6; 12 at 9.4 and 15 at 9.2.
This book will always sell in any grade. Whether or not it is a great investment depends on how much you paid for yours, and how patient you are. Long-term, I see AF15 as being a solid hold.
• One of the six copies of AF15 graded at 9.6 was sold for $1,100,000 in 2012, making it the second-highest price ever achieved for a comic book (after an Action Comics #1, CGC 9.0, which sold for $3,207,852).
• A CGC 9.4 copy of AF15 sold in 2018 for $705,000. This was a 55% price increase in just two years, following the sale of a CGC 9.4 copy of sold at Heritage Auctions in Dallas on 18/2/2016 for $454,100.
• A 9.2 copy sold for $598,000 in early 2020.
A useful (free) tracker of sales and prices of this comic since 2017 is maintained here.
Stan Lee - creator and writer
Steve Ditko - co-creator and art. (250)
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| Slot: |
Amazing Spider-Man 29 |
| Item: |
Amazing Spider-Man 29 Universal |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
1256866001
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Owner Comments
ASM #29 from October 1965, UK Edition.
Second appearance of The Scorpion.
Never Step on a Scorpion, summary:
While Peter is out shopping for new clothes, Scorpion has his costume returned to him in prison and he escapes, swearing revenge on Spider-Man and J. Jonah Jameson. Back at The Daily Bugle, Peter is talking to Betty Brant and Ned Leeds who has just returned back from Europe for good. A police officer comes in and tells Jameson that an extra security detail has been assigned to protect him from the Scorpion. Spider-Man decides to swing around town to attract Scorpion’s attention but instead is giving Scorpion plenty of time to attack Jameson.
He realizes this possibility and decides to head to The Daily Bugle just in case. When he gets there, Scorpion has already started to run after Jameson. As Spider-Man and Scorpion trade blows, Jameson’s office is demolished, but when the police arrive Scorpion flees outside. As the two fight on the rooftops, Spider-Man creates bolas made out of his web to tangle Scorpion and swings Scorpion around the town and into the Hudson River. As Scorpion splashes about, Spider-Man tangles him in a net of webbing waiting for the police to pick him up.
Once Spider-Man is finished he returns to The Daily Bugle as Peter Parker to check on Betty Brant. When he’s told by Jameson that she was sent home, he calls her house and we see that Betty is on the couch getting rest from the fright-fest that happened earlier. Even more concerning, Aunt May is in the kitchen and she gets a dizzy spell and almost faints.
CGC census 3/2023 = 21. 1 @2.5, 19 higher. 9.0 highest.
CGC census 10/2024 = 29. 1 @2.5, 27 higher, 1 lower (28 Universal, and 1 Qualified). CGC 9.0 highest.
Cover price: 10d
Stan Lee - creator and story
Steve Ditko - co-creator, story, cover and interior art
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| Slot: |
Amazing Spider-Man 90 |
| Item: |
Amazing Spider-Man 90 Universal |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
0280742020
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Owner Comments
Death of Captain George Stacy, Gwen's father.
Doctor Octopus appearance.
This was my 4th Silver Age CGC graded comic.
Story summary "And Death Shall Come": Battling Doctor Octopus on the roof of New York's major power station, Spider-Man is thrown to his death on the streets below. Quick thinking, Spider-Man grabs his foe's mechanical tentacles and uses them to swing through a nearby window. With the tentacles still chasing after him, Spider-Man evades them by hiding in a nearby ventilator shaft. As the arms retreat, Spider-Man tags one with a Spider-Tracer in the hopes of tracking his foe later. He tries to follow after Octavius, but the villain has retreated by the time Spider-Man gets back onto the roof. Slipping away, Spider-Man changes back into Peter Parker in a nearby alley. Feeling faint, Peter stumbles out onto the street where he is confronted by Captain George Stacy, who has been looking for him. Noting that Peter looks ill, George asks his daughter's boyfriend what is wrong, but Peter passes out before he can explain himself.
Later, he wakes up in the Stacy home with Gwen watching over him. When he wakes up, both Gwen and George are happy to see that he is recovering nicely. George remarks how amazing Peter's recouperative powers are, leaving Peter to worry that George might know that he is secretly Spider-Man. Left alone to rest, Peter mulls over this possibility, but notes that if Stacy has figured out his secret, he has done nothing to expose it. After some more rest, Peter decides to track down Doctor Octopus. Using his exhaustion as an excuse not to participate in the upcoming protest, Peter heads back home. Back at his apartment, Peter begins working on a new web fluid formula that will hopefully give him the edge against Doctor Octopus. After rigging up the new batch to his cartridge belt, Peter checks on his sleeping roommate, Harry Osborn, before taking to the roofs and changing into Spider-Man once more.
Spider-Man then scours the city searching for trace of Doctor Octopus. When he begins picking up his Spider-Tracer signal, Spider-Man swings to a nearby window. However, Doctor Octopus had been waiting for him and launches a surprise attack. Their battles takes them to the rooftops where Spider-Man manages to spray his enemy's tentacles. This causes them to flail around out of control. Unable to control his arms, Doctor Octopus has to fend off his own apendages. Spider-Man is not out of trouble either, as the mechanical arms are just as dangerous as ever. When they smash through a nearby chimny, cuasing bricks to raindown on the crowd below. Seeing a child beneath the falling debris, Spider-Man is too far to do anything about it. However, at the last moment, Captain Stacy pushes the child out of the way, getting buried under the rubble in the process. Seeing this, Spider-Man rushes to George's aid, pulling him up onto the rooftops in order to get him to help. However, George has been fatally wounded and is about to die. His final words to Spider-Man is the revelation that he knows that the wall-crawler is really Peter Parker, and tells him to look after his daughter. Peter is horrified, losing George in much the same way as his Uncle Ben. He wonders how he can ever reveal the truth about his double identity to Gwen once she finds out that he is responsible for the death of her father.
Cover price: 15c
Stan Lee - creator and writer
Steve Ditko - co-creator
Gil Kane and John Romita - cover and art. (30)
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| Slot: |
Amazing Spider-Man 95 |
| Item: |
Amazing Spider-Man 95 Signature |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
1025477024
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Owner Comments
ASM 95: Spidey Fights in London.
The cover was very nicely signed with perfect placing by Mr Marvel, the late Stan Lee on 3rd September 2010.
This was my 3rd Silver Age CGC graded comic. Some suggest that this was the last ASM Silver Age comic, with #96 marking the start of the Bronze Age and social awareness through its portrayal of drugs for the first time.
Story summary "Trap for a Terrorist": Swinging through the city, Spider-Man cannot get Gwen off his mind. When he stops in at the Daily Bugle building, Joe Robertson pulls the boy aside and asks him where he's been. When Joe learns that of what happened to Gwen, Joe sends Peter on "Assignment" to England on the condition he takes news photos for the Bugle while he's out there.
Flying there in a jet, he soon comes to learn that an American delegate and his son are on the plan flying to England on important government business. When the plane is taken hostage by hijackers looking to have their colleagues released from prison, Peter manages to slip away and change into Spider-Man, saving the airplane from a bomb, but failing to stop the terrorists from escaping with the delegate and his son.
Spider-Man talks briefly with Scotland Yard, and loses his temper when they want Spider-Man to go back to the police station with them so they can review their records. Spidey swings off to look for the terrorists. He eventually finds them, but with out the delegate. When he learns that they are going to die at at 7:00 unless their demands are met. Spider-Man then begins to scour all of London to try and find them, when he realizes that the terrorists hid them in Big Ben. Spidey rescues them.
However, when he changes back to Peter Parker and is about to see Gwen, he notices the news reports about Spider-Man being in England, and realizes that Gwen could put two and two together and figure out his secret identity. Cursing his stupidity, Peter is forced to go home without visiting the girl he loves.
Cover price: 15c
Stan Lee - creator and writer, signed cover
Steve Ditko - co-creator
John Romita and Sal Buscema - interior art
John Romita - cover. (125)
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| Slot: |
Amazing Spider-Man 96 |
| Item: |
Amazing Spider-Man 96 Universal |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
2003586002
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Owner Comments
ASM 96, May 1971. Thought by some to be the first ASM comic of the Bronze Age. If so, this is possibly because it was the first "above ground" comic book to be published without the clearance of the Comic Book Authority Code.
Story synopsis: Spidey and the drug scene! A new chance for Peter! Mary Jane makes it! And, to top it off - here comes the Green Goblin! Merely Marveldom's greatest!
Story summary: Returning home from England, Peter Parker goes to the Daily Bugle and sells his pictures to Joe Robertson, whose responses to Peter's pictures of Spider-Man in action make Peter wonder if maybe Joe knows of Peter's secret identity. Returning to his classes, Harry asks Peter to join him out to see Mary Jane's performance on an off-Broadway show. Peter reluctantly agrees when Harry offers to pay Peter's way in. While web-slinging as Spider-Man, Peter thinks about Harry's father Norman and their past as foes, when Norman was the Green Goblin. He decides to take Norman up on his offer for a job, deciding it's about time he got a real job. He meets with Norman who takes Peter's request into consideration and tells Peter that he will be attending the show as well.
Web-slinging across town, Spider-Man stops on his way to MJ's show when he spots someone strung out on drugs and saves him from falling off a building. He turns him over to paramedics where the druggie is resuscitated. Spidey quickly leaves and changes into Peter Parker to join the others. When Randy Robertson finally joins them, he gets into a brief argument with Norman Osborn about the reality of drug abuse in the city.
Peter ends up getting the ire of Harry when Mary Jane ends up paying more attention to Peter. During the show, Peter's spider-sense warns him of danger, slowly becoming aware that Norman Osborn is acting very strange. When Harry abruptly leaves with Mary Jane in a jealous fit, Peter decides to follow after Norman Osborn as Spider-Man. Following Osborn into one of the Green Goblin's old safe houses, Peter is shocked to find that Norman's Green Goblin memories have returned and that he's waiting for Spider-Man in full costume.
This is the first "above ground" comic book to be published without the clearance of the Comic Book Authority Code. At the time of its publication, the Code was strict on depicting drug use in comics, and that any works that featured the use of drugs (regardless of context) would be rejected. Since this story dealt with the negative aspects of drug use and depicts people suffering drug overdoses from drug use, the code rejected the story. Stan Lee felt that the story (which reflected drug use in a negative light) was too good to pass up, and had the story published without Code approval. The story was a milestone story, and due to its success, its publication ultimately led to the loosening of restrictions that the Comic Authority Code imposed on creators in terms of story content.
Cover price: 15c
Stan Lee - creator and writer
Steve Ditko - co-creator
Gil Kane and John Romita - interior art
Gil Kane - cover
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| Slot: |
Amazing Spider-Man 100 |
| Item: |
Amazing Spider-Man 100 Universal |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
4441164007
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Owner Comments
ASM #100, September 1971
100th anniversary issue.
Peter creates a potion, and grows four additional arms!
CGC census 9/2024: 5162
Featured Characters:
Spider-Man (Peter Parker)
Supporting Characters:
Aunt May (Dream)
Gwen Stacy (Dream)
George Stacy (Dream)
Daily Bugle Staff (Dream)
J. Jonah Jameson (Dream)
Ned Leeds (Dream)
Betty Brant (Dream)
Antagonists:
Vulture (Adrian Toomes) (Dream)
The Lizard (Curt Connors) (Dream)
Green Goblin (Norman Osborn) (Dream)
Doctor Octopus (Otto Octavius) (Dream)
Kingpin (Wilson Fisk) (Dream)
Synopsis for "The Spider or the Man?"
Spider-Man is patrolling the streets of Manhattan looking for crime. Just when he thinks it is going to be a quiet night, he spots a bank robbery in progress. Spider-Man quickly stops the crooks. After wrapping them up in webbing, Spider-Man leaves them for the police. As he observes the arrest, he wonders what it will take for the people of New York to stop seeing him as a criminal. Swinging away, the wall-crawler comes to realize that being Spider-Man isn't as thrilling as it once was. Watching New Yorkers milling about in the streets he envies them for the normal lives that they live. Returning to his apartment, Peter decides that he wants to spend the rest of his life with Gwen Stacy. With the constant danger of being Spider-Man, he decides that in order for Peter Parker to have a life, Spider-Man must die. Peter then gets to work to create a serum that will strip him of his spider powers. Once complete, Peter drinks the potion and instantly begin getting dizzy. With his head pounding, Peter decides to go to bed and try to sleep it off.
Peter begins to dream, his first thoughts are of how he feels guilty for the death of his Uncle Ben. How, with his Aunt now a widow, he was forced to find a source of income to help support himself and his aunt. To this end, he ended up getting a job as a freelance photographer for the Daily Bugle, whose publisher -- J. Jonah Jameson -- often uses Peter's photos to discredit and demonize Spider-Man. He then recounts how his romance with Betty Brant was lost due to his alter-ego, and how she eventually became engaged to Ned Leeds. However, he now loves Gwen Stacy. He thinks about how Gwen blames Spider-Man for the death of her father.
In this dream, Spider-Man calls out into the sky, asking why he has to constantly live a life of tragedy. Suddenly, he hears a familiar voice calling out for help and begins traveling the rooftops to help. Suddenly, he is attacked by the Vulture who swoops in from the skies. Although the villain has the element of surprise, Spider-Man is easily able to incapacitate his longtime enemy. As the Vulture falls to the ground, Spider-Man snares him with a web line, but no sooner has he done this that he is whipped in the face by the Lizard's tail. Spider-Man struggles with the Lizard, wrapping webbing around the man-monster's mouth. He then flees his new attacker to try and find the person calling for help. He is then attacked by the Green Goblin, who Spider-Man knocks off his glider. Moments later, he is attacked by Doctor Octopus. Like with the other foes, Spider-Man knocks out Doctor Octopus and continues on his trek across the rooftops. He is then attacked by the Kingpin, but despite the villain's great strength, Spider-Man defeats him in hand-to-hand combat.
Spider-Man reaches the voice and is surprised to see the spirit of George Stacy floating in the air. George tells Spider-Man that he knows that Spider-Man is really Peter Parker. He implores Parker to keep his powers to continue fighting against the forces of evil. His final words are that Peter is Spider-Man, and therefore not entitled to a normal life, which is a blessing and a curse. Suddenly, Peter wakes and realizes that it was all a dream. He begins regretting drinking his formula without testing it first as his sides have become incredibly itchy. Removing his sweater, Peter is shocked to discover that he has grown four additional arms in his sleep.
Cover price: 15c
Stan Lee - creator, story, editor
Steve Ditko - co-creator
Gil Kane - penciller
Frank Giacoia - inker
Artie Simek - letterer. (129)
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| Slot: |
Amazing Spider-Man 109 |
| Item: |
Amazing Spider-Man 109 Universal |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
0280742022
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Owner Comments
ASM #19, UK edition
Dr Strange appearance
Story summary "Enter Dr Strange": Peter Parker is stuck by Gwen, unable to go after Flash Thompson's attackers as Spider-Man because Gwen would think Peter Parker is a coward. However, he gets an idea on how to slip away and makes it appear as though he's been kidnapped by Spider-Man. On his way to the Giant One and the Monks of the Light, Spider-Man is confronted by Dr. Strange's astral projection. He convinces Spider-Man to go to his Sanctum Sanctorum, and there he shows that Flash Thompson has been brought before the leader of the Monks and is slated for execution. Dr. Strange then pledges to help Spider-Man save his friend and the two depart to go and save Flash.
Meanwhile, Flash is visited by Sha-Shan, the girl he befriended in the village. She tells Flash that after the bombing, the elder one (her father) was rendered into a coma-like state, and only by sacrificing Flash's life may they bring back their elder ruler. However, when Sha-Shan pulls out a knife, the others find her and pull her away.
While at Harry Osborn's apartment, Gwen arrives and tells Harry that Peter has been "kidnapped" by Spider-Man. When Aunt May enters the room, Gwen lashes out at her when she calls Peter a boy, but she quickly apologizes for her outburst and the two make peace.
Back at the hideout of the Monks, they prepare to execute Flash Thompson when Spider-Man and Dr. Strange burst in the room. As Spider-Man holds off the Giant One and his men, Dr. Strange casts a spell that brings the elder out of his trance. With the elder restored to normal, the followers cease their fighting and the elder absolves Flash of any wrong doing. After Dr. Strange departs, Flash tells Spider-Man that the whole story will be great to tell Gwen Stacy. Spider-Man departs and wonders how Peter Parker is going to be able to compete with Flash Thompson's feelings for Gwen now that he's a civilian again.
Cover price: 6p (UK price variant)
Stan Lee - creator and story
Steve Ditko - co-creator
John Romita - cover and interior art
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| Slot: |
Amazing Spider-Man 200 |
| Item: |
Amazing Spider-Man 200 Modern |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
4387198022
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Owner Comments
ASM #200; January 1980
The origin of Spider-Man is retold.
Cover price: 75c
Stan Lee - creator
Steve Ditko - co-creator
Marv Wolfman - story
Keith Pollard and Jim Mooney - art
John Romita - cover
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| Slot: |
Amazing Spider-Man 400 |
| Item: |
Amazing Spider-Man 400 Modern |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
4102862018
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Owner Comments
ASM #400 with embossed wraparound cover, from April 1995
Death of Aunt May
Stories:
1. The Gift (death and funeral of Aunt May)
2. A Shock to the System
3. The Morning After
CGC census 2/2023 = 1288. 707 @9.8, none higher.
Cover price: none shown.
Stan Lee - creator
Steve Ditko - co-creator
Stan Lee, and J.M. DeMatteis - stories
Al Milgrom, John Romita Jr., Larry Mahlstedt, Randy Emberlin - inkers
Bob Sharen, Chia-Chi Wang, Paul Becton - colourists
Ken Lopez, Bill Oakley, Richard Starkings - letterers
Tom Grummett, Mark Bagley, John Romita Jr. - pencillers. (60)
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| Slot: |
Amazing Spider-Man Annual 1 |
| Item: |
Amazing Spider-Man Annual 1 Universal |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
2135725001
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Owner Comments
ASM Annual #1, 1964.
CGC 1.5, OW page quality.
First appearance of the Sinsister Six.
Cameos of Thor, Giant-Man, Dr. Strange and Fantastic Four.
CGC census 2/2023: 2510
Sinister Six story summary: Having broken out of prison, Dr. Octopus gathers Mysterio, Electro, Kraven the Hunter, the Vulture and Sandman to get revenge against Spider-Man as the Sinister Six. Meanwhile, Spider-Man has once more found that his spider powers have faded and has to exercise more caution getting back home, lest someone take advantage of his lost powers to find out his secret identity.
As Peter Parker wanders the city lost in thought over all the stress caused because of his Spider-Man identity, he doesn't go to school. This prompts the school to call his Aunt May. Worried about Peter, she goes to Betty Brant for help, and they, in turn, see if J. Jonah Jameson has seen Peter recently. This makes them a target for the Sinister Six, who have decided to use Betty Brant as bait to lure Spider-Man, and so they kidnap both Betty and Aunt May.
Peter arrives at the Bugle just in time to see the Vulture delivering a message to Jameson. The Vulture tells him that the Sinister Six has gone to six different locations and at each location has a clue to the whereabouts of Betty and May. While super-heroes all over the city try to find Spider-Man, Peter decides that powers or no powers, he's going to save his Aunt May and Betty from his enemies.
At the first location, the local power plant owned by Stark Industries, Peter faces Electro. During the fight, he realizes that his powers have returned. He easily defeats Electro and learns the next location. When Iron Man arrives to offer help, Spider-Man refuses.
His next fight is with Kraven the Hunter who attacks Spider-Man in Central Park with three tigers. Spider-Man easily fights off the attackers and secures the next clue. Along the way, the Human Torch offers help, but once again, Spider-Man refuses. His next location is controlled by Mysterio, who sends androids based on the X-Men to attack the wall-crawler. Spider-Man easily defeats the androids and Mysterio. The next clue is set ablaze, but Spider-Man recovers its contents with his web-fluid.
His next battle is against Sandman, sealed in an airless room. Spider-Man defeats Sandman with his superior lung capacity. Next, he battles the Vulture high over the city and defeats him as well, gaining the location of Dr. Octopus, who has been holding Betty and Aunt May hostage. May, completely oblivious to her situation, believes they are Octavius' houseguests.
Spider-Man battles Octopus and his mechanical arms. Their fight takes them to a giant fishbowl, where Octopus battles Spider-Man in his "natural habitat." Spider-Man defeats Octopus by filling the tank with his webbing and tangling Octavius up. Spider-Man frees Aunt May and Betty Brant.
Returning to his civilian guise, he meets up with them as Peter Parker. Aunt May remains upset with Peter over his skipping class. Jameson is once more made a fool, when he has to publish a story about how heroic Spider-Man is, and as for the Sinister Six? They are forced to share a prison cell, the villains squabble among themselves.
Cover price: 25c, with UK stamped price of 1'6d
Stan Lee - creator, writer, editor
Steve Ditko - co-creator, cover, pencils and inks
Sam Rosen - letterer. (150r+20)
Prices:
This comic is rumoured to be one with value growth potential, so I decided to keep a record of prices being asked/achieved on eBay.
Summer 2020:
6.5 = £1558
5.5 = £848-1649
5.0 = £1200obo
4.5 = £1199
4.0 = £759-989 (4.0SS, Stan Lee = £1530)
3.5 = £539
3.0 = £498-795 (3.0SS, Stan Lee = £2000)
2.5 = £585
1.8 = £322-555
1.5 = £308
1.0 = £475
0.5 = £193
Summer 2021:
5.0 = £3800
3.0 = 1730-1900 (3.0SS Stan Lee = £2200)
2.5 = £1500-1650
1.5 = £973-1600
1.0 = £878-1000
0.5 = £709-1000
Spring 2022:
7.5 = £5000
7.0 = £4800
6.5 = £4000
6.0 = £3400
5.5 = £2600-3200
4.0 = £2200
3.5 = £1700
3.0 = £1300-1500
2.5 = £1400-1900
2.0 = £900-1100
1.8 = £900-1300
1.5 = £1500-1600
1.0 = £760-1100
0.5 = £492-1100
Spring 2023
7.0W = £5700
7.0OW-W = £3960
6.5OW-W = £2800
5.5OW-W = £2600
4.5W = £1100
4.5OW-W = £2500
4.5OW = £1400-2400
3.5OW-W = £962, 1100, 2000, 2100
3.0OW-W = £915-1150
1.8OW-W = £750
1.8Cream-OW = £650
1.5C-OW = £500-550
1.0OW-W = £440-550
0.5OW-W = £440, 493, 550
0.5C-OW = £263, 320, 600
Autumn2024
6.0 = £1420
5.5 = £1385, 1845
5.0 = £1153, 1307, 1440, 1765
4.5 = £960, 1075, 1192
4.0 = £838, 925, 1535
3.5 = £692, 776, 807, 925, 1192
3.0 = £519, 680, 883
2.5 = £576, 768, 807, 1690
2.0 = £403, 500, 615, 925
1.8 = £346, 515, £1535 SS/Stan Lee
1.5 = £403, 460, 769
1.0 = £325, 460, 769
0.5 = £269, 361, 381, 422, 500, 692, 756, 775
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| Slot: |
Amazing Spider-Man Annual 2 |
| Item: |
Amazing Spider-Man Annual 2 Universal |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
0109680011
|
Owner Comments
ASM Annual #2, 1965.
First appearances of Xandu and the Wand of Watoomb.
Doctor Strange appearance.
This was my 5th Silver Age CGC graded comic.
CGC census 3/2020: 600
CGC census 2/2023: 884
First story - The Wondrous Worlds of Doctor Strange - Spider-Man is disappointed to find all quiet during his night patrol of the city. However, elsewhere a man named Xandu interferes in a bar-room brawl, where two muscular men have challenged everyone present to a fight. Xandu hypnotizes them to feel no pain, and gives them limitless strength to accomplish their task: to steal the other half of the Wand of Watoomb, of which Xandu already possesses one part, from Dr Strange's mansion. As they break in, Dr. Strange tries to distract them, but he is quickly knocked out. The two henchmen find the Wand of Watoomb and exit through a skylight, thereby attracting the attention of Spider-Man. Spider-Man goes down fighting, having been unaware of their supernatural strength: but even as he collapses he plants a Spider Tracer on one of them. Xandu receives the second half of the wand and re-unites it. He reveals that with the complete Wand he can create doorways to other dimensions and times, as well as see any place or object he desires. Spider-Man now interrupts Xandu, but is startled to find himself starting to disappear into an alternate dimension: he grabs the Wand of Watoomb, realizing its importance, and it goes with him. Xandu sends the two henchmen after Spider-Man to get it back. As they fight, Dr Strange regains consciousness and follows the henchmen's traces to Xandu’s lair.
The two do battle as the henchmen bring Spider-Man back to Earth. Xandu regains control of the Wand of Watoomb and uses it against Dr Strange, who, realizing he’s overpowered by the Wand, leaves his physical form and uses his ectoplasmic spirit to aid Spider-Man. At Strange’s suggestion, Spider-Man grabs an electric wire and shorts out the two henchmen’s hypnosis. Dr Strange returns to his physical form and fights alongside Spider-Man, who trips Xandu with his webbing and retrieves the Wand. The Wand is then drained of its mystic power by Dr Strange, who also wipes the memory - and thus the evil intentions - of Xandu.
The comic also contains three of Spider-Man's earliest, greatest, most-requested full-length epics:
1. Spiderman - With the Parker household desperate for money following the death of Ben Parker, Peter Parker decides to continue in show business as Spider-Man. However, not only does he find it impossible to cash his paycheck (made out to Spider-Man), but the irrational editorials by J. Jonah Jameson in the Daily Bugle effectively quelch his career. Besides denouncing Spider-Man as a publicity-seeking phony, J. Jonah Jameson also publishes articles lauding his son, John Jameson, a courageous astronaut about to be launched into orbit in a space capsule. J. Jonah Jameson calls his son a "real hero."
The day of the launch finds Peter Parker at the launch site as an observer. The rocket takes off successfully, but a guidance system error causes it to go wildly off course and re-enter the atmosphere. Spider-Man appears at the launch site and offers to replace the defective 24-3B guidance unit in the plunging capsule with a spare. Because there is no way for the military to get to the capsule in time, they allow Spider-Man to try.
Spider-Man commandeers an aircraft and pilot, and together they fly toward the space capsule's re-entry point. Although the capsule is falling fast, Spider-Man manages to get hold of it with his webbing and climbs aboard. He quickly replaces the faulty guidance unit. As a result, John Jameson regains control of the capsule, gets it properly oriented, and opens its parachute. To the joy of all concerned, the astronaut is saved.
Thinking that Spider-Man has at last proved himself, Peter Parker is shocked when he reads J. Jonah Jameson's editorial in the next edition of the Daily Bugle. Spider-Man is accused of deliberately sabotaging the space capsule and staging the rescue as a publicity stunt. With public opinion turning against Spider-Man with each new editorial in the Daily Bugle, Peter Parker's position is as hopeless as ever.
2. The Uncanny Threat of the Terrible Tinkerer - Peter Parker is busy in the Midtown High School science lab when Mr. Warren introduces him to Professor Cobbwell. The professor needs an assistant for the weekend, and Peter Parker comes highly recommended. The next day, Peter runs an errand to the Tinkerer Repair Shop, where Professor Cobbwell has left a radio to be fixed. But in the basement of the shop, a group of what are apparently extraterrestrials have been placing spy devices into the radios of certain customers. The spy devices evidently enable them to estimate the earth's strengths and weaknesses in secrecy before they strike.
Spider-Man's Spider Sense detects an odd kind of radiation emanating from the shop basement. Later, this same kind of radiation is detected from the radio brought back to Professor Cobbwell's laboratory. His curiosity aroused, Spider-Man secretly returns to the Tinkerer's shop and sneaks into the basement, where he sees the "aliens" and the Tinkerer and deduces their plans. Unfortunately, he is spotted, and, in the ensuing battle, he is stunned by one of the Tinkerer's electrical weapons. He is placed into a "resisto-glass" enclosure, from which the Tinkerer and his gang believe he cannot escape. They plan to kill him by withdrawing all the air from the enclosure.
Spider-Man thwarts their plan by shooting web fluid out of the holes through which his air supply is being withdrawn. He hits the button on their control panel that opens his glass prison. A misdirected weapon starts a fire, and the Tinkerer and the "aliens" all flee. They appear to leave the earth in a large spacecraft, while all that remains of the Tinkerer is a face mask in Peter Parker's hands.
3. Marked for Destruction by Dr. Doom - After a report by J. Jonah Jameson about the "menace" of Spider-Man, Peter (in order to avoid any suspicion that he's really Spider-Man) speaks negatively about his alter ego, earning him harsh words from Flash Thompson. Meanwhile, Dr. Doom had seen this same report, and decided that after surviving his last encounter battling the Fantastic Four, that perhaps Spider-Man would make for a good partner to eliminate his mortal foes.
Doom uses a device which sends out a signal that affects Peter's spider-sense, and Peter goes to it as Spider-Man. Doom offers Spider-Man an alliance. Spider-Man naturally refuses and a brief battle ensues in which Spider-Man escapes. While back at Midtown High, Flash has decided to play a prank on Peter Parker by giving him a "scare" in his new Spider-Man costume in the hopes of getting Parker to have more respect for Spider-Man.
This prank backfires, as Dr. Doom begins trying to track down Spider-Man to get revenge. As Thompson is near Peter when Doom is tracking Spider-Man, he captures Thompson instead. Doom then sends out a message to the Fantastic Four to battle him or Spider-Man will be killed. Peter at first believes that Flash deserves his fate, but his sense of responsibility sends him out to rescue Flash anyway.
Spider-Man goes to Flash's rescue, and manages to hold his own against Doom's weapons and attacks. However, when the Fantastic Four arrive as well, Doom decides to flee the battle. Spider-Man decides to leave as well, leaving the Fantastic Four to rescue Thompson, hoping that he learns his lesson. The next day at school he sees otherwise, as Flash boasts about his experience. Peter, needing to keep his identity as Spider-Man secret, of course cannot say anything otherwise.
Cover price: 25c
1st story credits:
Written and edited by the toast of Marvel: Stan Lee
Plotted and drawn by the boast of Marvel: Steve Ditko
Lettered and bordered by the ghost of Marvel: Sam Rosen
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| Slot: |
Amazing Spider-Man Annual 3 |
| Item: |
Amazing Spider-Man Annual 3 Universal |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
2135725002
|
Owner Comments
ASM Annual #3, 1966.
Avengers and Hulk appearances.
Daredevil cameo.
Cover price: 25c
Stan Lee - creator and writer
Steve Ditko - co-creator
John Romita, Don Heck and Mike Esposito - art
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| Slot: |
Amazing Spider-Man Annual 4 |
| Item: |
Amazing Spider-Man Annual 4 Universal |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
2135725003
|
Owner Comments
ASM Annual #4, 1967.
Human Torch, Wizard and Mysterio apperances.
Cover price: 25c
Stan Lee - creator and writer
Steve Ditko - co-creator
Larry Leiber and Mike Esposito - art
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| Slot: |
Amazing Spider-Man Annual 5 |
| Item: |
Amazing Spider-Man Annual 5 Universal |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
2135725004
|
Owner Comments
ASM Annual #5, 1968.
First appearance of Peter Parker's Parents (Richard and Mary).
Red Skull and Fantastic Four appearances.
Cover price: 25c
Stan Lee - creator and writer
Steve Ditko - co-creator
John Romita - cover
Larry Leiber, Mike Esposito and Marie Severin - art
|
| Slot: |
Amazing Spider-Man Annual 6 |
| Item: |
Amazing Spider-Man Annual 6 Universal |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
2135725005
|
Owner Comments
ASM Annual #6, 1969.
Sinister Six appearance.
Cover price: 25c
Stan Lee - creator and writer
Steve Ditko - co-creator
John Romita - cover
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