Set Description
BooZeR's SPIDER-MAN (1990) Set
I started collecting Amazing Spider-Man in 1982, with ASM #227 being the first Spidey comic I bought fresh off the newsstand. I couldn't wait for each new issue to appear at my local variety store as I became more familiar with Peter Parker, his life, his friends, and marveled at his adventures as Spider-Man.
Fast forward to 1987 and my interest began to wane. My favorite Spidey team of Roger Stern and JRJR were long gone. Ron Frenz had finished his run on ASM with issue #284, and even though I liked Frenz's art, it felt like most of the stories were fillers and the resolution to the identity of the Hobgoblin in issue #289 was done in a lame flashback that has been retconned since (to say he was brainwashed into thinking he was the Hobgoblin).
But then...Amazing Spider-Man #298 came out and just by the cover, I could tell something special was happening. McFarlane had arrived to inject some much needed life back into our favorite wall-crawler. Spider-Man had barely appeared on an ASM cover leading up to that issue, and if he was on it, he was either getting his butt kicked, or was drawn poorly. (check it out, go back as far as ASM #262 and see for yourself). The Spider-Man on the cover of #298 was awesome. He looked cool, was in a great pose, and those webs! OH THOSE WEBS!!!
And it didn't stop there. Every issue after that until McFarlane's departure with issue #328 had a great cover and incredible Spider-Man action inside. I was loving ASM again! When McFarlane departed ASM we all found out he had gotten his own Spidey title that was coming out that same year and we couldn't wait to see it, buy it, read it, and try to replicate that cover as much as possible.
I even went to my first convention (it was in Toronto) back in the early 90's because McFarlane was making an appearance and I brought my copy of #300 with my to get signed. I was poor at the time and could only afford one signature from him...Even back then he was charging $100 per sig. He signed my copy in gold pen and that made me really happy. I had heard that a gold signature was better than a silver signature. Who knows if that is true, but it made my day nonetheless.
Needless to say, this set has a special place in my heart, and having a full 9.8+ run is my ultimate goal. The vast majority of this set is made up of issues that I had bought from my local comic shop back when they first came out. I subbed my raw #20 to #50 issues first for pre-screen 9.8 and only two were rejected. The back half was a little tougher as 14 of the issues were rejected, but I've been scouring for mint raws every since.
So, now I am down to needing only 3 more 9.8s to complete this entire set - #50 (regular edition), #98 (regular edition), and the TPB (blue cover - 1st print). I am not including #91 Newsstand Edition that is listed as I think it doesn't belong as a variant in this list. Every issue had a newsstand variant so why bother listing this one?
I've added a nice high res pic to every registry entry, and have listed some set highlights below...So please enjoy!
Thanks,
BooZeR
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SET HIGHLIGHTS:
I think kicking things off with these is a good start:
SPIDER-MAN #1
With a perfect score of 10...I picked this up a few years ago and so glad I did. I don't think I could ever part with this one.
SPIDER-MAN #1 PLATINUM EDITION
Who didn't want the platinum version as a kid? I was so jealous that only store owners got these. Our local comic shop owner flaunted his copy by hanging it on the wall behind the cashier's desk with a sign that read: "A gift from my friend Todd. NOT for sale". What a jerk!
SPIDER-MAN #13
I really like this version more than the original -- The black costume just looks killer. Glad I was able to find a 9.8 signed by Todd. I'll probably get it re-labeled with the special Spidey label at some point.
  
GOLD EDITION and UPC GOLD EDITION -- Both signed by Todd McFarlane and Stan Lee.
 
A few rarer ones:
SPIDER-MAN #65 VARIANT COVER
After subbing a few of these, I finally got a 9.8. I have three more raws that JR JR signed at NYCC 2019 and are currently with CGC for a press and grade. Currently, eight blue label and only one signed 9.8 on the census. There were only 1000 of these printed, so quite rare.
SPIDER-MAN: TORMENT TPB DIAMOND DISTRIBUTOR'S EDITION
I am extremely happy that I was able to buy and sub a raw copy of the Diamond TPB and it received a 9.8...The only 9.8 on the census! Only about 500 of these were printed and because of the way they were bagged a lot of them have color lift on the back cover, so a 9.8 is hard to get...She's a beauty, ain't she?
SPIDER-MAN: TORMENT TPB
Only three of these graded and all 9.6s...And I own them all. URGH! So close, but not 9.8s. I have a few more raws to sub and hopefully get a 9.8 on at least one of them. I sent in all three 9.6s plus the raws to get signed by McFarlane at the private CGC signing.
  
SET AWARDS:
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