The Sting of the Hornet

This issue starts out pretty bad-ass. Scotty is having a dream in which he’s a flying super-villain named the Hornet, and fighting Spider-Woman. When he wakes up he questions it, because he actually loves Spider-Woman. BUT his unrequited love is only a few steps removed from rage, and he ends up smashing his apartment up a bit (with uncharacteristic strength). When there’s a knock on the door, a stoner delivery man with a mysterious package pisses Scotty off even more, calling him “the White Rock girl“. That’s when Scotty passes by a mirror and sees, growing from his back, a pair of wings! :O

New wings — that work! — and new strength. And, when Scotty opens the package, he discovers a new Hornet costume, identical to the one in his dream. Scotty’s new power, new outfit, and his precarious mental state transform him into the Hornet, who seems to be a bit of a hateful jerk.

Later we learn this is all the plan of Dr. Malus, the same crazy who was working with the Fly and the Enforcer, and who rescued Scotty in the last issue. The motivation for said rescue is now clear, as Malus used it as an opportunity to drug Scotty and use him to his own ends. Those ends are a bit unclear, but maybe I just don’t understand criminal genius.

This was a great issue, at least by Spider-Woman standards. Hurrah!

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The Strangest Teens of All

A fun little Team-Up-type tale pitting Spider-Man and the X-Men against Kraven and the Blob. The story had a nice pace, good action, and some cute foreshadowy jokes that I thought worked really well. I’m looking forward to the rest of this series, though I think the issues are spaced out chronologically, so I may not get to them for a bit.

This is set sometime after Spidey and the X-Men first meet, but I didn’t really put in the effort to figure out exactly where. Sometime while Pete’s dating Gwen.

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The Gamma Gambit

Yes, that’s right: toilet paper. This comic was printed on toilet paper. Back in 1979, you too could wipe your asshole with your favourite super-heros.

In this story, Spidey and the Hulk (in their civilian identities) are both watching a radiation demonstration when in bursts the Leader. Both heroes fight him and then go on their separate ways. The story was short, simple, and fun. And it was printed on toiler paper.

This is definitely not in the correct spot. In it, Peter doesn’t know that the Hulk’s alter ego is Bruce Banner. This means it must come at least before Marvel Team-Up 53.

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Dark Phoenix

Child of Light and Darkness!
Writer: Chris Claremont
Plotters: Chris Claremont, John Byrne
Penciler: John Byrne
Inker: Terry Austin
Letterer: Tom Orzechowski
Colorist: Bob Sharen
Originally published: August 1980

The Fate of the Phoenix
Writer: Chris Claremont
Plotters: Chris Claremont, John Byrne
Penciler: John Byrne
Inker: Terry Austin
Letterer: Tom Orzechowski
Colorist: Glynis Wein
Originally published: September 1980

Elegy
Writer: Chris Claremont
Plotters: Chris Claremont, John Byrne
Penciler: John Byrne
Inker: Terry Austin
Letterer: Tom Orzechowski
Colorist: Glynis Wein
Originally published: October 1980

The Dark Phoenix Saga, plus one. Spidey appears very briefly in X-Men 135 and as a kind of out-of-context floating-person kinda thing in 138 (which should probably be excluded).

This was quite good, I’m glad I read it.

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From the Ashes…

Finally done with stupid ass Spider-Woman comics for a bit.

Peter Parker only appeared in this for one panel, photographing Cap at a new conference. Despite being basically Spidey-less, this was an awesome issue. It was an incredibly dark story that involved Sharon Carter dying, Cap retiring, and a disturbingly gruesome look at World War II. It was extremely well done.

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Requiem!

Well…Aunt May certainly appears to really be dead. BUT I DON’T BELIEVE IT.

This was a crazy issue. In addition to Pete grieving like crazy over Aunt May, Robbie Robertson quits! We also learn that Robbie had another son before Randy, and that he died as a child.

This was a pretty interesting issue. Not action-packed by any means, but that was one reason why it was so awesome. Really nice characterization and plotting here.

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Might of the Monocle!

Since this takes place the same day as ASM 193, it should take place before those Hostess ads.

This was a really great, if fairly standard, hypnosis story. I usually get annoyed when Spidey and the Torch team up, but this had a really good pacing and was actually funny a bunch of times. Kudos!

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Till Death Do Us Part!

There was a sweet interesting twist here — Carrion created a “protoplasmic pre-clone” of Peter Parker, a “Spider-Amoeba”. That’s kind of awesome.

This was really great except for this panel:

Also, it’s snowing at the end. I thought it was still spring/summer. I’m going to assume everything’s cool, and it’s just a freak occurrence.

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Secret as the Grave!

My guess at the start of this issue — Carrion is a Miles Warren clone. Man, that would be awesome.

….and…I was right! Awesome town!

Great issue, but I hope they explain where some of Carrion’s powers come from.

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Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory

Spider-Man is blind! O NOES! To make matters worse, he’s severely sprained his ankle.

By the way, I thought the Masked Marauder was dead. What happened there? I guess he came back at some point, despite having been disintegrated.

I feel like I should know who Carrion is, but I don’t. How does he know Pete’s secret identity? (At least I assume he does, since he was waiting in Pete’s apartment when MJ and Betty showed up.) Have I totally forgotten something in all the ordering kerfuffle I went through?

This was an awesome issue! I can’t wait to see where it’s all going.

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By the Light of the Silvery Moon Knight!

Moon Knight. Is. Awesome. Also, really cool art by Zeck and Patterson, it’s a totally different style from what I’ve been seeing, and it works great.

I loved this issue!

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Still Crazy After All These Years

MJ is totally sending Peter some mixed messages, but she still doesn’t want to marry him.

As far as bad guys go, the Scorpion re-emerges, ostensibly stronger and faster than ever. Spidey’s pissed and fed up, though, and just smashes the crap out of him. It’s really cool to see, and Scorpion’s demasking at the end was awesome.

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The Final Rage!

Cool cover homage to the classic Ditko art in ASM 33.

Everything is wrapped up in a neat little package, with the Man-Beast seemingly destroyed and Sha-Shan and Bobby Sue saved. Awesome arc!

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The Goblin’s Always Greener…!

Well, as I suspected, Harry Osborn was not the new Green Goblin! Yet another cliffhanger here, as Spidey, the Goblin, and Silvermane seem to be plummeting to their deaths.

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He Who Laughs Last…!

This issue picks up right after the end of the last, with Spidey bringing JJJ back to safety. The next morning, Aunt May has a heart attack while fighting a cop.

Later, the Green Goblin finally makes his appearance, and the issue ends with him tossing Flash Thompson out of a window. Len Wein wants me to think the Goblin is Harry Osborn, but I suspect otherwise…

This issue was really good, and got back to a lot of the personal lives of the characters, and more interesting back-story stuff.

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Spider-Man in “Legal Eagle”

November 1977:
Conan the Barbarian #80, Howard the Duck #18, Defenders #53, Champions #16, Godzilla #4, Black Panther #6, Captain Marvel #53

December 1977:
Conan the Barbarian #81, Defenders #54, Howard the Duck #19, Eternals #18, What If #6, Godzilla #5

Hostess ad that appeared in November and December 1977 in the titles above, and most likely others.

Every part of this is weird. First, MJ is hanging out with Spider-Man — not Peter, Spidey. Also, they are hanging out in Washington, DC. They randomly stumble upon “Ralph G. Fake, the criminal laweyer with the power to change himself into Legal Eagle, the monster eagle” — as identified by MJ — stealing and attempting to destroy the Bill of Rights. After this he plans to take over the Supreme Court and the presidency! Spidey gets him by setting up a Hostess Cupcake trap, which Fake just cannot ignore. The whole thing was awesome!

I have no idea about the placement of this — I’ll have to keep an eye out for Spidey and MJ going to DC — but this doesn’t seem right.

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The Fiend from the Fire!

If You Can’t Stand the Heat…!
Writer: Len Wein
Illustrator: Ross Andru
Embellisher: Jim Mooney
Colorist: Glynis Wein
Letterer: John Costanza
Originally published: October 1977

Rocket Racer was incredibly lame, but after his extremely brief appearance, the books got into a solid Molten Man story. I totally enjoyed these, mostly because we’re finally seeing some character development and villains that actually interact and impact the lives of Peter and his friends.

Spidey gets shot at the beginning of the #173, which is pretty cool.

Andru’s Molten Man art is really awesome, especially this panel:

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Spawn of the Spider

Chaos at the Coffee Bean!
Scripter: Scott Edelman
Debut penciler: Johnny Romita, Jr.
Inks: Al Milgrom
Letterer: Joe Rosen
Colorist: Nel Yomtov
Originally published: 1977

This first story was pretty awesome. It once again involved Spidey trying to get involved in the movie industry, only to be foiled by some spider-costumed goons, the Spider Squad. It was nice to get into some kinda normal Spidey stuff — this had a fairly classic feel to it.

The second story (which I had to add into the list, because it wasn’t there) was fast, but good. The twist end was a little predictable, but I still enjoyed it. This story was the debut of John Romita Jr.!

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The Litter

This issue is kinda in the right spot. Most of the issue is a flashback to right after Marvel Team-Up 66, when Captain Britain and Spidey are hanging out, and when Brian Braddock is living with Pete. However, the framing sequence is set pretty far in the future of my current place in the timeline, so I guess that is technically out of order.

This issue was exactly what I was hoping the previous one would be – it’s all about Captain Britain and Spidey getting to know one another, and about their personal interactions. It was far more interesting than the previous two actual Team-Up issues. In the end, Pete ends up teaching Brian a valuable lesson by kicking him out of the apartment and telling him to grow up.

Great stuff! (Except for the really stupid dog-villains.)

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Who is — the Man Called Photon?

A whodunnit! Awesome! Nova’s uncle gets killed, and everyone in the house is a suspect. This is just like Clue!

“The answer will be revealed in the Amazing Spider-Man no. 171!”

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Spider-Man and Madam Web!

July 1977:
Defenders #49, Rawhide Kid #140, Marvel’s Greatest Comics #71, Howard the Duck #14, Marvel Triple Action #36, Champions #14

August 1977:
Ghost Rider #25, Star Wars #2, Kid Colt Outlaw #219, What If #4, Godzilla #1

Hostess ad that appeared in July and August 1977 in the titles above, and most likely others.

This one’s really weird. It features a character named Madam Web that loved Spider-Man, but was rejected by him. For revenge, she entangles NY Harbor in a web, and allows the police to blame Spider-Man. To get her to clean up the mess and take the blame, Spidey gives her a bunch of Twinkies. Unfortunately for Madam Web, the cops confiscate them. :(

I really love the backstory suggested by this. I kinda hope it gets explored one day. I’d love the see Madam Web appear in a full-length comic, especially because she comes off as totally crazy (mostly because of the Twinkies thing, I admit).

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Spider-Man and the Cupcake Caper

March 1976:
Champions #4, Howard the Duck #2, Defenders #33, Conan the Barbarian #60, Master of Kung-Fu #38, My Love #39, Marvel Triple Action #28, Amazing Spider-Man #154…

April 1976:
Master of Kung Fu #39, Conan the Barbarian #61, Defenders #34, Power Man and Iron Fist #30, Black Goliath #2, Ka-Zar #15, Amazing Spider-Man #155…

Hostess ad that appeared in March and April 1976, in the titles above and most likely others. Based on publication date, I read this in the wrong order.

Pete spots his old foe, Man Mountain Marko, outside MJ’s apartment. Explaining that he needs to get milk for their Hostess Cup Cakes, Pete takes off to defeat MMM. When he gets back, MJ greets him with a little jab about how the cupcakes are better than him.

This was a great ad. I love that they brought back Man Mountain Marko for it, and that they captured the rockiness of MJ and Pete’s relationship and her frustration with his constant disappearances. Good stuff.

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Spider-Man and the Kidnap Caper

January 1976:
Defenders #31, Master of Kung-Fu #36, Marvel’s Greatest Comics #61, Champions #2, Amazing Spider-Man #152…

February 1976:
Black Goliath #1, Power Man and Iron Fist #29, Master of Kung-Fu #37, Weird Wonder Tales #14, Son of Satan #2, Conan the Barbarian #59, Super Villain Team-Up #4, Champions #3, Amazing Spider-Man #153…

Hostess ad that appeared in January and February 1976, in the titles above and most likely others. Based on publication date, I read this in the wrong order.

In this installment, Aunt May is missing. When Peter gets home, he finds out she’s been kidnapped by some nameless crooks and is being ransomed for $50k. As Spidey, he goes to do the exchange but, instead of bringing the money Spidey brings along a suitcase full of Twinkies.

There are some interesting things about this ad. First, Pete is shown to be living in his current (according to the publication date) apartment, the one with the skylight. That is a nice attention to detail. Second, Spidey slips up and calls May “Aunt May” in front of the crooks, thereby possibly giving away his secret identity. Finally, Aunt May, after being rescued by Spider-Man, doesn’t seem to hate Spidey as much as she has in the past (and possibly future?).

I liked all those details above, so this gets a good rating!

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Madness is All in the Mind!

Man, the Wraith is a really awesome bad guy. He’s got crazy sweet powers. And, we learn this issue, that he might be the ghost of Jean DeWolff’s brother! :O

Great issue, I’m loving this Bill Mantlo stretch on Team-Up.

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A Past Gone Mad!

Death in the Year Before Yesterday!
Writer: Bill Mantlo
Illustrators: Sal Buscema, Mike Esposito
Letters: K. Mantlo
Colors: J. Cohen
Originally published: April 1976

Future-Shock!
Story: Bill Mantlo
Art: Sal Buscema, Mike Esposito
Letters: Jean Izzo
Colors: George Roussos
Originally published: May 1976

…Am I Now or Have I Ever Been?
Story: Bill Mantlo
Art: Sal Buscema, Mike Esposito
Letters: John Costanza
Colors: P. Goldberg
Originally published: June 1976

After a brief interlude with that Family issue, we’re back to more time travelin! Woo!

Team-Up #43 – big, long, giant fight where Spidey, Vision, Scarlet Witch, and Doom all get their asses kicked.

Team-Up #44 – Moondragon shows up, and together everyone is able to beat the Dark Rider. The “witches” of Salem, though, still hang.

Team-Up #45 – Total War of the Worlds story as Spidey is flung into the future to fight invading Martians with Killraven. It’s 2019, “just eighteen years since the second Martian invasion of Earth!” Oh snap!

Team-Up #46 – Still in the future, though now in the year 1990 (!!!), Spidey meets up with Deathlok and fights radioactive zombie kids and the government!

I did not like that the Scarlet Witch killed a cat in #43, but I guess I can live with it, since Spidey was in mortal peril. :(

These aren’t the most amazing stories ever, but shit, they’re a lot of fun. TIME TRAVEL!

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