Spider-Variant

My pleasure. I served 8 years in the US Navy aboard submarines. I guess I did learn a little, lol.

Submarines used to travel on the surface for a lot longer than submerged, so they looked more like ships than the modern subs of today.

I always thought that Spidey's head looked a little Ditkoesque on this cover. Second Spidey I ever owned.

Well, for me, subscriptions meant never missing an issue. But once I got serious about collecting, it was game over for subscriptions.

I went to school in Memphis, but never knew about the price variants until years later. I probably could have scored big time had I known. I did actually buy a couple of 35 price variants off the stands when they were first distributed from the Memphis area. I was visiting some family (and my grandmother in the hospital) in the Memphis area, but when I got back to Georgia and bought the next issue, I noticed the price had went back down. I tracked that stuff as a kid, and was pleasantly surprising. Until of course all issues went to 35 cents.

Marvel used to mail the subscription issues such that they could be folded to fit into mail boxes. The result was the heavy crease down the center of the book, like this ASM 50. When I had a subscription in the Bronze Age, the subscription books were mailed with a brown wrapper around it, but open at the ends. No carboard, just the wrapper which had your mailing address on it. I didn't have any creases, just blunt corners.

Truth be told, I was never a big fan of any of these villains: Big Wheel, Rocket Racer, and the White Dragon. All appearing in Ross's final few issues. Why? Because they should not have lasted more than 2 minutes in a fight with Spider-Man. Ok, maybe five on the Big Wheel in his machine. But you say Spider-Variant, what about an old man like the Jackal? Yes, give him only 10 seconds against Spidey (unless Spidey was drugged like issue 149), but the Jackal never really went toe to toe against Spider-Man; he was always lurking in the shadows. And for that, he makes the cut.

Proud Mary Jane keep on burning

A quick read through the beginning of the Amazing Spider-Man series shows me that the first usage of "Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man" appears to be in Amazing Spider-Man #17 (Marvel, 1963). https://bleedingcool.com/comics/recent-updates/origin-spider-mans-friendly-neighborhood/#:~:text=A quick read through the,17 (Marvel%2C 1963).

I have a chisel if you have a fast car Spider-Mobile....

Just a fun, fun issue. It took me forever to figure out where Ross was when he drew that panel. Although I have shared this splash comparison before, here is a new picture to compare it to, as someone challenged me to find a picture with the fire hydrant in it.

I was very fortunate to have discovered mail order at an early age. I did have a subscription starting around ASM 193 or so, but many of my earlier issues were all from mail order. My $3 mail order ASM 129 was around an cgc 8.0.

Now who's being a show off?

That group shot is a real dichotomy for me, my all-time favorite ASM cover (97) juxtaposed with two of my least favorites, at least of the Bronze Age covers. Great group of books though!

It is truly a gem. I was literally going to come over here and post that exact same image Steve, that's how inspired I was with it (and bored at work, if I am honest). Notice how Frank Giacoia reduced the number of rows of webbing on Spidey's mask from 4 down to 3. I think I like Ross's original better. Oh, does anyone think Punisher looked good with blue boots? It's a big no from me.

@Lee B., too funny, I just found this today on comiclink and was going to post about it. I always thought Dave brought so much to Amazing Spider-Man. I hope this goes for a billion dollars (although my salary would not be able to pay anywhere near its worth). Thanks for bringing this to the attention of our little thread. Just an incredible find.

Really nice books. If I ever were to replace some of my fondest issues, that ASM 145 would be one of them.

Seems like only yesterday my older brother and I were picking up issue 145 off the stands. Absolutely love that issue.

Thanks for the kind words Steve. As you and I have discussed before, the problem with the thread format is that this post will eventually reach the bottom of the bin, never to be looked at again. The data, like all your research, would be better served in a permanent gallery, where others could find it more readily.

I bet you are correct on all fronts Steve. That page 2 does have a Parkeresque feel to it, no doubt. I've seen some of these pages identified with different numbers, but for the most part, I think I have it correct.

Sure has my friend. Miss the days of the Variant Mafia.

Thanks @ADAMANTIUM! Not sure I really had a tone per se. I read on another board someone said they would like to see the book put back together, so I thought I would give it a shot. I don't think I would have exactly enjoyed this story, but hard to tell without some of the missing pages and dialogue. I like the Fradon/Mooney combination, and I enjoyed Ramona's new take on the Cat's costume design as well. Would have been interesting to see what color it would have been. Ramona has drew it apart from this issue and colored it red. Hmmm.....

Could this have been the planned cover for Beware! The Claws of the Cat? Preliminary by Gil Kane, unidentified superheroine. Note how similar it is to the cover he drew for Ghost Rider #2, published in Oct. 1973.

I'm not even sure why I started this project, as I have never collected any issue of the Beware! The Claws of the Cat series. I was a fan of Tigra though, so maybe that is reason enough. I wanted to see if I could put the entire story together from the unpublished issue #5, written by Linda Fite, drawn by Ramona Fradon, and inked (some pages, maybe not all were inked though) by Jim Mooney. Had it been published, it would have had a cover date of August 1973. I own none of the art below and have cobbled the story together from various sources. Below each page, I wrote out the story, as I didn't know how well some of these scans would show the dialogue. There are some pages missing, and some pages that only have pencils and are not lettered. This is everything that I can find so far. Page 1: Splash: ALONE AGAIN (NATURALLY), GREER NELSON - - A.K.A THE CAT - - DOES NOT SUSPECT THAT THE SNARE BEING SET BY A SINISTER SORCERESS WILL SOON MAKE HER… SPELLBOUND! Greer thinking “I FEEL SO DOWN TODAY, BUT THERE’S NOTHING TO DO ABOUT THE BLUES EXCEPT WAIT FOR THEM TO GO AWAY.” Page 2: No lettered page available. Page 3: Panel 1: The Cat thinking “MY FEET CLAWS ARE STRONGER, TOO - - EVERY ACTION IS SMOOTH AND PRECEISE…” Panel 2: The Cat thinking “THEY RESPONSE MORE DIRECTLY TO THE MOVEMENTS OF MY MUSCLES AND TENDONS.” Panel 3: The Cat thinking “NOW FOR A GOOD TEST - - ” Panel 4: The Cat exclaiming “IF ANY OF THIS UNDATED EQUIPMENT IS FAULTY, I’LL FIND OUT - - --THE HARD WAY!” Panel 5: The Cat exclaiming “SUCCESS!” Panel 6: The Cat thinking “THINK ILL HEAD OVER TO LOOP. I’M STARTING TO FEEL BETTER- - NOTHING BEATS EXERCISE FOR MAKING YOU FEEL ALIVE - - --EXCEPT FALLING IN LOVE.” Panel 7: The Cat thinking “BRIGHT LIGHTS, BIG CITY -- WHOOPEE. IF YOU’RE SO DARN COOL, GREER - - WHY AREN’T YOU DOWN THERE TRIPPING THE LIGHT FANTASTIC?” Page 4: Panel 1: Story Dialogue A GENT IN BLUE PROVIDES THE ANSWER: Cop 1 exclaiming “HEY CAL! THERE SHE IS - - THE CAT!” Cop 2, Cal, responding “OKAY - - LET’S GET HER.” Panel 2: The Cat thinking “WHA – THE POLCIEMAN HAS HIS GUN DRAWN!” Cop 1 exclaiming “COME DOWN HERE! WE WANT TO TALK TO YOU.” Panel 3: The Cat thinking “I THOUGHT THEY WERE ON MY SIDE AFTER I ROUNDED UP MAN-BULL.”* *Editor’s note reads: LAST ISH, REMEMBER?- - R. Panel 4: The Cat thinking “BUT THAT GUN TELLS ME IT AIN’T NECESSARILY SO.” Cop 1 exclaiming “STOP OR I’LL SHOOT!” Panel 5: The Cat thinking “MY LORD! HE MEANS IT! THOSE BULLETS ARE REAL!” Panel 6: The Cat thinking “NO WARNING SHOTS - - NO EXPLAINATION. WHAT’S THE MATTER WITH THOSE GUYS?” Panel 7: The Cat thinking “I DON’T KNOW - - BUT I’M NOT HANGING AROUND TO FIND OUT.” Page 5: Panel 1: The Cat exclaiming “GADS! THEY MUST BE PSYCHIC!” Cop 1 exclaiming “HOLD IT RIGHT THERE! YOU’RE UNDER SUSPICTION- -“ “- - FOR MUDRDER AND KIDNAPPING.” Panel 2: The Cat thinking “MURDER? WHAT’S HE TALKING ABOUT?” Panel 3: Cop 2 exclaiming “DON’T SHOOT HER, ORTIZ. SHE’LL FALL TO HER DEATH…AND WE’LL NEVER KNOW WHERE LAKUYA IS.” Panel 4: Story Dialogue SUCCESSFUL EVADING HER PURSUERS, GREER MAKIES IT BACK TO HER APARTMENT. The Cat thinking “MURDER?? AND KIDNAPPING?” “WHY DO THEY THINK I’M INVOLVED?” Panel 5: The Cat thinking “I’LL SHEE IF THERE’S ANY INFO ABOUT THIS ON THE TUBE- -“ TV SET ANNOUNCING “… FEAR THAT LAKUYA HAS BEEN KIDNAPPED. POLICE ALSO REPORT THAT THE MISSING ANGOLAN ENVOY’S CHAUFFEUR WAS FOUND DEAD NEAR THE CAR, ALLEGEDLY CLAWED AND TORN AS IF BY SOME WILD BEAST.” Page 6: No page available. Page 7: Panel 1: Greer speaking “WOW! THIS HOUSE IS FANTASTIC! HAVE YOU LIVED HERE LONG?” Graymalkin speaking “MY FAMILY HAS OWNED IT FOR FIVE GENERATIONS! WOULD YOU LIKE SOME TEA?” Panel 2: Graymalkin speaking “THIS IS MY OWN SPECIAL BLEND... I HOPE YOU LIKE IT.” Panel 3: Greer thinking “THIS WOMAN IS NO CRANK - - I SENSE A POWERFUL FORCE AT WORK.” Greer speaking “MMM… IT’S STRANGE - - BUT GOOD.” Graymalkin thinking “THIS GIRL IS NO MERE GRADUATE STUDENT - - “ Graymalkin asking “NOW, WHAT CAN I TELL YOU, MISS D’AMATO?” Panel 4: Greer responding “WELL, I’VE BEEN DOING RESEARCH ON THE …THE…I…WANTED TO ASK IF … UNH…” Graymalkin asking “ARE YOU ALL RIGHT, MISS D’AMATO?” Panel 5: Graymalkin words swirling around Greer’s head “ARE YOU ALL RIGHT?” “ARE YOU ALL RIGHT??” “ARE YOU ALL RIGHT?” Page 8: Panel 1: Story Dialogue GREER’S MIND REELS…HIDEOUS HALLUCINATIONS LOOM BEFORE HER CLOSED LIDS - - Greer thinking “THE TEA … SHOULD HAVE KNOWN… SO CARELESS…” Panel 2: Story Dialogue QUICKLY GREER LOSES CONSCIOUSNESS - - Panel 3: Story Dialogue ONLY TO AWAKE AN UNDETERMINED PERIOD LATER IN A CLAMMY, VAULTED… Greer exclaiming “DUNGEON?!” Panel 4: Story Dialogue SUDDENLY A DOOR CRASHES OPEN, AND A WEIRD PROCESSION ENTERS - - Panel 5: Greer thinking “IT’S GRAYMALKIN - - AND THE WHOLE COVEN OF WITCHES. THEY HAVE A MAN TIED UP - - IT MUST BE LAKUYA!” Page 9 (above): No lettered page available. Page 10: No page available. Page 11 (above): No lettered page available. Page 12 (deleted): No lettered page available. This page was slated to be deleted per note on top of the art board. Page 12 (note the number 12 written in pencil over 13 on top of page): Panel 1: The Cat thinking “IF IT WEREN’T FOR THIS MASK, I’D HAVE A HARD TIME SEEING, TOO…” Panel 2: The Cat thinking “GOT TO SHIFT THIS STONE COVER.” Panel 3: Story Dialogue SLOWLY, GREER PUSHES OPEN AN EGRESS - - AND CLIMBS OUT INTO THE MOONLIT GARDEN. Panel 4: Story Dialogue SWIFTLY SHE GLIDES ACROSS THE SHADOWED LAWN Panel 5: Story Dialogue WITH SILENT STEPS, SHE APPROACHES THE GREAT HOUSE. Page 13 (note the number 13 written in blue pencil over 14 on top of page): Panel 1: The Cat thinking “NO LIGHTS ON DOWN HERE - - ” Panel 2: The Cat thinking “AH! THERE’S SOMETHING - - UP ON THE SECOND FLOOR.” Panel 4: Story Dialogue THE CAT CLIMBS UP WARILY, PEERS IN THE GOTHIC-ARCHED WINDOW - - Panel 5: Story Dialogue - - AND IS STUNNED BY THE LOOMING, HIDEOUS FANTASMS CAVORTING AND CATERWAULING IN THE FIRELIGHT. Page 14 (note the number 14 written in blue pencil over 15 on top of page): Panel 1: The Cat thinking “MY LORD! GRAYMALKIN DIDN’T LIE! THERE’S LAKUYA - - ” Panel 2: The Cat thinking “- - CONNECTED TO A CAT BY SOPHISTICATED EQUIPMENT.” Panel 3: Story Dialogue THE FRENZIED CRIES INSIDE BECOME MUFFLED AND CONCENTRATED IN AN UNITELLIGIBLE CHANT. Panel 4: Story Dialogue ONE MACBRE FIGURE REACHES FOR A LEVER, AND - - Page 15 (note the number 15 written in pencil over 16 on top of page): Panel 1: Story Dialogue - - THE CAT CRASHES THROUGH THE WINDOW! Panel 2: The Cat asking “WHAT’S WRONG HAZEL? NO QUICK SPELL TO STOP A RIGHT FIST?” Panel 4: The Cat saying “SORRY TO STOP THE AUDITION. YOU WERE SINGING SO NICELY, TOO” The Cat thinking “EACH OF THESE CREATURES IS FEROCIOUS - - AND LETHAL.” Page 16: Panel 1: The Cat saying “IF I EVER PRODUCE A ROCK OPERA OF MACBETH, I’LL CALL YOU.” Panel 2: The Cat thinking “UNCONSCIOUS! CAN’T ESCAPE NOW - - I MUST FIND GRAYMALKIN!” Panel 3: The Cat thinking “SO MANY OF THEM - - THEY SEEM TO SPRING FROM NOWHERE.” Panel 4: The Cat stating “THIS SHOULD MAKE YOU HARPIES COOL DOWN A WHILE.” Panel 5: The Cat thinking “THEY APPEAR TO BE …SHRINKING?” Panel 6: The Cat saying “WHA - - ? OH NO!” Page 17 (note the number 17 written in pencil over 18 on top of page): Panel 1: The Cat exclaiming “THE ASPCA WOULD NEVER APPROVE OF THIS - - EVEN IF I TOLD THEM THESE AREN’T ORDINARY CATS!” Panel 2: The Cat saying “I TRUST YOU FELINES HAVEN’T USED UP YOUR QUOTA OF LIVES.” Panel 3: Story Dialogue WITHOUT WARNING, THE CATS THEMSELVES SEEMED TO CHANGE - - INTO TOWERING BEASTS… Panel 4: Story Dialogue …BEASTS OF FICTION, NIGHTMARE CREATURES, MENACING AND TERRIFYING. Page 18: Panel 1: Story Dialogue NOT TRUSTING HER EYES, GREER IS FORCED TO BELIEF BY THE DEADLY COLD TOUCH OF A SCALY TALON. Panel 2: Story Dialogue A SHOCK WAVE OF FORCE SLAMS GREER AGAINST THE WALL - - Panel 3: The Cat thinking “IT - - IT’S OPENING!” Panel 4: The Cat exclaiming “GRAYMALKIN! YOU’VE CREATED THESE MONSTERS SCIENTIFICALLY!” Panel 5: Graymalkin exclaiming “KEEP AWAY! MY SYSTEM TOOK YEARS TO PERFECT!” Panel 6: The Cat exclaiming “YOUR SYSTEM…ILLUSIONS? HOLOGRAMS? WHAT? WHATEVER THOSE MONSTERS ARE MADE OF - - I’M GOING TO STOP THEM!” Graymalkin exclaiming “NO! NO! YOU MUSTN’T RIP AT THOSE WIRES - - THE BALANCE IS TOO DELICATE!” Panel 7: Story Dialogue THE DAMAGE DONE TO THE EQUIPMENT HAS A STRANGE EFFECT ON THE PUPPET-MONSTERS... Page 19: Panel 1: Story Dialogue THEIR ELECTRO-STRINGS ARE FIGURATIVELY CUT, AND THEY ATTACK THEIR CREATOR - - Graymalkin yelling “AIEEEE!” Panel 2: The Cat thinking “I HAVE TO WORK FAST! THE ONLY WAY TO DESTROY THE BEASTS IS TO DESTROY THE SYSTEM.” Story Dialogue SUDDENLY - - SILENCE! Panel 3: Story Dialogue THE MONSTROUS SHAPES, WITCHES, CATS’ CARCASSES, AND ALL THE TRAPPINGS OF SOCERY - - ALL GONE! The Cat thinking “NOTHING … NOTHING AT ALL. THE SYSTEM BLEW - - AND EVERYTHING WENT WITH IT. BUT HOW? GRAYMALKIN MUST HAVE ESCAPED.” Panel 4: Story Dialogue GREER HURRIES OVER TO LAKUYA’S INERT BODY. The Cat thinking “HE’S WEAK AND EXHAUSTED, BUT HE’S FINE. I’LL CALL THE POLICE FROM A PHONE BOOTH AND TELL THEM WHERE HE IS - - ANONYMOUSLY.” Panel 5: The Cat thinking “LAKUYA’S STORY WILL CLEAR THE CAT WITH THE AUTHORITIES.” “AND THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO LOCATE GRAYMALKIN - - IF SHE’S AROUND.” Panel 6: Story Dialogue THE DUSKY DAWN STREETS OF CHICAGO HOLD NO CLUE IN THE MYSTERY OF A NOW EMPTY MANSION - - WHERE THE CAT DANCED LAST NIGHT WITH DEATH AND THE DEVIL. THE END

Funny, with my collection long sold, I only have reprints of the stories now. Typically, my reprints stop at Amazing Spider-Man 185.