Spider-Variant

For 30 years, I always read Peter's thoughts as ' "Kung Fu Fighting" is our song.' Statement, not Question. As if Peter were making a joke. The song always reminds me of this panel when I hear Carl Douglas belt it out.

Yes, but does she like his music?

Definitely could be the Ross Andru Amazing Spider-Man Club dress code, lol. Steve @Get Marwood & I got any more of those sweet Peter Parker sweaters in your closet?

For years the width of the spaces between the escalator stairs stood out to me in this double page splash by Ross. "Ross, you made them too wide" I said to myself. Those don't look like any escalators I have ever seen. Why did Ross draw them that way, I must have wondered? Well, that's how they were in the real NY Coliseum. (Yes, I know I have posted this one before, but upon finding that pic of the original art, it came back to mind.)

Here is a little bit nicer of an image of Pete in a sweater. Look at the detail Ross puts into that Skylab. I suspect Mr. Romita helped on a few of these faces, most notably MJ's.

Did you notice the Peter Parker sweater?

Steve, I couldn't agree with you more on the hurried and slap dash comment. I remember picking up this graphic novel in 1992 and thinking it at the time. I love Ross and Mike, but this book was not their best.

Completely forgot Ross actually drew the black suit Spider-Man. Not sure why that surprises me, as ASM 252 came out in 1984, eight years before Ross drew this page for the Spider-Man Graphic Novel: Fear Itself. Probably one of the last few images Ross drew of Spider-Man, before his untimely death in Nov. 1993.

Not disagreeing, but if Walmart stiffs you, you can go down the road to Target. With one of a kind items, your ability to go to another provider is nearly non-existent.

Marvel Chipping

I have posted the comparison of what Ross Andru drew during his visit to the Brooklyn Navy Yard from ASM 164 before, but here is an aerial of exactly where Ross was standing when he photographed/sketched his depictions of this final scene. It's like a time machine to me, to track down the exact spot Ross used for his locations. As shown, this is why I said before that Mrs. Fisk's limo was heading for the river, lol. The power station has long since been demolished when the overhead view was taken.

Here's another example of Ross Andru's consistency from the lost Spider-Mobile saga. While being chased by the police, Spidey drives his "fiasco" off the end of Pier A in Battery Park in ASM 141. The building that Ross depicted on the pier is currently the Harbor House, but when Ross drew it, the NYFD was using it. Before that, there was a Marine and Aviation division occupying it. Ross took some artistic liberties (the building structure hasn't changed since at least 1940) when he featured his version of the building. If you look at the clock tower on the actual building, it's to one side of the building, but Ross drew it right down the center in ASM 141. When Spidey goes searching for the car in ASM 157, Ross again puts it right down the center of the building. Earth shattering stuff? No Consistency? Most definitely

Me too. I love that 1975 picture of Roosevelt Island and the Queensboro Bridge. The Queensboro Bridge was probably the most used real life reference by Ross Andru during his five year run on the Amazing Spider-Man. In that picture, you can see the UN buildings in the background which Ross put on the splash to ASM 156 and depicted in ASM 182 as well. Also is the Con-Ed Power Plant on 41st street, again appearing on the ASM 156 splash and in ASM 152. Steve sent me this quote from Partners for Life by Dan Best and Mike Esposito in reference to ASM 162. Mike said "Ross took a Polaroid camera and sat in the actual tram and took pictures from every angle. His wife would hold the camera and he'd direct. He spent half the day going back and forth across the river, taking photos."

I shared earlier a comparison of Ross Andru's depiction of the Roosevelt Island Tram from Amazing Spider-Man 162 to the real building, but that picture was from the other end of the line. Here, Ross draws the Punisher and Spider-Man landing on the Roosevelt Island end of the tramway. I found a great photo from 1975 (Ross would have drawn this issue around May 1976) that displays all the small details Ross put into the tramway station building and the Roosevelt Island Power Station. He even drew the stripes on the power plant stacks. I circle the matches in different colors to highlight the effort Ross put into this fondly remembered issue. Also, since we are on this page, here is a side by side comparison of his original pencils versus the finished panel. Notice how some of the detail of the power plant got hidden behind the letter's box. This issue (and the one before it) was my first exposure to the X-men.

Oh Yeah, that's a good deal. I love mine, totally recommend this at $75.

Always liked this Madam Web better than the elderly one.

No sir, I'd say we and the rest of the regular posters did alright in highlighting the work of our favorite Spider-Man artist whilst having a few laughs along the way.

Hey @Get Marwood & I, today Mark's the third anniversary of the creation of this thread. We've been bantering back and forth for 3 years.

I actually really liked the Tarantula but he's a villian that should have lasted about two panels worth of Spider-man's beat down.

Maybe it was an inside joke?

We have drifted so far out to sea, hopefully this will head us back to shore. Page 31 of Amazing Spider-Man 134. Finished original art by Ross Andru, Frank Giacoia, and Dave Hunt on the left. Xerox of Dave Hunt's background inks over Ross's pencils on the right. The notes below the bottom panel reads "Leg and Arm Temp Paralyzed. Spidey Summons Up His Last.." and "Spidey's Spent". The sequence of production must have been Penciler, Letterer, Background Inker, Inker. I really think Dave Hunt and Frank Giacoia inking Ross was the best combination.

(I know, but I have to tell them that's it's still in play, so posters will guess at these award winning trivia questions.)

And of course, by Ross Andru thread tradition, the other half of @Get Marwood & I 's half-eaten Twinkie.