My History of Comic Collecting - By Set Type - Part III

[BooZeR]

ASM #101-#200

 

SET DESCRIPTION:

When I started collecting comics, I was years 9 old and the year was 1982. Back issues were still affordable, so when I went to my local comic store to buy new issues, I would also pick up a copy or two of something in the 100s.

 

The first issue I picked up from this set was #136 - I read this before I even knew that Norman Osborn was the Green Goblin or how he had died - So, to this day, I still consider Harry Osborn to be the real Green Goblin.

 

When you really think about it, the origin and treatment of Harry as the Green Goblin was far more interesting than anything they ever did with the Norman Osborn Green Goblin.

 

And...as I was reading about Norman's death and Harry becoming the Goblin for the first time, the Hobgoblin was making his first appearance in ASM #238.

 

I was also reading about Peter's relationship with Mary Jane getting serious after Gwen's death at the same time I was reading about Mary Jane coming back into Peter's life in the new issues (which resulted in the two of them getting married).

 

I think the juxtaposition of the events of the comics in this set to the new ones being released at the time made these stories that much more powerful - Being able to immediately see the results of what had happened in the past and how it now affected Peter's life was awesome.

 

And interwoven through all of this was the whole Jackal/clone story that spread across 2 years and introduced some of the best characters and villains of all time. Too bad they (almost) destroyed the memory of what Conway and Andru had created with that clone saga krap in the 90s.

 

Anyway, these are definitely some of the most memorable Spider-Man comics of all time...

 

...Well, for me at least.

 

 

 

Here are my top 10 comics / story arcs from this set, starting with number 10:

 

10)

#198 / #199 / #200 - These 3 issues were a nice way to transition from the 70s to the 80s. Probably Marv Wolfman's best work on ASM.

 

9)

#169 / #170 - Jameson confronts Peter about the pics that showed him disposing of the clone. Dr. Faustus messes with Spidey's mind. The stories really had a Lee/Ditko old school feel to them.

 

8)

#138 - "Madness Means the MINDWORM!" This was a bit of a filler issue, but I liked the creepiness and the pacing of the story. And for some reason I was really drawn to the Mindworm character.

 

7)

#129 - ...And not for the reason that everyone thinks. I love this issue because it is the first appearance of the Jackal. For the next 20 issues the Jackal would make life hell for Peter (and Spider-Man) and the team-up of Gerry Conway and Ross Andru on this run was unbelievable!

 

6)

#150 - The moment that Peter realizes that he cannot be the clone because of the way he feels about Mary Jane is one of the best moments in Spider-Man history. Too bad the clone saga in the 90s (almost) destroyed it.

 

5)

#113 - Love the cover! Doc Ock is my favorite Spidey super villain and this is also the issue that introduced Hammerhead, who was also a great villain, and not only for Spider-Man but for Doc Ock as well.

 

4)

#134 / #135 - Two great covers! Seemed like all the covers that used yellow as the background color were great back then. And #134 was the first appearance of Tarantula, who was one of my favorite Spidey villains.

 

3)

#121 / #122 - This is an obvious one, but I remember re-reading these 2 issues over and over and over again. Very powerful stuff!

 

2)

#136 / #137 - The return of the Green Goblin! Crazy Harry Osborn was awesome! And another great yellow cover on #136.

 

1)

#147 / #148 / #149 - Great stories...Great reveals...Great art...Great covers...Great ending to the Jackal saga! This was Conway and Andru at their very best!

 

And there you have it. A bunch of issues that really stood out for me (and still do). It is comforting to know that I have this entire run slabbed and well preserved. Thanks CGC!

 

[surfer99]

I can't get the image of Gwen Stacy hooking up with Norman Osborn out of my head...that whole thing with them having kids just ruined Spiderman for me. Marvel took one of the best storylines ever (121-122) and just destroyed it with that "this is what really happened" trash.

 

 

 

 

[BooZeR]

You've got that right -- It was an interesting concept, but it really seemed to come out of nowhere.

 

And I can't believe JMS had anything to do with writing that. I really like the JMS/JRJR run, but after JRJR left, the title went down the toilet -- especially with the "Sins Past" storyline.

[Brandon Shepherd]

I read the story about Gwen and Norm back in 2008/09, I'm still *#$&@ that it was recommended to me. I had picked up a few Spidy trades, like the Death of Gwen, the intro of Venom, and Vol. 1 of the JMS run. I was looking to venture out into other Spidy stories, that's how I came across the infamous stoyline of about Gwen's dirty little secret.

[surfer99]

I read the story about Gwen and Norm back in 2008/09, I'm still *#$&@ that it was recommended to me. I had picked up a few Spidy trades, like the Death of Gwen, the intro of Venom, and Vol. 1 of the JMS run. I was looking to venture out into other Spidy stories, that's how I came across the infamous stoyline of about Gwen's dirty little secret.

 

In my mind, that whole storyline went the way of the clone saga...it never happened! Gwen died as Spidey's hot and loyal girlfriend, end of story.