Oct 3, 2023
(Amazing Spider-Man #9, Feb. 1964 - Stan Lee, Steve Ditko)
So much of the humor in these comics has aged like a fine wine. They were already doing jokes like this in the '60s
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(Amazing Spider-Man #9, Feb. 1964 - Stan Lee, Steve Ditko)
So much of the humor in these comics has aged like a fine wine. They were already doing jokes like this in the '60s
(Amazing Spider-Man #9, Feb. 1964 - Stan Lee, Steve Ditko)
The letters page haters continue to be incredible
(Amazing Spider-Man #9, Feb. 1964 - Stan Lee, Steve Ditko)
Scenes like this are a great opportunity to remember that J. Jonah Jameson was created as an exaggerated self-parody of Stan Lee, and that sometimes Ditko's frustrations over being an undervalued freelance artist working for a blowhard editor who loved the spotlight are, uh... visible in scenes between Peter and Jameson. These panels of Jameson freaking out while Peter's all smug give off such intense "I drew you as the crying wojak and me as the gigachad" energy. It's so funny to imagine Lee getting this page back from Ditko and leaning all the way into making his self-caricature a total shithead thinking it's all friendly ribbing. Oh, to be a fly on the wall of that studio in the brief period when they were still on speaking terms...
(Amazing Spider-Man #9, Feb. 1964 - Stan Lee, Steve Ditko)
While Peter could be more of a jerk in the early days, he's still a good kid at heart. Seeing him take care of Aunt May while she's ill tugs at the ol' heartstrings, and him needing cash to pay for her surgery is a good and very grounded motivator. (In fact, later in this story, needing that money will push Peter so far that he caves and gives Jameson doctored photos "proving" Spider-Man is secretly Electro.)
While I don't believe that every take on Spider-Man needs to be exactly the same, I do think you lose something with younger versions of May who Peter doesn't have to keep an eye out for like this. She can be more active and independent, sure, but I feel like that element of Peter worrying about her wellbeing (for normal reasons, not necessarily "a supervillain might get her" type reasons) adds something to their relationship. So does the additional flavor that comes from Peter's parental figures being old enough to be his grandparents. Peter didn't have anyone else to go to after losing his parents, but May and Ben tried their best anyway. Peter's family situation is written pretty broadly by Lee and Ditko, but the messiness of it makes it feel more real.
(Amazing Spider-Man #9, Feb. 1964 - Stan Lee, Steve Ditko)
He's just gonna fuckin' shoot him. With a gun
(Amazing Spider-Man #9, Feb. 1964 - Stan Lee, Steve Ditko)
Old school origin stories rule. Guy gets hit by lightning while working on a utility pole? Yeah, that's enough to give him electric powers
I also love that Electro was just. Always an asshole
(Amazing Spider-Man #9, Feb. 1964 - Stan Lee, Steve Ditko)
Peter please don't say you're putting on "rubbers"
(Amazing Spider-Man #9, Feb. 1964 - Stan Lee, Steve Ditko)
While he's at it Jameson also has indisputable proof that it was Spider-Man on the grassy knoll