Description

The Amazing Spider-Man               Hardcover w/ Dust Jacket
Marvel Fireside Hardcover Edition
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Johnny Romita

Spider-Man is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer-editor Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko, he first appeared in the anthology comic book Amazing Fantasy #15 (August 1962) in the Silver Age of Comic Books. He has since been featured in films, television shows, novels, video games, and plays. Spider-Man is the alias of Peter Parker, an orphan raised by his Aunt May and Uncle Ben in New York City after his parents Richard and Mary Parker died in a plane crash. Lee and Ditko had the character deal with the struggles of adolescence and financial issues and gave him many supporting characters, such as Flash Thompson, J. Jonah Jameson, and Harry Osborn; romantic interests Gwen Stacy, Mary Jane Watson, and the Black Cat; and foes such as Doctor Octopus, the Green Goblin, and Venom. In his origin story, Spider-Man gets superhuman spider-powers and abilities from a bite from a radioactive spider; these include clinging to surfaces and ceilings, superhuman strength, speed, and agility, and detecting danger with his precognition ability called “spider-sense.” He also builds wrist-mounted “web-shooter” devices that shoot artificial spider-webs of his own design that was meant to be used for shooting and trapping his enemies, and web-swinging across the city. After the personal tragedy of his late Uncle Ben, Peter began using his spider-powers to fight against crime as Spider-Man.

Stan Lee (born Stanley Martin Lieber /ˈliːbər/; December 28, 1922 – November 12, 2018) was an American comic book writer, editor, publisher, and producer. He rose through the ranks of a family-run business called Timely Publications which would later become Marvel Comics. He was the primary creative leader for two decades, leading its expansion from a small division of a publishing house to a multimedia corporation that dominated the comics and film industries.

Features:
Prologue, introductions, and epilogue by Stan Lee
Includes reprints from Amazing Spider-Man #42,43,82,96,97,98

The Amazing Spider-Man Fireside Hardcover contains:The Birth of a Super-Hero (Amazing Spider-Man #42)
At first it seems that Spider-Man has robbed a bank and drops the bag and its contents in the river near the Queensboro Bridge. Then it is reinforced when at the Daily Bugle Building Frederick Foswell comes rushing in looking for J. Jonah Jameson to tell him that Spider-Man has just robbed a bank. Betty brant is there at the Bugle talking to Ned leeds. We find Jameson at Kennedy Airport with his son John. On John’s recent spacewalk he contacted space spores. This reaction to the space spores suddenly increase his size and make him stronger. Within sixty minutes, the doctors agree that the spores must come from Jupiter and not long after this diagnosis that Stark Industries have provided a special suit for John Jameson. After hearing from Frederick Foswell at the Bugle that Spider-Man has robbed a bank, the senior Jameson suggest that John become a super-hero and should battle Spider-Man. Meanwhile at a nearby courthouse the Rhino lies unconcious until the doctors leave and slam the door on the way out. At the same courthouse Foggy Nelson decides to accept the defense of the Rhino. At that moment the Rhino almost escapes but is subdued by a Spray Tranquillizer. Back at Empire State University Gwen Stacy invites Peter to a Party at her house on Sunday but he must decline as he is to meet his neighbors’ niece Mary Jane Watson. Spider-Man then fights John Jameson and explains why he was robbing the Bank at the beginning of the story. Finally, Peter does meet Mary Jane and her famous first words are “Face it tiger…you just hit the jackpot!”
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Rhino on the Rampage! (Amazing Spider-Man #43)
The Rhino’s tranquilizer wears off and he begins another escape from jail seeking out Spider-Man. At the Daily Globe, Ned Leeds and Betty Brant announce their engagement, but the scene changes to Peter Parker being enamored by Mary Jane at home. A TV bulletin interrupts and announces The Rhino’s escape. Peter realizes Spider-Man must confront him and Mary Jane suggests they go downtown to watch the action. As The Rhino stomps around looking for Spider-Man, he has a flashback of how it all began. Chosen for his muscle and low intelligence, two scientists working for professional spies applied a special rhinoceros suit that bonded with his skin. After the application, The Rhino mysteriously gained intelligence and turned on his creators, going into business on his own. As Peter and Mary Jane reach downtown, Peter slips away to become Spider-Man and confronts The Rhino. As they battle, The Rhino leads him to where innocent bystanders and police are watching. The Rhino’s charge connects with Spider-Man and leaves him woozy and he comes back to finish him. A police officer makes a last second grab for Spider-Man and saves him. The Rhino thinks that Spider-Man is dead and hunts for John Jameson. While cashing in on his photos of the battle, Peter hears about John Jameson being moved to another hospital and thinks The Rhino may attack again. Having picked up a bit of The Rhino’s hide from the earlier fight, Spider-Man brings it to Dr. Curt Connors for analysis. Spider-Man meets The Rhino at the hospital and hits him with reformulated webbing which burns through the rhino hide and is captured. Peter heads home and learns that Flash Thompson has been drafted for the war and that Aunt May is ill, since she hadn’t refilled her medication, due to the cost.
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And then came Electro! (Amazing Spider-Man #82)
With the bills mounting up it’s just another problem adding up for Peter Parker. Still visiting his Aunt May and blaming himself for her recent fainting spell, Peter is visited by Mary Jane and her Aunt Anna. Gwen then calls and invites Peter out to Flash Thompson’s farewell party (as he is returning to duty in Viet Nam.) When out trying to find crimes in hopes of taking pictures of Spider-Man in action, all Peter gets for his trouble is being doused with soot from the smoke stack. When swinging by a television station, Spider-Man decides that maybe he should try his luck at show business and bursts in on a group of network executives in a meeting and offers the chance to appear on one of their late night talk shows. Believing that it could mean big ratings, the men agree to put Spider-Man on as a guest on the Midnight Show, a popular late night talk show. Unawares to Spider-Man, Max Dillion — his old foe Elecetro — has been released on parole and has been given a job at the television studio as an electrician. He is furious that he has to report to a parole officer all the time, and is aching to get back into the world of costumed villianry. That night when listening to one of J. Jonah Jameson’s televised editorials, speaking out against Spider-Man’s appearance on the show, Dillon finds a good excuse to get back into action as Electro. As Peter’s financial woes get the better of him, causing him to snap at another one of Flash’s harmless flirtations towards Gwen, he storms out of the going away party. Jameson meanwhile is visited by Electro who offers to defeat Spider-Man during his television appearance for a thousand dollars, in exchange for good press to make him sound as though he’s a hero. Gwen catches up with Peter, where they talk about his insecurities and inability to balance his life and they make up once more. At that same time Jameson is getting Joe Robertson and George Stacy to join him for that evenings taping of the Midnight Show, Joe is a little more than suspicious of Jameson’s interest in the show. While later, Peter learns when he has to appear on the Midnight Show as Spider-Man, but realizes his costume is still a mess. Although the whole experience is embarrassing, Peter puts on a disguise (including a paper bag over his head) so he can go to the laundromat to clean his Spider-Man costume. That night at the Midnight Show, his interview is cut short when Electro attacks. Although the audience flees, Jonah stays on location to watch the fight. Spider-Man manages to defeat Electro by swinging his foe into some live wires causing a short circuit which knocks both of them out. Electro manages to escape, and Spider-Man decides to slink off as well because he will certainly not be paid after all this. Upon getting home, on top of all his other problems Peter finds that parts of his costume have been burnt, as well as his own hands. Feeling the defeat, he resigns himself to bed.
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…And Now, The Goblin! (Amazing Spider-Man #96)
Returning home from England, Peter Parker goes to the Daily Bugle and sells his pictures to Joe Robertson, who’s responses to Peter’s pictures of Spider-Man in action make Peter wonder if maybe Joe knows of Peter’s secret identity. Returning to his classes, Harry asks Peter to join him out to see Mary Jane’s performance on an off-broadway show. Peter reluctantly agrees when Harry offers to pay Peter’s way in. While web-slinging as Spider-Man, Peter thinks about Harry’s father Norman and their past as foes, when Norman was the Green Goblin. He decides to take Norman up on his offer for a job, deciding it’s about time he got a real job. He meets with Norman who takes Peter’s request into consideration and tells Peter that he will be attending the show as well. Web-slinging across town, Spider-Man stops on his way to MJ’s show when he spots someone strung out on drugs and saves him from falling off a building. He turns him over to paramedics where the druggie is resuscitated. Spidey quickly leaves and changes into Peter Parker to join the others. When Randy Robertson finally joins them, he gets into a brief argument with Norman Osborn about the reality of drug abuse in the city. Peter ends up getting the ire of Harry when Mary Jane ends up paying more attention to Peter. During the show, Peter’s spider-sense warns him of danger, slowly becoming aware that Norman Osborn is acting very strange. When Harry abruptly leaves with Mary Jane in a jealous fit, Peter decides to follow after Norman Osborn as Spider-Man. Following Osborn into one of the Green Goblin’s old safe houses, Peter is shocked to find that Norman’s Green Goblin memories have returned and that he’s waiting for Spider-Man in full costume.
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In The Grip Of The Goblin! (Amazing Spider-Man #97)
Continued from last issue… Norman Osborn’s Green Goblin-persona has returned and Spider-Man has stumbled upon him. After a brief battle across the city, the Goblin escapes vowing to strike back at his arch nemesis. Changing back to his civilian identity, Peter worries over that damage the Goblin can do now that he remembers Peter’s real identity. Returning home, he finds Harry who is stressed out over his studies and over the turbulence in his relationship with Mary Jane. Peter becomes concerned when he finds that Harry has been popping pills. The next day when Peter and Harry head off to class, Mary Jane once more snubs Harry in favor of Peter. Peter scolds her for her behavior, but she tells Peter her avoidance of Harry is a long story. Harry meanwhile has gone to his dealer and bought more pills. Peter looks for Harry, but cannot find him and decides to resume his hunt for the Green Goblin after he learns of reports of thefts across the city. Giving up as Spider-Man, he tries Osborn’s office as Peter Parker, but it turns out to be another dead end. Later that day, Harry confronts Mary Jane over her giving him the cold shoulder, fed up with Harry’s behavior, Mary Jane dumps him. Harry returns home where he takes it out on Peter, Peter tells Harry off, and Harry goes off to take more pills. Peter goes off on another fruitless search for the Green Goblin. When he returns home, he finds that Harry has overdosed from the pills and needs immediate medical help. Before Peter can call for an ambulance, the Green Goblin appears outside the apartment challenging Peter once more.
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The Goblin’s Last Gasp! (Amazing Spider-Man #98)
Continued from last issue… The Green Goblin has attacked Peter Parker at the apartment that he shares with Harry Osborn just as Harry is in dire need of medical help after a drug over dose. When the Green Goblin tries to attack, Peter tries to get the Goblin to see the state his son is in, the Goblin, not wishing to remember his son flees. Peter is able to call an ambulance and Harry is taken to the hospital. Meanwhile in England, Gwen Stacy begins to realize that leaving Peter behind to move to England was a big mistake and decides to return back to New York and find Peter, and hopefully patch things up. While back in the state, Peter finishes his classes and is confronted by Harry’s dealer who tells Peter to pass along the fact that he has more pills to sell Harry. When Peter calls him a creep, the dealer calls his thugs to beat Peter, however Peter manages to easily defeat them with the help of his spider-strength. Beating the dealer into submission, Peter warns him that if he catches the man dealing drugs again, the next beating will make this one seem worse by comparison. While at the Bugle, news of Harry Osborn’s drug overdose has reached Jonah’s desk, Jonah asks Joe how he’s going to present the story in the papers. Joe tells him that he’s going to explain that drugs aren’t just a ghetto problem, but everyone’s problem. Peter, meanwhile, has resumed his identity of Spider-Man and is once more scouring the city looking for the Green Goblin. When he finds him the two are locked in a battle, which is prolonged because Spider-Man forgot to refill his web-shooters. However, he manages to perch himself on the Goblin’s shoulders and force him to fly to the hospital and LOOK at his son. Realizing his son’s condition causes the Green Goblin to return to his Norman Osborn identity and pass out. Peter then takes him back home, strips off and destroy his Goblin costume and leaves, hoping that this is the end of the Goblin’s scourge. Things end happily for Peter, when upon returning home he is greeted by Gwen who had just returned from England.
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Hardcover w/ Dust Jacket is bagged and will be carefully / securely packaged then shipped via USPS Priority Mail to ensure that it arrives to you perfectly and quickly.

First Printing
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Publication Date: 1979
Format: FC, HC, 10.25″ x 7″
ISBN-10: 0671248847
ISBN-13: 9780671248840

Collectible Entertainment note: Hardcover w/ Dust Jacket is in Fine + to Very Fine condition.  Very Nice!  Please See Scans.  A must have for any Spider-Man, Classic Marvel and/or Stan Lee collector / enthusiast.  A fun & entertaining read.  Highly Recommended.

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