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Title: Spider-Man: The Death of Gwen Stacy by Gerry Conway, Gil Kane, Stan Lee, John, Sr. Romita ISBN: 0-7851-0716-9 Publisher: Marvel Books Pub. Date: April, 1999 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $14.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.44 (16 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: One of the most poignant tales in comic book history
Comment: I had never owned any of the original issues in this collection (AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #96-98 and 121-122), but I knew the story of Gwen Stacy's death. Gwen was the girlfriend of Spider-Man's alter ego, Peter Parker and had been a staple of this series since the mid-60's.
When writer Gerry Conway determined that he would kill her off, his intent was to show that in the life of a costumed adventurer like Spider-Man, nothing was certain. He felt that the readers needed a shock to wake them up. Nasty things can happen when insane super-villains are about and who's more insane than Spider-Man's archnemesis, the Green Goblin?
The Stan Lee-written drug stories (#96-98) are hokey and it's obvious Stan didn't know the first thing about drugs, but the publication of these issues was a seminal moment for modern comics. Long under the bootheel of the Comics Code Authority, Lee had to publish these three issues WITHOUT the code logo on the cover because of the drug content. He felt it was necessary to speak out against drug use and was willing to take a fairly considerable risk to do it.
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #96-98 also lays the groundwork for what was to come. Harry Osborn, son of Norman Osborn (a.k.a., the Green Goblin), is addicted to drugs and gets on a bad LSD trip. Later, in #121, we find that Harry continues to have substance abuse problems. His father is livid and blames Harry's friends, including Peter. His rage drives him back into the role of the Goblin and the fateful climax atop the Brooklyn Bridge which would leave one long-time and much-beloved character dead and another forever changed.
The wonderful art of comic industry icons Gil Kane and John Romita, Sr., make this story a visual treat. Kane's drafting and storytelling prowess shines in this story.
Don't miss out on this story, one of the most involving, dramatic and poignant comic book tales to see print.
Rating: 5
Summary: Once again, somebody Spider-Man loves dies
Comment: Actually "The Death of Gwen Stacy" deals with more than the titular fatality and the end of the original Green Goblin in reprinting five classic comic books from Volume 1 of "The Amazing Spider-Man." You also get the previous three-story confrontation between Spider-Man and the Green Goblin that became infamous when the stories did not receive the Comic Book Code seal of approval because of a major sub-plot involving Peter Parker's roommate Harry Osborn being hooked on drugs: (1) "Amazing Spider-Man" #69, "And now, the Goblin," Story by Stan Lee, Art by Gil Kane and John Romita, Sr.; (2) "Amazing Spider-Man" #70, "In the Grip of the Goblin," Story by Stan Lee, Art by Gil Kane and Frank Giacoia; and (3) "Amazing Spider-Man" #71, "The Goblin's Last Gasp," Story by Stan Lee, Art by Gil Kane and Frank Giacoia. This was the first time when Norman Osborn remembered who he was along with Spider-Man's secret identity. Of course, the resolution of this crises leaves much to be desired since it is a tentative, at best, fix. The most memorable sequences in these stories is actually when Peter Parker and not Spider-Man takes down Harry's dealer. This trilogy sets up the other story, not just because it is the previous confrontation between Spider-Man and the Green Goblin, but because another subplot has Peter and Gwen resolving their current interpersonal conflict.
The key thing to remember when you get to the next pair of stories is that Stan Lee is no longer writing the book and therefore killing off Peter's girl friend was not his idea: (4) "Amazing Spider-Man" #112, "The Night Gwen Stacy Died," Story by Gerry Conway, Art by Gil Kane and John Romita, Sr.; and (5) "Amazing Spider-Man" #113 "The Goblin's Last Round," Story by Gerry Conway, Art by Gil Kane and John Romita, Sr. Of course, the title of that first issue does not appear until the final page, since it obviously gives the game away, but just as clearly that is not a problem for this trade paperback collection. I think Conway did away with Gwen because Peter was getting pretty close to actually being happy and Spider-Man needed to get back to the oppressive sense of guilt that drives him because of the death of a loved one. Now, in addition to Uncle Ben, there is Gwen (Spider-Man was much more responsible for Gwen's death than that of Captain Stacy). Little would we know that the end of this story, where Mary Jane Watson stays with Peter to comfort him after Gwen's death, that this would end up being the start of something special.
Rating: 5
Summary: One of the most impacting and emotional comic stories ever
Comment: Since Spider-Man was such a gigantic hit at the box office, it seems everyone these days is a Spider-Man fan. Naturally anyone who never before knew anything about the Spider-Man universe or backstory is convinced Mary Jane was Spidey's number one love. Well, those same people should definitely consider checking this TPB out. Collecting Amazing Spider-Man #96-98 and #121-122 from the mid 1960's. Gwen Stacy was Peter Parker's first true love and was a staple of the series for years until this shocking (at the time) story was released. We begin with seeing Harry Osborn succombing to a drug addiction he can no longer control. This segment of the story was groundbreaking at the time considering Stan Lee wrote it without the approval of the Comic Code. Later on we see Harry's father Norman overcome with rage over his son's addictions, and he blames Harry's friends and wants revenge. Thus, the Green Goblin returns to seek his revenge on Peter Parker by taking what Pete holds most dear: Gwen. The story itself is very emotional and in its' day made a huge impact, even though the drug addiction theme may seem hokey today. The art by Gil Kane and John Romita, Sr. is among they're best (and they were and are still industry icons), and all in all this is one of the best stories in the Spider-Man universe and comics in general.
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Title: Spider-Man Visionaries: John Romita Sr. by John Romita, Stan Lee, John Romita Sr. ISBN: 0785107940 Publisher: Marvel Books Pub. Date: 01 August, 2001 List Price(USD): $19.95 |
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Title: The Essential Spider-Man Volume 4 by Stan Lee, John, Sr. Romita, Gil Kane ISBN: 0785107606 Publisher: Marvel Books Pub. Date: 01 May, 2002 List Price(USD): $14.95 |
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Title: The Essential Spider-Man: Amazing Spider-Man 21-43, Amazing Spider-Man Annual 2&3 by Stan Lee, J. Michael Stracynski, John, Jr. Romita ISBN: 0785109897 Publisher: Marvel Books Pub. Date: April, 2002 List Price(USD): $14.95 |
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Title: Essential the Amazing Spider-Man (Essential Spider Man) Volume 5 by Stan Lee, Roy Thomas, John Buscema, Gil Kane, John, Sr. Romita ISBN: 0785108815 Publisher: Marvel Books Pub. Date: March, 2002 List Price(USD): $14.95 |
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Title: The Essential Spider-Man Volume #3 by Stan Lee, John, Sr. Romita ISBN: 0785106588 Publisher: Marvel Books Pub. Date: 01 June, 2002 List Price(USD): $14.95 |
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