Set Description:
My Amazing Spider-Man collection
I am a relatively new collector of the Amazing Spider-Man (ASM) comics, but plan to build my collection in the future. My main interest in this set is the Silver Age (comics #1-95 and annuals #1-6), those written after this by Stan Lee (#96-100 and #105-110), as well as each 100th anniversary edition:
• #100 September 1971 (Vol.1)
• #200 January 1980 (Vol. 1)
• #300 May 1988 (Vol. 1)
• #400 April 1995 (Vol. 1)
• #500 December 2003 (Vol. 1)
• #600 September 2009 (Vol. 1)
• #700 April 2013 (Vol. 1)
• #800 July 2018 (Vol. 1)
• #900 September 2022 (Vol. 6)
Here, I identify my favourite comics in my collection at present, including three Signature Series (SS) from the late Stan Lee and one from Todd McFarlane. I also summarise the publication history from 1963-1998 (#1-441), and then from 1999-date.
The pride of this set collection is my Amazing Fantasy #15 CGC SS NG, page 7 only. It is signed by the late Stan Lee in black sharpie, with perfect positioning of the signature, and graded into the prestigious CGC Signature Series. It features the first page of the story of The Bell Ringer shown below (left):
  
Also shown (centre) is my ASM Annual #1 from 1964, featuring the first appearance of the Sinsister Six and cameos of Thor, Giant-Man, Dr. Strange and Fantastic Four. The third comic shown (right) is my ASM #29. I like this one as it was published in the month/year of my birth (October 1965). It features the second appearance of The Scorpion.
I also love signed comics. Here are my Signature Series ASM comics:
Signatures Series - Writers:
• AF #15 signed by Mr Marvel, Stan Lee+ (shown above);
• ASM #95 signed by Stan Lee+;
• Spider-Man #1 (1990) signed by Todd McFarlane and Stan Lee+.
Signatures Series - Artists:
• Volume 5, #55. ASM #856. Third printing/"Virgin" edition, signed by cover artist Patrick Gleason
Publication history: 1963-98 and beyond
The Spider-Man character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko for Amazing Fantasy #15 in August 1962. The pair produced 38 issues of ASM from March 1963 to July 1966. Ditko left after the 38th issue, while Lee remained as writer until issue 100, and 105-110. Since then, many writers and artists have taken over the monthly comic through the years, chronicling the adventures of Marvel's most-identifiable hero.
The Amazing Spider-Man has been the character's flagship series for his first fifty years in publication, and was the only monthly series to star Spider-Man until Peter Parker - The Spectacular Spider-Man in 1976, although 1972 saw the debut of Marvel Team-Up, with the vast majority of issues featuring Spider-Man along with a rotating cast of other Marvel characters. Most of the major characters and villains of the Spider-Man saga have been introduced in Amazing, and with few exceptions, it is where most key events in the character's history have occurred. The title was published continuously until #441 (November 1998), including 38 annuals and three other / special editions. There are thus 482 comics in THIS set.
Beyond this set, Marvel Comics relaunched the comic as Volume 2 #1 (January 1999, with 58 issues until November 2003). On Spider-Man's 40th anniversary in December 2003, Vol. 2 reverted to using the numbering of the original series, beginning again with issue #500 (December 2003) and lasting until the final issue, #700 in February 2013. The publication since then is of alternative titles and re-launches, starting from the 701st edition in 2013. The full run is summarised below:
• Amazing Fantasy #15 THIS SET
• #1-441 THIS SET (Volume 1, then #500-700, #789-801)
• #442-499 (Volume 2, #1-58)
• #500-700 (Volume 1)
• #701-733 (Superior Spider-Man Volume 1, #1-33)
• #734-751 (Volume 3, #1-18)
• #752-756 (Amazing Spider-Man Renew Your Vows #1-5)
• #757-788 (Volume 4, #1-32)
• #789-801 (Volume 1)
• #802-894 (Volume 5, #1-93)
• #895-956 (Volume 6, #1-62 at November 2024)
Notes:
Note 1: On 26th September 2024, this set received its 275th viewing - thank you for looking.
Excelsior!
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