tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post6220676054444960999..comments2024-03-19T10:41:35.976-05:00Comments on Bronze Age Babies: Just a Sociopath and His Little Green Dog: Amazing Spider-Man 129Doughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04248324005584963229noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-11567707297262841932013-11-30T06:46:39.843-06:002013-11-30T06:46:39.843-06:00Ross Andru was and still remains my definitive Pet...Ross Andru was and still remains my definitive Peter Parker/Spider-Man. May he R.I.P.<br /><br />Conway's work is classic - the fact that Gerry was only between 18- 21 years of agr during his Spider-Man is, well, Amazing! Jack Alberti https://www.blogger.com/profile/16113347155906724048noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-30986326304726441572013-09-24T19:13:43.942-05:002013-09-24T19:13:43.942-05:00Truly an "Amazing" cover. You often hear...Truly an "Amazing" cover. You often hear of great artistic combinations such as Buscema/Palmer, Kirby/Sinnott, and just about anybody with Terry Austin. I think the team of Kane and Romita is underrated, and responsible for many classic images.<br /><br />As for the issue, this is indeed a milestone. I just missed it originally; when I started comics my first issue was ASM 130. Didn't realize at the time what I'd missed.Now at least, with the reprint of issue 129, the story in 130 makes more sense...redartznoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-31762045566919288692013-09-24T09:23:26.684-05:002013-09-24T09:23:26.684-05:00Spidey's powers have been so variable, who can...Spidey's powers have been so variable, who can say what they are for sure? And lazy writer's ignore or forget his Spider-sense or, worst of all, have him for no reason at all assume the power that has saved him hundreds of times "must be going haywire!" and then ignore the warning. Drives me nuts!Doc Savagehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08783244633195233970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-59755199921110091242013-09-24T00:04:29.656-05:002013-09-24T00:04:29.656-05:00"...didn't his spider-sense warn him when..."...didn't his spider-sense warn him when the Jackal was sneaking up behind him"<br /><br />Wasn't it explained in #149 that since the Jackal was really Professor Warren, and since S-M's spider sense warns him only of imminent violence by enemy types, he somehow didn't see it coming...B Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16618583443442543086noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-71929461679943874302013-09-23T21:24:49.682-05:002013-09-23T21:24:49.682-05:00Ladies and gentlemen introducing the Punisher!
OK...Ladies and gentlemen introducing the Punisher!<br /><br />OK first off yes that is an iconic cover. Doug, the Spidey figure looks to be all Gil Kane to me. I dunno, he probably did the pencils and then Jazzy John inked it.<br /><br />I agree that Conway had a good blend of action and plotting, giving the readers just enough to satisfy them but yet leaving room to develop the Jackal's story in later issues. Some storylines are too plodding or else guilty of trying to cram too much into a few issues. You could tell Conway really put some effort into trying to pace the development of the Jackal.<br /><br />While Andru isn't my favourite Spidey artist (that honour goes to Jazzy John and Steve Ditko) he's always delivered solid artwork on our favourite webhead. No complaints here.<br /><br />One thing that's always bugged me about Spidey and his encounters with villains both human and superpowered is how easy it was to hit him - didn't his spider-sense warn him when the Jackal was sneaking up behind him? Or how come the Punisher connected with a kick to Spidey's noggin so easily? Someone with the proportionate speed and reflexes of a spider should be able to dodge those blows easily or at least see them coming a mile away! Yes, yes I know he has to be vulnerable otherwise there'd be no story, but somehow I think his spider powers (apart from his spider-strength) have been depicted inconsistently over the years.<br /><br />All in all this was another great issue; can't wait for the rest!<br /><br /><br />- Mike 'until they make a Punisher/Lobo teamup' from Trinidad & Tobago.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-45913230796573660762013-09-23T16:48:08.091-05:002013-09-23T16:48:08.091-05:00Sorry, just realised the Molty story concluded in ...Sorry, just realised the Molty story concluded in ish 133.<br /><br />Apologies, to all true believers.. My bad.david_bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00218727673816200051noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-10165527580200360082013-09-23T16:46:21.933-05:002013-09-23T16:46:21.933-05:00I'm actually out in DC this week attending som...I'm actually out in DC this week attending some IT training.., but this is indeed a landmark issue.<br /><br />Agreeing with you both, Andru isn't 'quite' MY Spidey artist, having come in with ish 122 and the end of Romita, but these issues were indeed outstanding. My original Spidey collecting stint was ish 122 to 144 or so, but I really loved him the best up to the Molten Man ending in issue 134.<br /><br />I didn't think much of the Punisher the first few times I saw him, in fact I was quite amazed when I came back into casual collecting in the '80s to see just how popular he had become... With the X-Men, him, Wolverine, 'Nam and a few other titles, Marvel had some good cashflow coming in for a spell.<br /><br />I mentioned this a few years ago, but I actually sold this issue, originally picked up on the newstands when it came out, a few years back to some guy who was getting it autographed... I got a hundred for it, figuring at the time it would mean much more to another collector having it framed somewhere, autographed.., than it just sitting in my basement for another decade or so. I find myself regretting that decision only when I ponder about it, not thinking it's value would rival the monumental 121-122 story just a few issues before. But someone's who's probably a HUGE Punisher fan's still enjoying it more than I would.<br /><br />As for the issue itself..? AWESOME cover, it does actually grow on you, probably one of the Top 5 best Bronze Age Spidey covers, and the story flows very well. Action from start to finish, yet Conway slips wonderful emotional nuggets in from Peter's attempt to self-cheer to Harry's paranoia to the Jackel mystery.<br /><br />I for one was VERY disappointed with the entire 'clone' concept in ASM, probably as much as Warren being the Jackel. Just a contrived 'bridge too far' for believability in the pages of ASM for me. Gwen should have stayed dead. Period.<br /><br />But, at this juncture, Spidey STILL rocked my socks off each and every month. At least initially, the mystery about both the Jackel and the Punisher were there and it was pretty cool.david_bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00218727673816200051noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-7955194516879488262013-09-23T15:02:46.686-05:002013-09-23T15:02:46.686-05:00My impression was that the Punisher began as "...My impression was that the Punisher began as "a straight-up bad guy," and that Marvel later got the idea to use him as a hero (or anti-hero). In the 1970's, there were a lot of paperback book series about vigilante action heroes (Executioner, Destroyer, Butcher, Death Merchant), and Marvel probably wanted to tap into that market. The Punisher starred in Marvel Preview #2 and Marvel Super Action #1 (1975-76), but, apparently, sales were not enough to justify a regular series. The character went back to being a recurring antagonist for Spider-Man and other heroes (Captain America #241, Daredevil #183) until the mid-1980's. Then the popularity of tough-guy action movies (Rambo, Commando) encouraged Marvel to try it again. The character never made it in the movies, but was popular enough to support a self-titled solo comic (and spin-offs) for several years). It may be that the movies were just not done well. Also, a character like the Punisher may have been different and unconventional in the comics medium back then, but such characters were already common in movies.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-83148209988337692242013-09-23T13:16:18.567-05:002013-09-23T13:16:18.567-05:00Man, I wish I still had my Spider-Man & Peter ...Man, I wish I still had my Spider-Man & Peter Parker comics. Readin the Essentials is pretty good, though. I keep going back to the beginning an reading thru to around 1980 or so. Good stuff, even Mindworm compares favorably to what I see these days.Doc Savagehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08783244633195233970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-61852045613105665242013-09-23T11:52:25.003-05:002013-09-23T11:52:25.003-05:00Fair enough! I didn't realise he was that popu...Fair enough! I didn't realise he was that popular in the '90s!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-74951254215330023292013-09-23T11:50:52.626-05:002013-09-23T11:50:52.626-05:00Edo --
Great mention of those Peter Parker issues...Edo --<br /><br />Great mention of those Peter Parker issues! Those may best be dubbed the "forgotten" clone stories, as A) I'd forgotten them, and B) it seems like most folks call the "Ben Reilly" years the "second clone saga".<br /><br />I wish I still had my Peter Parkers, but alas they were sold long ago when I was trying to pull together my complete run of Avengers.<br /><br />DougDoughttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04248324005584963229noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-49805610150576088042013-09-23T11:31:16.374-05:002013-09-23T11:31:16.374-05:00Nice rundown. I also liked this issue; I started r...Nice rundown. I also liked this issue; I started reading the reprints in Marvel Tales with the death of Gwen story, and by this point was really hooked into reading Spidey's (to me) 'prehistory.'<br />A few thoughts: I liked Punisher the way he's portrayed here, i.e., as a driven vigilante who can be as bad as he can be good. I recall that when I read these as a kid, I pretty much considered him a straight-up bad guy.<br />Doug, I like the original clone saga, too, so you're not alone on that mark (and I think I like the second clone saga, the Carrion story in Spectacular SM, even better).Edo Bosnarnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-46487988702625328072013-09-23T10:59:40.694-05:002013-09-23T10:59:40.694-05:00Thanks for the kudos, all! Fun issues are a breez...Thanks for the kudos, all! Fun issues are a breeze to write about.<br /><br />Now, our Superman review coming up on Friday might be another story. Could that possibly have been written by this same Gerry Conway? We shall see (he said cryptically)...<br /><br />DougDoughttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04248324005584963229noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-19969624576428006892013-09-23T10:53:40.757-05:002013-09-23T10:53:40.757-05:00Great review guys and this was "my" Spid...Great review guys and this was "my" Spiderman too. Conway/Andru, from the Gwen/Goblin death issues to the end of the first clone saga, I couldn't wait for the next issue. The issues were not all masterpieces (many far from it), it was just "my" time.<br /><br />TomAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-47078103684994049162013-09-23T09:43:12.852-05:002013-09-23T09:43:12.852-05:00Classic Issue!
Thanks for the recap.Classic Issue! <br /><br />Thanks for the recap.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-77486740385216483592013-09-23T09:37:00.341-05:002013-09-23T09:37:00.341-05:00Hey Colin, that's why I put that notation of &...Hey Colin, that's why I put that notation of "at times" in my comment. In the 90s, the Punisher was certainly one of the most popular characters in comics. In fact, he and Wolverine are probably the only two Marvel characters created after the original wave of 1960s characters that have had any lasting popularity (I'd almost throw Ghost Rider in there but he hasn't fared too well in the 2000s). I'm talking only about characters who can support their own titles here -obviously there are other heroes created in the 70s who are still around (Luke Cage, Iron Fist, etc) but they seem to have difficulty maintaining solo books, and also don't support marketing into other areas (t-shirts, toys, film, etc). And maybe the Punisher films have not done very well, but at least he's been popular enough that they've made three films based on the character. Although I have to admit, I've never seen any of them!Karenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17032477453891087135noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-40172406809579575462013-09-23T09:25:56.005-05:002013-09-23T09:25:56.005-05:00Why was the Jackal green indeed! I never bought hi...Why was the Jackal green indeed! I never bought him as a credible Spidey villain. And I never bought that Prof. Warren was always the Jackal. The Gwen fixation could have used some more build-up if that were really the case. Maybe I missed something.Doc Savagehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08783244633195233970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-50837051339378943742013-09-23T08:40:10.700-05:002013-09-23T08:40:10.700-05:00Karen, the Punisher certainly hasn't risen to ...Karen, the Punisher certainly hasn't risen to the"upper levels of popularity" as far as the movies are concerned! He's still on Marvel's Z list.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-37835550407965119332013-09-23T07:00:15.116-05:002013-09-23T07:00:15.116-05:00I got this little gem on the newstand when it came...I got this little gem on the newstand when it came out for 21 cents. Had no idea it might be a valuable collectors' item decades later! Anyhow, I was always curious about why the Jackal was green too, but then the Jackal was strange in many ways. Reading back from issue #148, I didn't see anything in previous issues that gave any real sense that Conway planned for the Jackal to be Professor Warren all along, which brings up the question as to whether Conway had other plans that he had to adjust when he was required to "bring back Gwen". Of course, the Jackal does bear some superficial resemblence to the Green Goblin of the Ditko era and I doubt that's a coincidence. <br />That bit with Peter repairing his costume with needle & thread is also reminiscent of some Ditko fare. Hmm, does Pete have special sewing powers? Spidey's costume would be particularly difficult to keep in good repair, especially without even the benefit of a sewing machine!<br />Oh, and the Punisher was certainly an interesting addition to Spidey's cast of antagonists, but in the long-standing Marvel tradition of characters who had both good & bad traits, going all the way back to Sub-Mariner in Marvel Comics #1 in 1939!Fred W. Hillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07602124919964053532noreply@blogger.com