Random Review #1: Amazing Spider-Man #71, April 1969
In this first of a new series of articles, I will review a randomly selected comic from my own Silver Age collection.
“The Speedster and the Spider!”
Stan Lee, writer
John Romita, artist
Jim Mooney, inker
As the tale opens, Peter Parker is sitting on his bed, halfway through doffing his Spider-Man costume. On the floor beside him is the Lifeline Tablet, which Spidey barely managed to keep out of the Kingpin’s meaty mitts in the previous issue. Peter is worried that the scare he put into J. Jonah Jameson at the conclusion of the previous story may have given the Daily Bugle’s irascible publisher a fatal heart attack, thus proving that he is the menace Jameson always claimed he was.
Peter’s then-roommate, Harry Osborn, comes in from a date with Mary Jane Watson, and Peter barely has time to throw on a robe over his costume. Alone after Harry goes to bed, Peter is glad to learn that the pictures he snapped of his battle with the Kingpin came out very clearly, but his exultation is short-lived as he realizes that, with Jameson in the hospital, he has no one to sell them to.
Meanwhile, on a New York street, the former Avenger Quicksilver has finally returned to the city after his adventures on Magneto’s island fortress, which was destroyed in Avengers #53. A brief flashback shows how Quicksilver and his sister, the Scarlet Witch, crash-landed along with the Toad in the Adirondacks. Eager to prove that they are not truly evil, Quicksilver speeds off toward New York to explain his and his sister’s part in the Magneto affair to the Avengers. Back in the present, he reaches Avengers Mansion, only to learn from Jarvis, the Avengers’ butler, that the entire team is in Africa on a mission.
Leaving the mansion disappointed, Quicksilver chances to spy a new edition of the Daily Bugle, whose headline reads “Spider-Man Wanted!” Deciding that fate has presented him with an opportunity for redemption, Quicksilver begins his hunt for Spider-Man.
At the hospital, a doctor informs Joe Robertson that J. Jonah Jameson did not have a heart attack, only a case of shock. Jonah’s son, Colonel John Jameson shows up, too, and Robbie leaves John to watch over Jonah while he goes home to his wife, Martha.
At the Robertsons’, Joe and Martha talk about their son Randy and worry about the state of the world Randy has to grow up in.
The next morning, at the Bugle, Joe tells Jameson’s secretary Betty Brant to scratch his appointments for the day, as he expects to be busy doing his own job and Jonah’s as well. Peter Parker arrives with his photos, and Robertson is delighted with them. Not only do they show that Spider-Man tried to prevent the theft of the Lifeline Tablet, they also prove that the college protestors, Randy Robertson among them, had no part in the crime, either. Peter leaves, happily clutching a hefty check cut by Joe Robertson.
Still eager to rid himself of the precious tablet, Spidey webs his way over to George Stacy’s apartment. He delivers the tablet and hastily departs, ignoring Stacy’s pleas for him to come back and talk.
Web-slinging high across the city, Spidey is alerted to danger by his Spider-Sense. His web shot is blocked by a green blur that he realizes is Quicksilver, who announces his intention to bring Spider-Man to justice. Spidey takes refuge under the marquee of a hotel, but Quicksilver spots him and yanks him down by spinning at “ultra-high speed”.
Spidey tries to persuade his opponent that he is also one of the good guys, but Quicksilver insists on continuing the battle. Spider-Man manages to grab his fleet-footed foe by the legs, but Quicksilver scoffs at Spidey’s so-called sped and, punching his way free, boasts that Spidey is moving in slow motion compared to the green-garbed mutant. Quicksilver rains blow after super-speed blow on Spider-Man, claiming that even Spidey’s vaunted Spider strength cannot save him.
Meanwhile, back at the hospital, Bugle reporter Ned Leeds delivers the latest copy of the Bugle to J. Jonah Jameson. Jameson explodes when he sees the article and photos exonerating Spider-Man, and his son struggles to calm him down while Ned goes for the doctor.
Back at the fight scene, Quicksilver finds himself admiring Spidey’s heart even while administering the beat down. Spidey tries in vain to connect with a super strong punch. Realizing that his physical strength is not enough to overwhelm the vastly stronger Spider-Man, Quicksilver changes tactics, running in super-speed circles around Spidey to create a “whirlpool of air” that will rob Spidey of breath.
Battered and on the verge of defeat, Spidey manages to throw his arm into Quicksilver’s path. The impact knocks the mutant speedster out cold. Just then, the cops show up, and Spidey flees with his unconscious opponent in tow. He adjourns to a nearby rooftop and stays with Quicksilver until he wakes up.
Quicksilver, acknowledging that Spidey could have killed while he was out, declares a truce and proclaims he will find another way to earn his redemption. Spidey webs away, hoping his run of bad luck is over while simultaneously fearing that even worse troubles are on the horizon.
I only recently added this book to my collection, having picked up a decent copy at FX 2009. It has no major plot points or revelation, just the usual excellent characterization Lee had virtually invented for that particular series plus a pretty entertaining fight scene between two good guys.
The fight was uncommon in that the general rule of the day was that there would be no clear cut winner when two heroes met and, inevitably, mixed it up a bit. Standard procedure called for both heroes to get some licks in then call a draw and team-up to go after some common threat. This story, though, shows Spidey withstanding everything Quicksilver could throw at him then downing Quicksilver with a single blow.
The art is excellent, with Romita at the peak of his powers. He does an especially good job of depicting Quicksilver in motion. For the most part, he chooses not to rely on the Jack Kirby and Don Heck method of just showing a humanoid green blur, instead using multiple images, action lines and dynamic poses to convey the speed of Quicksilver’s movements.
Romita’s pencils are very suitably inked by Jim Mooney, who was a pretty talented Spidey artist in his own right on books like Marvel Team-Up and Spectacular Spider-Man.
Bottom Line: An enjoyable read with appropriately “amazing” art.
In this first of a new series of articles, I will review a randomly selected comic from my own Silver Age collection.
“The Speedster and the Spider!”
Stan Lee, writer
John Romita, artist
Jim Mooney, inker
As the tale opens, Peter Parker is sitting on his bed, halfway through doffing his Spider-Man costume. On the floor beside him is the Lifeline Tablet, which Spidey barely managed to keep out of the Kingpin’s meaty mitts in the previous issue. Peter is worried that the scare he put into J. Jonah Jameson at the conclusion of the previous story may have given the Daily Bugle’s irascible publisher a fatal heart attack, thus proving that he is the menace Jameson always claimed he was.
Peter’s then-roommate, Harry Osborn, comes in from a date with Mary Jane Watson, and Peter barely has time to throw on a robe over his costume. Alone after Harry goes to bed, Peter is glad to learn that the pictures he snapped of his battle with the Kingpin came out very clearly, but his exultation is short-lived as he realizes that, with Jameson in the hospital, he has no one to sell them to.
Meanwhile, on a New York street, the former Avenger Quicksilver has finally returned to the city after his adventures on Magneto’s island fortress, which was destroyed in Avengers #53. A brief flashback shows how Quicksilver and his sister, the Scarlet Witch, crash-landed along with the Toad in the Adirondacks. Eager to prove that they are not truly evil, Quicksilver speeds off toward New York to explain his and his sister’s part in the Magneto affair to the Avengers. Back in the present, he reaches Avengers Mansion, only to learn from Jarvis, the Avengers’ butler, that the entire team is in Africa on a mission.
Leaving the mansion disappointed, Quicksilver chances to spy a new edition of the Daily Bugle, whose headline reads “Spider-Man Wanted!” Deciding that fate has presented him with an opportunity for redemption, Quicksilver begins his hunt for Spider-Man.
At the hospital, a doctor informs Joe Robertson that J. Jonah Jameson did not have a heart attack, only a case of shock. Jonah’s son, Colonel John Jameson shows up, too, and Robbie leaves John to watch over Jonah while he goes home to his wife, Martha.
At the Robertsons’, Joe and Martha talk about their son Randy and worry about the state of the world Randy has to grow up in.
The next morning, at the Bugle, Joe tells Jameson’s secretary Betty Brant to scratch his appointments for the day, as he expects to be busy doing his own job and Jonah’s as well. Peter Parker arrives with his photos, and Robertson is delighted with them. Not only do they show that Spider-Man tried to prevent the theft of the Lifeline Tablet, they also prove that the college protestors, Randy Robertson among them, had no part in the crime, either. Peter leaves, happily clutching a hefty check cut by Joe Robertson.
Still eager to rid himself of the precious tablet, Spidey webs his way over to George Stacy’s apartment. He delivers the tablet and hastily departs, ignoring Stacy’s pleas for him to come back and talk.
Web-slinging high across the city, Spidey is alerted to danger by his Spider-Sense. His web shot is blocked by a green blur that he realizes is Quicksilver, who announces his intention to bring Spider-Man to justice. Spidey takes refuge under the marquee of a hotel, but Quicksilver spots him and yanks him down by spinning at “ultra-high speed”.
Spidey tries to persuade his opponent that he is also one of the good guys, but Quicksilver insists on continuing the battle. Spider-Man manages to grab his fleet-footed foe by the legs, but Quicksilver scoffs at Spidey’s so-called sped and, punching his way free, boasts that Spidey is moving in slow motion compared to the green-garbed mutant. Quicksilver rains blow after super-speed blow on Spider-Man, claiming that even Spidey’s vaunted Spider strength cannot save him.
Meanwhile, back at the hospital, Bugle reporter Ned Leeds delivers the latest copy of the Bugle to J. Jonah Jameson. Jameson explodes when he sees the article and photos exonerating Spider-Man, and his son struggles to calm him down while Ned goes for the doctor.
Back at the fight scene, Quicksilver finds himself admiring Spidey’s heart even while administering the beat down. Spidey tries in vain to connect with a super strong punch. Realizing that his physical strength is not enough to overwhelm the vastly stronger Spider-Man, Quicksilver changes tactics, running in super-speed circles around Spidey to create a “whirlpool of air” that will rob Spidey of breath.
Battered and on the verge of defeat, Spidey manages to throw his arm into Quicksilver’s path. The impact knocks the mutant speedster out cold. Just then, the cops show up, and Spidey flees with his unconscious opponent in tow. He adjourns to a nearby rooftop and stays with Quicksilver until he wakes up.
Quicksilver, acknowledging that Spidey could have killed while he was out, declares a truce and proclaims he will find another way to earn his redemption. Spidey webs away, hoping his run of bad luck is over while simultaneously fearing that even worse troubles are on the horizon.
I only recently added this book to my collection, having picked up a decent copy at FX 2009. It has no major plot points or revelation, just the usual excellent characterization Lee had virtually invented for that particular series plus a pretty entertaining fight scene between two good guys.
The fight was uncommon in that the general rule of the day was that there would be no clear cut winner when two heroes met and, inevitably, mixed it up a bit. Standard procedure called for both heroes to get some licks in then call a draw and team-up to go after some common threat. This story, though, shows Spidey withstanding everything Quicksilver could throw at him then downing Quicksilver with a single blow.
The art is excellent, with Romita at the peak of his powers. He does an especially good job of depicting Quicksilver in motion. For the most part, he chooses not to rely on the Jack Kirby and Don Heck method of just showing a humanoid green blur, instead using multiple images, action lines and dynamic poses to convey the speed of Quicksilver’s movements.
Romita’s pencils are very suitably inked by Jim Mooney, who was a pretty talented Spidey artist in his own right on books like Marvel Team-Up and Spectacular Spider-Man.
Bottom Line: An enjoyable read with appropriately “amazing” art.
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