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A review by jayspa65
Marvel Masterworks: The Amazing Spider-Man, Vol. 2 by Steve Ditko, Stan Lee
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Angst has always been part of Spider-Man's bag, but it has a huge spike over a few issues in this volume when Aunt May suffers a heart attack and Peter gives up being Spidey to watch over her. This has repercussions for his reputation, a development that foreshadows the cynical approach that a lot of modern writers take to their fictional public's reaction to superheroes. Contrasting that though is Flash Thompson's relentless faith in Spider-Man as well as the reaction of guest-star Johnny Storm. Though a rival of Spider-Man, Storm has always secretly respected the wall-crawler, can't believe he's turned coward, and conducts his own investigation to figure out what's really going on.
All this and the introduction of some major villains like Mysterio, the Green Goblin (whose secret identity is played up as a big mystery long before any Osborns enter the series), and Kraven the Hunter. Also included is the formation of the Sinister Six in a truly epic Annual issue.
What keeps me from loving the volume is Peter Parker's love life. Aunt May begins pushing a blind date with Mary Jane Watson, but MJ doesn't appear yet. Instead, Peter is dating the extremely insecure Betty Brant while being constantly hit on by classmate Liz Allan. Betty's jealous accusations of Peter are ridiculous and I couldn't wait for that relationship to end (though her obsession with Peter doesn't stop once she moves on to date reporter Ned Leeds).
All this and the introduction of some major villains like Mysterio, the Green Goblin (whose secret identity is played up as a big mystery long before any Osborns enter the series), and Kraven the Hunter. Also included is the formation of the Sinister Six in a truly epic Annual issue.
What keeps me from loving the volume is Peter Parker's love life. Aunt May begins pushing a blind date with Mary Jane Watson, but MJ doesn't appear yet. Instead, Peter is dating the extremely insecure Betty Brant while being constantly hit on by classmate Liz Allan. Betty's jealous accusations of Peter are ridiculous and I couldn't wait for that relationship to end (though her obsession with Peter doesn't stop once she moves on to date reporter Ned Leeds).