What I'm.... reading

Amazing Spider-man # 198 and 199

(w/ Marv Wolfman; art Sal Buscema and Jim Mooney)



I wanted to start my blog with something special and Amazing Spider-man #198 is special to me. It was the first US edition of Spidey's flagship title that I ever bought. Before that it had always been British black and white reprints. Although I'd read Spidey in colour in "Marvel Team-Up", which was distributed in the UK, Amazing was more important as things actually happened in it.

I am currently re-reading my Spidey collection (which fortunately for me is mostly originals - only the first 10 or so are reprints- I've been busy in the back issue market since 1979) and I'm now up to November 1979 which is the cover date for #198.

The actual issue itself is the first part of a two-parter in which Mysterio has told Peter Parker that Aunt May has died in order to get the opportunity to try and find some lost treasure which he thinks is hidden in the Parker home. I've got to admit I still love the story and re-reading it again brings back the excitement of getting those first comics. Best bits - Spidey fighting old Globe-dome with his arm in a sling and Mysterio's creative use of his illusions to keep Spidey second guessing what's real and what's not. Great cliffhanger at the end of 199 as well to lead into the double sized issue 200.