Eight Hundred Fifty-Four otherwise known as the current issue number of Amazing Spider-Man as I write this. And in case you needed me to tell you: that is a handful. We've followed Spider-Man throughout the decades, witnessing all of the struggles and trials that the webhead has endured. However, just as we have followed him, he has permeated through the fabric of pop culture and evolved along the way under the direction of an army of different writers and artists. Each decade seems to introduce a certain style, or theme to the monumental hero, expanding on a rich, deep, tenured history. From friendly neighborhood do-gooder to international crusader/tech giant and back again, Spider-Man has gone through more change and refreshments than most heroes, yet has (mostly) remained thoroughly genuine. Over several blog posts, I will be exploring the character and identifying various bargain key issues, gems, and all else otherwise interesting.

The Man, the Myth, the Legend

Spider-Man entered the world in 1962 with Amazing Fantasy #15, a cover I am sure we all have burned into our minds. This original, infinitely quippable version was brought to life by the late, great face of Marvel Comics, Stan Lee. Teaming up with illustrator Steve Ditko, this issue sets up Peter's world, laying the groundwork from which to build the character. Within this soft debut is where the most quotable phrase in all of comics history is coined: "With great power there must also come great responsibility". In case you didn't know, Uncle Ben doesn't actually ever say this to Peter, nor does anyone. It is unspoken and appears in narration, though attributed to Ben at several points later in the continuity, so I guess we can give him this win.

At 1.5 million dollars, I will probably never own a 9.8 copy of this issue. Hell, I won't ever own a 1.5 copy, even if I could find one. This is, however, probably the most important book in all of Spider-Man's bibliography and demands the spotlight, so maybe just pick up a reprint.

The First 100

Stan Lee wrote the first one hundred issues of ASM, teaming up with Ditko for the majority of them. High-grade copies of most of these will often be far too expensive for the average collector, unfortunately.

Spider-Man would fully debut in 1963 with Amazing Spider-Man #1, another absurdly expensive issue that I won't ever find, let alone afford. Although, a bargain at $850k when compared to Amazing Fantasy, I can't imagine finding and purchasing a 9.8 to be a realistic endeavor for readers. A shame, too, as this issue introduces J. Jonah Jameson, which is the real reason we all want it, right? No, in terms of affordability vs. collectability, we're looking for something a little more viable. Unfortunately, it may be difficult to procure decent copies of a lot of these, so I will be focusing on a few issues that I believe can be found without too much legwork.

A Tale of Revenge

One such issue is Amazing Spider-Man #37, the first appearance of Norman Osborn. In this issue, Spider-Man squares up against Mendel Stromm's robotic machinations, hell-bent on revenge against Norman Osborn who we know as Green Goblin before now.

High-grade copies will cost you a pretty penny, but for those willing to dish out a little extra cheddar, finding a 5.0 might prove to be worthwhile. According to GoCollect sales data, there's been a steady increase in value for mid-grade copies, allowing for a comparatively affordable investment vehicle.

Second-Hand Love

Mary Jane Watson may have not been Pete's first love, but she's the one he's spent most of his time with. She appears for the first time in Amazing Spider-Man #25, though her face is obscured. While Peter won't actually meet MJ until several issues later,  Betty Brant (who we meet in ASM #4) thinks she's beautiful. This issue really isn't the most significant in all of Spidey's continuity, but nonetheless introduces us to a character that will have a profound impact on Peter's life going forward.

GoCollect sales data seems to indicate rising values across all grades, so this would be a safe bet no matter the price point you are shopping at. However, you will find A LOT of lower grade (think 1.8-2.5), with a few mid and higher grade options sprinkled in there, limiting your purchasing power significantly. In my opinion, that won't matter much considering prices are going up across the board and you're almost certain to get some sort of return on your investment.

People Keep Dying Around Peter Parker

Tragedy forcing Peter to burden overwhelming responsibility is a common theme found over the decades in Spider-Man. In Amazing Spider-Man #90, Captain George Stacy, father of Peter's first love, Gwen Stacy, is killed in the midst of a skirmish between Doctor Octopus and Spider-Man. In his dying breath, Stacy tells Spider-Man that he knows his identity and, in passing, entrusts Gwen's safety to him. Of course, this obligation to Captain Stacy only compounds the grief and sorrow that would ensue following Gwen's subsequent death at the hands of the Green Goblin later in the series.

This book is all over eBay and can be found at several price points. GoCollect market data seems to reflect fairly steady growth at 5.0, 8.0, 9.2, and 9.8, which explains this book's availability.

Next: The 70s

The first one hundred issues of Amazing Spider-Man can be quite expensive, and truth be told- I had a hard time researching for this post. However, there are some great issues amongst these original Lee/Ditko pair-ups that look well in every collection. For now, I'll be researching mohair for the next installment.