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Animation:
Lee and Ditko's Amazing Spider-Man
Marvel
Comics has begun reissuing their Marvel Masterworks series
of collections of classic Silver Age stories. Consequently,
this is a good time to review some of the best comics work
ever done - Stan Lee and Steve Ditko’s Amazing Spider-Man.
Even
in comparison to today’s more “mature”
or “complex” storylines, Amazing Spider-Man,
issues 1 through 38, and Annuals 1 and 2, are wonderful
examples of how comic books should be done where characterization,
“multiple-plot-planting”, dynamic storytelling
and art are concerned.
Lee
and Ditko’s Peter Parker was the first true underdog
superhero. Far from a simple nerd or bookworm, he was multi-faceted,
sympathetic and as much fun to read as was his wall-crawling
alter ego. His constant struggles with family, romance,
work, school and social entanglements are the stuff of classic
soap opera, and the very definition of “teen angst”.
Without
a doubt, rooting for ol’ “Puny Parker”,
as constant class bully Flash Thompson tagged him, took
no back seat to pulling for Spider-Man as he battled any
one of many interesting costumed bad guys.
For
many, the artistic style of Steve Ditko is still the definitive
representation of the Web Slinger. Eccentric, highly stylized
and exceedingly dramatic, Ditko’s Spidey (as well
as the rest of his characters) was based in realism, yet
perfectly at home on the comics page. His characters were
awash with emotion and evocative movement, but not overdone,
and his sense of pacing and storytelling are still legendary
in the world of comics.
For
those who have hesitated taking Spider-Man’s very
first adventures out for a spin, fearing the possible “displacement”
of the ‘60's setting, trappings and references, consider
how popular such television fare as The Andy Griffith
Show, My Favorite Martian, Bewitched, Star Trek, The Addams
Family and many more continue to be with new viewers.
Not to mention some of the great movies and music from the
same era.
No, Lee and Ditko’s Amazing Spider-Man
suffers not at all from comparison to today’s comics
stories. In fact, the only suffering is being done by comics
fans, as we continue to await equally well-done and entertaining
sequential material.
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