Amazing Spider-Man Omnibus Vol. 1 (The Amazing Spider-Man Omnibus)

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I'm pretty sure I've read most or all of these issues in the past, but certainly not straight through. I have a much better appreciation for Conway's writing now. He deftly plants story seeds that sometimes pay off a couple issues later and sometimes many issues later. Notably in this volume is the famous "Death of Gwen Stacy" storyline. In a forward written for the Marvel Masterworks collection, Conway states definitively that he intended the "snap" to be present during that pivotal moment. The elimination of that in some collections of the story by Marvel is something I disagree with. To me it adds another layer to Peter's guilt and could have paid off in the future with a multi-part "therapy session" where Peter realizes he was partly responsible and maybe comes to peace with himself. That story's place in history is significant and I think comes off better than the X-Men's Dark Phoenix storyline.

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Okay, this really comes out of nowhere, but the issue is actually handled pretty well as it sets up all the different problems and then comes to its crazy climax. The end of an era. Ditko leaves after this issue. Unfortunately, this is kind of a nothing issue. It’s status quo for the college scenes, and the Joe stuff is very silly and standard. This has a bunch of typical Spider-man stuff, like Jameson hiring someone to kill Spider-man and Spidey fighting a hero. However, the residual anger and remorse over Gwen’s death adds some much needed feeling. Also, despite the questionable 70s characterization of Luke Cage, the resolution of their fight is quite good. There’s the nonsense ending I didn’t really remember, but just disliked enough to leave a bad taste in my mouth. Ugh, what a waste of three issues before we lose someone. Ah, the first relative dud. Even Stan Lee admits that aliens and Spider-man don’t really mix, especially not this early. It’s nice to see the sciency side of Spider-man, but the Tinkerer and his plan aren’t great. The aliens even get retconned out in the 70s

The beginning of the Master Planner Saga! It’s also the first Empire State University story, but Gwen and Harry are kind of jerks in their first appearances. This isn’t helped by Flash, and I can’t help but long for the time when they will all be friends. The continuation of the outsider stuff from high school is out of place because college is very different. I think the Master Planner arc starts of well as Peter’s life spins out of control.

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN OMNIBUS VOL. 4 [NEW PRINTING] THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN OMNIBUS VOL. 4 [NEW PRINTING]

The issues of the main title round out with this great two part Mysterio story. It mixes a few things that could annoy me, but I think the new angle works well. Also, Andru has gotten so much better by this one that it really helps. It also helps that there’s more ongoing story with Peter Parker and friends here. What else was great? Well the art naturally. Steve Ditko's work here is incredible. Ditko didn't go for realism, but rather a unique and inimitable style. Nowhere, before or since (sorry McFarland) was Spidey's unnatural athleticism captured so completely. Simply wonderful. If you were to compare Steve Ditko's art to most anything you can find in a superhero comic these days, you would find Ditko's simplicity almost naive. I say, "almost," but then upon further consideration you would understand the difference between Ditko's clean, efficient storytelling, dynamic renderings, and extraordinary layouts, and those of the comic artists working (for the most part) in the superhero trenches today. Is it dated? Well, read now there are issues. Pacing can be slow in some stories, the dialogue and interactions obviously feel dated, Betty Brant is terminally irritating (and frankly looks weird most of the time) and her 'relationship' with Peter feels very underbaked. Sometimes you just want characters to actually talk to each other to avoid the repeated frustration. But...that actually feels more real, especially in a teenage viewpoint. And the themes and heart still remain completely relevant.I actually think this first one ramps up well enough, if a bit fast. It’s a shame about the nex part.