80s Spider-Man

[Johnny Triangles]

What are people's feelings toward 80s Spider-Man books? Golden age, dark age or neither.

It's hard to lump 80s Spider-Man books into one era actually because there were different editors with distinct tones throughout, but I guess it can be put into the Defalco as editor era, the Fingeroth era, the Owsley era and the Salicrup era. I thought the Owsley era is where the train fell off the tracks, and the Salicrup era, while not being as horrible as the Owsley one, was not really remarkably good looking back in retrospect. At least it was consistent though.

I think Spider-Man also suffered in the 80s because so many lesser status books were having classic runs at the time, and it seemed each book was expected to have its classic run on par with Miller's DD or Byrnes' FF or Simonson's Thor or Claremont's X-Men, and it wasn't happening for Spidey (probably having 4 different creative teams controlling the character's destiny makes that hard to do probably). I think Roger Stern's run could have been that run if he didn't leave so early.

[Zechs]

What are people's feelings toward 80s Spider-Man books? Golden age, dark age or neither.

It's hard to lump 80s Spider-Man books into one era actually because there were different editors with distinct tones throughout, but I guess it can be put into the Defalco as editor era, the Fingeroth era, the Owsley era and the Salicrup era. I thought the Owsley era is where the train fell off the tracks, and the Salicrup era, while not being as horrible as the Owsley one, was not really remarkably good looking back in retrospect. At least it was consistent though.

I think Spider-Man also suffered in the 80s because so many lesser status books were having classic runs at the time, and it seemed each book was expected to have its classic run on par with Miller's DD or Byrnes' FF or Simonson's Thor or Claremont's X-Men, and it wasn't happening for Spidey (probably having 4 different creative teams controlling the character's destiny makes that hard to do probably). I think Roger Stern's run could have been that run if he didn't leave so early.


Stern's run on Amazing and PAD in Web where the best Spidey books of that period. DeFalco's wasn't bad either since his introduced the Black Costume Saga, Puma, Jack O'Lantern, and the Rose.

The moment DeFalco left though Amazing just wasn't ever the same. I really don't think it's ever been the same since then.

[Steve Saffel]

What are people's feelings toward 80s Spider-Man books? Golden age, dark age or neither.

Perhaps "both." There were a lot of very average stories, but there were a bunch of excellent ones. Jim Owsley, for example, put Peter David in position to do the Jeanne DeWolff story, and we saw some excellent work by Frank Miller, Charles Vess, and the coming of Todd McFarlane.

I personally really liked Ed Hannigan's work on Spectacular Spider-Man, and wanted to include the cover from issue #64, which reminded me of Will Eisner's work. It can be seen at http://www.comicvine.com/comic/spectacular-spider-man-the/2870/22024/&i=3259.

[bhudson1972]

I think you are all forgetting another great Spider-Man title in the early 80's. Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man surpassed Amazing Spider-Man for awhile when Bill Manto took over. In issue #64, we saw the introduction of Cloak & Dagger. Their story which involved Silvermane was excellent and wasn't wrapped up until #96 by Al Milgrom. We also saw one of my all time favorite story arcs from #73 - #79... the Owl and Dr. Octopus gang war that resulted in the Black Cat getting critically wounded. Finally, Peter David's story about the Death of Jean DeWolff in issues #107 - #110 were excellent.

Spider-Man in the early to mid-80's was much better than anything we have had recently.

[bhudson1972]

Stern's run on Amazing and PAD in Web where the best Spidey books of that period. DeFalco's wasn't bad either since his introduced the Black Costume Saga, Puma, Jack O'Lantern, and the Rose.

I think you are thinking of PAD on Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man. Web of Spider-Man was terrible.

[chap22]

as i said in the original thread at Talk@, i think it falls somewhere in the middle between dark and golden, probably leaning more toward golden. and it's really on a title-by-title basis...

Team-Up had its best run under DeMatties before making way to become Web.

and Web started out with a couple of strong, fun stories (black costume, the Vulturions, Doc Ock), then promptly deteriorated into 3 or 4 years worth of utter crap, finally redeemed somewhat when Conway took over with the Lobo Brothers gang war, the return and reformations of Prowler, Rocket Racer, Will-o'-the-Wisp, Molten Man & Harry Goblin, etc...and one of the 2 or 3 greatest JJJ stories ever while he was kidnapped by the Chameleon. then after about 20-25 issues of fun if not groundbreaking stuff, it tanked again starting with Name of the Rose (or maybe a little earlier, i forget). loved the Saviuk art though.

PPTSSM however...was golden. you've got the intro of Cloak & Dagger, the Owl/Doc Ock Gang War, C&D/Silvermane/Punisher trial storyline where Punisher goes to jail, the Spidey/Black Cat relationship, Kingpin gives her her bad luck powers + the Answer and Spot and assorted hijinks, Death of Jean DeWolff, Cat loses her bad luck powers which flows into the Silver Sable/Foreigner stuff, Tombstone intro, Robbie's trial and imprisonment, the Lobo Bros stuff (which was actually more fun than mutant werewolf brother crime bosses had ANY right to be)...Spectacular was solid for 10 years. and THEN DeMatteis came on and made it even better in the early 90s.

Amazing had Stern's run, featuring Spidey vs. the Juggernaut, Cobra and Mr. Hyde, the origin of the Vulture, the Hobgoblin & the Kid Who Collected Spider-Man. then we got DeFalco who intro'd Puma, the Rose, the black costume, Black Fox and Silver Sable, Spidey vs. Firelord, the Sinister Syndicate, Absorbing Man & Titania....yeah Gang War brought a bit of a slide, but that was in '87. and was immediately followed by Michelinie & McFarlane, who didn't produce any classics but did crank out fun comics for 3 years. truthfully at that point Spidey became more about the artists (McFarlane, Larsen, Bags all in a row) than the writers, and really ushered in the start of the Image era.


and i haven't even mentioned Kraven's Last Hunt or Hooky yet.:D

[Gumbydunzeet]

I enjoyed the Rose/HobGoblin gang war stuff that went on during SSM.

[GregSCC]

I got into Spider-Man during the late 80s/early 90's - and even as a 12 year old I could see how the quality was fading away leading up to the Clone Saga...

Looking over all the old stuff I think the 80s was the best era for spider-man
Even though the black costume was really an excuse for lazy pencilling!

My favourite Spidey Stories:

Spidey/Black Cat
Alien Costume Saga
The Rose/Hobgoblin Gang Wars
Death of Jean De Wolfe
Spidey Vs Wolverine (SO UNDERRATED!)
The Wedding

All 80s!

There's actually a really big gap in my collection between 'The Wedding' and Straczynski's 'Coming Home' (nearly 15 years worth of comics!)

And I couldnt care less for the 90's fixation with Venom/Carnage - I've always seen these characters as Giger's Alien/T2 cash-ins - Although I thought what they did with Eddie Brock in the 'Back in Black' run of Sensational Spidey was brilliant.

[Alexander Knox]

That Wizard Masterpiece Edition book that came out a few years ago was really good. Death of Jean DeWolfe, Kid Who Collected Spider-Man, the Juggernaut story, the Return of Venom.

[macchupichu]

as i said in the original thread at Talk@, i think it falls somewhere in the middle between dark and golden, probably leaning more toward golden. and it's really on a title-by-title basis...

Team-Up had its best run under DeMatties before making way to become Web.

and Web started out with a couple of strong, fun stories (black costume, the Vulturions, Doc Ock), then promptly deteriorated into 3 or 4 years worth of utter crap, finally redeemed somewhat when Conway took over with the Lobo Brothers gang war, the return and reformations of Prowler, Rocket Racer, Will-o'-the-Wisp, Molten Man & Harry Goblin, etc...and one of the 2 or 3 greatest JJJ stories ever while he was kidnapped by the Chameleon. then after about 20-25 issues of fun if not groundbreaking stuff, it tanked again starting with Name of the Rose (or maybe a little earlier, i forget). loved the Saviuk art though.

PPTSSM however...was golden. you've got the intro of Cloak & Dagger, the Owl/Doc Ock Gang War, C&D/Silvermane/Punisher trial storyline where Punisher goes to jail, the Spidey/Black Cat relationship, Kingpin gives her her bad luck powers + the Answer and Spot and assorted hijinks, Death of Jean DeWolff, Cat loses her bad luck powers which flows into the Silver Sable/Foreigner stuff, Tombstone intro, Robbie's trial and imprisonment, the Lobo Bros stuff (which was actually more fun than mutant werewolf brother crime bosses had ANY right to be)...Spectacular was solid for 10 years. and THEN DeMatteis came on and made it even better in the early 90s.

Amazing had Stern's run, featuring Spidey vs. the Juggernaut, Cobra and Mr. Hyde, the origin of the Vulture, the Hobgoblin & the Kid Who Collected Spider-Man. then we got DeFalco who intro'd Puma, the Rose, the black costume, Black Fox and Silver Sable, Spidey vs. Firelord, the Sinister Syndicate, Absorbing Man & Titania....yeah Gang War brought a bit of a slide, but that was in '87. and was immediately followed by Michelinie & McFarlane, who didn't produce any classics but did crank out fun comics for 3 years. truthfully at that point Spidey became more about the artists (McFarlane, Larsen, Bags all in a row) than the writers, and really ushered in the start of the Image era.


and i haven't even mentioned Kraven's Last Hunt or Hooky yet.:D

yeah i couldnt finish reading it all:rolleyes:

[chap22]

yeah i couldnt finish reading it all:rolleyes:
and your point would be...?:rolleyes:

[carl kolchak]

Stern's run on Amazing and PAD in Web where the best Spidey books of that period. DeFalco's wasn't bad either since his introduced the Black Costume Saga, Puma, Jack O'Lantern, and the Rose.

The moment DeFalco left though Amazing just wasn't ever the same. I really don't think it's ever been the same since then.

We're in almost perfect agreement. Owsley (Priest)'s stories were pretty good and it did contain the classic fight with Wolverine. And I really like DeFalco's run. The last appearance of the "fun" Spidey for a long time. His battle with Firelord is one of my 3 favorite Spidey stories.

Kraven's Last Hunt is justifiably a classic, but I hate that it left us with a grim book resembling Batman in terms of angst. What happened after this story is when it all fell apart. Micheline wasn't awful, but he wanted to tell fun stories....a task that McFarlane and Larsen weren't really specialized in. So, it got darker and darker....

[macchupichu]

and your point would be...?:rolleyes:

'cause it was so looooong:rolleyes:

[Sevedris]

I love the 80s, because back then Spider-Man and the Black Cat were an item.
I also love the black costume saga, because I like Venom.
The Death of Jean De Wolfe was good too.

[chap22]

'cause it was so looooong:rolleyes:
maybe it's just b/c your attention span/I.Q. is so low.