CGC certified: Fine- (5.5). Off-white pages. Not cleaned and pressed. Cover: Steve Ditko pencils and inks (alterations to Dr. Octopus's face and Spidey's legs by Jack Kirby , Stan Goldberg colors. Story: Stan Lee and Steve Ditko Art: Steve Ditko Colors: Stan Goldberg. Lettering: Sam Rosen. GPAnalysis: A 5.5 sold for $894 in 4/22. Doc Ock returns to terrorize the town with his prehensile priapuses of power. Meanwhile, Betty Brant blames Spidey for her ne'er-do-well brother's death ("I HATE you, Spider-Man! I'll hate you to the day I die!"). One wonders if Betty's scourging of Peter, billed by Stan Lee as Spidey's "MOST BITTER DISAPPOINTMENT!," served as a memento of personal mortifications to Ditko, who is said to have based Betty on a gal who rejected his advances (see lot 45 for the sad details). The hidden editorial imperative behind this ish is the maintenance of Spidey's status quo. According to Marvel scribe Peter David, Stan Lee often said that "the illusion of change... was the secret to Marvel storytelling. Make it seem as if things were changing in the life of a character… but, in point of fact, have them remain exactly the same." Although this mag's story is titled "Turning Point," the plot is more of a dead end, as it drives a wedge between Pete and Betty that eventually leads to their breakup. "Over the years, Stan and Steve (and later John) put him through changes. But when you get down to it, they satisfied the concept of illusionary change. Peter went from high school to college… but he was still a student. Betty Brant and Liz Allen gave way to Gwen Stacy and Mary Jane Watson, and nemesis Flash Thompson stepped aside for nemesis Harry Osborn. Otherwise, though, he was pretty much the same guy. Sure, he got a motorcycle, which was the ultimate in cool… but he wound up having to sell it, thereby bringing the money problems back to the forefront. It was evolution, but 360 degrees’ worth. Same old Spider-Man, same old Peter Parker, same old problems at the core." — Peter David, "But I Digress: The Illusion of Change." Comic Buyer's Guide #1285, July 3, 1998. Enjoying the Spidey Sale? Order a fully-illustrated softcover catalogue for 30 bucks. Only about 100 copies were printed and they're going fast. To reserve a copy, contact PBA's Director of Comics: [email protected] Consign to PBA Galleries. Our comic sales average a 98% sell-through rate, our prices realized are top-of-the-market, and our research-intensive catalogues are the best in the business. Seeking Silver Age Marvel, Golden Age superheroes, and pre-Code horror. Contact [email protected]
CGC certified: Fine- (5.5). Off-white pages. Not cleaned and pressed. Cover: Steve Ditko pencils and inks (alterations to Dr. Octopus's face and Spidey's legs by Jack Kirby , Stan Goldberg colors. Story: Stan Lee and Steve Ditko Art: Steve Ditko Colors: Stan Goldberg. Lettering: Sam Rosen. GPAnalysis: A 5.5 sold for $894 in 4/22. Doc Ock returns to terrorize the town with his prehensile priapuses of power. Meanwhile, Betty Brant blames Spidey for her ne'er-do-well brother's death ("I HATE you, Spider-Man! I'll hate you to the day I die!"). One wonders if Betty's scourging of Peter, billed by Stan Lee as Spidey's "MOST BITTER DISAPPOINTMENT!," served as a memento of personal mortifications to Ditko, who is said to have based Betty on a gal who rejected his advances (see lot 45 for the sad details). The hidden editorial imperative behind this ish is the maintenance of Spidey's status quo. According to Marvel scribe Peter David, Stan Lee often said that "the illusion of change... was the secret to Marvel storytelling. Make it seem as if things were changing in the life of a character… but, in point of fact, have them remain exactly the same." Although this mag's story is titled "Turning Point," the plot is more of a dead end, as it drives a wedge between Pete and Betty that eventually leads to their breakup. "Over the years, Stan and Steve (and later John) put him through changes. But when you get down to it, they satisfied the concept of illusionary change. Peter went from high school to college… but he was still a student. Betty Brant and Liz Allen gave way to Gwen Stacy and Mary Jane Watson, and nemesis Flash Thompson stepped aside for nemesis Harry Osborn. Otherwise, though, he was pretty much the same guy. Sure, he got a motorcycle, which was the ultimate in cool… but he wound up having to sell it, thereby bringing the money problems back to the forefront. It was evolution, but 360 degrees’ worth. Same old Spider-Man, same old Peter Parker, same old problems at the core." — Peter David, "But I Digress: The Illusion of Change." Comic Buyer's Guide #1285, July 3, 1998. Enjoying the Spidey Sale? Order a fully-illustrated softcover catalogue for 30 bucks. Only about 100 copies were printed and they're going fast. To reserve a copy, contact PBA's Director of Comics: [email protected] Consign to PBA Galleries. Our comic sales average a 98% sell-through rate, our prices realized are top-of-the-market, and our research-intensive catalogues are the best in the business. Seeking Silver Age Marvel, Golden Age superheroes, and pre-Code horror. Contact [email protected]
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
