WEB-ZINGERS

I own every issue of Web of Spider-Man. Including the annuals. eBay can do strange things to a man. Although this book doesn’t technically fall into the “Chromium Age” category (it just limped along into that time period), I thought it could be an interesting series to explore. In 1985, Web took the place of Marvel Team-Up, the peripheral Spider-Man series that did exactly what the title said and rarely focused on the life of Peter Parker. The “real” Spidey stories were being handled by Amazing Spider-Man and Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man. Two books featuring a franchise character is defensible, but by the time you get to the third, you’re in the “spin-off of a spin-off” category. The title was edited in the early days by Jim Owsley, who had what could be called a “shaky” experience on the job, as detailed on his website.

For years, the book wasn’t able to maintain a creative team, which didn’t exactly help the “gratuitous spin-off” label. Although Marvel recently revived the title, it seems like this book has never been held in very high regard by fandom. I actually view the book more favorably than a lot of people, since I began reading it during the very consistent Gerry Conway/Alex Saviuk run. I looked forward to Web just as much as Amazing and Spectacular during my days as a Spider-fan. Were my favorite issues just a brief respite during a dismal run? Is Web wrongly maligned? Should I be embarrassed for enjoying a comic about Spider-Man and the Rocket Racer fighting a blob made of Nazis? It could be fun to explore.

I think the evolution of artist Alex Saviuk as mainstream tastes changed is also worth a look. The same guy drew all of these comics…

So…Web of Spider-Man #1. Coming soon.