1981 - Spectacular Spider-Man Annual #3

The Spectactular Spider-Man Annual #3
Writer - David Kraft
Artists - Jim Sherman/Al Weiss/Steve Mitchell
"Dark Side of the Moon"
29 pages

I have fond memories of this King-Size Annual from 1981 and grabbing it off the stands at my local convenience store. Look at that stunning cover by Al Weiss and Joe Rubinstein. How could any 10 year-old resist that work of art!

And the cover actually had something to do with the story. In fact, it highlighted the many internal struggles that really made this issue a memorable one.

Let's get started by jumping right into the story.

John Jameson, son of the Daily Bugle's esteemed publisher, J. Jonah Jameson, is still at the mercy of a gemstone that transforms him into the savage Man-Wolf. Spidey prevents a rampaging Man-Wolf from doing too much damage in the streets of downtown New York City, but the creature eludes him. The following day, Spidey drops in on John and offers to help the afflicted young man.Teaming up with Curt Connors (the Lizard's alter ego and Peter's mentor) to leverage their latest experiment, the Bio-Magnetic Converter, to purge John Jameson's system of the gemstone's influence. The arrival of Jameson's father, Jonah really amps up the story conflict.

Not only is John Jameson battling the influence of the Man-Wolf, but he's refereeing the infighting between Spider-Man and Jonah. Spidey's trying to help Connors and contain the damage that Jonah's causing as he's completely lost it and only wants to help his son.

Fortunately, Connors' Bio-Magnetic Converter does the job frees John of the gemstone's curse.

Sherman and Weiss prove to be a great artistic duo. They excel at not only the great, dynamic action scenes of the story, but also in those quiet thematic moment. The range of expressions and facial reactions are really well done. I also really appreciated how they contained and constrained the action within panel borders.

I also really liked how David Anthony Kraft leveraged all the internal conflict (John's internal struggle, Spidey's struggle with JJJ, and Spidey's physical struggle with the Man-Wolf) to really flesh out the characters involved. It was also great to see Dr. Connors in that mentor role and really give something for Peter to strive towards other than swinging around in tights all night.

1980 - Spectacular Spider-Man covers by Frank Miller

The 20 Greatest Spider-Man Covers of the 1980s

Inspired by the Comic Book Resources 50 Greatest Spider-Man Covers of All Time, I thought I'd put together my own list. Let me know what you think...

#20 - Spectacular Spider-Man #60 by Frank Miller

#19 - Amazing Spider-Man #260 by Ron Frenz and Joe Rubinstein

#18 - Amazing Spider-Man #222 by Walt Simonson

#17 - Web of Spider-Man #4 by John Byrne

#16 - Amazing Spider-Man #294 by Mike Zeck

#15 - Amazing Spider-Man #252 by Ron Frenz and Klaus Janson

#14 - Amazing Spider-Man #251 by Ed Hannigan and Klaus Janson 

#13 - Amazing Spider-Man #231 by John Romita Jr. and Al Milgrom

#12 - Spectacular Spider-Man #109 by Rich Buckler 

#11 - Amazing Spider-Man #210 by John Romita Jr. and Al Milgrom

#10 Web of Spider-Man #32 by Mike Zeck

#9 Amazing Spider-Man #226 by John Romita Jr. and Al Milgrom 

#8 Spectacular Spider-Man #66 by Ed Hannigan and Al Milgrom

#7 - Spectacular Spider-Man #101 by John Byrne

#6 Amazing Spider-Man #230 by John Romita Jr. and Al Milgrom

#5 Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars #8 by Mike Zeck.

#4 Spider-Man versus Wolverine #1 by Mark Bright and Al Williamson.

#3 Amazing Spider-Man #238 by John Romita Jr. and John Romita Sr.

#2 - Spectacular Spider-Man #64 by Ed Hannigan and Al Milgrom

#1 - Web of Spider-Man #1 by Charles Vess

Spider-Man by Roger Stern Omnibus - more details and a cover

http://www.amazon.ca/Spider-Man-Roger-Stern-Omnibus/dp/0785188274/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1378919337&sr=1-1&keywords=roger+stern+spider-man

Because you demanded it! Mighty Marvel presents Roger Stern's celebrated 1980s run on Spectacular Spider-Man and Amazing Spider-Man in one sensational Omnibus edition! Paired with John Romita Jr. and a cast of other top art talents, Roger Stern reinvigorated the life of everyone's friendly neighborhood Spider-Man. There's definitive battle with the Juggernaut, the Vulture, the Kingpin, the fan favorite tale of "The Kid Who Collects Spider-Man," 1st appearance of Monica Rambeau (a.k.a. Captain Marvel), and the introduction of and classic first battle with the Hobgoblin! This is Spidey at his best-and Peter Parker, too! 

COLLECTING:nbsp;SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN (1976) 43-61, 85; AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 206, 224-252 & ANNUAL (1964) 16

Spider-Man by Roger Stern Omnibus on Amazon!

Amazon is advertising a Roger Stern Spider-Man Omnibus for pre-order: http://www.amazon.ca/Spider-Man-Roger-Stern-Omnibus/dp/0785188274/ref=sr_1_14?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1376958579&sr=1-14&keywords=marvel

Hardcover: 1248 pages
April 8 2014
Roger Stern (Author), Marv Wolfman (Author), Bill Mantlo (Author), Jan Strnad (Author), Mike Zeck (Illustrator), John Romita (Illustrator), John Byrne (Illustrator), Rick Leonardi (Illustrator)

Looks like this omnibus will collect both Stern's Spectacular Spider-Man and Amazing Spider-Man runs in the early 1980s. This hardcover makes a lot of sense since there's been a bunch of recent Stern Spider-Man TPBs, like the recent "Nothing Can Stop The Juggernaut" and the upcoming Mark of the Tarantula.

1986 - Anatomy of a cover - Spectacular Spider-Man #115

http://www.coollinesartwork.com/featured.asp?Piece=295329&Details=1&From=Room

1989 - Splash page from Spectacular Spider-Man Annual #9

by Dave Ross

http://www.comicartfans.com/GalleryPiece.asp?Piece=906932&GSub=97660

1986 - Anatomy of a cover - Peter Parker Spectacular Spider-Man #113

http://comics.ha.com/c/item.zx?saleNo=7063&lotNo=92004

1982 - Anatomy of a cover - Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man #64

1981 - Anatomy of a cover - Peter Parker Spectacular Spider-Man #53

http://www.coollinesartwork.com/GalleryPiece.asp?Piece=293031&ArtistId=428&Details=1&From=Room

1983 - preliminary cover for Peter Parker #81

The final cover was drawn by Al Milgrom, but that preliminary cover (grabbed from an issue of Marvel Age) looks like it might have been sketched by Ed Hannigan, or perhaps it is Al Milgrom...