A Silver and Bronze Age goldmine!
Marvel’s Facsimile Edition program — reprints that include ads, letters, the whole shootin’ match — is back in a big way in April, with three issues that celebrate Spider-Man.
Dig these solicitations, released Friday by the House of Ideas:
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AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #1 FACSIMILE EDITION
Written by STAN LEE
Penciled by STEVE DITKO
Cover by JACK KIRBY & STEVE DITKO
Re-presenting the inaugural issue of Spider-Man’s iconic ongoing series, which followed fast after the wall-crawler’s blockbuster debut in AMAZING FANTASY #15! Peter Parker has been bitten by the radioactive spider, gained incredible abilities, donned his colorful costume and learned a tragic lesson about power and responsibility – and now it’s time for him to swing into action! But can our young hero rescue a crew of astronauts aboard their malfunctioning shuttle? Even if he does, he’ll still end up Public Enemy No. 1 as far as journalist J. Jonah Jameson is concerned! Then, Spidey shows off his skills in a bid to join the Fantastic Four – and comes face-to-faces with his very first super villain: the identity-stealing Chameleon! It’s one of the all-time great Marvel comic books, boldly re-presented in its original form, ads and all! Reprinting AMAZING SPIDER-MAN (1963) #1.
32 PGS./All Ages… $3.99
On sale April 13
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AMAZING SPIDER-MAN ANNUAL #1 FACSIMILE EDITION
Written by STAN LEE
Penciled & COVER by STEVE DITKO
Doctor Octopus! Electro! Mysterio! The Vulture! Sandman! Kraven the Hunter! Individually, each of these deadly foes tested Spider-Man to his limit during the early years of his web-swinging adventures. So how can Spidey possibly hope to survive when they band together as what can only be called the Sinister Six? Find out in this landmark first-ever Spider-Man Annual from the brilliant minds of Stan Lee and Steve Ditko at the peak of their powers! Peter Parker is in for the fight of his life against a sextet of super villains – and every single battle along the way makes a great, big splash! And don’t miss all the inventive extras you’d expect from a classic Marvel Annual! It’s one of the all-time great Marvel comic books, boldly re-presented in its original form, ads and all! Reprinting AMAZING SPIDER-MAN ANNUAL (1964) #1.
72PGS./All Ages… $7.99
On sale April 27
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SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN #1 FACSIMILE EDITION
Written by GERRY CONWAY
Penciled & COVER by SAL BUSCEMA
By the mid-1970s, Spidey fans could thrill to their favorite hero’s escapades in AMAZING SPIDER-MAN, his high-octane encounters with other super-types in MARVEL TEAM-UP, his all-ages adventures in SPIDEY SUPER STORIES and reprints of classic stories in MARVEL TALES – and still it wasn’t enough! Such was the clamor that a second solo title debuted with a focus on the man beneath the mask: the always popular Peter Parker! But fear not, there’s plenty of costumed action in this frantic first issue – and when the deadly Tarantula strikes at Peter’s university, it’s Spidey who feels the sting! Will the Tarantula claim the mayor’s life, or can our wall-crawling Web-Head save the day in suitably spectacular fashion? It’s one of the all-time great Marvel comic books, boldly re-presented in its original form, ads and all! Reprinting SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN (1976) #1.
32 PGS./Rated T… $3.99
On sale April 6
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A few thoughts:
— This is the biggest month for Marvel’s Facsimile Editions since before the pandemic and this roaring return is a welcome sight. Unlike other reprints, Facsimile Editions are like little time machines that convey a real sense of time and place. I dig ’em, big time.
— Why April for this tremendous trio, when Spidey’s 60th anniversary isn’t until June? Simple: Marvel is rebooting ASM to #1 the same month, written by Zeb Wells and featuring the return of prodigal son John Romita Jr.
— Standard Price Comparison: Well, just try finding Spidey #1 for under a gazillion bucks. The FE is $3.99. An unslabbed, decent copy of Annual #1 — which I just read and is FAB — recently sold on eBay for $1,380. The FE is $7.99. An unslabbed, high-grade Spectacular #1 recently went for $87 on the platform. The FE is $3.99. What a bargain!
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MORE
— Landmark AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #238 to Get Facsimile Edition. Click here.
— Yet Another Round of MARVEL EPIC COLLECTIONS Set for 2022. Click here.
January 20, 2022
This is fantastic news! Anxiously awaiting FF # 5, 48, Iron Man 55, Marvel Spotlight 5, etc.
January 20, 2022
Looks like Marvel’s spinning a few webs with Spidey. 🙂
March 16, 2022
I have the originals of all but ASM #1 (which I have in multiple reprinted volumes), but I will still be buying these. ASM #238 is also coming out the last week of March. I don’t think the new ASM #1 will stack up to any of these 4 FEs.