Penguin Classics’ The Amazing Spider-Man collects Amazing Fantasy #15, The Amazing Spider-Man #1-4, 9-10, 13-14, & 17-19 along with summaries of Amazing Spider-Man #5-8, #11-12, #15-16, Annual #1, and material from Strange Tales #97, all written by Stan Lee and illustrated by Steve Ditko. These stories detail much of Spidey’s formative first two years, while Ben Saunders’ introduction explains the historical context of the comic book industry at the time as well as the legacy of Lee & Ditko’s work. Jason Reynolds’ foreword describes what Spider-Man – and his teenaged alter ego Peter Parker – meant to Reynolds and his brother as young readers, further helping to contextualize the character.

These stories introduce Spider-Man’s friends and family, Aunt May, J. Jonah Jameson, Betty Brant, Liz Allen, and Flash Thompson. Spider-Man regularly works with members of the Fantastic Four, developing a friendship with the Human Torch, and even meets the Avengers in these stories. Additionally, classic recurring villains make their first appearances, including the Vulture, Doctor Octopus, Sandman, the Lizard, Electro, Big Man & the Enforcers (Montana, Fancy Dan, & Ox), Mysterio, the Green Goblin, Kraven the Hunter, the Sinister Six, and Mac Gargan (who later became the Scorpion & Venom). Finally, the story from Strange Tales #97 features a couple named Aunt May and Uncle Ben months before Amazing Fantasy #15, though these two have little in common with Peter Parker’s family as their story so thoroughly departs from the May & Ben who appeared later.

These formative issues underscore the significance of Spider-Man and lay the groundwork for the hundreds and hundreds of stories that followed. As Stan Lee noted in the end of issue 9, summing up Ol’ Web-head’s appeal, Spider-Man is “the superhero who could be – you!” (pg. 162). In addition to the stunning presentation of this volume with its bold red covers with gilt details and page edges, Penguin added bonus material for fans new and old. This volume includes three appendices, suggestions for further reading, and a notes section as befitting the best of Penguin’s historical collections. The overall presentation makes it a truly lovely volume to gift to any fan. ( )