He's Done.

I once challenged myself by reading 100 issues of Spider-Man, and you wanna know how many I remember? About 20.

I planned to review this one as part of the birthday special, but I didn't.

This one is really interesting because, as Al Sjoerdsma from SpiderFan.org puts it, "...when I first saw this issue on the revolving comic rack back in 1967, I was really worried. First of all, I was ten years old, which is to say I was gullible. And second, I had seen plenty of other comics series come and go, never to be seen again. Who's to say it couldn't happen to Spider-Man? He wasn't the icon that he is today." 

Which is why I gotta be so thankful that I don't read comics as they come out, because if I was gullible and saw that my favorite comic was ending, I would cry all day, I don't blame Al for thinking that.

This comic features Spider-Man quitting, it's a moment that has been adapted... Well, actually not enough times! But the most memorable moment comes from the hit 2004 movie "Spider-Man 2". 

This is The Amazing Spider-Man (vol. 1) #50. by Stan Lee and John Romita Sr. Released all the way back in 1967.

This cover has been referenced and homaged plenty of times, including, weirdly enough, the poster for Marvel Studios' The Incredible Hulk, though, I guess it was pretty cool. The art in question shows Peter Parker walking away from Spider-Man's spiritual form as a way to symbolize "Spider-Man No More!"

The story begins with Spider-Man beating up some criminals, which is to be expected fro- OH, MY GOSH. EDDIE. YOU DO THIS JOKE EVERY TIME. Whatever, after Spider-Man beats up the crooks, a nearby couple spots him, the lady praises Spider-Man for saving their lives, but the man is like "OH HELL NAW" and belittles Spider-Man, calling him a menace to his face! If I was Spider-Man, I wouldn't take his shit, but I'm not Spider-Man, and I have to take everyone's shit. 

While swinging away, he reflects on how J. Jonah Jameson's editorials seem to be affecting Spider-Man's reputation badly, but to make matters worse, Aunt May has fallen ill again, and Peter was too busy in his long johns to actually be there. At school, his grades are declining, he can't be there for Gwen Stacy's super awesome party, it SUCKS to be Peter. At home, he turns on the TV to get his mind off of things, but J. Jonah Jameson once again takes time to call Spider-Man a menace, which finally leads Peter to wonder if he actually IS one.

Peter walks down the streets of New York, thinking about how he jeopardized everything in his personal life to save the very people who fear him, he walks into a nearby alleyway and throws away his Spider-Man costume*, as he walks away, he thinks about how every boy, sooner or later, must put away his toys... and become a man.

The comic could've ended there, but there's still a few loose ends to tie up, so the story goes on. 

A child just runs into the offices of the Daily Bugle, but before JJJ can yell at the kid, he sees that he's got THE Spider-Man costume, meaning that Spider-Man is thru! It's not possible that a crazy supervillain stripped him nude** and threw away his costume for some reason.

ALL the news and media outlets are talking about how Spider-Man is thru, and how crime has skyrocketed in New York City***, we get to see how the Fredrick Foswell side plot is STILL GOING ON AFTER LIKE 20 ISSUES****. Peter walks into the offices of JJ to tell him that since Spider-Man isn't around anymore, Peter can't sell photos... Not a smart move on Peter's part, but we'll let it slide.

Well, y'know, crime has risen to a point where the Kingpin of crime, Wilson Fisk is making his first appearance, but at least Peter finally has time to improve his grades and get some ladies. But later that night, Peter sees an old man getting assaulted, and he decides to step in just this once to also beat up the old man... I'm just kidding, he stops the robbers.

Along the way, Peter makes a realization... That old man he saved looks exactly like Uncle Ben, the man that taught Peter several valuable lessons, the man whose death could've been prevented if Peter had just stopped that one criminal. Peter finally snaps and decides to come back to the crimefighting business, so he breaks into Jameson's office and takes back his Spider-Man costume. Spidey is back in action, and the issue ends on a very high note.

That tale was absolutely surreal, it was amazing, we see a hero at his low point, ready to quit saving the city he lives in to see what it was like to live a normal life. The artwork is beautiful, the story is fantastic, the premise is timeless, one of the most memorable issues of Spider-Man to this date. 10/10, I cried reading this for the first time. This story may have inspired Frank Miller's The Dark Knight Returns. It's odd because I own DKR but not this issue...

So, that's it for this one, next time... The book of Ezekiel.

Footnotes:

*Peter, buddy, don't you have multiple costumes?

**We'll be looking at ASM vol. 3 soon. 

***WHERE WERE THE OTHER SUPERHEROES? It's not like Spider-Man was the only street level hero at the time, where was Daredevil? Was Spider-Man really the only superhero lowering crime numbers?

****Well, I mean, it's not like Spider-Man comics don't have long side plots these days, just look at Paul! He's still here somehow!

Oh, and if Al Sjoerdsma finds this... Well, sorry my review wasn't as good as yours!