Mar 29, 2026

the part with robbie and his son is so misguided. it basically boils down to "you're overestimating the role racism plays in your life, young man!" and no, he isn't. 1969 stan lee ain't ready to have this conversation for real, and neither are a lot of y'all, but having a black mouthpiece for a white writer to talk down to an audience about issues he doesn't really understand isn't providing the voice of reason he thinks it is.

there are certainly some situations where someone who doesn't personally experience racial discrimination can have something valuable to teach on the subject to someone who does, but it seems to be a lot more common for white people to think they're really dropping truth bombs when they're actually just reinforcing institutional white supremacy without realizing it, and that's exactly what's happening here.

one very easy guideline to follow is, just don't blame your characters for how they respond to any hierarchy that you benefit from at the expense of a demographic of people they represent. if you genuinely think "well, racism is a problem, but the way some black people respond to it is also a problem," you should use your platform to try to dismantle the racism, because that would solve both problems.

regardless of whether stan lee felt hatred in his heart, it is a fact that he created and published propaganda that reinforced white supremacy on a pretty regular basis around this time, and so did J. Jonah Jameson with his very pro-cop yellow journalism. Getting hung up on which white people "are" or "aren't" "racist" is a trap. He's presenting the wrong narrative.

Mar 11, 2026

7/10 - A very solid filler that hints at an old friend's return

From the moment I saw the cover, I thought this issue was going to be awful with a lame villain, but I couldn't have been more wrong.

It's hard to believe that the same Stan Lee who wrote the script for this series also wrote for other lame series.

Spider-Man is so good that even a filler issue without a main event and just various subplots can be really enjoyable. Even the minor Tablet element serves nicely as a continuity anchor across various issues, with different characters and stories that have nothing to do with each other.

All the characters, whether veterans or new ones, are so interesting and credible. The story writing and the rest of the elements are so nicely executed that everything fits and works like a charm.

Feb 15, 2025

idn't like how much trouble Spidey had with Marco. He is just an ordinary dude! This is ridiculous! And why Peter's spider-sense never works?

Jul 6, 2024

Say what?!? Quisling: a traitor who collaborates with an enemy force occupying their country. Originates from the surname of the Norwegian wartime leader Vidkun Quisling, who headed a domestic Nazi collaborationist regime during World War II.

Too many bad guys named Marko. Was Stan bullied by someone named Marko and so it's his go to villain name?

Oct 2, 2023

I know why it's done, and it's perfectly understandable, and it's a technique I've used in my own writing, but there are few things that sound more awkward than the one-sided phone call where the person is repeating what the other person is saying back to them as if it's a question.

"What's that? He's not there? He was taken by two men that you'd never seen before? He didn't give you any induction as to where he was going out when he'd be back? What's that? How am I doing? How is my Aunt May? What's that? You're just about to sit down to dinner? You'll talk to me later? You'll keep me updated if you hear anything? What's that? Goodbye?"

Jul 15, 2023

Spider-Man tries to move man-mountains. The Marvel Universe gets a stripper. Silvermane takes a tablet and calls for The Lizard. I mean, a doctor. Lots of stuff happening here. I generally liked it, though I agree that Man-Mountain Marko is little more than a generic henchman. But the continued mystery surrounding the tablet, the infighting within The Maggia, the impending return of The Lizard...all good stuff. I would like to understand The Maggia though. How many people are truly in charge of The Maggia? Are there different arms? Why do they want the tablet? Four stars.

The discussion between Robbie and Randy was interesting, and especially given how long ago it was written. It is just as relevant today. I think a big part of the difference between Stan's writing here and his writing for The Silver Surfer is that here his characters are having a dialogue, which allows for a lot more nuance and presentation of different points of view. The Silver Surfer is usually bemoaning the state of society to himself, leaning more to melodrama. Plus The Silver Surfer doesn't have anybody to challenge his viewpoints, pointing out how his words and actions seem to always contradict one another.

Why does Spider-Man break into the Stacy residence? And why didn't he ask more questions about the girlfriend? I was also surprised to hear she was an exotic dancer. Not what I was expecting in 1969. Man-Mountain Mark is a generic hood. How many different Maggia factions are there? Does Cicero not need to seize power from both Silvermane and The Big M? How does this work? I think Silvermane might be old. Maybe even Aunt May old. You knew Connors was going to come into this arc, given the recap last issue. But he doesn't appear to have the skills necessary to solve the tablet.

Feb 21, 2023

Meet Spider-Man's greatest new arch-foe! ...A big guy.

May 27, 2022

Silvermane? Are we sure this isn't just the Stranger moonlighting as a mob boss?

Apr 24, 2022

And we finally have been introduced to the 3 big Maggia leaders. Count Nefaria, Big M (she needs a better name) and Silvermane.

Apr 20, 2022

George Stacy was Spider-Man's "Cap" before Steve Rogers? Poor Spidey...

Apr 3, 2022

Amazing Spider-Man continues to be one of, if not the best of the era. Constantly getting better in character development, art, and story-telling.

Oct 19, 2021

After two "halftime" issues, we jump back into the "ancient tablet" arc, but instead of the Kingpin, this time Spidey is up against the aged Maggia leader Silvermane along with his strongman Man-Mountain Marko. Silvermane reminds me of actor Eduardo Ciannelli, who played ruthless Mafia dons in many crime shows in the 50's/60's. He will have some longevity, but not so with Marko (who seems like a more gabby retread of the Man-Monster from Spectacular Spidey 1) - I mostly remember him from the Hostess Ad "The Cupcake Caper" - I think he was the only foe Spider didn't stop by throwing a Hostess treat at.

How did Spidey crawl into Capt. Stacy's bedroom without being seen? Stacy's bed faces the window (pg3p2). Why not just show up as Peter instead of giving Stacy a worse shock than last issue? Why does everyone speaking "hip lingo" have to talk in rhyme? (I guess it's just a passing fad, dad!). Spidey says he "once managed to get the tablet away from the Shocker" (pg8p2) - When did this happen? The Shocker grabbed the tablet and hid it when he found he couldn't fence it. But there on pg5 - the Shocker's girlfriend looks like Louise Jones! (now known as Louise Simonson) Compare her with Berni Wrightson's classic version in House of Secrets 92! Sockamagee!

I think Marvel could put out an collection of these stories with all the Spidey parts edited out, leaving Peter and his supporting cast, and it would still be a great read.

Suggested listening: "The Locomotion" by Little Eva (pg14p2) Stan's pop culture reference this issue (along with Earl Wilson)

Jul 8, 2021

This issue was pretty good. I do admire Stan for trying to talk about about race at a time when the CCA banned any subject that would put the US in a negative light.

Sep 7, 2020

I’m curious if this is the same Maggie that was led by the female in Iron Man. And did “exotic dancer” mean something different back then? Loved the scene with Robertson and his son. Not every conflict has to do with race. Unfortunately, as I write this, major cities are burning across the U.S. , so I guess not everyone read this issue. I can’t see any Marvel writer today making statements like Stan did. Four stars.

Apr 25, 2021

Exotic dancer means exactly what you think it means. A polite euphemism. Stripper was too uncouth of a term for comics back then. But the burlesque has been with us for a very long time. They just didnt speak about it openly.

And yes, its the same Maggia (WE’RE TOTALLY NOT THE MAFIA, GUYS).

Jul 8, 2021

Actually the issue you mention has a lot to do with race. Besides the general racial profiling that people of color experience, many of the police forces in the south sprung from the slave patrols.

Mar 18, 2019

And the cast of thousands expands yet further...and they all want that tablet. This is threatening to turn into one of the, if not the, best arcs we've seen so far. Assuming they don't fumble it in the endgame

Mar 17, 2019

Say what you will about Man Mountain Marko, but that is one snazzy suit he has on. What is that, leather? If his gig with the Maggia ever dries up, he could be Elvis’ stunt double... or at least fill in for Tom Jones. Vegas awaits!

As others have mentioned, it is interesting you see Stan’s take on racism, and how, 50 years later, it doesn’t seem like we’re any further along... maybe even further back. Still, it must have been pretty daring to sneak that stuff into a comic book at the time. Probably one of those things where he was able to do it because not very many people were actually paying attention... not like now.

Also interesting to see 3 big artists on the credits page... I wonder how they divvied up the work? Buscema doing layouts, Romita doing pencils, and Moody doing the inks? I see the distinctive styles of each of them, but they blend together, so it’s hard to know who did what.

May 20, 2018

The political panels are a real drag.

I will say the tablet story arc started off as just any other small time run of the mill sub-plot but Stan has really tied everything together nicely. I didn't realize it myself until the panel of Wilson in jail when he discussed who all had possession of the tablet. Pretty cool, also really nice ending bringing in Doc Connors. Can't wait to see how this one wraps up.

Mar 16, 2018

I am also on the no-fan-of-ManMountainMarko side here. For me he is just a stupid bully who does what is told him, nothing more nothing less. he shows this with the stupid questions he asks Silverman, whom I find interesting, the first of many maggia leaders (but where is the Big (female) M from Iron Man, are there fractions of the maggia and with it fraction leaders?)

The involvement of Dr. Lizard Connors makes me curious on what he might have to do with the hidden power of the Ancient Tablet.

Sep 5, 2017

This book was better than most of the books published at the same time, but it wasn't up to the standard I expected from Amazing Spider-Man. Man Mountain Marko just isn't a credible threat, and the involvement of Curt Connors seems contrived, though I'll reserve judgement in case they have a super good rason in the next issue.

May 30, 2017

I agree about Robbie's talk with his son. A person can be a jerk without being a racist, homophobe, misogynist, etc. Of course, people can also be those things while still being incredibly polite. It is a weird idea to wrap your head around.

About this issue, the only note I have is that the storyline of this tablet is taking much longer to resolve then I normally expect. I like that, but it is a bit unusual.