Comics Corner: The Amazing Spider-Man 170

   

Title: The Amazing Spider-Man
Issue Number: 170
Release Date: July 1977

Highlights

  • Reference is made to Captain America 192
  • Spider-Man sees manifestations of all his greatest foes; Doc Ock, Shocker, Rhino, Morbius, and more
  • Mary Jane Watson and Liz Allen go wedding dress shopping
  • The Burglar returns, and he wants to rent Aunt May's old house
Low Points
  • Stories are starting to feel irrelevant - Like only a few panels actually advance the overall story, with the rest just being filler
Oddities
  • Faustus breaks into a facility where a vaccine for a coming epidemic to America is housed - His plan is to taint it with an additive that will give him control over the people...Sounds like a foreshadowing of Covid
Rating (based on a 1 through 5 Stans grading system)



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Comics Corner: The Amazing Spider-Man 169

   

Title: The Amazing Spider-Man
Issue Number: 169
Release Date: June 1977

Highlights

  • First mention of K.J. Clayton, head of the Bugle's competitor at the Daily Globe
  • Reference is made to The Amazing Spider-Man 151
  • J. Jonah Jameson presents his photos to Peter Parker, convinced the youth is Spider-Man, but convinced otherwise by some crafty fake photographs and quick talking
  • Cameo appearance by Stan Lee
  • Letter page with a letter from Frank Miller
Low Points
  • All that build up of J. Jonah Jameson having evidence really doesn't come to a head with any sort of a bang
  • Where's the villain fight? The action?
Oddities
  • None
Rating (based on a 1 through 5 Stans grading system)



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Comics Corner: The Amazing Spider-Man 168

   

Title: The Amazing Spider-Man
Issue Number: 168
Release Date: May 1977

Highlights

  • Reference is made to The Amazing Spider-Man 126, 144, 149, and 151
  • Peter Parker see's the secret photos J. Jonah Jameson has of him dumping the clone's body
  • Peter alters the photos, but we don't see how, and puts them back in Jameson's desk
  • Though we don't see visuals, Will 'o the Wisp tells Spider-Man his origin
  • Will 'o the Wisp defies Doctor Jonas Harrow, and is reduced to disintegrating molecules - Is he dead? No.
Low Points
  • None
Oddities
  • I still don't understand how J. Jonah Jameson can go around town controlling Spider Slayers, causing tens of thousands of dollars in property damages, and not being held responsible for it, other than monetarily for the repairs
Rating (based on a 1 through 5 Stans grading system)



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Comics Corner: The Amazing Spider-Man 167

   

Title: The Amazing Spider-Man
Issue Number: 167
Release Date: April 1977

Highlights

  • First appearance of Bart Hamilton, Harry Osborn's former psychiatrist and eventually the third Green Goblin, as well as Will o' the Wisp (alias Jackson Arvad)
  • Reference is made to The Amazing Spider-man 25, and 58
  • J. Jonah Jameson takes control of yet another Spider Slayer
  • Jameson has a secret envelope in his desk, and Spider-Man aims to find out what's inside...but that's a cliffhanger for a future issue
  • Aunt May begins protesting in what will soon evolve into the Gray Panthers
Low Points
  • ...Another Spider Slayer
Oddities
  • Punch first, talk later, the tried and true way for all Marvel heroes to look like morons
Rating (based on a 1 through 5 Stans grading system)



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Comics Corner: Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man 5

   

Title: Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man
Issue Number: 6
Release Date: April 1977

Highlights

  • Reference is made to Amazing Fantasy 15, The Amazing Spider-Man 109
  • The mystery of Sha Shan continues
Low Points
  • None
Oddities
  • Editor, writer, and colorist's day off: Peter states he's taken off his glove and boots, but a look down at his legs reveals the top of his boot
Rating (based on a 1 through 5 Stans grading system)



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Retro Spins: Pointer Sisters - Break Out



My introduction to the Pointer Sisters was via the 1983 Eddie Murphy film, Beverly Hills Cop, which featured Neutron Dance. In and of itself, it was a hot, hot, hot soundtrack. However, if you want to hear about that, you'll have to click "HERE". Today, I'm talking specifically about the girls.

Break Out is an interesting title for their 1983 album because it was far from their first. It wasn't even their second or third. Nope, by '83, they were releasing their tenth studio album. It would also be the record which brought the trio their most success.

It was while listening and writing this post that I discovered I did not have the original version of this album. The first pressings included a song entitled, Nightline. However, when Break Out was re-released in 1984, this track was removed. In its place was a remixed version of the group's single from their prior album, So Excited! (1982). That song of course was, I'm So Excited. After doing a quick Youtube search of the omitted track, I'm totally fine with this. I'd much rather have the latter song.

In total, there were four chart toppers from the album. These were, Jump (For My Love), which peaked at number three, Automatic, which peaked at number five, Neutron Dance, which peaked at number six and the remixed I'm So Excited, which peaked at number nine.

As it starts up, Break Out delivers three solid tracks in a row with, Jump (For My Love), Automatic, which is my personal favorite from the girls and then I'm So Excited. But it then takes a bit of a dip with I Need You, but then comes back in a big way with, Neutron Dance.

Unfortunately, this momentum dives down fast after this. The rest of the album doesn't feel as refined and polished as the aforementioned hits. As if the momentum couldn't be kept up. In fact, I dare say, the rest of the album isn't even worth listening to. It's just not any good. It has its hits, and that's what I recommend sticking with.

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Baltimore Comic Con 2023: Part III - Alex Saviuk, Howard Mackie, Howard Chaykin, and Keith Williams


The good times and autographs continued at Baltimore Comic Con 2023.

Alex Saviuk after signing my convention book

Alex Saviuk was a true pleasure to meet. He was so nice that I had no problem running a personal errand for him to deliver a message, and returning back to him with said answer - More on that in a moment.

I actually had quite a few books that I initially wanted signed by him, but when I found that his rates weren't the $5.00 per book I initially researched (a common problem I found), I had to edit myself. While I ended up getting six books signed by him, four of them were duel signed, as you'll see below.

The Amazing Spider-Man
Aim Toothpaste give away

Now that I have this Aim Toothpaste promo, I'm hoping to get it signed by Jim Shooter at Big Lick NOVA 2024. Apparently, and per Jim, he's been invited to attend all Big Lick shows. So, hopefully he'll be there. Of course, Mr. Shooter and I also have to have a discussion about the $200.00 he owes me if he isn't going to deliver on the sketch I purchased and paid for at NOVA 2023. I get it. The guy's busy, but he's not even responding to my e-mails acknowledging that he hasn't delivered on the drawing, or when he plans to.

Web of Spider-Man 70
First appearance of Spider-Hulk

But first, as I said, I ran an errand for Mr. Saviuk. When he heard my next stop was Bob Wiacek's table, he was openly surprised to hear he was at the show. I told him what table number, showed him on the map, and then delivered a message to Mr. Wiacek that Alex was very interested in catching up with him. I then returned with Bob's own message, more on that in another post.

Howard Mackie signing my convention book

Howard Mackie was sharing a booth with Terry Kavanagh, but unfortunately, the only thing I had for Mr. Kavanagh was my convention book, which he was still happy to sign. Mr. Mackie, on the other hand, signed my first and second prints of Web of Spider-Man 90, the first appearance of Spider-Man 2099 (on a fold out poster inside).

Howard Chaykin

Additionally, Howard Chaykin signed these issues for me, as he too worked on them.

Also signed by Rick Leonardi at Big Lick NOVA 2023

Also signed by Rick Leonardi at Big Lick NOVA 2023

Also signed by Rick Leonardi at Big Lick NOVA 2023

Also signed by Rick Leonardi at Big Lick NOVA 2023

Though there's nothing special about Web of Spider-Man 10, I really dig the artwork, so I decided to get that one signed as well.


Keith Williams seemed genuinely appreciative of the folks who stopped by his table to get autographs, and I'm kicking myself for not getting a photo of him. Needless to say, the timeline of table stops above didn't happen in that specific order, and by this time in the day, my brain and body was done. I could barely stay coordinated and organized, so taking pictures wasn't at the forefront of my mind.

1st appearance of Tombstone

1st appearance of Demogoblin

Of course I rounded out each table visit with an autograph to my convention book, but that post is going to wrap everything up when we get there.

For those of you searching the internet for autograph pricing, all of these creators were charging $10.00 each for signatures.

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Comics Corner: Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man 4

   

Title: Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man
Issue Number: 4
Release Date: March 1977

Highlights

  • First appearance of Hitman (alias Burt Kenyon), Kwirkegard (in a Hostess Twinkie ad), Joe Knuckles, and Achmed Korba (who would become Brother Power)
  • Reference is made to The Amazing Spider-Man 105, 166, and Captain America 183
  • Flash Thompson runs into Sha Shan, a girl he met in Vietnam, and hadn't see since The Amazing Spider-Man 109, but she flees from him - The mystery begins
  • Hostess Cupcake ad starring Iron Man
Low Points
  • None
Oddities
  • None
Rating (based on a 1 through 5 Stans grading system)



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Comics Corner: The Amazing Spider-Man 166

   

Title: The Amazing Spider-Man
Issue Number: 166
Release Date: March 1977

Highlights

  • Marla Madison presents J. Jonah Jameson with an all new Spider Slayer
  • Harry Osborn and Liz Allen announce their engagement at Flash Thompson's Christmas party
  • Stegron sinks to the bottom of an icy pond - Is he dead? No.
Low Points
  • Really...Another Spider Slayer?
  • Reading the word, "whelp" over and over and over and over and over...
Oddities
  • Writer's day off: Spider-Man visits Mrs. Connors, who regales him with the events of her husband transforming back into the Lizard (as occurred in the prior issue) - The problem with this is that she wasn't there when it happened, and shouldn't know anything about it
  • Why are Harry and Liz getting married? They dated like five minutes
Rating (based on a 1 through 5 Stans grading system)



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Comics Corner: The Amazing Spider-Man 165

   

Title: The Amazing Spider-Man
Issue Number: 165
Release Date: February 1977

Highlights

  • Reference is made to Marvel Team-Up 13, and 20
  • Peter and Mary Jane have a heart to heart, trying to come to terms of what exactly they mean to each other
  • Doctor Curt Connors transforms once again into the Lizard
Low Points
  • I'm really not a fan of Stegron
Oddities
  • Stegron take's Doctor Curt Connor's son captive, and tells the doc that if he doesn't go to his lab where Stegron has placed all the items he will need with instructions to make what he wants that he will kill the boy - So wait...you already have all the items you need, a lab that you put them in, and the instructions? Why do you need Doctor Connor to do it for you?
Rating (based on a 1 through 5 Stans grading system)



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Comics Corner: Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man 3

   

Title: Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man
Issue Number: 3
Release Date: February 1977

Highlights

  • First full appearance of Lightmaster, AKA Edward Lansky
Low Points
  • None
Oddities
  • Marvel writing their dialog for Asian folks - Feels wrong
Rating (based on a 1 through 5 Stans grading system)



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Comics Corner: Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man 2

   

Title: Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man
Issue Number: 2
Release Date: January 1977

Highlights

  • First appearance of Richard Gorman
  • Additional cameo appearance of Lightmaster, from his original cameo in Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man issue 1
  • Reference is made to The Amazing Spider-Man 54, 111, 156, and 164
  • Something is wrong with doctor Curt Connors - Is he changing into the Lizard again?
  • Peter helps to get his neighbor, Gloria Grant, a job as J. Jonah Jameson's new secretary
  • Because of his numerous defeats by Spider-Man's hand, Kraven the Hunter has been forced to lower his fees as a mercenary
  • Hostess Fruit Pies ad starring the Incredible Hulk
  • Spider-Man and Captain America in a Ricochet Racer toy ad
Low Points
  • None
Oddities
  • Editor's day off: "Surrender now, I perhaps you may still survive."
Rating (based on a 1 through 5 Stans grading system)



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Retro Spins: Talking Heads - Speaking In Tongues



I don't know much about Talking Heads. My introduction to them was in 1984's Revenge Of The Nerds, when the Alpha Betas burn their house down, ironically to the tune, Burning Down The House. Admittedly, It's not one of my favorites. However, as a band who had been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, I had to believe there was something to them that I was missing.

Don't get me wrong, I don't hate the group. Of their eight full length studio albums, I can name two songs from them I like. While it may not seem like much, because it isn't, it was at least enough that I decided to nab a couple of records from them. I picked up, Speaking In Tongues, Little Creatures and True Stories.

With all of these ready to go, I figured I'd start with the earlier of the three, Speaking In Tongues. It starts up with aforementioned Burning Down The House. However, from there, it gets a little weird. I'm not sure what I would call the band's style. It's like nothing I've really ever heard before. Their wiki page describes it as a fusion of punk, art rock, funk and world music. The art rock portion I can definitely agree with. The others, not at all.

Despite, or perhaps because of its odd sound, I really wasn't able to get into this album. I like my songs to be singable, not that I do much of that. But, that aspect definitely wasn't here. Everything was just odd. Maybe I just didn't get it.

It was because of this that I really didn't understand what all the hype was that this band went on to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Further investigation didn't help matters. I checked them out on Billboard, only to find that of their eight hits which charted, only one cracked the top ten. Two made it into the top twenties, while the rest were between the fifties and nineties. This is certainly not a band I would have selected to be inducted. I suppose, if nothing else, I at least don't feel like I'm the one who's missing something here. The charts speak for themselves.

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