American Update: Spider-Mania: Amazing #39 & #40 with Romita debut 2-parter classic Spidey/Goblin Clash
*Marvel: While we yield to no one in our regard for Steve Ditko as the ‘proper’ Spider-Man artist, we have to concede that John Romita did a cracking job when he took over, redefining the character for the Swingin’ Sixties – and Jazzy Johnny’s background as a romance artist certainly didn’t hurt when it came to drawing Peter Parker’s own ‘Betty & Veronica’, Gwen and Mary Jane! Issue #39 marked Romita’s first as illustrator, and he dove right in, making the character his own, and creating a cover scene which is almost as often ‘homaged’ as his famous Spidey #50 cover! #39 and #40 constituted a two-part confrontation with the Green Goblin and firmly established Romita’s tenure on the title. Both parts of this epic are back in stock; #39 is a GD+ cents copy, with minor creasing at lower and upper cover corners not detracting from the impact of the cover scene, on sale at £40. #40 is VG-, also cents with no pence price or overstamp, on sale at £49.