Spider-Rama: Amazing Spider-Man #94

Welcome to Spider-Rama! Every weekday until the end of May, Ben and Duy will look at a Spider-Man issue from the very beginning, in chronological order, and answer questions for various categories, inspired in large part by one of our favorite podcasts, The Rewatchables by The Ringer. Our goal is to make it to Amazing Spider-Man #200. Will we make it? Grab your Amazing Spider-Man Omnibus or crank up your tablet to Marvel Unlimited, and then tune in every Wednesday to find out!

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #94
Spider-Rama
by Stan Lee, John Romita Sr., and Sal Buscema

The Beetle comes back and kidnaps Aunt May and there's a recap of Spider-Man's origin and history up to that point.

POINTLESS TRIVIA

BEN: Villain appearance count:

• The Kingpin: 12
• Doctor Octopus: 12
• Green Goblin: 8
• The Vulture: 7
• Mysterio: 6
• The Lizard: 5
• Kraven the Hunter: 5
• Sandman: 4
• Electro: 3
• The Enforcers: 3
• The Rhino: 3
• Professor Smythe/Spider Slayer: 3
• Man Mountain Marko: 3
• Silvermane: 3
• The Chameleon: 3
• The Schemer/Richard Fisk: 3
• The Ringmaster: 2
• Scorpion: 2
• Molten Man: 2
• Shocker: 2
• The Beetle: 2

DUY: The Beetle was introduced as a Human Torch villain in Strange Tales #123. His second appearance was Amazing Spider-Man #21, where he's still chasing the Human Torch. He then makes a handful of appearances in Fantastic Four, Avengers, and Daredevil before showing back up here again. So really, you could call him a journeyman villain.

BEN: As a kid, I always thought he was a Spider-Man villain.

DUY: Sal Buscema is credited on art here, and it should be noted that he will continually work on Spider-related titles until 2006.

BEN: Sal is immortal. And is this the first time they've expanded upon the origin?

DUY: Expanded, yes. Retold, no.

WHAT'S AGED THE BEST?

DUY: Anna Watson, who I might point out, is no longer a maid.

BEN: I’ll give her credit for “what’s that got to do with it” but she ruins it with “he should be looking after you.”

DUY: May's heart can't even be that weak.

BEN: May has had 47 heart attacks and is still kicking, why is anyone still worried about her?

WHAT'S AGED THE WORST?

DUY: The Beetle has made multiple appearances at this point, and hes still in that horrible costume.

BEN: Its hard to act tough while saying “suction feelers.”

DUY: Marvel and DC throughout their history would continue to do these retellings of origins. I generally don't like them, partly because they add things that are unnecessary a lot of the time. Here's a scene that will never, ever be referenced in his origin ever again.

NITPICKS

DUY: I'm fairly sure we've seen the Daily Bugle numerous times, and it's never ever looked like this from the outside.

BEN: The Stacys at this point have had multiple homes, including a house and an apartment.

FAVORITE PANEL

BEN: Mine:

DUY: Mine:

WHO WON THE COMIC?

DUY: Sal Buscema, for debuting.

BEN: Sal Buscema, for enduring this assignment.

DUY: That's it for Spider-Rama this week.

BEN: Thank you, Stan Lee and Steve Ditko—

DUY: —for telling us we aren't the only ones.

Leave us a comment below or on our Facebook page. See you tomorrow!