Written by Tom DeFalco (based upon Dennis Marks’ script)
Art by Dan Spiegle; Vincent Colletta; Jim Novak; & Bob Sharen
Cover Art by Ron Frenz & Al Milgrom
SUMMARY:
This January 1989 issue reprints 1981’s Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends one-shot that Marvel Comics released to hype NBC’s same-named 1981-83 Saturday morning animated series. Specifically, it adapts the first episode: “Triumph of the Green Goblin!” Some peripheral details are changed (i.e. Empire State University is now Eastern State University; Aunt May operates an official boarding house), and some scenes are consolidated or even deleted (i.e. the opening jewel heist segment).
Replacing the original one-shot’s John Romita cover, the Ron Frenz-Al Milgrom cover is meant to hype Marvel Action Universe as a “new” syndicated 1989-91 TV cartoon re-run package, including Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends. However, it appears no further issues were produced to promote the syndicated re-runs.
Following the animated storyline, best friends/roommates Spider-Man (Peter Parker), Firestar (Angelica Jones), and Iceman (Bobby Drake) attend a Marvel costume party at their university, along with Norman Osborn’s namesake niece, Norma (note: her name is ‘Mona Osborn’ in the animated version). Meanwhile, having abruptly left his sanitarium, Osborn inadvertently becomes the Green Goblin again. Retrieving his Goblin formula for mass dispersal, Osborn’s sinister alter ego soon faces his old nemesis: Spider-Man, and his two new friends.
REVIEW:
For nostalgic Spider-Friend fans, “The Triumph of the Green Goblin!” remains a nifty 22-minute cartoon even forty years later. Consistently impressive, the Amazing Friends series likely sported the best network TV animation for its time. The voice acting (not to mention, the characters’ on-screen chemistry) was also above-average most of the time.
This half-hearted comic book counterpart, however, falls far short of such fun memories. Despite staying semi-faithful to the TV script (including Angelica’s Spider-Woman costume), this comic’s production values are shamefully cheap. It’s likely that Marvel farmed out the original 1981 one-shot as a low-priority project — suffice to say, veteran Marvel writer Tom DeFalco calls collect phoning in his weak adaptation.
Still, this issue is hardly worse than DC’s own cheesy Super-Friends comic book tie-in series back in the 1970’s. While the original 1981 one-shot’s rarity (including Romita’s cover art) might sport collector’s value, this blah reprint is strictly an expendable kiddie read.
Notes: For more Spider-Friends reading, here’s additional options. 2006’s Spider-Man Family Featuring Amazing Friends Issue # 1 one-shot amusingly homages the animated show’s 25th anniversary – a happily-married Spider-Man plays matchmaker for pals Angelica & Bobby. It’s a comically hot-and-cold romance — literally.
In 2008, Ultimate Spider-Man # 118 presents an alternate take on the TV series, with Liz Allan as its Firestar. This storyline is available in the Ultimate Spider-Man, Volume 20: And His Amazing Friends trade paperback. In his 2018-2019 five-issue solo mini-series, Iceman # 3 is yet another Spider-Friend reunion – told from Iceman’s perspective.
In a miniature Spider-Friends nostalgia reunion, Marvel Legends released several years ago an Amazing Friends action figure three-pack in 3¾-inch form. Lastly, as of 2021, Marvel Legends at last released Firestar (in her TV series costume and with a Ms. Lion extra), so now all three Spider-Friends exist as 6-inch Marvel Legends action figures.
ADDITIONAL CONTENT:
There’s a half-page Bullpen Bulletins column.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 3 Stars
