Written by Stan Lee
Art by Steve Ditko & Sam Rosen
Cover Art by Steve Ditko
SUMMARY:
Released for August 1983, Marvel Comics reprints The Amazing Spider-Man # 16 (September 1964). Entitled “Duel With Daredevil,” Spider-Man meets Daredevil for the first time … in combat, no less. Initially, Spidey encounters Matt Murdock upon ‘rescuing’ him from a hapless gang of thieves. In a hint of history still to come, Peter Parker dodges Aunt May’s latest effort to set him up on a blind date with the unseen Mary Jane Watson. Peter is also busily juggling two other potential girlfriends: Daily Bugle receptionist Betty Brant and classmate Liz Allan.
Meanwhile, the Ringmaster’s Circus of Crime intends to mesmerize and rob their captive audience with a circus act supposedly headlined by Spider-Man himself. With Matt Murdock, Karen Page, and Foggy Nelson in attendance, Spidey naïvely crashes this party to give the circus fans their money’s worth. Yet, the Ringmaster’s hypnotic top hat pits hero vs. hero, as Daredevil is the only one left to thwart this heist under the Big Top. Then again, the Ringmaster might think twice crossing an irritated 17-year old Spider-Man.
Note: The cover is the same as the original.
REVIEW:
Keeping in mind the artistic style of the mid-60’s, it’s first-class Marvel entertainment. This reprint is more evidence why the wisecracking magic of Lee & Ditko’s Spider-Man makes for a dynamite read. Catching Daredevil in his original yellow-black-and-red Silver Age costume is an extra crossover treat.
What’s most amazing (pardon the expression) is taking time to appreciate how Lee & Ditko conjured up these original Spider-stories, plus new villains, seemingly on the fly month after month. Unlike DC Comics infinitely rebooting its universe to no end, the basics of Lee & Ditko’s continuity, in comparison, has mostly held steady for almost sixty years. By all means, Marvel Tales # 154 is definitely well-played!
Note: To see the Amazing Spider-Man # 11-19, full-page covers, and Annual # 1 reprinted in full color, there is Marvel Masterworks Present The Amazing Spider-Man, Volume 2.
ADDITIONAL CONTENT:
Series editor Tom DeFalco manages a full-page “Marvel Mails” letters-and-answers column. Also included is Jim Shooter’s “….Bullpen Bulletins” column, with a rundown of Marvel issues distributed for August 1983.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 8 Stars
