Amazing  Spider-Man
Annuals #1-10

1964
Amazing Spider-Man Annual # 1: "The Sinister Six!"
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Steve Ditko
Jay's Rating: JJJJJ
Synopsis:
Doc Ock escapes from prison and recruits Electro, Kraven, Mysterio, Sandman, and the Vulture to form the Sinister Six. Meanwhile, Spidey struggles with the mysterious loss of his powers. The Sinister Six kidnap Betty and Aunt May as bait. Spidey regains his powers in time to run through a gauntlet of his fiercest enemies. He defeats each villain and rescues the two most important women in his life.

Jay's Notes:

  • Cameos by Captain America, Dr. Strange, the Fantastic Four, Giant Man and Wasp, Iron Man, Thor, and the X-Men.
  • Beautiful splash pages by Ditko, one with Spidey and each member of the Sinister Six.

    • Solid plot device using the egos of the Sinister Six to defeat themselves.

1965
Amazing Spider-Man Annual # 2: "The Wonderous World of Dr. Strange!" 
Writer: Steve Ditko/Stan Lee
Artist: Steve Ditko
Jay's Rating: JJJJ1/2
Synopsis:
Xandu sends a couple of ensorcered thugs after Dr. Strange. They beat him up take the second half of the wand of Watoomb. Spidey tries to stop them, but they're too much for him. He follows them to Xandu's lair. Dr. Strange joins in against Xandu, but he's too much for both of them now that he has the complete wand of Watoomb. Dr. Strange and Spidey regroup and combine their attack on Xandu. They manage to take back the wand and defeat Xandu.

Jay's Notes:

  • A truly outstanding job by Ditko.

November 1966
Amazing Spider-Man Annual # 3:"... To Become an Avenger!" 
Writer: Stan Lee
Penciller: John Romita/Don Heck
Inker: Mike Esposito (as Mickey Demeo)
Jay's Rating: JJJJ
Synopsis:
The Avengers debate whether or not to extend a membership offer to Spidey. DD is consulted and puts in a good reference for the web head. Spidey is invited to the Avengers mansion, where he loses his temper waiting for them to come up with a suitable test for him. Finally, they decided to have him capture the Hulk. However, Spidey doesn't have the heart to turn in the misunderstood monster and willingly fails their test.

Avengers' Roll Call:
Captain America, Giant-Man, Hawkeye, Iron Man, Thor, and Wasp.

November 1967
Amazing Spider-Man Annual # 4: "The Web and the Flame" 
Writer: Stan Lee
Penciller: Larry Leiber
Inker: Mike Esposito (as Mickey Demeo)
Jay's Rating: JJJJ
Synopsis:
Peter Parker flies to Hollywood and as Spidey joins the cast of a movie production featuring himself and the Human Torch. Unfortunately, the movie is a trap and Mysterio and the Wizard trick the heroes into fighting each other. They eventually realize that they've been duped and track down the villains. They make their ways past a variety of obstacles and finally capture the Wizard and Mysterio.

November 1968
Amazing Spider-Man Annual # 5: "The Parents of Peter Parker!" 
Writer: Stan Lee/John Romita
Penciller: Larry Lieber
Inker: Mike Esposito (as Mickey Demeo)
Jay's Rating: JJJJJ
Synopsis:
Peter Parker learns how his parents died and that they were branded traitors. He vows to learn the truth and makes his way to Algeria where he comes to the attention of the Red Skull. After a battle with the Red Skull's underlings and a confrontation with the Red Skull himself, Spidey finally learns the truth. Richard Parker was actually a secret double agent for the U.S. government who was found out and killed by the Red Skull. The Red Skull planted the evidence that led the world to believe the Parkers were traitors.

Jay's Notes:

  • First modern appearance of the Red Skull in the flashbacks, although this isn't the original Red Skull since the original at the time of the flashbacks was still in suspended animation.

November 1969
Amazing Spider-Man Annual # 6
Jay's Rating:
JJJJJ
Reprints:
  • "The Sinister Six" from Amazing Spider-Man Annual #1
  • "The Fabulous Fantastic Four Meet Spider-Man" from Fantastic Four Annual #1
  • "Spider-Man Tackles the Torch" from Amazing Spider-Man #8.

December 1970
Amazing Spider-Man Annual # 7
Jay's Rating: JJJJ
Reprintss:
  • "Spider-Man vs. the Chameleon" from Amazing Spider-Man #1
  • "Duel to the Death with the Vulture" from Amazing Spider-Man #2
  • "Just a Guy Named Joe" from Amazing Spider-Man #38.

December 1971
Amazing Spider-Man Annual # 8
Jay's Rating: JJJJ
Reprints:
  • "The Sinister Shocker" from Amazing Spider-Man #46
  • "On the Trail of Spider-Man" from Tales to Astonish #57
  • "Spider-Man No More" from Amazing Spider-Man #50.

1973
Amazing Spider-Man Annual # 9
Jay's Rating: JJJJJ
Reprints:
  • "The Goblin Lives" from Spectacular Spider-Man Special #2.

1976
Amazing Spider-Man Annual # 10: "Step into my Parlor..." 
Writer: Len Wein/Bill Mantlo
Penciller: Gil Kane
Inker: Frank Giacoia/Mike Esposito
Jay's Rating: JJJJ
Synopsis:
J.J. Jameson hopes to boost his newspaper's sales by funding the creation of a new superhero that would put Spidey in his place. Unfortunately, a thug learns of this process and forces the commisionned scientists to perform the experiment on him which turns him into the Human Fly. The Human Fly then kidnaps JJJ to draw Spidey into a fight. Spidey defeats the Human Fly and rescues JJJ.

Jay's Notes:

  • First appearance and origin of the Human Fly.
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