#Peter Parker The Spectacular Spider-Man

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GH: PETER PARKER, THE SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN #79

PETER PARKER, THE SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN had, for most of its run, been a weak sister second title to the main Spidey series, AMAZING SPIDER-MAN. While there had been some good stories along the way, PPSSM operated in the shadow of ASM, never entirely carrying its own weight, and inevitably staffed by talent that wasn’t yet good enough for ASM. So it was a perfectly fine place to get a bit of…

[youcantcallmethat]

Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man #233 (1996)

[ungoliantschilde]

Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man, Vol. 1 # 131 Page 01, by Mike Zeck, with Inks by Bob McLeod, Letters by Rick Parker, Colors by Janet Jackson, and a Script by J.M. DeMatteis.

*thanks to theBestComicBookPanels for sharing the original art!*

[that90ssmshow]

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Take it from me when I say there is literally nothing worse than getting trapped by a deadly spider amoeba. The Spectacular Spider-Man Weekly No. 337, dated 22 August 1979. The cover art, by Keith Pollard and Klaus Janson, was originally used on Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man No. 31 (1979). Marvel UK.

[cryptocollectibles]

Peter Parker The Spectacular Spider-Man Annual #5 (October 1985) by Marvel Comics

Written by by Peter David, drawn by Mark Beachum and Josef Rubinstein.

[tomoleary]

Frank Miller - Peter Parker The Spectacular Spider-Man #60 (1981) Source

[spider-mandaily]

Santa Claus is back, and he has a gun. And sunglasses. And cigarettes - Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man #112

Sooo, since Christmas is arriving soon, l thought of doing my annual Christmas Spider-Man Comic Special analysis! Let's get started!

The “Evil Santa” trope is a well-worn, often ridiculous fixture of Christmas-themed storytelling. Countless films have explored this subgenre, and most have been downright dreadful. A standout example of this particular brand of awfulness is Santa’s Slay, a movie that boldly combined the comedic stylings of SNL alum Chris Kattan (famous for characters like Mango and Mr. Peepers) with the imposing presence of wrestler Bill Goldberg. This direct-to-video disaster epitomizes the kind of cinematic fare you’d find languishing in a bargain bin.

Comics have dipped into this concept as well, and Spider-Man’s world is no stranger to fake Santa scenarios. One memorable instance featured Wilson Fisk himself donning a Santa suit and a fake beard in a newspaper giveaway story. By the tale’s conclusion, he was humorously floating into the sky—a high bar of absurdity for anyone attempting to follow. Yet here we are, diving into another Spider-Man Santa impersonator story, this time from his secondary ongoing series.

The Kyle Baker cover for this particular issue might suggest that Frank Castle has disguised himself with a fake beard to infiltrate some criminal smuggling ring targeting Toys for Tots, but no—it’s not the Punisher under that festive facade. Instead, this story (written by Peter David, penciled by Mark Beachum, and inked by Pat Redding) features a department store Santa who doubles as a career criminal. His seasonal role provides the perfect opportunity to scout potential burglary targets. (Apparently, background checks weren’t exactly a priority for holiday jobs then—or now. Moral of the story: Be cautious about whose lap you trust.)

This nefarious Santa has kidnapped and hidden away the legitimate holiday hire just days before Christmas, using his position to gather intelligence from children. As they share their wish lists (including then-popular toys like Optimus Prime and Stinkor), he slyly inquires about their home lives, their possessions, and where they live. Once the families leave, he jots down his findings in a notepad, oozing malevolence with every detail.

What’s Peter Parker up to as Christmas approaches? Unsurprisingly, he’s caught in one of his classic bouts of melancholy, a recurring theme tied to his core “great power, great responsibility” philosophy. This time, his gloomy mood stems from struggling to find someone to spend Christmas Day with. A phone call to Aunt May ends in confusion, as missed signals and miscommunication leave Peter under the impression that she’s already made plans without him.

This sets the stage for a secondary—and rather peculiar—focus of this comic: an exaggerated preoccupation with the female characters’ anatomy. The story repeatedly draws attention to the backsides and lower regions of the women in Spider-Man’s orbit. (Thankfully, Aunt May is spared from this treatment.) For instance, we see Mary Jane soaking in the bath as Peter calls her, only to hang up before leaving a message.

Why not just strap up her legs and do a full gynecological exam?

An out of costume Felicia Hardy gets in on the call and hang up action, as she writhes and juts in a nightie cut real high:

Let’s take a break from the voyeurism and get to one of the most depressing moments in Spider-Man history. Here’s Peter Parker spending a quiet night half-dressed and talking to himself. Well, not himself — talking to something even more alarming:

Chin up, Pete—everyone has moments like this. “Happy Arbor Day, houseplant I occasionally remember to water.” But come on, man, get a grip. Watching Peter chat with his black costume might not be as bleak as Frosty the Snowman’s infamous donkey tale, but it’s certainly a red flag for a superhero teetering on the edge. The way he carefully arranged the costume to appear as though it’s “sitting” in a chair is a clear sign: pull yourself together! You’re young, you have superpowers, a recliner, and even a cable spool coffee table. Life could be worse! (Although, let’s be honest—a cable spool coffee table can be stylish in the right context, but here it’s definitely giving off strong loser vibes.)

And now, back to the ongoing fixation on women’s backsides. Jordan, the boy whose information our fake Santa creepily noted earlier, lives with his mother and her two roommates in an apartment that just so happens to be right next to Peter’s. Convenient, isn’t it? When sinister Santa decides to strike, the scene shifts to the women in their sleepwear, which looks straight out of a Flashdance audition. It’s an over-the-top aesthetic as the story ramps up for Santa’s next move:

All this ruckus sets of the slumbering Peter’s Spider-Sense, and in no time Spider-Man crashes through a window and has bad Santa on the run.  Our villain heads to the roof in his bid to escape, and once there he has an unexpected run in:

So, he crossed paths with the real Santa. How about that? Let’s just hope it wasn’t Nick St. Christopher.

After pulling his vanishing act, no one is more shocked than Peter when the crook reappears at the very spot where he had initially been gathering intel. This time, however, he seems to have turned over a new leaf and comes bearing gifts. Peter, naturally, is stuck covering the story for the Daily Bugle—a clear reminder that, even after more than two decades at the paper, he’s still saddled with the least desirable assignments.

What’s in the note?:

Santa knows everything.

This early work from Peter David, written before his signature self-aware wit fully developed, benefits from its more straightforward tone. While the story is undeniably silly, it serves as a decent piece of holiday-themed filler. That said, the inexplicable focus on gratuitous shots of backsides throughout the comic is baffling. The examples provided barely scratch the surface—there are plenty more if you’re curious enough to seek them out (for, you know, research purposes).

And there you have it: a tale of Bad Santa, with a side of unnecessary cheekiness. HAPPY CHRISTMAS MONTH!

[smashedpages]

Today in 1981, Cloak and Dagger appeared for the first time in Peter Parker the Spectacular Spider-Man #64 by Bill Mantlo and Ed Hannigan!

[mjjmayor]

Aunt May's photo album // Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man Annual (1979) #3, Sep 1981

[marvelousmrm]

Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man #53 (Mantlo/Mooney, Apr 1981). The Tinkerer claims to be the author of Spider-Man’s pain, but Pete kinda laughs him off. It’s hard to take a toymaker seriously.

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BHOC: PETER PARKER, THE SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN #28

This was the second of two issues of PETER PARKER, THE SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN that were illustrated by a young Frank Miller, before that name really meant anything. Even more meaningfully, Daredevil, the character he would go on to reinvent, was a guest star in these two issues as well. It almost feels like fate. At the time this book came out, though, I gave the art no particular notice. It did…

[balu8]

Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man #132:Kraven's Last Hunt

by J.M. DeMatteis; Mike Zeck, Bob McLeod;Janet Jackson and Rick Parker

Marvel

[misterdtour]

When Spidey Jumped the Shark, Pt. 8: The Tom DeFalco Era

When Spidey Jumped the Shark, Pt. 8: The #TomDeFalco Era of #SpiderMan

We have now reached the Tom DeFalco Era of Amazing Spider-Man, which means the end of this series of blogposts is within sight. Continue reading When Spidey Jumped the Shark, Pt. 8: The Tom DeFalco Era

[youcantcallmethat]

Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man #218 (1994)

The first time Peter sees Black Armour Daredevil (pre-2023 run)

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The Spectacular Spider-Man Weekly No. 358, dated 16 January 1980. The cover art, by Bob Layton, was originally used on Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man No. 32 (1979). Marvel UK.