The Iconic Spider-Man Run of Gerry Conway

[@camilocuba6927]

I’m in the middle of reading this run and have been enjoying it. God, I wish it was as easy to get your foot in the door in any kind of industry as it was for a 19-year old kid to get handed one of the top super heroes to write. We’ll never see anything like that again.

[@rayvenkman2087]

Instead of actual talent, we get schmucks who just don’t get the characters.

[@VonWenk]

And he was writing Fantastic Four at the same time.

[@matthewschwartz6607]

Did you read his Batman run?

[@VonWenk]

@@matthewschwartz6607 A lot of it, I think. I definitely prefer Dan Newton inked by Dan Adkins as opposed to Alfredo Alcala. I didn't like the Vampire Monk story because both Batman and Robin were turned early on and Tony DeZuniga inking Gene Colan was almost as bad as Alcala on Newton. Even Conway's worst issues were a step up from David V. Reed though.

[@jazzmousz5992]

The Man Wolf issue is an underrated standout to me. Peter throughout that issue is constantly on edge, still grieving Gwen's death, trusting no one and standing alone, when he reads Jameson's article, he is consumed by hatred and rage and becomes a revenge-seeking beast. This is mirrored by John Jameson's own transformation from a good man into a monster. By saving Jameson and John's (suspiciously Gwen looking) fiance from the Man Wolf, Peter is rejecting his own violent impulses and allowing Gwen's memory to live on untainted.

[@popman1997]

Major props for putting some respect on Gerry Conway as a Spider-Man writer. I feel like not enough people talk about or at least go into detail about Conway's writing style and stories post Gwen Stacy death. Guy brought plenty of iconic stuff to the table.

[@davidbjacobs3598]

Conway isn't listed among the best Spider-Man writers with nearly enough frequency. This run is really what defined Peter as a developing character. It's essential to his arc over decades of writers. And when you read it, it's easy to see why. The villain plots are still silly and cartoonish, but there's a meatiness to the character drama. It all feels so real. Conway Supremacy! (Also love his return in the 80s when he worked on Spectacular and Web --- Tombstone has never returned to his peaks from when Conway wrote him.)

[@gavin_guidry]

The “multiple poses in a panel” technique is called The De Luca Effect.

[@frankandstern8803]

28:20 Looking back, I started to feel that bringing in the Jackal was to fill the void of Gobby's image being removed. The feel or similarities in the face are noted. And think about it? Ummm what is a Jackal? A wild dog. Correct. A GREEN DOG? What? You dont hear too much about this being discussed. Was it felt that perhaps the double removal of Pete's girl and one of his greatest enemies was a bit much and they made a desperate attempt to stimulate a missing Emotional trigger with readers visually? Weird stuff.

[@OkMakuTree]

This is a solid run, I wore out my Marvel Essentials copies of the Conway era as a kid haha. I love how impactful Gwen’s death is, it changes the entire cast and never becomes irrelevant since Gwen’s death has been used as character motivation as recently as the Spencer run (maybe even the Wells run, I haven’t read that 😅). Conway does a great job dialing into Peter’s strengths and flaws, and while he does have his fair share of asshole moments, they feel reasonable given the circumstances. Also, importantly Peter actually apologizes and tries to self correct when he screws up. So it feels like he’s making actual progress rather than just the spinning the “make Peter miserable” wheel. I for one love the dumb Aunt May x Doc Ock marriage plot, but yeah, it’s absolutely ridiculous that a nuclear explosion occurs in Canada and nobody seems to care. The consequences of that story were… lacking, to say the least. Though Peter and Ock eating KFC together before getting jumped by Ghost Hammerhead is pretty funny. I digress. Anyways, Conway definitely does Spider-Man justice and keeps his forward momentum up :)

[@mawinstallation6626]

Talking about Conway...while Stan Lee and Jack Kirby's first Fantastic Four run is monumental in comic book history, I have to say that I LOVED Roy Thomas and Gerry Conway's posterior run. The characters really started to have depth there, the dialogue stopped being expositive and felt like something a real person would say, it truly was the natural progression following Kirby and Lee.

[@VonWenk]

Amazing Spider-Man 135 is when I started reading Spider-Man regularly. Maybe I'm under the influence of the letters pages at the time, but I prefer Gil Kane's Spider-Man to Andru's Spider-Man, and I prefer Andru inked by Frank Giacoia and Dave Hunt as opposed to Mike Esposito. One complaint I do have about Spider-Man in the '70s is that he's wanted by the police but still teaming up with other heroes in Marvel Team-Up. I also like that Professor Warren does actually appear during Stan Lee's run.

[@mwilso2]

Loved the video. Will definitely have to read this run.

[@mnstash]

great video man, the editing is top notch! ive had some drafts in my notes relating to iconic eras of spider-man for some time! id love to get a start on it one day, who knows maybe we could collaborate at some point!😅 keep it up earned a sub!

[@windscar15]

The Spider-Mobile is one of those gags that a lot of comic-book apologists like to point to for cheap laughs and digs at the classic era for non-fans to justify why these stories were always silly and irrelevant. I appreciate you giving it the proper context here when so many other people don’t.

[@delboy3k1]

A good video and retrospective, and i like the honesty. That said, not enough is said about restrictions. Under stan Lee, he was kind of wordy, and so it was common for 9 panel art. Less restriction with andru, who did far more large 1 panel art. Romita said he would have loved that and, in his run, got 9 panels to 6, but large 1 panels were reserved to annuals or end panels. So, as much as you can state, it's better as you move forward it was restrictions by Marvel owners that kept things like this in place. P.s. loved the covers here. Hate covers now. At least back then, i knew from the cover what i was getting unlike now. Dont mind bubble text either. Excelsior though sir. Great stuff

[@frankandstern8803]

Favorite chronological window especially in regards to art styles. Ross Andru under Romita as art director.

[@ItsOver9000Productions]

Video editing and sound quality really improved. Awesome stuff dude

[@sahilhossain8204]

Lore of Iconic Spider-Man Runs: Gerry Conway momentum 100

[@LuisOsmarRosalesManuel]

Love your videos man

[@Bonesph]

I feel that comics need to take breaks from big storylines every now and then. All these comics are worth reading if they are reprints.

[@frankandstern8803]

Gee, villains willing to kill. Imagine that. What a concept.

[@christopherdavis8248]

i was born in 1972 so by 1978 i was 6 and reading both Amazing Spiderman (with Adru) and Marvel Tales (reprinting Romita Sr). Those are my favorite artists and runs. Favorite all time issue: Amazing Spider Man #151 that features both Romita Sr and Ross Andru!!! (Shocker issue)!

[@frankandstern8803]

Yep. Great Era. Was lucky enough to experience it as a kid too. Born in 70. Loved this look they captured in the art. Sound anatomy, presenting shots from multiple angles, displaying a skilled brush on inks, not TOO realistic yet not goofy and too cartoony. I felt a standard for what an action comic book should look like was established here. Just my opinion.

[@matthewschwartz6607]

Len Wein wrote that one .

[@drewgeraci8434]

I've always thought that Qwen, as well as Peter's friend were simply plot devices, not interesting characters. Except Mary Jane at this point.

[@frankandstern8803]

Yep. Superfun Era. My childhood too. I went on to feel this form of comic book art with artist coming from illustration educations, set the standard. Proper anatomy, diversity of angles for the reader, a skilled brush a must on the inks, not extremely realistic yet not goofy or too cartoony. The way I felt an action comic book should be presented. Just my opinion.

[@czms922]

He was put on the spot like that?!

[@davidakin3840]

do dramtic comic reading plesase

[@frankandstern8803]

Do spell check please. Does anybody speak English anymore?

[@dannyc8876]

I couldn’t understand most you said

[@frankandstern8803]

This is an Interesting way of making your statement. Ironic. With sentences like that I'm not surprised you didn't understand what he was saying. Just saying. What are they teaching in schools these days?