Amazing Spider-Man 314

Amazing Spider-Man 314

For those of you who don’t remember or weren’t there, this was written just prior to the comic book explosion spurred on by investors and companies only too happy to print more than demanded. This is 1988 and Todd McFarlane was still Marvel’s wunderkind.

Almost forgotten in the craze of hot illustrators is the fact many of the writers are at the top of their games as well. In this case David Michelinie penned “Down and Out in Forest Hill”s, taking the hero and not only running him up a tree, but then throwing rocks at him.

Peter Parker and Mary Jane Watson had finally married and the curvaceous missus was one of the top models in the world. Marvel needed to bring the celebrity couple back to Earth. They did so with a story line that ran in Amazing Spider-Man 304-09 in which Mary Jane became the focus of unwanted intentions by a multi-millionaire stalker. Spider-Man thwarted his plans, but the couple are finding out – on Christmas Eve no less – his reach extends beyond prison.

Most of the issue is a self-imposed pity party for Peter Parker (beat that alliteration, Stan). The issue is resolved when he learns there are others in the world who should be thought of before himself.