What a complicated web Stan, Steve, John and all who followed have woven for Spider-Man over the years.

Little did studious Peter Parker know when he attended the science exhibit his life would change forever. One spider bite later and Marvel’s flagship was born.

Whether it was the radioactive spider or Peter coming of age, the floodgates of romance burst open. His first lady love was Betty Brant.  J. Jonah’s secretary and the freelance photographer discovered some workplace chemistry ’till reporter Ned Leeds intervened.

Leeds’ interest and Betty’s eventual hatred of Spider-Man would end the romance almost before it began.

Waiting in the wings was Liz Allen. Liz began as the BMOC’s girl, but later found herself swayed by Peter’s low-key charm. Fate intervened with an uncle turned super villain and Liz would fade from the title for a decade or more.

Eventual wife Mary Jane Watson began as a blind date Peter ran as fast as he could from. Even after they began dating, he had eyes for a curvy blond, then involved with his friend Harry Osbourn.

Peter and Harry eventually swapped ladies and Gwen Stacy became his first true love. She would meet with an untimely end courtesy of Harry’s father Norman, aka the Green Goblin.

Mary Jane returned as an on again-off again girlfriend. Peter would even propose to her while still in college. She would decline the offer and head west.

Betty Brant, estranged from her husband, would return for a brief time and Felicia Hardy, the Black Cat, would enter Peter’s life as an admirer. They were an item until Peter learned Felicia was only interested in Spider-Man.

In grad school Peter would meet Deborah Whitman, but he was never as serious about her as she was with him.

Mary Jane would eventually return and this time accept his proposal. This would last until the One More Day story arc.

All this, plus a super-hero career. Wow.

January days seem so long though they grow dark too early.
Still suffering from the big holidays hangover, it’s almost like work trying to find anything mildly interesting to survive the month.

Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man 98 (1976)

This non-holiday caught my attention and triggered a memory of a Spidey villain from years past. Who better than The Spot to host National Polka Dot Day?

Why someone established a day for polka dots is beyond me. It just exists. The word first appeared in the 1857 Philly publication Godey’s Lady’s Book.

Since their introduction as a form of ladies wear fashion, polka dots have transferred to everything from napkins to fingernails. They are a fashion statement and fashion stigma depending which way the whims of haute couture are blowing.

For our purposes polka dots are a means of transportation.

Dr. Johnathon Ohnn made his debut in Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man 97 as a Kingpin minion. The MIT grad was under orders to recreate Cloak’s – of Cloak and Dagger fame – means of teleportation.

A laboratory mishap caused Ohnn to become the means of transference himself, peppered in black polka dots that are pathways to wherever his desire may lie.

Al Milgrom, writer, and Herb Trimpe, artist, are his creators.

Spot would also come to life as part of Marvel’s animated universe. He starred in his self-titled episode in 1994 on Fox Kids animated Spider-Man series and in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse in 2018 and Spider-Man: Across the Universe in 2023.

I wasn’t gonna do anything for New Year’s Eve. After 24 days of trying to make ornaments sound interesting- or, as interesting as they have been to me – there was some burnout.

However, watching the countdown myself, there was a sense that there should be more. So, I tossed in the Day After and Lucky 13. Maybe it was an attempt to slow down 2024’s demise. Not that it was an exceptional year, nor was it a bad year. It’s just the swan song before another begins and we start that journey through the unknown after being able to look back at what has already transpired.

Then, I read the Marvel Holiday Tales to Astonish. It was a Christmas special, so a must have. I just wasn’t prepared to enjoy it as much as I did. Three holiday stories that entertained more than anticipated.

Marvel Holiday Tales to Astonish and variants

First, the variant cover was a nod to the Marvel Treasury Edition Giant Super Hero Grab-Bag from 1974. Then story one, ‘Twas the Fight Before Christmas, featuring the Fantastic Four, made for a good opening salvo.

Reed, Sue, Ben and Johnny host an annual Christmas party for all heroes who have been included in the ranks of the FF over the years (see below for the list). A distress call takes the core members away to do battle with a first gen Doombot.

Festival of Fights, starring the Uncanny X-Men, was even better. Told through the eyes of new member Kitty Pryde, she counts down Hanukkah with their adventures including the classic Christmas tale from X-Men 143 and her solo battle in Demon.

Finally, Spectacular Spider-Man and Resolutions. This New Year’s Eve tale gave me the excuse and reason to chime in one last time this year.

Yes, this site has been silent for far too long. For that, I apologize. Next year will be different. Guess you could say this is my New Year’s Resolution; to make the coming year worth returning for. I’ve already gone down another rabbit hole for February. Please plan to be there.

Trying to keep the site fresh isn’t always easy. Hopefully 2025 will be a return to something good. We’ve already pulled down some new ideas while retaining the source material. We’ll try to make it worth your while. Whatever your decision, thanks for being with us this far.

As promised, here’s the list of Fantastic Four members from throughout the years and the issue they joined. Recruits include Crystal (FF 81), Medusa (FF 132), Luke Cage (FF 168), Nova (FF 238), She-Hulk (FF 265), Ms. Marvel/She-Thing (FF 306), Ant Man (FF 348), Storm (FF 543), Black Panther (FF 543) and Spider-Man (FF 657).

This does not include the time the FF were replaced by Spider-Man, Ghost Rider, Hulk and Wolverine for issues 347-49.

December 26th: 365 days and counting…

We’re not really gonna do this. Not this early.

No, we’re trying to help the Christmas hangover with a little hair of the dog. Here’s some more Yule time merch to get you over the hump.

This Spidey puzzle features our favorite wall crawler in festive spirits spreading some holiday cheer.

And, while we’re not gonna start the big countdown just yet, don’t worry, we’ll be ready with our version of an advent calendar come December 2025.

December 21st: Four days and counting…

This is another ornament I’ve had for so long I can’t remember where it came from.

                       1996

As I’ve stated before, Batman will always be the season’s hero for me, but that’s ‘cuz he was in my stockings come the big morning.

However Spidey will also be near and dear to my heart, no matter what time of year. He’s had his share of Christmas adventures as we’ve noted previously. One of my favorites is maybe his first in Marvel Team-Up issue one.

Lest we forget, Web Head has had his share of animated holiday episodes as well. Those include:

Reinforcement, the third episode of the show’s second season, from The Spectacular Spider-Man series.

Nightmare on Christmas and The Moon Knight Before Christmas were both featured on the Ultimate Spider-Man series. Nightmare was the 22nd episode of the third season. By then the cartoon was sub titled Web Warriors. Moon Knight guest starred in his eponymous episode. It aired as part of the series fourth season, by then retitled Ultimate Spider-Man v. the Sinister 6.

A Very Spidey Christmas, Merry Spidey Christmas and Halted Holiday were all part of Spidey and His Amazing Friends. A Very Spidey Christmas aired as the first segment of the 12th episode of its inaugural season. It aired on Spider Monday to promote tickets for Spider-Man: No Way Home.

Merry Spidey Christmas was part of the second season and partnered with Halted Holiday. Both aired as part of the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever release.

December 18th: Seven days and counting…

Its simple and elegant, but speaks volumes.

The red block design features the Marvel Comics logo with super heroes on one side and villains on the other. Heroes include Thor, Captain America, Spider-Man, Black Widow, Hulk and Iron Man. Villains are Loki, Red Skull, Hela, Thanos and Ultron.

   Amazingly, these are the same heroes and villains featured in recent movies allowing both theater goers to enjoy as well as comic book veterans.

   This is part of the less expensive Hallmark ornaments produced for outlets like Walmart. It doesn’t diminish the enjoyment of adding this one to the tree.

December 14th: 11 days and counting…

Hallmark offered this Spider-Man ornament for the 2005 season complete with Holiday Memory Card in case Web Head was gonna be a present.

The back of the box reads, “What happens when a nerdy science student accidentally gets bitten by a radioactive spider? Comic book history! Reluctantly at first, a shy Peter Parker uses his amazing agility and extraordinary sensory powers to launch a heroic fight against crime. He learns along the way that ‘with great power, there must also come great responsibility.’ Introduced in 1962, Spider-Man has won the hearts of countless fans as he pits himself against the most menacing lineup of superhuman villains in the comic universe.”

December 12th: 13 days and counting…

You’re gonna see a lotta Spider-Man ornaments in this countdown. Yes, he’s one of my favorite heroes – Jeff’s, too – and he just seems to be a natural to hang from the tree.

Since there’s a lotta Spidey here on the countdown, let’s see just how many times he’s made the Christmas comic book list for Four Color Holidays:

• Firestar, Spider-Man and Iceman at the Dallas Ballet Nutcracker
• Spider-Man Kids julehefte
• Sensational Spider-Man 24
• Spider-Man Holiday Special 1995
• Marvel Adventures Spider-Man 46
• Spider-Man Christmas in Dallas
• Spider-Man’s Tangled Web 21
• Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man 112
• Spider-Man’s Christmas 1984
• Spider-Man/Deadpool 12
• Amazing Spider-Man 314
• Spectacular Spider-Man 173
• Amazing Spider-Man 166

These are just the Christmas related issues, so if you’re a Spider-Man fan, please check out the other appearances our favorite Wall Crawler has made for other holidays.

In the meantime, please click away at the list provided for reviews of Spidey’s various yuletide adventures.

Kurt Adler 2004 Spider-Man

December 8th: 17 days and counting…

Any comic book devotee will tell you what a turbulent time the 1990s were for comic books and Marvel in particular. The situation was simply a money grab as the company was sold a few times over, based on inflated sales at the comic book shops. When the bubble finally burst, Marvel found itself filing for bankruptcy as it floundered to stay afloat.

Avi Arad, ToyBiz owner and executive producer on the X-Men the Animated Series, showed foresight by licensing out some of the product. Blade saw a return of $70,000,000, but Marvel only received $25,000. Same with the X-Men and Spider-Man movies.

What it did do was set up a formula that brought Marvel out of its financial distress; rather than farm their talent out, Marvel formed its own studio and began utilizing its characters, allowing the company to reap the rewards directly.

Yet, during the strife of the late 90s, Marvel carried on as best it could, licensing out not only its characters to films, but pimping out just about anyone to turn a profit. Three of the biggest – and most recognizable – names at the time were Hulk, Spider-Man and Wolverine. This ornament three-pack housed in a metal lunchbox-type holder showcase that trio.

Wish I had this set.

December 4th: 21 days and counting…

Long the flagship of Marvel, Spider-Man remains part of Stan Lee’s Mount Rushmore of creations. As the comic book collecting market bloomed, collector pieces appeared from every corner of the merchandising market. Hallmark, as we’ve learned earlier this month, started in 1997, but Spidey and some of his friends were given even posher treatment with numbered porcelain ornaments.

This one was offered at the turn of the millennium complete with certificate of authenticity.