Issue(s): Untold Tales of Spider-Man #4
Published Date: Dec 95
Title: "The Measure of a Man"
Credits:
Kurt Busiek - Writer
Pay Olliffe - Penciler
Al Vey with Pam Eklund - Inker
Glenn Greenberg - Assistant Editor
Tom Brevoort - Editor
Bob Budiansky - EIC

Review/plot: John Jameson is observing Spider-Man to determine if he is fit to be included in an astronaut program, and this story is narrated from his perspective. It's cute to see how wrong about what Spider-Man must be like.

Meanwhile Spider-Man is fighting a group called the Spacemen who are pretending to be heroes similar to the Fantastic Four but are in fact committing crimes and blaming it on Spider-Man. J. Jonah is upset that NASA is considering Spider-Man and latches on to the idea that the Spacemen are good guys so that they can discredit Spidey and prevent him from taking the glory of being an astronaut away from his son. Spidey shows the Spacemen to be frauds and defeats them, but NASA decides that since part of its goal is to study the effects of space on humans, and Spidey isn't quite human, they aren't going to use him. Nonetheless Jameson is humiliated and devastated for being so wrong about Spidey. He can't bring himself to believe that Spider-Man is a good guy.

Phil Sheldon and a young Eddie Brock are featured in a crowd scene of reporters watching a Spacemen press conference (validated on the UTOS #8 letters page). Harry Osborn and Gwen Stacy are also in the crowd.

The art in this series is generally good, but it's a little busy. I can't even find a good establishing shot of the Spacemen using their powers.

Quality Rating: B

Historical Significance Rating: 1

Chronological Placement Considerations: Peter is not wearing his glasses since they were broken in ASM #8. According to the chronology chart in UTOS #14, this issue takes place after ASM #8.

References: N/A

Cross-over: N/A

Continuity Implant? Y

Reprinted In: N/A