Issue(s): Amazing Spider-Man #143
Cover Date: Apr 75
Title: "...And the wind cries: Cyclone!"
Credits:
Gerry Conway - Writer
Ross Andru - Penciler
Frank Giacoia & David Hunt - Inker

Review/plot:
Peter and Joe Robertson head out to France to investigate a ransom note sent by a group that has kidnapped J. Jonah Jameson. Try to remember that JJ has fled to Europe to hide from prosecution surrounding his employment of Mysterio II last issue, because the creators of this book haven't.

Before leaving, Peter and MJ kiss at the airport. Prior to the kiss she tells him that she always calls him 'tiger' "'cause you're not!".

This is meant to mark a turning point in their relationship, but it will get sidelined for a bit with the appearance of the Gwen Stacy Clone. In France, Robbie gets knocked out by the kidnappers, and Peter responds as Spider-Man. Yes once again in a foreign country at a time that everyone knows Peter is there, Spider-Man appears. The kidnappers have super-powered help in the form of Cyclone. Say it with a French accent. Si-CLONE!

Cyclone beats Spidey and leaves him alone in Paris.

Quality Rating: C-

Historical Significance Rating: 2 - development of Peter and MJ's relationship

Chronological Placement Considerations: N/A

References: N/A

Crossover: N/A

Continuity Insert? N

My Reprint: Marvel Tales #120

The title either comes from the Jimi Hendrix song "The Wind Cries Mary" or the horrible folkie song used to torture grade school kids "The Wind Cries Mariah".

About this time, the letters column starts running guesses to the Jackal's true identity. One--which may have been written by John Ostrander--claims that the Jackal is a clone of Peter Parker. Another column opens with "The Jackal is Jasper Sitwell" which made me laugh so hard I couldn't finish the book the first time.

It's named after the Hendrix song since the other song is called "They call the Wind Mariah" and yes we had to sing it back in the 2nd grade.

Try to remember that JJ has fled to Europe to hide from prosecution surrounding his employment of Mysterio II last issue, because the creators of this book.

Fnord, this sentence seems to be missing a word or two at the end.

Following up on my comments for AMS 141-142, what exactly would going to Paris do for Jameson? Berkhart will now spill the beans on Jameson for sure (still don't know what kind of "beans" those are). Was Jameson going to stay out of the USA forever?

Maybe it doesn't look so impressive in retrospect, but the airport scene (not just the kiss, but the pages preceding and following it) is one of the great iconic moments in Spider-Man's history. It's not just a change in Peter and Mary Jane's relationship; it's also Peter finally emerging from the miasma of grief over Gwen's death. Which will make it all the more cruel when Gwen comes back.

It's been, what?, 22 issues since poor Gwen was killed in ASM #121? Which is about, what?, 2 months in stretch-elastic Marvel time? Tsk!

"They Call the Wind 'Maria'" is not a "folk song"…it's a Broadway Show Tune! From "Paint Your Wagon", by Lerner and Loewe, the most successful team of the times.

These were the guys who gave us "Brigadoon", "My Fair Lady", and "Camelot"…and they also gave us this story of Gold Rush California that will eventually be made into a movie version in which Clint Eastwood sings "I Talk to the Trees". I guess that since they'd gotten away with Rex Harrison NOT ACTUALLY SINGING in two other hits, they thought they could live with Clint's whisper-singing, but…no.

Nevertheless, grade school teachers back then did tend to lump it in with folkies, blurring any distinctions and causing lifelong trauma. I still can't hear Cat Stevens' "Morning Has Broken" without wanting to gag...