Obsessively putting our comics in chronological order since 1985.
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Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #17-18
Issue(s): Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #17, Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #18
Cover Date: Apr-May 78
Title: "Whatever happened to the Iceman?" / "My friend, my foe!"
Credits:
Bill Mantlo - Writer
Sal Buscema - Penciler
David Hunt - Inker
Review/plot:
Peter has been assigned the job of photoing the dismantling of the Champions headquarters.
He gets wrapped up in a scheme by Rampage, who is now crippled and in a wheelchair.
He's managed to get Iceman into the Rampage suit, making it difficult for Angel and Spidey to defend themselves for fear of hurting their friend.
Spider-Man is a little more willing to hit Iceman than Angel...
...and eventually they manage to stop him.
Once again, Spider-Man has suddenly appeared in a city that he's not normally seen in at the same time that Peter Parker is visiting, but no one makes the connection.
In some subplot scenes tacked on at the end of issue #18, Flash Thomspon and Sha Shan continue to develop their relationship, and Hector Ayala, aka the White Tiger starts making friends at school.
And someone breaks out of prison.
This certainly wasn't great, but it's nice that Mantlo got a chance to wrap up his Champions run.
Quality Rating: C-
Historical Significance Rating: 1
Chronological Placement Considerations: The MCP places this between Amazing Spider-Man #180-182. It also makes sense for this to take place prior to Hulk annual #7, where Angel and Iceman seem like they are settling into their new post-Champions life. As Kveto notes in the comments, there is a scene showing the Lightmaster has escaped from prison in a set-up for next issue.
Technically Lightmaster doesn't "appear" since he's already gone, but obviously we've missed him by just seconds, so his escape happened during this issue and he counts as being behind the scenes in a way that merits tagging him.
References:
- There's a flashback to a scene that occurs right after Champions #17, wherein the team breaks up.
- When Peter Parker asks about the other Champions, Angel says that "Ghost Rider biked off somewhere" with a reference to Ghost Rider #26 after the Champions broke up. Darkstar went home, and the Black Widow and Hercules went to New York.
- Rampage was wounded in Champions #8.
- Spider-Man has known Iceman's secret identity since Marvel Team-Up #4.
- Aunt May is in the hospital as seen in "current issues of Amazing Spider-Man", (following her heart attacks in Amazing Spider-Man #176-177).
- There's a whole bunch of stuff that recently went on in Sha Shan's life that was depicted in Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #12-15.
- Sha Shan first appeared in Amazing Spider-Man #108.
Crossover: N/A
Continuity Insert? N
My Reprint: Marvel Tales #228, Marvel Tales #229
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Comments
You know, it's one thing for supporting characters to be oblivious. But for other heroes? How does Warren not notice that Spider-Man, the same hero so constantly photographed by Peter Parker all the time, just happens to show up in L.A. at the same time that Peter does.
Warren failed to recognize that TWO of his old friends were homicidal anti-mutant bigots- Cameron Hodge and that guy from Hidden Years. I think oblivious is a legitimate characterization of him.
"That guy" from Hidden Years was his uncle, the Dazzler. Or do you mean his family doctor? He fought his uncle in a solo story before Hidden Years so definitely not his friend. The family doctor wasn't necessarily his friend either, just a family retainer. Still, he seems to not notice the hidden hatred people have for him.
I meant the doctor, who he apparently trusted enough to share the fact that he was a mutant with him.
I got these issues as reprints and really loved them. I hadn't heard of the Champions and it was interesting to see a super-team dissolve. Rampage putting Iceman in his armour was fun.
Shouln't Lightmaster kinda get an appearance here as these issues show him escape from prison (although we aren't told its him)
I agree regarding the Lightmaster but see the caveat i added under the Considerations.
Is there an actual visual of Ghost Rider? I'm trying to collect all appearances of the original GR...
Ghost Rider appears in two panels of flashback in issue #17, and one panel of flashback in issue #18.
