Issue(s): Uncanny X-Men #35
Cover Date: Aug 67
Title: "Along came a Spider..."
Credits:
Roy Thomas - Writer
Werner Roth - Penciler
Dan Adkins - Inker

Review/plot:
The Banshee is searching for the Factor Three headquarters in the mountains of Central Europe when he gets ambushed by a spider-like robot. He sends the X-Men an unhelpful message: "Beware the Spider". Factor Three sends the spider-robot after the X-Men (the picture below is technically the first on-panel appearance of the Changeling, although that's all we see of him).

But Peter Parker also happens to be vacationing in the area and he sees the Spider-robot first and destroys it.

The X-Men pick up a nearby signal on Cerebro and head out to investigate. They find Spider-Man and, remembering the Banshee's message, engage in a Misunderstanding Fight.

Spider-Man handles the X-Men quite easily, which is a shame for them.

    

Eventually the Misunderstanding is cleared up and Spider-Man angrily leaves.

Marvel Girl is left behind to stay on monitor duty. It's understandable that someone would need to be left behind since they are hoping to get more info from Banshee about Professor X, who was kidnapped by Factor Three. However the logical choice for someone to stay behind is Angel since he is A) useless and B) the most mobile member who could play the cavalry role if need be. I think Marvel Girl was chosen due to her gender, and this sort of thing is really starting to get to me. It's OK, barely, in 1963 but by 1967, enough already. However, while she's stuck at home, she's able to figure out where the Banshee is, so at least she's doing something useful. When the rest of the X-Men get back, Cyclops tries to stop her from going along but this time she puts her foot down (oh but how she loves him for trying to shield her!).

I think this is the first time that Spider-Man has been written by someone other than Stan Lee (other than a minor cameo in X-Men #27), and it is really jarring. Peter Parker doesn't sound right at all (or look quite right, for that matter). It's less noticeable when he's Spidey. I don't know if it's a difference in quality between Stan and Roy or just a personal bias on my part (although i wasn't really thinking about who was writing the issue until i started wondering what was wrong with Peter).

This Marvel Tales reprint also features a not-so-good new cover by Todd McFarlane and a truly terrible Spectacular Spider-Ham story.

Quality Rating: C-

Historical Significance Rating: 3

Chronological Placement Considerations: Spider-Man talks about his last run-in with the Kingpin. Based on the publication dates, it would also have to have been his first run-in with the Kingpin, placing this right after Amazing Spider-Man #52.

References:

• The Banshee first appeared in Uncanny X-Men #28.
  
• Professor X was captured by Factor Three during the X-Men's battle with the Juggernaut in Uncanny X-Men #32.
  
• Spider-Man fought the Kingpin in Amazing Spider-Man #51-52.
  
• The X-Men tried to recruit Spider-Man in Uncanny X-Men #27.

Crossover: N/A

Continuity Insert? N

My Reprint: Marvel Tales #233

spidey has always been good at kicking x-men butt (secret wars)

You wanna know what really warms my heart? A good, solid, overly-complex, Jack Kirby-style control panel, and Werner Roth has delivered a good one in this issue. Thank you, Mr. Roth. Thank you.

Peter Parker was vacationing in Central Europe? That seems pretty odd.

No no! ;-) The Banshee is attacked in Europe. Then Factor Three sends a spider-robot after the X-Men, who are at their Mansion, and Peter is vacationing nearby.

The original cover by Dan Adkins was a composite swipe of Ditko and Kirby figures according to the GCD Indexer Notes for this issue. A Dan Adkins cover with Werner Roth pencils inside? Does this mark the beginning of a slow slide towards cancellation for our uncanny heroes? Stay tuned!

Although I liked the idea of the X-Men meeting Spider-Man I thought the whole thing was poorly handled.

No one could transform themselves into a teenage hero with all the insecurity and angst like Stan the Man. The Spisey persona lived inside of Stan and spoke to a generation of zit popping kids.