Spidey Super Stories #36

For a very long time, Spidey Super Stories had been nearly impossible to find. Since I started recollecting comics in 2007, I had only seen one issue for sale and that store wanted a ridiculous amount of cash for it. Then for some reason, issues started popping up in the past year. I've managed to find 5 or 6 for a good price; between $1-5 each. Somehow, I ended up with a duplicate- this issue!

Since I just had surgery, I decided that instead of trying to file it in a very heavy long box, I would read the duplicate copy and then after the review, I'd put this up for resale or trade.

This issue focuses on one of my all-time favorite Spider-Man villains- The Lizard. Curt Connors has once again been fiddling around with his chemistry set and turned himself into a giant reptile. But why he did it in the first place is unknown.

In the pages of Amazing Spider-Man, Curt Connors has only one arm. Seeing how lizards can regenerate a tail or limb, Connors does research with the creatures in hopes of regaining his missing arm. Yet, in the origin story recapped her, Connors has both arms. Why? Did Marvel think that kids couldn't handled a story with an amputee?

Spidey Super Stories was based on the Spider-Man tales from the PBS classic educational series, The Electric Company. Characters from that show would make appearances in this all-ages book. While this comic claims that some of the characters in this issue are from the TV show, I don't remember any of these characters. 

Where's Manny Spamboni? Paul the Gorilla? Easy Reader? I guess they're in other issues as they sure aren't here!

There's two other stories in this issue. The middle tales involves the Green Goblin and a plot to steal from people during seances. Seances? Really, Marvel??? For 1979, you couldn't have characters with disabilities but contacting the dead was okay for a kids comic? Didn't you see what happened in The Exorcist?

The last adventure sees somebody stealing prized poppies from a flower show. As Peter Parker happens to be one of the entrants in the contest, you can be sure that Spider-Man will be nearby to stop the dastardly foe.

For the most part, this comic is how I remember- except for the Electric Company characters. Well, there's something else different. Spidey Super Stories were used as educational tools in some classrooms. Teachers could order multiple issues for their class at a bulk rate. While I wasn't old enough for that, I remember that early issues (you could buy at the local 7-11) had a glossary of terms in the back of the book based on words used in bold in the comic. While there are plenty of terms in black (almost in every sentence), there's no glossary. Kinda wondering why...

This was still a fun trip to my late 70s childhood. The art was great. The stories were good. Maybe a little bit aged for being a nearly 40 year old comic. But a cool nostalgic read none the less.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.