SUNDAY CLASSICS: Amazing Spider-Man #50: Spider-Man No More!

Even if you don’t read Spider-Man comics, chances are you have at least read #50, Spider-Man No More. Aside from Kingpin making his first appearance, Amazing Spider-Man #50 carries a message that resonates with all of humanity. It calls into questions of our internal battle of how we see ourselves and what we value our worth at. Peter Parker has always been his harshest critic, yes even compared to J. Jonah Jameson, no it harder on Peter Parker than himself. Regardless of the good that Spider-Man does, getting over the hump of Uncle Ben’s tragic death, and now that Aunt May is in the hospital, and JJJ has turned a portion of society against Spider-Man.

The weight of the world is heavier than ever on Spidey’s shoulders. Comparing himself to the Fantastic Four, Captain America, and Iron Man he feels that maybe the world would be better off without him, enter one of the most iconic panels in all of comic book history. The Spider-Man suit in a trash can…there is no more Spider-Man.

Feeling relieved of his old life Peter decides to reevaluate and adjust his ways and start a life for himself. As you may have already figured that doesn’t last too long. The Kingpin rallies the troops and the city sees crimes families that would not normally talk to teach other form bonds to take over the city. Peter would see not only Spider-Man’s value to the city but his true worth in life and how great of a person he really is. Sometimes a different view is enough to shine a bright light on a dim situation. Now I realize that we cannot talk about this issue without mentioning the creative team, which we have all come to know and adore in our own ways. Stan Lee writes and John Romita draws. There, I said it. There’s not too much that you can say about those two that have not been said numerous times before. We know Lee and Romita are great. We know this issue is great.