{"id":6594,"date":"2025-07-08T20:29:02","date_gmt":"2025-07-08T20:29:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.grahamcrackers.com\/blog\/?p=6594"},"modified":"2025-07-08T20:29:02","modified_gmt":"2025-07-08T20:29:02","slug":"toms-amazing-chase-collecting-every-issue-of-amazing-spider-man-by-tom-a","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.grahamcrackers.com\/blog\/2025\/07\/08\/toms-amazing-chase-collecting-every-issue-of-amazing-spider-man-by-tom-a\/","title":{"rendered":"Tom’s Amazing Chase: Collecting Every Issue of Amazing Spider-Man By Tom A"},"content":{"rendered":"

Getting Caught in Spidey\u2019s Web<\/p>\n

\"\"Every great pursuit begins with inspiration, and mine was no exception. I first remember Spider-Man from my childhood; it was the CBS TV Show staring Nicholas Hammond as our Wall Crawler.\u00a0 I watched this show on syndication in the early evenings on TV.\u00a0 I was Amazed, pun intended, on what the character could do.\u00a0 My only other experience with superheroes at this time, was The Incredible Hulk TV show, staring Bill Bixby and Lou Ferrigno.\u00a0 Looking back at that Spider-Man TV show, even with the crude special effects for the time; I still have that fondness for Spidey.\u00a0 Then came the Spider-Man Cartoon on Saturday mornings, which then turned into Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends.\u00a0 Meeting other heroes, Iceman and Firestar.\u00a0 Even while typing I can hear the theme song in my head.\u00a0 Watching classic villains from Spidey\u2019s rouges\u2019 gallery, like The Green Goblin and The Sandman.\u00a0 Then came the Spider-Man \u2013 The Animated Series cartoon from the 90s.\u00a0 One of the best comic book cartoons ever, up there with Batman: The Animated Series and X-Men.\u00a0 These shows were all the building blocks for my love of the Wed Head.<\/p>\n

Spider-Man Comics<\/p>\n

I didn\u2019t start to seriously get into reading comics till later on in life.\u00a0 I\u2019m sorry to say I didn\u2019t really collect comics as a kid.\u00a0 In adulthood, the first half of my career in the military, I lived on various USS ships, whereas you can image space is very limited.\u00a0 There was no room to collect anything.\u00a0 That would change after a while.\u00a0 I eventually met my MJ, the love of my life Lisa.\u00a0 We lived Temecula, and I now had room and more income.\u00a0 About 15 years ago, I started my first pull list at a Comic Shop, it was Ryan\u2019s Comics.\u00a0 Now it\u2019s the location of Graham Cracker Comics, in Murrieta, CA.\u00a0 A place where I am privileged to work; a dream to say the least.<\/p>\n

The more comics I would acquire, the more I wanted.\u00a0 I had that first taste and I loved it.\u00a0 I had to buy a short box, and I soon filled it up.\u00a0 Then I had to buy another, then another.\u00a0 I moved to long boxes as my collection continued to grow.\u00a0 I would buy comic sets off eBay, and go to swap meets, and conventions.\u00a0 My love for the Wall Crawler continued to grow.\u00a0 I read every issue I picked up.\u00a0 These books needed, no wanted, to be read.\u00a0 The more I learned about the history of Peter Parker, the more I had to keep reading.<\/p>\n

Setting the Goal<\/p>\n

While serving on board the USS PEARL HARBOR (LSD-52), I would talk to young Sailors who also had a love for comic books.\u00a0 I even gave them nicknames, \u201cWade\u201d for the Deadpool fan, and \u201cLogan\u201d for the Wolverine fan.\u00a0 They gave me the nickname \u201cUncle Pete\u201d, due to my Senior Chief rank and my love for Peter.\u00a0 We talked comics all the time, we all collected. I can\u2019t remember who said it first, but I remember hearing, \u201cHey Uncle Pete, you should try and get every single issue of Amazing Spider-Man\u201d. I would also listen to the \u201cChasing Amazing\u201d podcast, during my commute to work every day.\u00a0 This podcast about two guys who also were collecting every single issue of ASM.\u00a0 That spark I had started to ignite.<\/p>\n

Let the Chase Begin<\/p>\n

\"\"I thought about that chase, and figure why not.\u00a0 Could I do this?\u00a0 If so, how the heck do I do this? I gave it a shot; I created a data base on an excel document to track which issues I had and which I needed.\u00a0 I typed out hundreds of boxes, with all the issue numbers.\u00a0 The tracking helped me not get any doubles.\u00a0 So, my \u201cAmazing Chase\u201d started. I would visit dollar bins at all the comic shops in my city.\u00a0 I\u2019d go to comic conventions and hit all the tables, going through long box after long box.\u00a0 \u201cNeed it, Need it, Got it, Need it.\u201d After a few years my collection got bigger and bigger, taking up most of the space in my closet.\u00a0 Having to give up room for clothes for all my long boxes.\u00a0 The current total is 36 Long Boxes and over one dozen short.\u00a0 The chase was amazing, another pun intended.<\/p>\n

I remember getting key issues, such as issues #121, and #122.\u00a0 Both of which I have signed by Gerry Conway.\u00a0 The Death of Gwen Stacy and Green Goblin are huge keys in the Spider-Man lore.\u00a0 I had a conversation with him about the blow back he received from fans for killing off Spider-Man\u2019s love of his life.\u00a0 He and his wife told me that they received death threats in the mail!\u00a0 This is decades before e-mail.\u00a0 So, hearing that people took the time to hand write letters, slap and address on them, get a stamp and mail the letter.\u00a0 It shows you how passionate we can take our love for comics.<\/p>\n

Comic stores were the backbone of my early collecting. These shops often had bins filled with back issues, and digging through them became a ritual of discovery. I fondly recall the thrill of finding Issue #252, featuring Spider-Man\u2019s first appearance in the black suit, tucked away in a seemingly unremarkable pile.<\/p>\n

No great adventure is without its obstacles, and collecting Amazing Spider-Man was no exception. The most significant challenges were financial and condition of the books.\u00a0 As a collector, ensuring authenticity and quality was paramount. Learning to give and take with condition was also important.\u00a0 Should I hold out for a better copy? Should I buy this issue now? They were common questions.<\/p>\n

The Silver Age issues, spanning the earliest stories, represented both the holy grail and the most difficult challenges. Issues #1 through #10, featuring iconic battles against villains like Doctor Octopus and the Vulture, were often priced far beyond my initial budget. Saving for these treasures required patience and strategic planning, including trading some non-Spider-Man collectibles, such as Hot Toys, to fund purchases.<\/p>\n

Amazing Spider-Man #1<\/p>\n

\"\"After years of persistence, there came the day when I finally held the one of the last missing pieces of the puzzle in my hands: Amazing Spider-Man #1. It was a surreal moment, one that felt like the culmination of not just a collection but a lifelong passion. The journey had transformed from a simple goal into a celebration of my own dedication to our Friendly Neighborhood Hero.\u00a0 I bought it from a seller on eBay who was enthralled by my Amazing Chase.\u00a0 He allowed me to purchase Amazing Spider-Man #1, on a payment plan.\u00a0 With him shipping the book, once I was 50% done with my installments.\u00a0 I remember my trembling hands when I held it for this first time.\u00a0 Maybe there was a single tear sliding down my cheek as well.\u00a0 Holding that issue; well, I still can get chills thinking about it.<\/p>\n

People would often ask me, what was the last issue I needed to complete my chase, aside from the ongoing issues.\u00a0 Well, it was none other than the 1st appearance of The Vulture in Amazing Spider-Man #2.\u00a0 But there was a momentary obstacle.\u00a0 As of right now I had all my issue bagged in boarded, with re-sealable bags.\u00a0 But the only way I could find my last remaining issue was to get a slabbed one.\u00a0 How would I complete my collection. I would own it, but if it didn\u2019t sit right next to all the others, something would not have felt right.\u00a0 So, I did something, and a few of you may gasp as reading this.\u00a0 When I had that last remaining issue I needed, Amazing Spider-Man #2 CGC 4.0 in my hands.\u00a0 I cracked that case open and pulled out the book.\u00a0 Then removing it from the preserved bag, and I am not ashamed to say I breathed in Glory. I smelled the old pages of that book, completing my Amazing Chase.\u00a0 As of writing this we stand at 968 issues of Amazing Spider-Man.<\/p>\n

But I didn\u2019t stop there, I have collected all the ASM Annuals, as I felt they were needed to be considered a full set.\u00a0 I also have complete runs of Spectacular Spider-Man, Sensational Spider-Man, Spider-Man, Ultimate Spider-Man, Spider-Man 2099, Marvel Knights Spider-Man, and too many other issues to count.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m sorry to say I DO NOT own a copy of Amazing Fantasy #15.\u00a0 I probably never will, so a full complete run of Amazing Spider-Man including Annuals will have to do for now.\u00a0 However, I don\u2019t think Spidey ever gave up on a goal, so why should I?\u00a0 You never know.<\/p>\n

Reflections on the Chase<\/p>\n

Looking back, the Amazing Chase was about more than just acquiring comics\u2014it was about the relationships forged along the way. Conversations with fellow collectors, learning the history behind each issue, and experiencing the joy of discovery made the journey unforgettable. Each comic in the collection tells a story, not just of Spider-Man but of the people, places, and moments that made it possible.<\/p>\n

Advice for Aspiring Collectors<\/p>\n

For others embarking on similar collecting journeys, my advice is simple:<\/p>\n