Amazing Fantasy #15 Spider-Man poster print- 1962
Look out! Here comes our Amazing reproduction of the cover of the American comic book, Amazing Fantasy #15. The pulp magazine has become notorious as the comic that introduced readers to the ‘timid-teenager’ Peter Parker, better known to the world as Spiderman. The cover which we have turned into a poster features an iconic image of Spider-Man ‘catching thieves just like flies.’
In the chill of night, Spiderman has arrived at the scene of a crime like a streak of light. He arrives just in time. Doing whatever a spider can, Spiderman is pictured swinging through the high-rise buildings of New York from one of his web-ropes. The Superhero has the troublesome criminal tucked firmly under his arm. The gangster’s gun-wielding gang members are trapped on the rooftop, unable to give chase. All they can do is stand and watch from the top of the building, as Spiderman escapes with their Boss.
Who was the first Spider-Man?
In Spider-Man’s first story, Peter Parker, an American teenager is a poor sickly orphan who is bitten by a radioactive spider. Following the bite, he gains superhuman strength, speed, and agility along with the ability to cling to walls. Parker’s selfish use of the incredible powers leads to the death of his beloved Uncle Ben. Lesson learner Spidey tries to use the power to fight crimes.
When Stan Lee and Steve Ditko created Spider-Man in 1962, they didn’t just break the mold of the superhero comic book – they obliterated it. Up until that point, virtually all superheroes had been adult characters with years of experience under their belts. They were portrayed as being the pinnacle of human achievement, invulnerable paragons who saved the world on a regular basis. Spider-Man, on the other hand, was a teenage boy who was still trying to figure out his place in the world. He made mistakes, he got scared, and he got beaten up – a lot.
Spider-Man made his television debut in an animated television series in 1967. It was the first TV series based on the Superhero, which would make the Canadian actor Paul Soles provided the voice for the character. It was the American-born, Australian actor Nicholas Hammond that was the first actor to portray Peter Parker and Spider Man on celluloid. He played the role from 1977 to 1979 in 13 episodes of the TV series The Amazing Spider-Man going on to star in three films, Spider-Man in 1997, Spider-Man Strikes Back in 1978, and Spider-Man: The Dragon’s Challenge in 1979. In 1978, the Japanese Toei film company created their own popular TV series which starred Shinji Todō as Takayuya Yamashiro. The series also spawned one film “Supaidāman” (スパイダーマン).
For a great many people, Tobey Maguire was the first actor they saw as Spider-Man. He was the star of the first significant film series dedicated to the orphaned Superhero. Maguire featured in the trilogy of Sam Raimi films, Spiderman in 2002, Spiderman 2 in 2004 and Spiderman 3 in 2007. For many, Maguire was Spiderman, evolving him from a cartoonish character into a fully-blown superhero.
Since then, several actors have played the role including Andrew Garfield in the Marc Webb films, Tom Holland in the Marvel Cinematic Universe films, and Shameik Moore who voices the character in the Miles Morales animated “Into the Spider-Verse”.
Amazing Adventures, Amazing Adult Fantasy and Amazing Fantasy.
Amazing Adventures was an American anthology comic book series published between the late-1950s and early-1960s. The period fans and historians refer to as the Silver Age of Comic Books. The Amazing Adventures series ran stories about monsters, suspense and science fiction. The artwork for the magazine was produced by several artists including Murphy Anderson, Bernard Krigstein, Don Perlin, Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, and Alex Schomburg. It ran for six issues. The first two issues were undated but subsequent issues were dated June, August, November 1951, and Fall 1952. In December 1961, the publication was rebranded as Amazing Adult Fantasy. This publication was to exclusively feature the quick, quirky, twist-ending tales of artist Ditko and writer-editor Lee. It ran for nine editions between December 1961 – July 1962.
Sales for Amazing Adult Fantasy had always been low, but by the time issue #15 was in production in 1962, it seemed pretty clear that it was likely to be the final edition. With nothing to lose, Stan Lee tried to convince his editor Martin Goodman to take a gamble with the final issue. He wanted to use it to debut his new character – Spiderman. With superheroes having slipped out of vogue in the comics world just after the war, Lee’s idea was met with skepticism. However, with cancellation imminent, Goodman eventually relented and agreed to go ahead with it. With another rebrand, the magazine was retitled ‘Amazing Fantasy’ for its 15th and final issue. While this was indeed the final issue, its editorial page anticipated the comic continuing. It stated that “the Spiderman… will appear every month in Amazing“.
Although they didn’t know it initially, Spider-man was an instant success. Sales of comic books had been slowly and steadily increasing. And, when Goodman reviewed the figures sales for Amazing Fantasy #15 proved to be one of Atlas Comics’ highest at the time. So much so that just seven months after the final Amazing Fantasy 15 was published, Spiderman got his very own monthly Superhero comic. The first issue of The Amazing Spider-Man was launched in March 1963.
What is an Amazing Fantasy Number 15 comic worth?
One of the most searched online questions relating to this comic book is what is the value of Amazing Fantasy number 15?
According to a Hollywood Reporter article by Boris Kit in 2021, “Comics have been setting and breaking record prices during the pandemic with many key comics doubling in prices just from 2019… Previously the most expensive copy of Amazing Fantasy No. 15 was a copy that sold in March 2020 for $795,000″. At the time, that wasn’t even close to being a record price for an action comic. That was set in November 2019 with the sale of a mint edition copy of Detective Comics #27 that introduced the caped crusader to the world. It sold for a super $1.5 million. Just over twelve months later another copy went up for sale in January 2021 not only fetching a super-heroic $2.22 million.
Not to be outdone, Superman is always there to save the day. Whether it’s stopping a villain’s evil plot, rescuing a kitten from a tree, or selling comic books Superman has the power to make a difference. Since his debut performance in the comic book Action Comics #1, he has also gone on to achieve great things. Not least of which is the record-breaking sum of £3.25 million for a pristine copy of the comic book sold for also in 2021. And then, just when you think that the battle between the Man of Steel and The Dark Knight has settled the debate over who is the most valuable Superhero, in swings the shy, accident-prone, neurotic teenager that has an inferiority complex and a fear of women. Using his signature Spidey suit, web ropes and a copy of the comic book Amazing Fantasy Number 15 Peter Parker has managed to reach amazing heights.
In September 2021, one of the highest graded copies of the Amazing Fantasy #15 comic book was put up for auction. It was one of only four copies known to exist in near-mint condition. The Silver Age rarity, with the first appearance of Spiderman, reached a sky-high figure of $3.25 million, a record price for any comic book! I guess we know who the best Superhero is now, don’t we? Well for now anyway!
