While previous heroes had their origin stories planted in spectacular events, dramatic turns of events, and high tragedy, Stan Lee and Steve Ditko firmly planted their flagship character's feet in the hard ground of daily life in the big city. Shy, insecure, lower-class teen Peter Parker, drawn to scrawny imperfection by Ditko, transforms into a freakish, wise-cracking daredevil tortured by guilt over the loss of his father figure and scrambling to make a quick buck from his sudden brush with semi-greatness. Spider-Man's first appearance in Amazing Fantasy #15 was like nothing anyone had ever seen before, and was an almost instant success, leading to a hurriedly prepared solo debut issue. Note the use of the Fantastic Four on the cover as insurance, as their group exploits, which hit the newsstands not long before Spider-Man's, were Marvel's one real box-office draw at the time, and the hungry, ambitious Lee was taking no chances. One of the most important comics of the Silver Age, and the book that proved the Marvel Age of comics was no fluke.

Emboldened by the success of the first Fantastic Four issue, an early and experimental attempt to grab the brass ring of successful hero titles, Stan Lee and Steve Ditko struck paydirt with the web-headed teen hero of Amazing Fantasy #15, leading to this solo effort, which sold like crazy and put Marvel back on the map after years of struggling in the dying comics business. This book, and AF15, have proven to be the miracle books of the Silver Age, selling beyond expectations with amazing regularity, and attracting countless new investors and buyers in one auction after another. The reds of the logo and the Human Torch are especially bright and appealing on this very attractive copy, which is structurally solid for its grade and presents even better than scans can suggest.

Overstreet Guide 2012 VF- (7.5) value = $12,700