Amazing Fantasy was canceled after Spider-Man’s debut, but Marvel has revived the iconic title more than once, long before its current revival.
The Amazing Spider-Man has typically starred in a long-running Marvel Comics series of the same name. While Peter Parker’s web-slinging hero has starred in plenty of other titles, that remains the standard-bearer for the character and serves as one of Marvel’s flagship titles. However, the first appearance of Peter Parker’s superpowered alter ego was in the final issue of another book entirely in 1962’s Amazing Fantasy #15, by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko.
Amazing Fantasy was subsequently canceled after Spider-Man’s debut, but over the years, Marvel has brought the book back with varying ties to the web-slinger. Since a new volume of Amazing Fantasy is just beginning, we’re taking a closer look at all of the times that on of Marvel’s most historically important titles has resurfaced.
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Amazing Fantasy in the 90s
The first revival of Marvel’s most amazing classic book ran from 1995 to 1996 and was an attempt to both cash in on the higher than ever popularity of Spider-Man as well as fix an editorial issue. Marvel editor Danny Fingeroth saw that the gap in time between Spider-Man’s debut in Amazing Fantasy #15 and The Amazing Spider-Man #1 had never been showcased in comics.
The result was a short-running revival of Amazing Fantasy that showcased more of Peter Parker’s earlier adventures as superhero before his attempt to join the Fantastic Four. The beginnings of Marvel’s First Family are also shown, with the Human Torch being seen on television by Peter Parker and Aunt May for the first time. The book was written by Kurt Busiek, a writer known for other continuity throwback titles such as Marvels, with art by Paul Lee. After bridging this gap, however, what was essentially a mini-series came to an end.
Amazing Fantasy Volume 2
Amazing Fantasy came back again in 2004, this time beating its previous record and running for a total of 20 issues. The series would take the focus off of Spider-Man, and revolved around introducing new characters to the Marvel Universe. The series’ first arc was based around Arana, who would eventually become the new Spider-Girl, followed by the introduction of a female version of Sinister Six member Scorpion.
In honor of history, Amazing Fantasy #15 issue introduced several new young heroes meant to represent the next generation of Marvel, with the hopes that they would become as popular as Spidey. Sadly, the only one of these characters who still has any prominence is Amadeus Cho, who’s been absorbed into the Hulk supporting cast. The last four issues would, however, introduce a new version of the cybernetic Marvel U.K. character Death’s Head.
Amazing Fantasy 2021
Now, Amazing Fantasy has just returned once more, this time under the purview of writer and artist Kaare Andrews. This new incarnation of the book is a mini-series that takes the fantasy moniker more seriously than ever, and its premise involves Spider-Man, Black Widow and Captain America being taken from different eras and plopped into a world of sword, sorcery and particularly amazing fantasy. Essentially, it’s three of the most prominent Marvel heroes stuck in the world of Elfquest, with Andrews’ interior and cover art cementing the tone and setting.
This is certainly a huge change of pace from what the book’s been about heretofore, but it still maintains a connection to Spider-Man, the character who will always define Amazing Fantasy‘s legacy throughout the Marvel Universe and beyond.
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