100 issues! Back when it really meant something, to star in a comic of your own without interruption. Amazing Spider-Man certainly wasn't the first comic title to reach this milestone, but relatively few titles have over the many years comics have been in print. Over at DC comics, they have achieved this milestone a number of times with such old titles as Adventure Comics, Detective Comics, Action Comics, Superman, Batman, and many more. Over at Timely/ Atlas/ Marvel, it has been more low-key. Marvel Tales #100 was one of the first Marvel titles to reach this anniversary issue. No, not the Spider-Man reprint title, but rather the old Marvel Mystery Comics that was renamed Marvel Tales with issue #93 back in 1949. Millie The Model #100 was another, and Strange Tales #100 was another pre-hero title to reach this important number, but back then, it wasn't such a big deal to reach a 100th issue, but with the beginning of the Silver Age with Fantastic Four, things would change.

Journey Into Mystery #100 - January 1964 probably was the first important (featured character) comic to reach a 100th issue, but the comic itself was just another Thor story. Probably the first 100th Marvel issue to feature something of importance was Tales To Astonish #100 - February 1968, and it was an all battle issue with the Hulk and the Submariner. Captain America #100 - April 1968, was really Cap #1 as it renamed Tales Of Suspense after #99. The first title to feature the character or team was Fantastic Four #100 - July 1970, and it was handled as an anniversary issue. Next up, guess who? The Amazing Spider-Man, and I guess he wouldn't have any problem achieving this goal of 100 issues.

Unfortunately, re-numbering and dual numbering has taken over in the late 1990's in Marvel. This has caused much confusion, and they should really keep things simple. I remember when I first started to collect comic books in the 70's. I was looking for a Spider-Man issue and was expecting the number to be quite large. I found one, and it was #17, and I asked myself: "How is this possible?". It turned out to be Spectacular Spider-Man #17, and when I bought Amazing Spider-Man #180, everything made sense in my younger mind. I wanted a character deep and rich in history and back story. I wanted to learn more about this character. DC Comics does it right: They keep the old numbering on the old titles and add a new series from time to time. OK, enough of the soapbox and on to the anniversary issue of Amazing Spider-Man #100 brought to you by Julio Barone!

Spider-Man has been swinging through the city and has found no action to give him satisfaction. He is about to head over to see Gwen when he spots some crooks escaping from a bank they just robbed. Spider-Man easily finishes them up and gift-wraps them for the police. Swinging away he is starting to ponder things. He realizes that no matter how many criminals he catches he is still regarded as one himself. He no longer gets the same thrill of web swinging as he once did. He used to think he was better off than the average citizen and he now realizes that they are living their lives. He envies them. He realizes how much he has grown up. He blames this sudden rethinking of life on Gwen. He is happy to be back together with her and realizes that Gwen Stacy is what he wants. He knows that he could never be Spider-Man and Gwen Stacy's husband at the same time though. He knows she still blames him for her father's death (Doctor Octopus killed George Stacy in Amazing Spider-Man 90), and he decides to give up being Spider-Man forever (by now this is an overused gimmick but back then it had only been done before in Amazing Spider-Man 17-19 and #50).

He arrives in his empty apartment, as Harry is still in the hospital after his drug ordeals in Amazing Spider-Man 96-98. He reveals that ever since he got his powers he has been working on a serum that removes them. It was originally meant to be used if his radioactive blood became dangerous. He recently finished it but is not sure if he works. He is prepared for the worst and swallows it saying he is doing it for Gwen. The serum begins its work right away. Peter feels some pain in his head goes to lie down. He dreams about everything that has happened to him since he became Spider-Man. He wonders how Aunt May would react if she knew about his hand in Uncle Ben's death. He wonders what would happen if Jonah found out his big secret. He says he would have won Betty Brant, instead of Ned Leeds, if not for Spider-Man. Peter reminds himself that he loves Gwen now. This reminder also comes with the thoughts of Captain George Stacy's murder and how Gwen will always blame Spider-Man. By now Peter is asleep and in his dream he is in his costume on a rooftop and a familiar voice is beckoning him. He goes to follow it.

Along the way to find the voice, Spider-Man runs into some of his enemies that speak his insecurities. The Vulture reminds him that he only hurts his loved ones. Spider-Man defeats him and tries to follow the voice. The Lizard attacks him and tells Spider-Man he is insane. Spider-Man tells the Lizard that he has doubted his sanity at times and ponders this. He does beat the Lizard and continues try and find the voice. The Green Goblin tells Spider-Man he is a loser and all he ever did was manage to survive. Well somebody loses that fight and it sure wasn't Spider-Man. Doctor Octopus tells Spider-Man he was only in it for the money and glory. Spider-Man defeats Octopus and tells him this wasn't his choice and not the lifestyle he choose. All the while he is getting a throbbing pain in his sides. The Kingpin shows up and assures him all his pain (or any other senses for that matter) will soon be over. Spider-Man gives it everything he has to defeat him. With all of the villains defeated Spider-Man finds the origin of the voice. Captain George Stacy tells Peter he must be Spider-Man. It is his destiny and he should not torture himself trying to live a normal life. He has a power and he is using it for good. He then disappears as Peter walks up. He realizes it was all a dream (no kidding). He does feel that what George said was real. Another thing in the dream that felt real was the pain in sides, which is now only growing. All of a sudden four new arms sprout out of Peter's sides. Isn't this the perfect little spot to end the issue?

Some of the parts were a little corny but the part with Captain George Stacy was done very well. Peter seems to want to stop being Spider-Man and never tell Gwen about it. That is a great way to start a marriage people. I loved how each of the villains presents Spider-Man with an insecurity. By confronting the villains he is confronting that very fear he has. I loved the look back on his career since the Spider bit him but it could have been more detailed. This issue was very good and shows how Spider-Man views now versus when he first started. It is clear that one thing is shading his view, he is in love. The next issue blurb promises there will no cop out. Peter is actually awake. The next issue introduces the Human Vampire Morbius into the Marvel Universe and has Gwen behave quite annoyingly. Great story for and a great way to show how far Spider-Man has come.

Reprinted In:
Marvel Tales #251
Marvel Treasury Edition #14
Marvel Selects #1