Before we get to the countdown’s big finale, we have three entries of the last Corno books I had before becoming a regular reader… and they’re weird ones.
Because they’re reprinting the kid-friendly “Spidey Super Stories” that are very much out of continuity and very, VERY dumb.
Il giornalino de l’Uomo Ragno #1 (1981)
Published by: Corno
The title of the series is weird in several ways.
The closest way I might translate is “The kids magazine of Spider-Man”, because “giornalino” gives the distinct indication this is for kids. You might see it used to describe someking like Mickey Mouse comics, and it’s definitely very old-fashioned.
Even weirder: if you ask Italian readers who remember this series, I’m pretty sure 99% would misremember the title as “Il giornalino DELL’Uomo Ragno”, and not “DE L’Uomo Ragno”… two distinct words.
The way it’s written is grammatically correct, I’m certain NOBODY in the 80s would have written it like this. It’s difficult to describe how, but it feels like a spelling from the 30s.
Also, the cover title is basically “Thus was Spider-Man born”, with the additional advertisement that the book has stickers. As mentioned before, Corno books that still have stickers are nearly impossible to find in the market today, and are very pricey.
I’ve never seen this book for resale, let alone with stickers. But I did manage to find a copy for sale on E-Bay for 99 Euro: here’s how the stickers look like!
(no, I did not buy this)
Spidey Super Stories #1 (1974)
written by Jean Tomas & Bill Effros
pencils by Winslow Mortimer
cover by John Romita Senior
No wonder the Italian version went with a completely different cover: the original is a mess.
They’re both with Romita artwork, but the original is WAY too busy with too many logos.
Notice this is made by both Marvel and The Electric Company, which despite the name was not an electric company but a TV program for children.
They really, REALLY want you to know this is easy to read. It’s advertised TWICE on the cover!
Weirdly enough, even BEFORE the story begins, we have an explanation on how Spidey’s web works. It’s the only part of the book that is in black and white, and at least in the Italian version it’s not technically a page but it’s the back side of the cover… was that in the original too?
This is our introduction to Peter Parker. Considering this series will take MANY liberties from the original series, it’s neat to see that they kept the name of his high school.
Also Peter is really into plants for some reason.
We must hit the most important part of Peter’s origin story: Aunt May’s wheatcakes, even if we call them pancakes.
Uhm, are we sure we aren’t missing someone from the origin story?
It’s weird to see what is retained from the original canon and what is changed! Flash Thompson is still present, but instead of Liz Allan we have Judy.
As we’ve seen in the actual origin story, over the years basically everyone attending this science fair turns out to be significant later. So I wonder if any of these other guys eventually get powers.
Nothing too weird in how the origin is retold, as we hit the classic moments.
Although THIS Peter doesn’t wait too long before his first good deed.
Serious question: have you EVER seen someone suspend a safe or a piano from a rope in your entire life? Because in fiction those are EVERYWHERE!!!
So, uhm… you might have noticed this comic skipped Uncle Ben.
Which means we also skip his murder and WE SKIP “WITH GREAT POWERS” !!!
This is for little kids so I might understand skipping the murder, but COME ON, you couldn’t find ANY way to incorporate “With great powers come great responisibility” into this???
The comic is made up of several smaller stories, some of which are not reprinted in the same book I have. But I’ll mention those I come across.
One of the many reasons why this is a weird series is that Spider-Man frequently interacts with the cast of “The Electric Company”.
I wonder if these were reprinted at all, considering the show didn’t make it to Italy in any way.
This is THE SECOND STORY of the original book! This is a baffling decision: Spider-Man goes on television IN HIS FIRST ACTUAL APPEARANCE, couldn’t they integrate this into this version of the origin?
Another story that is skipped is the fight with The Spoiler.
I can’t imagine why.
You can’t blame this comic for The Spoiler, though. He did appear in the Spider-Man skits of the TV show.
Including, yes, the rubber glove sandwitch.
Also skipped is the first appearance of a black Spider-Man, predating Miles Morales by 37 years.
Too bad it’s just a dream sequence.
The final page explains Spider-Man’s mask.
Spidey Super Stories #2 (1974)
by Jean Tomas & Winslow Mortimer
cover by John Romita Senior
Having skipped those stories, the book jumps into the second issue.
Sadly the book skips the introduction of Jennifer Of The Jungle, who will appear in an unbelievable SIXTEEN ISSUES of this series.
As well as her sidekick, the gorilla Paul.
Yes.
PAUL.
(*sighs in 2025 Spider-Man fan*)
Both Jennifer and Paul were in the TV show, by the way. I guess they had a gorilla costume laying around.
We also skip the second story, where the adversary is Mister Measles.
Good thing this is no longer a problem.
(*sighs in 2025 medical disinformation*)
But once we hit the third story, we have an ACTUAL supervillain who gets to be in the translation.
It even has a decent title!
It should be noted that THIS Spider-Man hasn’t even met Doctor Octopus yet!
I have to give this series credit for brevity: they manage to do the entire Doctor Octopus origin story in THREE PANELS.
And that, ladies and gentlemen, is why Spider-Man is not called the World’s Greatest Detective.
The first fight between Spider-Man and Doctor Octopus kind of goes like the original, in the sense that Spidey loses.
This is a pretty solid plan following up a solid pun.
You know, for once I can’t really blame J. Jonah Jameson.
Spidey gets Doc Ock in the following page.
Spidey Super Stories #2 (1974)
by Jean Tomas & Winslow Mortimer
cover by John Romita Senior
And finally we even have a story from the third issue.
Kind of weird it took the series this long to adapt J. Jonah Jameson.
Even weirder to include him at all, considering they can’t get ANY nuance whatsoever.
Most surprising of all? AUNT MAY is the one to kick off the plot!!!
But sadly this was all I had out of it, as the book didn’t have the rest of the story.
You know, I’ve never actually bothered to look up this story. So this the first time after more than thirty years that I get to learn what happens next!
I’ve never been to the circus, but I doubt ALL the acts perform together.
I’ve always liked the Circus of Crime. Yes they’re cheesy and basically ALL their plans are exactly the same, but there’s a reassuring consistency about them that I find really endearing.
Peter was outside the tent to take something to drink when Ringmaster was hypnotizing the crowd. You would think he wouldn’t allow the public to leave while he’s doing his thing.
I said I find the Circus of Crime endearing, but my least favorite part is always when they fight the heroes. Because THEY SUCK AT IT.
But you know what, the artwork isn’t half bad in this.
I’ve never been sure of how Ringmaster’s hat works. Typically he’s the only one who can use it, but often the heroes use the hat to get other people out of hypnosis.
Don’t feel bad, Peter. I missed the whole thing as well.
These stories are so brief I’m going to rate them as a single one.
Historical significance: 0/10
To the extent that Spidey Super-Stories are remembered AT ALL, it’s from the more bonkers stories later in the run (for example, this is where the Thanos-Copter originates).
Sadly none of the memed stories will be part of the retrospective, but some day I’ll cover the Doctor Doom ones.
Personal significance: 6/10
This is actually the FIRST time I ever read a version of Spider-Man’s origin! Took me a while to figure out this wasn’t supposed to be the official origin.
Silver Age-ness: 4/10
Nothing too crazy, at least in the stories I actually covered.
Does it stand the test of time? 0/10
I can’t fault the series for being incredibly simplistic, considering that it’s the whole point. But they’re removing MOST of what made the original stories special.
Even for very very young kids, I’ve seen WAY better introductions to Spider-Man.
Characters from the other stories in issue 3 that were not translated include Mysterio, who isn’t REALLY a criminal in his first appearance here.
And the disgusting Doctor Fly.
I swear villains in this series have the most bonkers plans.
