Spider-Man: Life Story #1 The ’60s Review

“…Then…then what do I do? I have power. Shouldn’t I be–shouldn’t I have a responsibility to go?”

In 1962, Peter Parker was bitten by a radioactive spider and became The Amazing Spider-Man! Four years later, should he take that great power and use it to responsibly aid those soldiers in the Vietnam War? Is it even his decision to make with the threat of The Green Goblin looming over Peter and his loved ones?

WRITER: Chip Zdarsky

PENCILER: Mark Bagley

INKER: John Dell

COLOR ARTIST: Frank D’Armata

LETTERER: VC’s Travis Lanham

COVER: Chip Zdarsky

VARIANT COVERS: Marcos Martin, Greg Smallwood, Skottie Young

ASSOCIATE EDITOR: Alanna Smith

EDITOR: Tom Brevoort

SPIDER-MAN created by STAN LEE & STEVE DITKO

STORY: The year-1966. Spider-Man arrives late to class at ESU. Changing into Peter Parker, he sees war protesters on campus, making him question if he should get involved in the Vietnam conflict. As he goes to collect a check later at The Daily Bugle, he sees footage of Iron Man assisting the American troops as the anchorman addresses whether or not Captain America will also join the fray. This leans heavily on Peter’s mind as he goes to Flash Thompson’s farewell party as Flash has decided to enlist. Peter gets cornered there by Norman Osborn, who threatens to blow up the bar with everyone inside if Peter doesn’t meet him in the alley. Peter complies and Norman suits up as The Green Goblin. Peter drops a sign on the Goblin, knocking him out, giving Peter a chance to change into costume. When the Goblin comes to, Spidey unmasks him and finds that Norman has forgotten everything about his criminal double life. Spidey lets him go. Some time later, Spidey comes across Captain America stopping a crime and turns to him for advice about joining the war effort. Cap’s words boil down to thoughts on responsibility and that Spidey just needs to let his heart serve as guide. Peter decides to turn Norman Osborn in as The Green Goblin in case someone else gets hurt if he ever remembers his evil side. Forgetting Flash’s train leaves that day, Peter races across town to catch him…only to miss him by twenty minutes. Gwen is still there, however, and as she talks to Peter she sees his Spider-Man uniform underneath.

In 1967, American soldiers come across a village in Vietnam. Tensions are running high as the troops encounter those that live there. Before the frightened troop can fire his weapon on the villager he suspects may have a bomb, Captain America intervenes with the throw of his mighty shield, warning the American soldiers to tell Iron Man that those people are under his protection.

THOUGHTS: It is with great anticipation that I bought my copy of Spider-Man: Life Story #1. I may have begun reading comics in the early ’80s, but I started off with Marvel Tales reprints of the ’60s Amazing Spider-Man run and it’s still one of my favorite eras in the Web-Slinger’s long history. At the time, with the Marvel Universe being only 20 years old, it didn’t have the decades of continuity built up that caused DC to reset their timeline so many times. One of the things I loved about Marvel was that it was one long story.

Cut to 2019 and that is no longer the case. While maybe not as mired in universe relaunching reboots as the Distinguished Competition, Marvel eventually had to cave to the passage of time and alter things and backstories. Spider-Man: Life Story is an alternate continuity that allows for the clock to tick in “real time” and let characters age and not be forever in their mid to late 20’s.

Understanding this going in, I had assumed that as this series would progress we would be seeing the same events unfold, but with the same well known characters being the age they would actually be if allowed to age, meaning Peter and MJ would be 40 when they finally wed. As this issue progressed I found that to not be the case at all. Life Story offers an alternative history to the one Spider-Fans have grown up with, not quite a remake, but more of a remix. I think this series may be all the more enjoyable for it as there is an element of unpredictability I wasn’t expecting as there were a few surprises in this issue.

Author Chip Zdarsky sets the tone for his yarn by providing the cover. When I first saw the solicits I assumed it was Tim Sale based on the color and stark simplicity. Not so. I like Zdarsky’s Spidey, metaphorically torn between what he would leave behind and the choppers wanting to take him into a controversial conflict overseas, a conflict that will serve as a back drop for this tale.

Opening up the book gave me a feeling akin to walking into my childhood home. Part of it was returning to the Spidey era I grew up in, with the other half coming from seeing Bagley’s magnificent pencils on a Spidey tale again. His work is so perfect, so clean, and captures this amazing world so well that I can’t picture anyone outside of John Romita, Sr. drawing it with the same authenticity and emotion. Colorists often get short shrift when it comes to reviews or fan letters, so let me just say thank you to D’Armata before I forget. The blue on Spidey’s costume is just the right nostalgic shade and roots it in this era for me.

Bagley must have had his work cut out for him getting reference for the styles of the era, but everything looks right to my eye. Every one of his characters look great, too, maintaining their classic look from the 1960’s, but with that distinct Mark Bagley spin. One of the many things I love about his art is the effort he takes to make his Spider-Men look different. This Peter harkens back to the aforementioned John Romita, Sr, while his Ultimate Spidey was easily a teenager from the 2000’s which was distinctly different from the more mature Spidey he drew in the 1990’s who had a bigger physique than his Ultimate counterpart. His Osborns are great, too, especially how he depicts their similar and distinct hair style, with Harry’s being just a little more “far out” than his father’s.

I haven’t read much of Zdarsky’s Spectacular run, but I am now more curious after this issue. Everyone depicted here feels true to form and he captures Peter’s everyday inner dilemma well-late for school thanks to stopping a villain, trying to sell photos so he can buy Gwen a drink, worried about Aunt May. It’s the right balance of obstacles to juggle and overcome without being overbearing and more importantly, Peter doesn’t feel like a man child. He’s a responsible 19-year-old with the weight of the world, with the weight of a war, on his shoulders.

I don’t know why the spotlight on Vietnam caught me off guard. It’s right there on the cover! I really enjoyed the condensed focus on Peter’s dilemma on whether or not he should join, though. It’s been a long time since I’ve revisited this era in Amazing, so I was having trouble recalling all that Stan Lee did with the theme and Peter’s involvement, or lack thereof. Zdarsky illuminates both sides of the issue for Peter by not only giving time to Flash and Iron Man, but also why Cap hasn’t gotten involved yet. It particularly sets up a “Civil War” type scenario with the conclusion, once again having Cap and Iron Man on different philosophical sides, but perhaps more grounded in their character than Mark Millar’s sprawling event series. Given this issue’s cliffhanger, I don’t think this is the last we’ll see of how this war affected the Web-Slinger.

The farewell party was one of many highlights in this book. Peter’s bully solider jab at Flash caught me off guard and I loved how Gwen’s words that Flash might not be coming back turned Peter’s heart and made him look at himself and why he said what he did.

I’ve always loved how Peter and Flash eventually became friends after their very rocky start in high school. It’s always served as a fictitious reminder that maybe people on opposing sides can find common ground and not only make amends, but become caring parts in each other’s lives. Peter’s words serve to back up that now that he’s Spider-Man he’s become more confident in his civilian life and able to stand up to who Flash used to be to him. Flash, for his part, is contrite about his past, and has let Peter in to why he acted the way he did in high school. It’s such a big step for them both and has let them move forward, but it still rocks Peter’s mind when he discovers that Flash enlisted because of Spider-Man. Bagley beautifully sells Peter’s shock with his expression. I couldn’t help but feel moved that Flash sees this as a way of helping people, of showing that he’s Spidey’s #1 fan by actions, not just words. Not only does this add to what Peter has to consider about his own decision, but if anything happens to Flash while he’s serving, you know Peter will take it to heart and feel responsible.

Norman was another highlight for me. He’s his normal condescending self towards Harry, for starters, but this issue also borrows elements from Amazing Spider-Man #40 (1966) and Peter Parker: Spider-Man #25 (2001). Amazing Spider-Man #40 is one of my favorite Spidey stories, so I got a kick seeing how this timeline paid homage with Norman getting amnesia at the end of his short battle with Peter. Zdarsky doesn’t take time to establish how Norman found out in this universe, choosing instead to move the story briskly along, keeping the narrative focused on Peter’s inner choices about the war at large and what to do about Norman knowing his identity in specific.

By choosing to turn Norman in, I don’t think Zdarsky is condemning the choice Lee had Peter make in the original universe. I’ve always admired Peter’s empathy and ASM #40 showcases it brilliantly. I think by turning Norman in, we see a different side of that responsibility, one that is equally as valid, one that potentially opens up dramatic new storytelling possibilities for the future…or maybe still sealing Gwen’s fate.

Given this issue’s setting, it really should come as no surprise that Gwen has the romantic spotlight with Mary Jane sidelined as a footnote. While I missed not getting more of Marvel’s best redhead (sorry, Jean Grey), I did enjoy seeing Gwen and Peter together again at the start of their romance, with her being attracted to Peter, but having her doubts as to what kind of man he really is. Zdarsky takes us into uncharted territory once again with Gwen discovering Peter’s secret. I’m looking forward to seeing how their relationship develops as we move into the next decade. Hopefully the events of this issue mean that the Sins Past storyline doesn’t come to pass in this continuity! I can only imagine that with Gwen in on his secret that they become a stronger couple. Could Zdarsky be taking us down a path where they get married instead?

Captain America’s speech to Peter was exactly what Peter needed to hear, but while still leaving the choice up to Peter. Continuity has changed so much that current Cap wouldn’t have had to make the choice that he does, but I can’t imagine that this plot thread will be left hanging. It also made me wonder how many real people Cap has inspired to serve in the military, just like Spidey did for Flash in this issue. That number is probably in the thousands, especially if you look at beyond serving in the armed services. Lee and Co.’s work has led many to make the world a better place and this issue was a fine reminder of that.

Spider-Man: Life Story is off to a fantastic start! Zdarsky has crafted a tale that is both familiar and fresh, with characters that are true to their ’60s roots. Bagley has crafted some of the finest Spider-art of his career. I was greatly anticipating this title based on Bagley’s art alone and he didn’t disappoint. I wasn’t expecting the changes to continuity, but they only serve to make this series more exciting and not a simple rehash. Zdarsky and Co. have set a high bar for this first issue and I am even more excited for this series now that I’ve got the first issue in hand. It really is something special! Buckle up, Web-Heads, this is gonna be a FUN ride!

MY GRADE: A+

JAVI’S HUH?: How did Norman figure out Peter’s secret identity?