Hit Comics #11
Hit Comics #11 (BSV–Williams, 1967) brought German-speaking readers their first encounter with one of the most consequential single issues in Spider-Man history: the reprint of Amazing Spider-Man #37, the issue in which Norman Osborn is formally named on-panel for the first time — the moment that set the stage for the Green Goblin's eventual unmasking just two issues later in the original American run. Paired with early Thor/Journey into Mystery material rich in Asgardian mythology, the issue delivered a two-strand portrait of the Marvel Universe at a pivotal creative moment, giving the German market its first taste of the Osborn dynasty and the Norse cosmos that Stan Lee and Jack Kirby were building simultaneously. As part of the Hit Comics anthology that had already introduced Spider-Man to the German-language comics market with its very first issue, #11 continued BSV–Williams' role as the primary pipeline for Marvel's Silver Age storytelling into Central Europe.
In "Man nannte ihn einfach Joe!", Joe Smith—once a failed fighter, now a struggling actor—takes a desperate turn when a bizarre experiment with electricity and chemicals transforms him into something far more dangerous than he ever intended. As he grapples with the consequences of his new power, a bounty placed by Norman Osborn sends hired thugs after him, forcing Peter to dodge both danger and missed connections with Mary Jane. Written by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko, with art and inks by Ditko, this 1967 issue delivers a tense, character-driven tale where identity and desperation collide—cover by Steve Ditko.
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Hit Comics was launched in 1966 by the Bildschriftenverlag GmbH of Aachen, a publisher that became affiliated with DC/National that same year before eventually being renamed Williams Verlag in 1972 following Warner's acquisition of DC. The series reprinted American Marvel content — primarily Spider-Man and Thor stories — in German translation for the West German, Austrian, and Swiss markets, making it one of the earliest and most systematic conduits for Marvel's Silver Age output into the German-speaking world. The specific American source material reprinted in Hit Comics #11 — Amazing Spider-Man #37 — was itself produced under unusual creative circumstances: Steve Ditko served as both artist and plotter (an arrangement that reflected the growing creative tension between Ditko and Stan Lee), and Ditko would depart the title just one issue later, making the Norman Osborn introduction effectively the last major character seed he planted before leaving.
Trivia · 8 facts
- Reprints Amazing Spider-Man #37 (June 1966), written by Stan Lee and plotted/drawn by Steve Ditko with lettering by Artie Simek, in German translation as 'Die Spinne.'
- ASM #37 contains the first named appearance of Norman Osborn — identified on-panel by name for the first time — though he had appeared unnamed in background panels as early as ASM #23.
- Osborn appeared in ASM #37 alongside his son Harry Osborn, J. Jonah Jameson, Gwen Stacy, and Flash Thompson, establishing the college-era supporting cast that would define the series through the 1960s and early 1970s.
- Steve Ditko is credited as the plotter for ASM #37 — one of the final issues he plotted before departing the title with issue #38, meaning the Norman Osborn introduction was effectively Ditko's last major narrative contribution to the Spider-Man mythos.
- The issue also reprints Thor/Journey into Mystery source material from the Lee–Kirby run, accounting for the Asgardian characters in the index: Thor Odinson, Odin, Volstagg, Herkules (Hercules), Hippolyta, Hades, and Pluto.
- Hit Comics #1 had already marked the first-ever appearance of Spider-Man ('Die Spinne') in German-language comics, making the series the foundational venue for Marvel's wall-crawler in the German-speaking market.
- The publisher BSV–Williams translated and reformatted the original American stories for a German audience, with credits adapted for local publication conventions — the series ran from 1966 through the early 1970s before spawning dedicated spin-off titles.
- Mary Jane Watson appears in the character index; she had debuted in ASM #25 (June 1965) but remained unseen (face hidden) until ASM #42 (November 1966), meaning her appearance in #37 is still in her pre-face-reveal era.
Cast · 18 characters
Full credits
Full plot ⚠ may contain spoilers
▸ Reveal full plot — may contain spoilers
Joe Smith scheitert als Kämpfer und versucht sich als Schauspieler. Als Roboter-Monster verkleidet, wird er mit Strom und Chemikalien behandelt, was ihn dazu veranlasst, gewalttätig gegen diejenigen vorzugehen, die an seinen Fähigkeiten gezweifelt haben. Unterdessen setzt Norman Osborn ein Kopfgeld auf die Spinne aus, und unser Held wird von Schlägern verfolgt, die versuchen, ihn zu töten. Peter verpasst Mary Jane nur knapp.
Plot details indexed by the Grand Comics Database (CC BY-SA).
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