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Cover: John Romita

The Amazing Spider-Man #51

Name: The Amazing Spider-Man #51
Brand: Marvel
Availability: InStock

Aug 1967 · Marvel · 0.12 USD

📊 ~95,277 copies sold its debut month

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“In the Clutches of...the Kingpin!”

★ 1st appearance — Robbie Robertson★ 1st appearance — Joe Robertson

About this Issue

Amazing Spider-Man #51 is a double-barreled Silver Age milestone: it delivers the Kingpin's second appearance — and his first cover appearance — cementing Wilson Fisk's imposing visual identity in the minds of readers just one issue after his debut, while simultaneously introducing Joe 'Robbie' Robertson to the Daily Bugle cast. Robertson's arrival was historically significant well beyond the Spider-Man title: as one of the first Black characters in mainstream superhero comics to occupy a serious, recurring supporting role rather than a token or comedic one, he represented a quiet but meaningful step toward diversity in the medium. The issue also closes the chapter on Frederick Foswell, a Lee-Ditko-era holdover, marking a deliberate generational turnover in Spider-Man's supporting world as the Lee-Romita era fully hit its stride.

In "In the Clutches of...the Kingpin!", Spider-Man takes a bold stand against the Kingpin’s growing criminal empire, only to be outmaneuvered when the ruthless crime boss kidnaps J. Jonah Jameson and enlists the help of the shady reporter Foswell. With the Web-Slinger caught off guard and overcome by gas, he finds himself at the mercy of his most dangerous foe yet—his fate hanging in the balance. Written by Stan Lee and brought to life with dynamic art by John Romita, with inks by Mickey Demeo and lettering by Sam Rosen, the cover by John Romita captures the moment of Spider-Man’s vulnerability in stark, unforgettable detail.

writer Stan Lee · artist John Romita · inker Mickey Demeo · letterer Sam Rosen · cover John Romita

ComicBooks.com Value

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Raw (VG) $81

CGC 9.8 · 4 in census $12,795*

CGC 9.6 · 30 in census $6,686

CGC 9.4 · 66 in census $2,084

CGC 9.2 · 87 in census $1,501

CGC 9.0 · 129 in census $1,082*

CGC 8.5 · 221 in census $569

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CGC 8.0 · 224 in census $424

CGC 7.5 · 251 in census $323*

CGC 7.0 · 257 in census $280

CGC 6.5 · 258 in census $193

CGC 6.0 · 277 in census $173*

CGC 5.5 · 219 in census $165

CGC 5.0 · 235 in census $165

CGC 4.5 · 190 in census $146

CGC 4.0 · 158 in census $94

CGC 3.5 · 109 in census $94

CGC 3.0 · 85 in census $82

CGC 2.5 · 29 in census $63*

CGC 2.0 · 18 in census $57*

CGC 1.5 · 4 in census $49

CGC 1.0 · 2 in census $38*

CGC 0.5 · 6 in census $34*

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CGC 9.8 $192 1 listing

CGC 9.2 ▾ $1,951–$2,200 2 listings

CGC 9.2 $1951 CGC 9.2 $2199.99

CGC 8.5 ▾ $675–$745 2 listings

CGC 8.5 $675 CGC 8.5 $745

CGC 8 ▾ $495–$590 4 listings

CGC 8 $495 CGC 8 $565 CGC 8 $590 CGC 8 $590

CGC 7.5 $450 1 listing

CGC 6.5 ▾ $212–$250 3 listings

CGC 6.5 $212.22 CGC 6.5 $239.99 CGC 6.5 $249.99

CGC 6 $173 1 listing CGC 5.5 $250 1 listing CGC 5 $266 1 listing

CGC 4.5 ▾ $195 2 listings

CGC 4.5 $195 CGC 4.5 $195

CGC 4 $185 1 listing CGC 2 $115 1 listing PGX 7.5 $420 1 listing Raw — NM- $3.99 1 listing Raw — FN/VF $300 1 listing Raw — FN+ $110 1 listing

Raw — FN ▾ $175–$525 7 listings

FN $175 FN $199.4 FN $201.09 FN $225 FN $231.43 FN $275 FN $525

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Raw — VG ▾ $83.92–$200 10 listings

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GD $66 GD $80 GD $100

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Raw / ungraded ▾ $3.99–$280 32 listings

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CGC 9.6 $35 Amazing Spider-Man, The Vol. 1 #51 - 2nd Kingpin - 1st Cover Kingpin - 1st Robbi $141.84 Amazing Spider-Man Issue 51 Kingpin Second Appearance and First Cover Appearance $149.99

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History

Issue #51 arrived as Stan Lee and John Romita Sr. were kicking off their second full year as the title's creative team, having taken over from Steve Ditko beginning with issue #39 in August 1966. The book was produced under the 'Marvel Method,' with Lee providing the plot framework and Romita handling the visual storytelling; Romita has confirmed in interviews that it was his own decision to make Robertson a Black man when Lee simply requested a new Daily Bugle editor, and that he privately developed an entire backstory for the character that Lee never used. Mike Esposito inked the issue under the house pseudonym 'Mickey Demeo,' a common practice he used to conceal his Marvel moonlighting from his primary employer, DC Comics.

Trivia · 8 facts

Second appearance of the Kingpin (Wilson Fisk), introduced one issue earlier in ASM #50 (July 1967) by Stan Lee and John Romita Sr.
First cover appearance of the Kingpin — Romita's composition showing a defeated, kneeling Spider-Man surrounded by Fisk and his thugs established the character's visual dominance for decades.
First appearance of Joe 'Robbie' Robertson (Daily Bugle city editor), one of the first Black characters in mainstream superhero comics to serve as a recurring, substantive supporting character rather than comic relief.
Robertson appears in only a single, unnamed panel in this issue; he would be named and expanded in subsequent issues.
Death of Frederick Foswell (the Big Man), a villain introduced in the Steve Ditko era (ASM #10), who is killed by the Kingpin's henchmen — marking the symbolic close of a Ditko-era subplot.
First direct confrontation between Spider-Man and the Kingpin; the Kingpin defeats Spider-Man using knockout gas concealed in his tie pin, ending the issue on a cliffhanger.
Written and edited by Stan Lee; penciled and covered by John Romita Sr.; inked by Mike Esposito (credited as 'Mickey Demeo'); lettered by Sam Rosen; published August 10, 1967.
Reprinted in Marvel Tales #36 (August 1972).