The Amazing Spider-Man Annual #7
☆ Be the first to review + Add to your collection — Join freeAmazing Spider-Man Annual #7 is a carefully curated Bronze Age reprint package that gave a new generation of 1970 readers their first accessible look at three cornerstone Ditko-era stories under one cover — including the debut appearances of the Chameleon (Dmitri Smerdyakov) and the Vulture (Adrian Toomes), two villains who would go on to define Spider-Man's rogues' gallery for decades. By pairing those Silver Age introductions with the early-Bronze-Age 'Just a Guy Named Joe!' tale — itself notable for the introduction of Joe Smith and a fleeting near-miss with Mary Jane Watson — the annual functions as a compact origin sampler for some of Spider-Man's most enduring adversaries. The all-new John Romita cover also marks the creative handoff between eras: the interior art is pure Ditko, while the wraparound package is distinctly Romita's Marvel. As a Bronze Age object, the issue documents how Marvel used annuals not just as overflow content but as deliberate on-ramps for incoming readers.
In The Amazing Spider-Man Annual #7 (1970), a desperate Joe Smith transforms into a violent, electrically charged menace after a lab accident, unleashing chaos on those who mocked him. With Norman Osborn offering a bounty on Spider-Man’s head and a new threat on the rise, Peter Parker struggles to stay one step ahead—just as he narrowly avoids a fateful encounter with Mary Jane. Written by Stan Lee and illustrated by Steve Ditko, with a cover by John Romita, this annual delivers a tense, character-driven showdown that pushes Spidey to his limits.
In a bold twist of arrogance, the Vulture publicly challenges the law by announcing his plan to steal a diamond shipment—directly to the police. Spider-Man, ever the vigilant hero, takes the bait, knowing that the Vulture’s confidence could be his downfall. With J. Jonah Jameson watching from afar and Flash Thompson at his side, the web-slinger prepares to face the man who so openly defies justice.
When Joe Smith, a regular guy with big dreams and zero luck, gets zapped into a rampaging robotic menace, his short-lived acting gig spirals into a city-wide rampage. With Norman Osborn offering a bounty on Spider-Man and a swarm of hired thugs closing in, Peter Parker juggles saving the day and dodging a surprise encounter with Mary Jane Watson—just as Joe Smith’s fury threatens to tear the city apart.
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Stan Lee edited the annual, reprinting material he had written alongside Steve Ditko earlier in the decade: the Chameleon story from Amazing Spider-Man #1 (1963), the Vulture debut from Amazing Spider-Man #2 (1963), and 'Just a Guy Named Joe!' from Amazing Spider-Man #38 (1966). The new cover was supplied by John Romita Sr., who by 1970 had fully replaced Ditko as the book's primary visual voice. The issue went on sale July 28, 1970, carrying a December 1970 cover date, and was published under the Magazine Management Co. indicia — the era's standard Marvel imprint — and printed by World Color Press in Sparta, Illinois. No behind-the-scenes production documentation beyond credits has surfaced in publicly available sources.
Trivia · 8 facts
- Published September 15, 1970 (on-sale date); December 1970 cover date — a 72-page King-Size Annual edited by Stan Lee.
- Contains three complete reprint stories: 'Spider-Man vs. the Chameleon!' (from ASM #1, 1963), 'Duel to the Death with the Vulture!' (from ASM #2, 1963), and 'Just a Guy Named Joe!' (from ASM #38, 1966) — all written by Stan Lee with art by Steve Ditko.
- First-appearance reprint of the Chameleon (Dmitri Smerdyakov), a Soviet spy and master of disguise who would later be revealed as the half-brother of Kraven the Hunter.
- First-appearance reprint of the Vulture (Adrian Toomes), an inventor-turned-criminal who uses a self-built electromagnetic harness to fly — one of Spider-Man's oldest recurring foes.
- First-appearance reprint of Joe Smith, a failed boxer who gains temporary super-strength after an on-set electrical accident during a movie shoot.
- The 'Just a Guy Named Joe!' reprint also features a cameo by Mary Jane Watson and appearances by Norman Osborn, Harry Osborn, Gwen Stacy, and Ned Leeds.
- Features a 6-page bonus section of pin-up illustrations by both Steve Ditko and John Romita Sr., spotlighting Spider-Man, the Vulture, Mysterio, Sandman, Electro, and Mary Jane Watson.
- The entire annual was later reprinted in The Amazing Spider-Man Omnibus Vol. 3 (2017) and the Spider-Man vs. the Vulture trade paperback (2017).
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Reprints
↩ Reprints The Amazing Spider-Man #1 (1963), The Amazing Spider-Man #2 (1963), The Amazing Spider-Man #38 (1966)
Reprinted in Spindelmannen #5/1983 (1983), Spindelmannen #6/1983 (1983), Spindelmannen #7/1983 (1983), Spider-Man vs. the Vulture #[nn] (2017), The Amazing Spider-Man Omnibus #3 (2017)
Key issues in The Amazing Spider-Man Annual
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