Major Spoilers
    Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube Twitch Discord RSS
    Major Spoilers
    • Home
    • Reviews
      • Random Access Memory
      • Retro Review
      • So You Want to Read Comics
    • Podcasts
      • Critical Hit
        • Critical Hit House Rules
        • Critical Hit World Building
      • Dueling Review
      • Finally Friday
      • Geek History Lesson
      • The Legion Clubhouse
      • Major Spoilers Podcast
        • MSP TPB for 2019
        • On the Next Major Spoilers Podcast – 2013
        • On the Next Major Spoilers Podcast – 2012
        • On the Next Major Spoilers Podcast – 2011
      • Munchkin Land
      • Top Five
      • Wayne’s Comics
      • Zach on Film
    • Features
      • Casual 60
      • Comic Casting Couch
      • Comics Portal
      • Did You Hear?
      • Editorials
      • Features
      • Gamer’s Corner
      • Hero Histories
      • Let’s Get Nerdy
      • Major Spoilers Adventures
      • Random Access Memory
      • So You Want to Read Comics
    • Movies
      • Did You Hear
      • Movies
      • Television
    • Comic Previews
    • Patreon
      • Patreon
      • Store
    Major Spoilers
    Amazing Spider-Man #78
    Retro Review

    Retro Review: Amazing Spider-Man #78 (November 1969)

    Matthew PetersonBy Matthew PetersonJanuary 17, 2021Updated:January 23, 20213 Mins Read

    He’s been a foe, a friend, and for a while, he was even Spider-Man himself.  Get ready for the power of… The Prowler!  Your Major Spoilers (Retro) Review of Amazing Spider-Man #78 awaits!

    AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #78

    Writer: Stan Lee
    Penciler: John Romita/Jim Mooney
    Inker: Jim Mooney
    Colorist: Uncredited
    Letterer: Sam Rosen
    Editor: Stan Lee
    Publisher: Marvel Comics
    Cover Price: 15 Cents
    Current Near-Mint Pricing: 160.00

    Previously in Amazing Spider-Man:  Things have gotten complicated for Peter Parker.  His best friend Harry is dating Mary jane Watson, and Gwen Stacy, his own would-be girlfriend is acting oddly, even spending time with Flash Thompson, though he hasn’t really discovered the truth of their interactions.  And while he’s focused on his love life, another situation is brewing: The people of New York City have started… to like him?

    Of course, this issue isn’t really about Peter at all.

    Meet Hobie Brown.  Even though he’s a talented inventor and machinist, he’s been forced to take a job washing windows to make ends meet.  His lady-friend, Mindy, convinced him to take some of his designs to this boss, only to find the head honcho disinterested in spending more money, even for safer gear.  After an angry interaction with J. Jonah Jameson (who dressed him down for day-dreaming on the job), Hobie decides to take matters into his own hands.

    Sadly, though Hobie is smart, he decides to take the shortcut to success, choosing to be a super-villain so that he can bring “himself” in and reap the rewards.  John Romita’s art throughout this next sequence is just beautiful, making even the odd green/purple colors of the costume work.

    With his new identity locked and loaded, Hobie sets out to his target, a rich idiot who deserves to be robbed.  Who better than Jonah Jameson, the man who just humiliated him and cost him his window-washing gig?  Of course, what Hobie doesn’t know is that Jameson has a certain Mr. Parker on his payroll…

    Parker and Jameson have a particularly unpleasant interaction this time, with old square-head berating Peter for not bringing him photos of Spider-Man recently, and Peter storming out.  He’s so angry, in fact, that he doesn’t realize at first that his Spider-Sense is tingling, signaling danger.

    Their battle gets complicated next issue, with Peter throwing himself out a window (!!) to protect his secret identity.  The Prowler has never been a huge part of Spider-Man lore, but he eventually became a trusted ally, even working as Peter Parker’s stand-in Spider-Man during his time running Parker Industries.  Though a popular rumor claims that a then 13-year-old Romita Jr. created The Prowler, but Romita Sr. maintains that he just took the name from his son, with the costume being revamped from an unused villain from the short-lived 1968 Spider-Man magazine.  Either way, Amazing Spider-Man #78 is an example of why everyone loves sixties Lee/Romita Spidey, with melodrama, powerful art, endless cycles of plots and subplots and a hard-luck hero at its center, trying to do the right thing, earning a well-deserved 4 out of 5 stars overall.

    I was really disappointed when The Prowler’s post- Clone Conspiracy solo book was cancelled, as I think Hobie  Brown has tons of untapped potential just waiting for the right creator to capture it.


    Dear Spoilerite,

    At Major Spoilers, we strive to create original content that you find interesting and entertaining. Producing, writing, recording, editing, and researching requires significant resources. We pay writers, podcast hosts, and other staff members who work tirelessly to provide you with insights into the comic book, gaming, and pop culture industries. Help us keep MajorSpoilers.com strong. Become a Patron (and our superhero) today.

    AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #78

    77%
    77%
    Amazing

    This issue is mostly about The Prowler, rather than Spider-Man, and it really sells the new character as impressive, and Romita's art is really good. It's easy to see why this run is legendary.

    • Writing
      7
    • Art
      8
    • Coloring
      8
    • User Ratings (0 Votes)
      0
    Amazing Spider-Man Jim Mooney John Romita marvel comics Retro Review Review Sam Rosen Spider-Man Stan Lee The Prowler
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Previous ArticleHome Sick Pilots #2 Review
    Next Article Wayne’s Comics Podcast #469: Interviews with Rob Stanley and Frank Martin
    Matthew Peterson
    • Website
    • Twitter

    Once upon a time, there was a young nerd from the Midwest, who loved Matter-Eater Lad and the McKenzie Brothers... If pop culture were a maze, Matthew would be the Minotaur at its center. Were it a mall, he'd be the Food Court. Were it a parking lot, he’d be the distant Cart Corral where the weird kids gather to smoke, but that’s not important right now... Matthew enjoys body surfing (so long as the bodies are fresh), writing in the third person, and dark-eyed women. Amongst his weaponry are such diverse elements as: Fear! Surprise! Ruthless efficiency! An almost fanatical devotion to pop culture! And a nice red uniform.

    Related Posts

    Scott Pilgrim get the Anime Treatment at Netflix – Did You Hear? Week of Friday, March 31st, 2023

    Read More

    Top Five Fruits (Part 1)

    Read More

    Pepe Larraz covers Amazing Spider-Man #26

    Read More

    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Support this site by making a purchase through our Amazon affiliate links

    Reviews
    8.0
    March 30, 2023

    Something is Killing the Children #30 Review

    7.3
    March 30, 2023

    The Unstoppable Doom Patrol #1 Review

    7.0
    March 29, 2023

    Dungeons & Dragons: Saturday Morning Adventures #1 Review

    6.0
    March 29, 2023

    Rocketman and Rocketgirl #1 Review

    6.7
    March 27, 2023

    Milestone 30th Anniversary Special #1 Review

    Patreon Support
    Major Spoilers Store
    Recent Comments
    • Stephen Schleicher on The Legendary Lynx gets comic book series
    • Karl G Siewert on The Legendary Lynx gets comic book series
    • Liz on Something is Killing the Children #30 Review
    • J Michael T on Ten Abandoned Aliases
    • Doni on Titan Comics announces Gun Honey spin-off series
    Subscribe to the Major Spoilers E-Mail List
    Sponsor

    ComiXology Home Page

    Follow Us
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    • Twitch
    ComiXology Home Page">
    Major Spoilers Patreon
    • About
      • Major Spoilers Terms of Use
      • Major Spoilers Frequently Asked Questions
      • Major Spoilers Privacy Policy Statement
      • Major Spoilers Podcast Gear
    • Contact
    • Cookie Policy (EU)
    Major Spoilers is copyright 2006-2022 by Major Spoilers Entertainment, LLC

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.