#Review: Amazing Spider-Man Annual by ChineseSpyware (1966 comics)
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Thread for discussing Amazing Spider-Man Annual, reviewed by ChineseSpyware (1966 comics)!
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Amazing Spider-Man Annual (1964) #2
A Strange Annual, in More Ways Than One
Beneath an overly simple floating heads cover, The Amazing Spider-Man Annual #2 delivers a curious but often enjoyable snapshot of mid-sixties Marvel. At his artistic peak, Steve Ditko fuses his two signature worlds, pairing Spider-Man with Doctor Strange in a crossover that feels less like an annual event and more like two monthly issues shuffled together. Surprisingly, it mostly works. The fun comes from watching each hero struggle outside their comfort zone: Spider-Man navigating mystic realms beyond street level logic, and Strange dealing with the blunt, physical chaos of criminals and fists.
Visually, the book is the real draw. Ditko’s surreal dimensions, portals, and spell effects are stunning, and the contrast between Spider-Man’s fluid motion and Strange’s rigid, iconic poses is genuinely striking. There are cracks, though. Spider-Man is oddly unfazed by reality warping horrors, and Xandu is a thoroughly forgettable villain, easily swapped with Baron Mordo without changing the plot. The Wand of Watoomb MacGuffin feels contrived, even by annual standards.
More awkward is the structure. The main story is standard issue-length, followed by pin-ups and reprints, making the whole package feel slight compared to the first annual. It’s not bad, just oddly miscalculated.
Still, seeing Ditko’s co-creations share the page has undeniable charm. Uneven, Strange-leaning, but visually electric.
Final verdict: 6.75/10.
@tepid iron @wanton forge