Surprise, surprise: Marvel’s newest collection of the better part of Roger Stern and John Romita Jr.’s run on The Amazing Spider-Man is absolutely incredible, and a truly necessary addition to any Spidey fan’s shelf. If you were not aware, Sten and JR Jr.’s run on Amazing Spider-Man is considered one of the best eras of Peter Parker, comprised of The Amazing Spider-Man #224 – #252. Marvel’s new Epic Collection: Nothing Can Stop The Juggernaut trade paperback includes issues #224 through #241, as well as the incredible Amazing Spider-Man Annual #1.
Stern’s run on Amazing Spider-Man is considered one of the most definitive eras of Peter’s development into the mature, complicated hero we all know and love. From a fierce battle with the Unstoppable Juggernaut to the devastating and horrible debut of Hobgoblin, Stern’s ability to weave an emotionally brutal yet consistently uplifting Spider-Man story makes this collection of Spidey tales one for the history books. If you haven’t read Stern and JR Jr.’s run yet, this is an incredible opportunity to read and appreciate it, and then add it to your collection.
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The pacing and development throughout Stern’s first 18 issues of his Amazing Spider-Man run are just incredible, deftly navigating tight storytelling, ongoing subplots that don’t feel like filler, and grounded relationships. It is truly a marvel to read, and it ends up feeling like a near-perfect balance between Lee/Ditko’s original Spider-Man stories and more modern Peter Parker tales, for which Stern’s run truly created the blueprint. This collection not only includes the debut of Hobgoblin, a more twisted and grounded version of the infamous Green Goblin, but also the debut of the beloved Monica Rambeau. The issue featuring the new Captain Marvel is an interesting one because it barely features Spider-Man at all, instead focusing on Monica’s origin story, an origin I thoroughly enjoyed reading.
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The trade paperback itself is wonderful as well. Major props to Nickel Designworks for designing the beautiful trade, Cory Sedlmeier for editing the collection, and Michael Kelleher for restoring the art and color to the beloved classic pages. This Epic Collection features a truly awesome amount of “extras” at the end of the book, including parts of: The Marvel Guide to Collecting Comics, which was featured in Amazing Spider-Man #34, a story from Fantastic Four Roast (1982) #1, and several pages from the parody issue What If? (1982) #34. The trade also has a lovely, funny essay written by Stern titled “Stories I’d Rather Not Write,” and a fascinating essay titled “The Making of Hobgoblin” by Steve Ringgenberg. Pretty much the only complaint I have about this trade is that I wish there were a few more full-page variant covers throughout the collection and in the back.
I think you should get this Epic Collection. This is now the eighth Epic Collection I have reviewed, and it is easily in my top three, for the stories, the impact, and the extras included. If you have never read Stern and Romita Jr.’s run on Amazing Spider-Man, this is the perfect way to start. If you already have and you are inevitably a massive fan, this is the perfect way to re-read the epic era over and over again. A truly iconic saga in the Spider-Man mythos, and a wonderful addition to any comic collection. Huzzah!
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