Spidey & The Thing -- Together!

I'd forgotten how good this one was, until I reread it recently.
Gerry Conway's plot doesn't stand up to too much scrutiny, The Mad Thinker getting involved for no real reason, and Gil Kane ( or maybe Mike Esposito ) haven't quite got Ben on model as yet, but none of that matters. What this story is really about is The Puppet Master & Alicia.
For the first time, we properly learn their story, and see him as the weak man he sees himself, knowing that, no matter how much he may want to, he's incapable of changing.
It's a great bit of writing and characterization, and elevates what would've been just an average punch em' up issue.

Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man

Remember when Spidey only appeared in a couple of books every month? What is he, in double figures now?
Anyway, at the time, the idea that our friendly neighbourhood wall crawler would appear in TWO regular books of his own, as well as hosting Marvel Team-Up, was cause for much celebration round Rec. Road way.
You had the best Spidey scribe at the time, Gerry Conway, at the helm along with Our Pal Sal on art duties, and although it never reached the heights of the main book, it was a solid series by itself.
I'm still puzzling, all these years later, why a couple of pro's like Sal & Mike Esposito managed to produce art that looks slightly... unfinished when put together, but again, Spec Spidey ( as we inevitably called it ) really was an event at the time.
And in the first issue we get Tarantula, one the best silliest villains with one of the best costumes. Plus, keeping with tradition, Spidey has to call him by the cumbersome nickname 'Taranty', which is always fun.
These days, sure, It's 'simply' a good Spider-Man story, and I'm aware both Sal & Mike have their detractors, but believe me, we ran to our local newsagents to get this one.

The Silver Surfer vs. Spider-Man

John Buscema hated drawing superheroes. He also hated drawing cityscapes and people in modern dress.
You can tell, can't you?