YMMV / Amazing Fantasy #15

• It Was His Sled: The reveal that the man who killed Peter's uncle was the thief he couldn't be bothered to stop. While stock knowledge to even the most casual comic fan today, to first-time readers the last page of the story was a Gut Punch that cemented Spider-Man as one of the best of the Lee, Ditko, and Kirby trio's early reconstructions of "long underwear characters".
• Just Here for Godzilla: Being an anthology comic, the issue (and previous issues of Amazing Fantasy) contains several other stories, but most are only interested in it for the debut story of Spider-Man.
• Mainstream Obscurity: Amazing Fantasy issue 15 featured the very first appearance of Spider-Man ever, and it's one of the three most famous comic book issues in the history of superhero comics (along with Action Comics #1 and Detective Comics #27). However, most people who've heard of it don't know that it contained several back-up one-shot stories apart from the Spider-Man adventure, and fewer have read any of them.
• One-Scene Wonder:
  • Ben Parker. He only appeared in person in Amazing Fantasy #15 (and spoke only two lines in the entire comic), and died the same issue (although he has appeared in many Flashback stories and non-canonical stories involving alternate timelines). Despite his brief appearance, very few supporting characters in Spider-Man's life have had as much of an impact on him as a character, due to the tragic way that he became a hero; his refusal to apprehend a criminal when he had the chance was what caused his uncle to be murdered. (Contrary to popular belief, the phrase "With great power comes great responsibility" cannot truly be attributed to Ben; the phrase first appeared as a narrative in the final panel of the comic.)
  • The same could be said for the nameless burglar who committed the crime. He did appear in a later story (where the motive for the burglary was revealed), but it didn't change the fact that he was nothing more than a common thug. Still, given the impact that this common thug had on Spider-Man's life, he could well be considered the greatest enemy the hero ever faced.
• Signature Scene:
  • Jack Kirby's cover of Amazing Fantasy #15 is up there with Action Comics #1 on all-time famous iconic and often reproduced and homaged comic book art. The Spectacular Spider-Man even paid a homage to it through its opening theme.
  • Likewise, the final panel of Peter walking away sadly in the night, with the narrator delivering the immortal words, "with great power there must also come great responsibility."
• Tear Jerker: Peter's guilt after realizing that he could have stopped the man who went on to kill his uncle is the one of the defining moments of tragedy in a character whose history is defined by tragedy.

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