[At the heist planning meeting] "Now, Joey, you're still recovering from your injury so you grab the Essentials because they're lighter and easier to move!"

Eyeing those Essentials.

Ah, that explains it: If you look at the product page for those three AEs they're listed under "Humor & Cartoons" rather than "Graphic Novels & Comics". And look what else is categorized as humor — the XXL version of Taschen's Marvel Comics Library: Spider-Man Vol. 1 1962–1964 for just $80!!!

That was fast! When I looked earlier there was also the EC COVERS ARTIST'S EDITION on sale for $80 but it was already sold out. I suppose a lot of these have limited stock and will be snatched up fast.

I note that above Gwen's clone says she's lost two years of her life, and checking ASM in #146 (1975) she says she's been dead for two years (although in #145 Peter says Gwen died months ago). I guess at this point Marvel time was passing in real time as ASM #121 came out two years earlier (1973)?

Plus it's got several pages of Peter interacting with his supporting cast, and it includes this scene with Gwen's clone that fills in details from the main book. I assume this is why Giant-Size Spider-Man #5 was included in The Original Clone Saga TPB according to GCD.

I'd never read this story before and I'm a little surprised it wasn't included in the ASM omnibus. I know the Giant-Size Spidey books were treated more like issues of Marvel Team-Up but this is a story featuring one of Spidey's classic villains and illustrated by ASM's regular art team.

It really is fantastic. And it's pretty impressive that the bottom three books are just ones I found browsing the shelves. (The top row is all holds, with the Ditko one an ILL request that was fulfilled by the local college of art and design, which has a *ton* of old OOP GNs.)

This episode also has double the Minnesota connection:

1. Minnesota has revised its felony murder laws so they're not so broad

2. We have a law prohibiting greased pig contests (and turkey scrambles) under the general category of animal cruelty prevention: www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cit...

This one snapped while I was testing all the articulation points. Out of the four characters initially I could only get half of the legs to bend. I let them sit for a bit then tried a hair dryer on a low setting to warm them up & I got Goblin's other leg to bend. I've given up & requested a refund.

The guy cracking Spider-Man's back is Moses Magnum and the panel is from his very first appearance in Giant-Size Spider-Man #4.