Amazing Spider-Man No. 102 Cover by Kane and Giacoia

The last issue of the Six-Armed Spider-Man saga, writer Roy Thomas used the larger page count to tell the chilling origin of Michael Morbius and deliver a final battle between Morbius, Spider-Man and The Lizard.

DC Comics had made the move to try a 52-page issue at 25¢, combining new stories with reprints. When Marvel gave the format a shot, they made sure it was clear on the cover that their comics featured all-new material. The experiment from both companies was short-lived, and the 20¢ era of American comics began.

ASM No. 102 is also notable because it was one of the issues that debuted Marvel’s new banner across the top. While this wasn’t the final form, it would last the better part of 20 years as the core of Marvel’s cover design.

New colour and packaging by me.

As published.

The other two issues in the trilogy.

Original art by Gil Kane and Frank Giacoia. Scan from The Essential Spider-Man Volume 5.

Art made production ready. As I’ve said before, I’m not a fan of the boxed cover art Marvel and DC adopted for a period in the early 70s. Art extended to fill the entire cover.

New colour version.

Re-created trade dress added.