Spider-Oracle Petitions (01-Feb-2005)

 Posted: 2005
 Staff: The Spider-Oracle (E-Mail)

Here's Oracular Wisdom a-plenty. Note the increasing politeness of supplicants. While we do include as many Oracle responses as possible, it has become clear that the Mighty One showers his Sapient Favours more freely on those whose missives contain due deference to his Superior Status.

If you wish to see your response printed, or wish the Oracle to answer more difficult questions in great detail, you would be well advised to begin your request with a sufficiently submissive introduction. "O Mighty Oracle" is a good starting point, but don't feel limited in your entreatments.

From jlbullo

Who is Spider-Man's worst enemy?

Worst enemy? I would probably have to go with the Big Wheel. Killed from his own incompetence the first time he attacked Spidey.

From daryl_2555

What is the rarest/most valuable Spider-Man comic?

Most valuable is easy, Daryl. That's AMAZING FANTASY #15 with Spider-Man's first appearance and origin. As for rarest? That's harder, depending on what criteria you're using. Do you include variant covers? Or Dynamic Forces signed & numbered issues? It's just too hard to quantify.

From powerbomb1411

I have read there are about 3 first appearances for Venom. What is his first appearance? And why does the alien costume have 2 first appearances- 1 in Marvel Super Heroes Secrte Wars #8 and then in Amazing Spider-Man?

Venom, being a combination of many elements from many different writers/artists, is not the easiest character to explain, especially when he "first appeared".

May 1984 - Spidey first shows up wearing his new black costume (which he and the readers will eventually find out is a living alien) in AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #252.

November 1984 - Spidey finds out his black costume is an alien, and ditches it in AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #258

December 1984 - We find out how/when Spidey acquired his black costume in MARVEL SUPER HEROES SECRET WARS #8. This makes the issue more-or-less "the origin of the alien costume". Although this issue was released eight months after ASM #252, it takes place before it.

September 1986 - Writer David Michelinie has a sequence in WEB OF SPIDER-MAN #18 showing an arm pushing Peter Parker onto some subway tracks. Peter barely escapes getting run over, but is more freaked about the fact that his spider-sense didn't warn him about being shoved. This was to be the beginning of a new foe for Spidey consisting of his alien costume having bonded with a woman.

March 1987 - The "mystery person" again takes Peter by surprise, by throwing him off a building he had been clinging to, in WEB OF SPIDER-MAN #24. Michelinie leves WEB after this issue, and the subplot is dropped.

March 1988 - Michelinie, now writing ASM, revives his plans, but changes them some, by introducing a male character seen in shadows on the last page of AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #298. This character, who we can't see clearly, is apparently wearing the alien costume.

April 1988 - On the last page of AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #299, we see clearly the character we've come to know as Venom.

May 1988 - AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #300 (considered the 'first full appearance of Venom') gives us the whole story of how Eddie Brock joined with the alien costume, and we see his first battle with Spider-Man.

So what is Venom's first appearance? YOU make the call!

From rascallyruss09

What issue did Doc Ock first appear?

Now Doctor Octopus is a character with an EASY answer to that question. He first appeared in AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #3 in July 1963.

From jaimec

I just read in MK: Spider-Man that Norman Osborn is in jail, but since when did Norman's identity as the Green Goblin become public?

You see, jaimec, Daily Bugle reporter Ben Urich wrote a book called "Dynasty of Evil" during the long period that Norman was assumed to be dead. This book told the sordid history of how Norman became the Green Goblin. After Norman returned at the end of the Clone Saga, he claimed to have been in hiding in Europe, and that Urich's book was all a lie, and he would be suing. Recently, in THE PULSE #1-5, Norman, seeming a little more crazy than ever, got caught after murdering some Oscorp employees, and unmasked to the public, with no doubts, as the Green Goblin.

From amheitkemper

Is there going to be an Essential Spider-Man Vol. 7? If so, do you know when?

There probably will be, Mr. Kemper, but it has yet to be solicited.

From nuinks

How strong is "the Black Tarantula" and are his abilities on par with Captain America or is he more like Spidey?

The Black Tarantula's powers and abilities haven't been defined too clearly, nuinks. It's known, though, that he is much stronger than Spidey, and has excellent fighting skills.

From radamesso

In SPIDER-MAN #1 (Torment), Spidey says he fought with Thanos once before. In which issue? I only remember a fight between the two that follows Torment (SPIDER-MAN #17).

The issue in question would be MARVEL TWO-IN-ONE Annual #2.

From kurse18

In any alternate reality has Spidey married anyone other than MJ?

Yup. Including Gwen Stacy and Felicia Hardy.

From lrobb

I was watching the SPIDER-MAN movie and noticed that Peter's uncle calls him "Michelangelo". I looked all over the net and have not found out why.

It's because one of the things Michelangelo was most famous for was painting, and Peter was going to help his Uncle Ben paint the kitchen.

 Posted: 2005
 Staff: The Spider-Oracle (E-Mail)