Santa's World: Origin Of Spider-Man
Background
These Santa's World mini-book comics are roughly 2.5" x 3" in size. Thick padded card covers, only twelve actual pages. They were packed in plastic bags ready to be hung as a Christmas Tree treat, or put into the stockings of nice children.
Story Details
Santa's World: Origin Of Spider-Man
| Publisher: | Cadence Industries Corp. |
| Editor: | Stan Lee |
| Writer: | Stan Lee |
| Pencils: | John Romita, Sr. |
| Inker: | Sal Buscema |
Each of the eight pages in this story is a single panel taken from the re-told Spider-Man Origin from Amazing Spider-Man #94. The first of the twelve is a splash panel (possibly from another story). But then we're into the real tale.
Page Two: Peter is at the science lecture.
Page Three: A lone spider descends into the beam.
Page Four: Peter feels a sudden pain in his hand.
Page Five: Walking home, Peter is punched by "a couple of local creeps."
Page Six: Peter Fights Back.
Page Seven: Peter has punched and snapped the lamp post. Bad guys run.
Page Eight: Peter is shaken, and doesn't notice the approaching car. He jumps.
Page Nine: Peter climbs the wall.
Page Ten: Peter creates his web-shooters.
Page Eleven: Peter can't remember what made him do it, but he designed himself a costume.
Page Twelve: Due to this strange, amazing accident of fate -- Spider-Man was born!
General Comments
Well, the flashback retelling in Amazing Spider-Man #94 bastardized the origin, and this little fiasco goes one step further. No Uncle Ben? What kind of Origin of Spider-Man could omit Peter's hubris and subsequent fall, teaching him the lesson which made him the man he was.
This is a travesty of an abridgment. It's an embarrassing Bowdlerization which completely removes all of the key elements, resulting in an origin which has lost all its "origin"-ality. Whoever did the hatchet job on this one should be thoroughly ashamed.
Overall Rating 
This is a bizarre juxtaposition of a collectible. On one hand, it's a joyfully kitsch must-have oddity. These are rarely found on eBay, and I was thrilled to pick up both this and the Spider-Woman origin for only twenty-something bucks each. They're true collectors gems.
But on the flip side, the story is an abomination -- a true shocker of a truncated tale.
So how to rate this book? I'm almost ashamed to admit that for me, the collector in me must prevail in this case. Much as I despise the contents, I adore the entire package. I must give it a four webs in deference to it's delicious uniqueness.