Item Biography
"Spider-Man!"
Reprinted from Amazing Fantasy (1962) #15
Meet Peter Parker, your average high school student. Peter's life is full of blessing and curses. On the negative side, both of his parents are dead, he is scrawny and an outcast among his peers. On the positive, his aged Uncle Ben and Aunt May love him dearly, he is a smart, hard working student, and he has a great sense of humor. A twist of fate is about to increase both sides of that equation, as a demonstration in radiation control ends with Peter being bitten by a spider who strayed into the deadly rays. Peter finds himself with miraculous powers, but soon learns a lesson in responsibility. He selfishly fails to stop a thief who will later go on to rob and murder his Uncle Ben.
"The Origin of Dr. Strange"
reprinted from Strange Tales (1951) #115
In India, Stephen Strange finds after a long search the mysterious Ancient One, who reportedly can heal people with magic. Strange is skeptical but desperate, as his career as a world class surgeon was brought to a halt by an accident that damaged the nerves in his hands. The Ancient One denies him, but offers him the opportunity at apprenticeship. Strange resists at first, but once he sees magic in action, and understands the threat to the Ancient One's life that is posed by his evil apprentice Mordo, Strange accepts. Thus is born the Master of the Mystic Arts, Doctor Strange.
Also included are Ditko pin-ups of Spider-Man and Dr. Strange, plus unused cover art from Amazing Fantasy #15 (1962) that went on to be used as the 1:200 variant of Amazing Spider-Man (1963) #700.