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Spider-Man: The Death of Captain Stacy


Summary: Every so often, some people become the scapegoat for something they didn't do, the fall guy, if you will.  Since Spider-Man is seen on the rooftop where the bricks that killed Stacy came from, Spider-Man becomes the fall guy to the citizens of New York, even though the reader knows it was Dr. Octopus.  However, Captain Stacy is a close friend of Peter Parker, the father of Peter's girlfriend, Gwen, and one of the few supporters of Spider-Man, so Spidey takes his death to heart.  Peter has lost another person who was close to him, someone he considered a father-figure, much like his Uncle Ben.  As was the case with his Uncle, Peter feels responsible for Stacy's death.  Spidey believes that if he had been more astute to the people in danger instead of being so single-minded on Doc then maybe Stacy wouldn't have perished. The reader knows though that that wasn't the case. We know that Stacy sacrificed himself to save other people who were in danger and that, again, it was Doc Ock who was to blame. This graphic novel puts together the comic book issues evolved around Captain Stacy's death and the aftermath for Spidey in being the fall guy for this tragedy.

Reference: Stan Lee (2014). Spider-Man: The Death of Captain Stacy. Marvel Comics. New York, NY.

Why I Picked It Up: I grew up reading Spider-Man; I identified with Peter Parker more than with any other comic book hero.  Yet, admittedly, it has been a long time since I read any Spider-Man comic books, especially the ones from the '70's.  So, while I was shopping at a used book store, I came across this graphic novel and decided to take a trip down memory lane.

Why I Finished It: I had forgotten the enjoyment of reading a Stan-Lee-written Spider-Man story.  The action is constant, the dialogue is on every panel, the narration is helpful, and the plot line is worthy of any television drama series.  From the opening pages, I was quickly drawn into the world of the Marvel Universe, into Spider-Man's world. The movement from panel to panel is easily followed and the word balloons never interfere with the pace of the story.  More essentially, the characters come alive and so real.  It was thrilling to once again be so enthralled into the action and going-ons of Spidey and his "'verse." 

Recommendation: For anyone wanting an example of a well-written comic book then this is a graphic novel for them.  From great characters to action-packed story telling, this novel has it all. Also, for any parents with children who want to read comics, but are hesitant to buy their kids some of today's contemporary comics with their "adult-contented" material then this graphic novel will surely gratify.  I enjoyed this reading so much that I have decided to be on the look out for more of the old Spidey tales and keep them around for my daughters to enjoy later on.  This is a graphic novel well worth reading on the living couch.

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