Publishers / Marvel / The Amazing Spider-Man (1963) / #38
38July 1966
$0.12

The Amazing Spider-Man #38

Marvel · July 1966 · on sale 1966-04-12

First appearance: Joe Smith1 variant
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How to read this file
  • Every claim on this page traces to a public bibliographic record; the sources are listed at the bottom of the file.
  • A first-appearance badge means this is the earliest non-flashback appearance on record in this database.
  • Buy links are eBay affiliate links. They never change what the record says.

Identification plate

Series
The Amazing Spider-Man (Marvel, 1963 series)
Issue
#38
Publication date
July 1966
Key date
1966-07-00
On-sale date
1966-04-12
Indicia publisher
Non-Pareil Publishing Corp.
Price
$0.12
Pages
36
Rating
Approved by the Comics Code Authority

Match the book in your hand against this plate before paying an edition-specific price.

Why this issue matters

First appearance of Joe Smith - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character. An independent public reference records the same first appearance.

The evidence

Claims here come from the story records for this issue, listed under Sources at the bottom of the file. Character hubs with full evidence tables are coming to this site.

Contents

SeqStoryTypePagesCreditsCharacters
0Just a Guy Named Joe!cover1script: Stan Lee; pencils: Steve Ditko; inks: Steve Ditko; colors: Stan Goldberg; letters: Sam RosenPeter Parker, Joe Smith First, Spider-Man
2Just a Guy Named Joe!comic story20script: Steve Ditko, Stan Lee; pencils: Steve Ditko; inks: Steve Ditko; colors: Stan Goldberg; letters: Artie SimekJ. Jonah Jameson, Ned Leeds, May Parker, Harry Osborn, Peter Parker, Joe Smith First, Spider-Man, Gwen Stacy, Flash Thompson, Mary Jane Watson
3-promo (ad from the publisher)1script: Stan Lee; pencils: Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko; inks: Dick Ayers, Sol Brodsky, Joe Sinnott, Steve Ditko; colors: Marie Severin; letters: Sam Rosen
4Incredible, Indubitable, Interminable Items to Startle Your Senses and Soothe Your Soul!in-house column1script: Stan Lee; pencils: Steve Ditko, Marie Severin; inks: Steve Ditko, Marie Severin; colors: Marie SeverinMr. Fantastic; Invisible Girl; Human Torch [Johnny Storm]; Thing; Spider-Man
5-promo (ad from the publisher)1pencils: Steve Ditko, Jack Kirby; inks: Steve Ditko, Joe Sinnott; colors: Marie Severin; letters: Sam RosenSpider-Man; Hulk
6-letters page2script: Stan Lee; pencils: Steve Ditko; inks: Steve Ditko; colors: Marie SeverinSpider-Man

Plus 3 pages of advertisements and other matter across 3 sequences, as published.

Printings and variants

EditionHow to tell
Britishprice 10d [0-0-10 GBP]

Where to read it

CollectionYear
The Amazing Spider-Man Annual #71970On eBay ›
Marvel Tales #1771985On eBay ›
Marvel Masterworks #16
ISBN 0-87135-730-5		1991On eBay ›
The Essential Spider-Man #21997On eBay ›

Reading the story costs a fraction of owning the issue. Both routes are on every file.

Before you buy

  • Check spine ticks and cover gloss in the photos; silver-age Marvels chip at the edges easily.
  • Look for tanning at the page edges and transfer stains on the inside covers.
  • Confirm the cover price against the plate; higher prices can mean a later or foreign printing.

Series context

‹ #3738 of 443#39 ›

Sources

  • Grand Comics Database, issue record (CC BY-SA 4.0)
  • Wikidata, Q115407242 (Joe Smith), first-appearance property (CC0)

Found an error in this file? corrections@comicrecord.com