The Essential Spider-Man #2 for Sale - First Appearance of Cat Burglar - Where to Buy

Identification plate

Series: The Essential Spider-Man (Marvel, 1996 series)
Issue: #2
Publication date: July 1997
Key date: 1997-07-00
Price: $12.99
Pages: 530

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

Why this issue matters

First appearance of Cat Burglar - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

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.

Seq	Story	Type	Pages	Credits	Characters
0	-	cover	1	pencils: Al Rio; inks: Al Rio; colors: Thomas Velazquez	Spider-Man [Peter Parker]
1	-	credits, title page	2	letters: typeset
2	-	cover reprint (on interior page)	1	pencils: Steve Ditko; inks: Steve Ditko	Spider-Man [Peter Parker]; Human Torch [Johnny Storm]; the Beetle
3	Where Flies the Beetle !	comic story	20	script: Stan Lee; pencils: Steve Ditko; inks: Steve Ditko; letters: Sam Rosen	Spider-Man [Peter Parker]; the Beetle [Abner Jenkins]; the Human Torch [Johnny Storm]; Betty Brant; Flash Thompson; May Parker; Doris Evans; J. Jonah Jameson
4	The Clown and His Masters of Menace!	cover reprint (on interior page)	1	pencils: Steve Ditko; inks: Steve Ditko	Masters of Menace [the Clown [Elliot Franklin]; the Great Gambonnos [Ernesto and Luigi Gambonno]; the Human Cannonball [Jack Pulver]; Princess Python [Zelda DuBois]]
5	The Clown and His Masters of Menace!	comic story	20	script: Stan Lee; pencils: Steve Ditko; inks: Steve Ditko; letters: Artie Simek	Liz Allan, Betty Brant, Clown, Zelda DuBois, Elliot Franklin, Great Gambonnos, Human Cannonball, J. Jonah Jameson, May Parker, Peter Parker, Princess Python, Jack Pulver, Ringmaster, Spider-Man
6	The Goblin and the Gangsters!	cover reprint (on interior page)	1	pencils: Steve Ditko; inks: Steve Ditko	Spider-Man [Peter Parker]; Green Goblin
7	The Goblin and the Gangsters	comic story	20	script: Stan Lee; pencils: Steve Ditko; inks: Steve Ditko; letters: Artie Simek	Spider-Man [Peter Parker]; the Green Goblin; Lucky Lobo; Aunt May; J. Jonah Jameson; Frederick Foswell; Betty Brant; Mr. Merriweather
8	Spider-Man Goes Mad!	cover reprint (on interior page)	1	pencils: Steve Ditko; inks: Steve Ditko	Spider-Man [Peter Parker]; The Vulture; The Sandman
9	Spider-Man Goes Mad!	comic story	20	script: Stan Lee; pencils: Steve Ditko; inks: Steve Ditko; letters: Sam Rosen	Spider-Man [Peter Parker]; J. Jonah Jameson; Betty Brant; Flash Thompson; Liz Allan; Mysterio; May Parker; Frederick Foswell; Doctor Octopus (illusion); Sandman (illusion); Vulture (illusion)
10	Captured by J. Jonah Jameson!	cover reprint (on interior page)	1	pencils: Steve Ditko; inks: Steve Ditko	Spider-Man [Peter Parker]; Spider-Slayer; J. Jonah Jameson (on screen)
11	Captured by J. Jonah Jameson!	comic story	20	script: Stan Lee; pencils: Steve Ditko; inks: Steve Ditko; letters: Sam Rosen	Spider-Man [Peter Parker]; Professor Smythe; Spider-Slayer; Mary Jane Watson; Liz Allan; Aunt May Parker; Betty Brant; J. Jonah Jameson; Flash Thompson
12	The Man in the Crime-Master's Mask!	cover reprint (on interior page)	1	pencils: Steve Ditko; inks: Steve Ditko	Spider-Man [Peter Parker]; Crime Master; Green Goblin
13	The Man in the Crime-Master's Mask!	comic story	20	script: Steve Ditko, Stan Lee; pencils: Steve Ditko; inks: Steve Ditko; letters: Sam Rosen	Spider-Man [Peter Parker]; Crime Master; Patch [Fredrick Foswell]; Green Goblin; May Parker; Betty Brandt; J. Jonah Jameson; Liz Allen; Flash Thompson; Mr. Davis (school principal)
14	Bring Back My Goblin to Me!	cover reprint (on interior page)	1	pencils: Steve Ditko; inks: Steve Ditko	Spider-Man [Peter Parker]; Green Goblin; Crime-Master
15	Bring Back My Goblin to Me!	comic story	20	script: Steve Ditko, Stan Lee; pencils: Steve Ditko; inks: Steve Ditko; letters: Artie Simek	Betty Brant, Barney Bushkin, Crime-Master, Frederick Foswell, Green Goblin, J. Jonah Jameson, Nick Lewis, Norman Osborn, May Parker, Peter Parker, Patch, Spider-Man
16	The Molten Man	cover reprint (on interior page)	1	pencils: Steve Ditko; inks: Steve Ditko	Spider-Man [Peter Parker]; Molten Man
17	The Menace of the Molten Man!	comic story	20	script: Steve Ditko, Stan Lee; pencils: Steve Ditko; inks: Steve Ditko; letters: Sam Rosen	Molten Man [Raxton] (1st appearance, origin); Spider-Man [Peter Parker]; Liz Allen; Flash Thompson; Professor Smythe; Aunt May; Mrs. Watson; Principal Davis; J. Jonah Jameson
18	The Wondrous Worlds of Dr. Strange!	cover reprint (on interior page)	1	pencils: Steve Ditko; inks: Steve Ditko	Spider-Man [Peter Parker]
19	The Wondrous World of Dr. Strange!	comic story	20	script: Steve Ditko, Stan Lee; pencils: Steve Ditko; inks: Steve Ditko; letters: Sam Rosen	Spider-Man [Peter Parker]; Dr. Strange [Stephen Strange]; Xandu (Introduction); barroom brawlers (unnamed)
20	Never Step on a Scorpion!	cover reprint (on interior page)	1	pencils: Steve Ditko; inks: Steve Ditko	Spider-Man [Peter Parker]; Scorpion
21	Never Step on a Scorpion!	comic story	20	script: Steve Ditko, Stan Lee; pencils: Steve Ditko; inks: Steve Ditko; letters: Sam Rosen	Spider-Man [Peter Parker]; Scorpion; J. Jonah Jameson; Betty Brant; Ned Leeds; Frederick Foswell; Aunt May
22	The Claws of the Cat!	cover reprint (on interior page)	1	pencils: Steve Ditko; inks: Steve Ditko	Spider-Man [Peter Parker]; The Cat
23	The Claws of the Cat!	comic story	20	script: Steve Ditko, Stan Lee; pencils: Steve Ditko; inks: Steve Ditko; letters: Artie Simek	Liz Allan, Betty Brant, Cat Burglar First, Frederick Foswell, J. Jonah Jameson, Ned Leeds, Master Planner, Otto Octavius, May Parker, Peter Parker, Spider-Man, Flash Thompson, Anna Watson
24	If This Be My Destiny	cover reprint (on interior page)	1	pencils: Steve Ditko; inks: Steve Ditko; letters: Sam Rosen
25	If This Be My Destiny !	comic story	20	script: Stan Lee; pencils: Steve Ditko; inks: Steve Ditko; letters: Sam Rosen, Art Simek	Spider-Man [Peter Parker]; Harry Osborn (introduction); Gwen Stacy (introduction); Master Planner; Aunt May; Flash Thompson; Dr. Bromwell; Professor Warren; J. Jonah Jameson; Frederick Foswell; Betty Brant; Ned Leeds; Foxy Briggs
26	Man on a Rampage!	cover reprint (on interior page)	1	pencils: Steve Ditko; inks: Steve Ditko; letters: Sam Rosen	Aunt May; Spider-Man [Peter Parker]
27	Man on a Rampage!	comic story	20	script: Steve Ditko, Stan Lee; pencils: Steve Ditko; inks: Steve Ditko; letters: Artie Simek	Spider-Man [Peter Parker]; Doctor Octopus; Betty Brant; Ned Leeds; J. Jonah Jameson; Aunt May; Dr. Curt Conners [Lizard]; Frederick Foswell
28	The Final Chapter!	cover reprint (on interior page)	1	pencils: Steve Ditko; inks: Steve Ditko; letters: Sam Rosen	Spider-Man [Peter Parker]
29	The Final Chapter!	comic story	20	script: Steve Ditko, Stan Lee; pencils: Steve Ditko; inks: Steve Ditko; letters: Artie Simek	Spider-Man [Peter Parker]; Aunt May; Dr. Curt Connors [Lizard]; Frederick Foswell; J. Jonah Jameson; Betty Brant; Uncle Ben; Kraven (Last panel teaser)
30	The Thrill of the Hunt!	cover reprint (on interior page)	1	pencils: Steve Ditko; inks: Steve Ditko	Spider-Man [Peter Parker]; Kraven
31	The Thrill of the Hunt	comic story	20	script: Steve Ditko, Stan Lee; pencils: Steve Ditko; inks: Steve Ditko; letters: Sam Rosen	Kraven; Spider-Man [Peter Parker]; Betty Brant; May Parker; Anna Watson; Gwen Stacy; Harry Osborn; J. Jonah Jameson; Frederick Foswell
32	The Molten Man Regrets..!	cover reprint (on interior page)	1	pencils: Steve Ditko, Jack Kirby; inks: Steve Ditko, Sol Brodsky	Spider-Man [Peter Parker]; Molten Man
33	The Molten Man Regrets !	comic story	20	script: Steve Ditko, Stan Lee; pencils: Steve Ditko; inks: Steve Ditko; letters: Artie Simek	Spider-Man [Peter Parker]; Molten Man
34	When Falls the Meteor!	cover reprint (on interior page)	1	pencils: Steve Ditko; inks: Steve Ditko	Spider-Man [Peter Parker]; Looter
35	When Falls the Meteor!	comic story	20	script: Steve Ditko, Stan Lee; pencils: Steve Ditko; inks: Steve Ditko; letters: Artie Simek	Spider-Man [Peter Parker]; Looter [Norton G. Fester]; Sally Green; Gwen Stacy; Flash Thompson
36	Once Upon a Time...There Was a Robot!	cover reprint (on interior page)	1	pencils: Steve Ditko; inks: Steve Ditko	Peter Parker, Spider-Man, Mendel Stromm
37	Once Upon a Time, There Was a Robot !	comic story	20	script: Steve Ditko, Stan Lee; pencils: Steve Ditko; inks: Steve Ditko; letters: Artie Simek	Frederick Foswell, J. Jonah Jameson, Harry Osborn, Norman Osborn, Peter Parker, Spider-Man, Gwen Stacy, Mendel Stromm, Flash Thompson
38	Just a Guy Named Joe!	cover reprint (on interior page)	1	pencils: Steve Ditko; inks: Steve Ditko	Spider-Man [Peter Parker]; Joe Smith
39	Just a Guy Named Joe!	comic story	20	script: Steve Ditko, Stan Lee; pencils: Steve Ditko; inks: Steve Ditko; letters: Artie Simek	J. Jonah Jameson, Ned Leeds, Harry Osborn, Norman Osborn, May Parker, Peter Parker, Spider-Man, Gwen Stacy, Flash Thompson, Mary Jane Watson
40	-	cover reprint (on interior page)	1	pencils: John Romita; inks: John Romita	Spider-Man [Peter Parker]; Green Goblin
41	How Green Was My Goblin!	comic story	20	script: Stan Lee; pencils: John Romita; inks: Mickey Demeo; letters: Artie Simek	Spider-Man [Peter Parker]; Aunt May; Anna Watson; Flash Thompson; Gwen Stacy; Harry Osborn; Ned Leeds; J. Jonah Jameson; Green Goblin [Norman Osborn] (identity revealed); Professor Stromm (flashback; cameo)
42	Spidey Saves the Day!	cover reprint (on interior page)	1	pencils: John Romita; inks: Mike Esposito, John Romita; letters: Sam Rosen	Spider-Man [Peter Parker]; The Green Goblin
43	Spidey Saves The Day!	comic story	20	script: Stan Lee; pencils: John Romita; inks: Mickey Demeo, John Romita; letters: Sam Rosen	Spider-Man [Peter Parker]; The Green Goblin; Harry Osborn; Professor Stromm (flashback); Aunt May; Anna May Watson; J. Jonah Jameson; Betty Brant; Ned Leeds (flashback; cameo); The Enforcers [Ox; Montana; Fancy Dan] (flashback; cameo); Human Torch (flashback; cameo); Lucky Lobo (flashback; cameo); C
44	The Horns of the Rhino	cover reprint (on interior page)	1	pencils: John Romita; inks: Mike Esposito, John Romita; letters: Sam Rosen	Spider-Man [Peter Parker]; Rhino
45	The Horns of the Rhino!	comic story	20	script: Stan Lee; pencils: John Romita; inks: Mickey Demeo, John Romita; letters: Artie Simek	Spider-Man; Rhino (1st appearance); Aunt May Parker; Anna Watson; J. Jonah Jameson; John Jameson; Betty Brant; Ned Leeds; Gwen Stacy; Flash Thompson
46	The Birth of a Super-Hero!	cover reprint (on interior page)	1	pencils: John Romita; inks: John Romita	Spider-Man; Colonel John Jameson
47	The Birth of a Super-Hero!	comic story	20	script: Stan Lee; pencils: John Romita; inks: John Romita; letters: Sam Rosen	Spider-Man [Peter Parker]; Frederick Foswell; Betty Brant; Ned Leeds; J. Jonah Jameson; John Jameson; The Rhino; Foggy Nelson; Harry Osborn; Flash Thompson; Gwen Stacy; May Parker; Mary Jane Watson; Anna Watson
48	Rhino on the Rampage!	cover reprint (on interior page)	1	pencils: John Romita; inks: John Romita; letters: Sam Rosen	Spider-Man [Peter Parker]; Rhino
49	Rhino on a Rampage!	comic story	20	script: Stan Lee; pencils: John Romita; inks: John Romita; letters: Artie Simek	Spider-Man [Peter Parker]; Rhino; Mary Jane Watson; Ned Leeds; Betty Brant; Frederick Foswell; J. Jonah Jameson; Anna Watson; Aunt May Parker; Foggy Nelson; Matt Murdock [Daredevil]; Curt Connors; John Jameson; Harry Osborn; Flash Thompson; Gwen Stacy
50	Amazing Spider-Man Annual #3	cover reprint (on interior page)	1	pencils: John Romita; inks: Mike Esposito	Avengers [Captain America [Steve Rogers]; Goliath [Hank Pym]; Wasp; Iron Man [Tony Stark]; Thor; Hawkeye]; Hulk; Daredevil; Spider-Man [Peter Parker]; Dr. Octopus
51	...To Become an Avenger!	comic story	21	script: Stan Lee; pencils: John Romita, Don Heck; inks: Mickey Demeo; letters: Artie Simek	Avengers [Captain America [Steve Rogers]; Goliath [Hank Pym]; Wasp; Iron Man [Tony Stark]; Thor; Hawkeye]; Hulk; Daredevil; Spider-Man [Peter Parker]; Aunt May; J. Jonah Jameson; Frederick Foswell

Printings and variants

Edition	How to tell
Fourth Printing	price 14.95 USD; 23.95 CAD; barcode 978078510989151495
2011 Edition	price 19.99 USD; 21.99 CAD; barcode 978078511863351999
Second Edition	price 16.99 USD; 27.25 CAD; barcode 978078511863351699

Where to read it

Collection	Year
The Amazing Spider-Man Omnibus #3 ISBN 978-1-302-90408-1	2017	On eBay ›

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

Before you buy

Confirm which printing is being sold; later printings usually carry changed cover marks or indicia lines.
For variant covers, match the listing photo against the variant list on this page before paying a ratio-variant price.
Pressable defects (spine stress, corner blunting) matter to graders; ask for photos at an angle.

Series context

‹ #1 [Second Edition]3 of 16#3 ›

Sources

Grand Comics Database, issue record (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Wikidata, Q115383628 (Cat Burglar), first-appearance property (CC0)

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