Editing The Amazing Spider-Man (section)

===1970s===
<!-- Image with inadequate rationale removed: [[File:Amazing Spider-Man 139.jpg|thumb|''The Amazing Spider-Man'' No. 139 (Dec. 1974): Spider-Man vs. The Grizzly (1st appearance).]] -->
Several spin-off series debuted in the 1970s: ''[[Marvel Team-Up]]'' in 1972,<ref>[[Peter Sanderson|Sanderson, Peter]] "1970s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 155: "''Marvel Team-Up'' No. 1 inaugurated a new series in which Spider-Man teamed with a different hero in each issue.""</ref> and ''[[The Spectacular Spider-Man]]'' in 1976.<ref>Sanderson "1970s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 177: "Spider-Man already starred in two monthly series: ''The Amazing Spider-Man'' and ''Marvel Team-Up''. Now Marvel added a third, ''Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man'', initially written by Gerry Conway with art by Sal Buscema and Mike Esposito."</ref> A short-lived series titled ''Giant-Size Spider-Man'' began in July 1974 and ran six issues through 1975.<ref>{{gcdb series|id= 2172|title= Giant-Size Spider-Man}}</ref> ''[[Spidey Super Stories]]'', a series aimed at children ages 6–10, ran for 57 issues from October 1974 through 1982.<ref>{{gcdb series|id= 2188|title= Spidey Super Stories}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=Young Adult Literature in the Seventies: A Selection of Readings |last=Goodgion |first=Laurel F. |editor=Jana Varlejs |date=1978 |location=Lanham, Maryland |publisher=[[Rowman & Littlefield|The Scarecrow Press]] |isbn=0-8108-1134-0 |page=[https://archive.org/details/youngadultlitera0000unse/page/348 348] |url=https://archive.org/details/youngadultlitera0000unse/page/348}}</ref>
The flagship title's second decade took a grim turn with a story in #89-90 (Oct.-Nov. 1970) featuring the death of Captain [[George Stacy]].<ref>Manning "1970s" in Gilbert (2012), p. 55: "Captain George Stacy had always believed in Spider-Man and had given him the benefit of the doubt whenever possible. So in Spider-Man's world, there was a good chance that he would be destined to die."</ref> This was the first Spider-Man story to be penciled by [[Gil Kane]],<ref name="GCD-Kane">{{gcdb|type=credit|search= Gil+Kane|title= Gil Kane}}</ref> who would alternate drawing duties with Romita for the next year-and-a-half and would draw several landmark issues.

One such story took place in the controversial issues #96–98 (May–July 1971). Writer-editor Lee defied the [[Comics Code Authority]] with this story, in which Parker's friend Harry Osborn, was hospitalized after over-dosing on pills. Lee wrote this story upon a request from the [[United States Department of Health and Human Services|U. S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare]] for a story about the dangers of drugs. Citing its dictum against depicting drug use, even in an anti-drug context, the CCA refused to put its seal on these issues. With the approval of Marvel publisher [[Martin Goodman (publisher)|Martin Goodman]], Lee had the comics published without the seal. The comics sold well and Marvel won praise for its socially conscious efforts.<ref>Saffel "Bucking the Establishment, Marvel Style", p. 60: "The stories received widespread mainstream publicity, and Marvel was hailed for sticking to its guns."</ref> The CCA subsequently loosened the Code to permit negative depictions of drugs, among other new freedoms.<ref>Daniels, pp. 152 and 154: "As a result of Marvel's successful stand, the Comics Code had begun to look just a little foolish. Some of its more ridiculous restrictions were abandoned because of Lee's decision."</ref>

"[[The Six Arms Saga]]" of #100–102 (Sept.–Nov. 1971) introduced [[Morbius|Morbius, the Living Vampire]]. The second installment was the first ''Amazing Spider-Man'' story not written by co-creator Lee,<ref>Manning "1970s" in Gilbert (2012), p. 59: "In the first issue of ''The Amazing Spider-Man'' to be written by someone other than Stan Lee, Roy Thomas was faced with the mammoth task of not only filling the vaunted writer's shoes but also solving the bizarre cliffhanger from the last issue."</ref> with [[Roy Thomas]] taking over writing the book for several months before Lee returned to write #105–110 (Feb.-July 1972).<ref>Manning "1970s" in Gilbert (2012), p. 61: "Stan Lee had returned to ''The Amazing Spider-Man'' for a handful of issues after leaving following issue No. 100 (September 1971). With issue No. 110. Lee once again departed the title into which he had infused so much of his own personality over his near 10-year stint as regular writer."</ref> Lee, who was going on to become Marvel Comics' publisher, with Thomas becoming editor-in-chief, then turned writing duties over to 19-year-old [[Gerry Conway]],<ref>Manning "1970s" in Gilbert (2012), p. 62: "[''The Amazing Spider-Man'' #111] marked the dawning of a new era: writer Gerry Conway came on board as Stan Lee's replacement. Alongside artist John Romita, Conway started his run by picking up where Lee left off."</ref> who scripted the series through 1975. Romita penciled Conway's first half-dozen issues, which introduced the gangster [[Hammerhead (comics)|Hammerhead]] in No. 113 (Oct. 1972). Kane then succeeded Romita as penciler,<ref name="GCD-Kane" /> although Romita would continue inking Kane for a time.

Issue 121 (June 1973 by Conway-Kane-Romita) featured the death of Gwen Stacy at the hands of the Green Goblin in "[[The Night Gwen Stacy Died]]."<ref>Sanderson "1970s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 159: "In June [1973], Marvel embarked on a story that would have far-reaching effects. ''The Amazing Spider-Man'' artist John Romita Sr. suggested killing off Spider-Man's beloved Gwen Stacy to shake up the book's status quo."</ref><ref>Manning "1970s" in Gilbert (2012), p. 68: "This story by writer Gerry Conway and penciler Gil Kane would go down in history as one of the most memorable events of Spider-Man's life."</ref><ref>David and Greenberger p. 49: "The idea of beloved supporting characters meeting their deaths may be standard operating procedure now but in 1973 it was unprecedented...Gwen's death took villainy and victimhood to an entirely new level."</ref> Her demise and the Goblin's apparent death one issue later formed a story arc widely considered as the most defining in the history of Spider-Man.<ref>Saffel "Death and the Spider", p. 65: "Death struck again, with repercussions that would ripple through comics from that day forward."</ref> The aftermath of the story deepened both the characterization of [[Mary Jane Watson]] and her relationship with Parker.

In 1973 Gil Kane was succeeded by [[Ross Andru]], whose run lasted from issue #125 (Oct. 1973) to #185 (Oct. 1978).<ref>{{gcdb|type=credit|search= Ross+Andru|title= Ross Andru}}</ref> [[The Amazing Spider-Man 129|Issue#129]] (Feb. 1974) introduced the [[Punisher]],<ref>Manning "1970s" in Gilbert (2012), p. 72: "Writer Gerry Conway and artist Ross Andru introduced two major new characters to Spider-Man's world and the Marvel Universe in this self-contained issue. Not only would the vigilante known as the Punisher go on to be one of the most important and iconic Marvel creations of the 1970s, but his instigator, the Jackal, would become the next big threat in Spider-Man's life."</ref> who would become one of Marvel Comics' most popular characters. The Conway-Andru era featured the first appearances of the [[John Jameson (comics)|Man-Wolf]] in #124–125 (Sept.-Oct. 1973); the near-marriage of Doctor Octopus and Aunt May in #131 (Apr. 1974); Harry Osborn stepping into his father's role as the Green Goblin in #135–137 (Aug.-Oct.1974); and the original "[[Clone Saga]]", containing the introduction of [[Ben Reilly|Spider-Man's clone]], in #147–149 (Aug.-Oct. 1975).

[[Archie Goodwin (comics)|Archie Goodwin]] and Gil Kane produced the title's 150th issue (Nov. 1975) before [[Len Wein]] became writer with issue No. 151.<ref>Manning "1970s" in Gilbert (2012), p. 85: "To signify the start of this new era Spider-Man's new regular chronicler writer Len Wein would come onboard with this issue."</ref> During Wein's tenure, Harry Osborn and Liz Allen dated and became engaged; J. Jonah Jameson was introduced to his eventual second wife, Marla Madison; and Aunt May suffered a heart attack. Wein's last story on ''Amazing'' was a five-issue arc in #176–180 (Jan.-May 1978) featuring a third Green Goblin (Harry Osborn's psychiatrist, Bart Hamilton).

[[Marv Wolfman]], Marvel's editor-in-chief from 1975 to 1976, succeeded Wein as writer and, in his first issue, #182 (July 1978), had Parker propose marriage to Watson, who refused in the following issue.<ref>Manning "1970s" in Gilbert (2012), p. 103: "As new regular writer Marv Wolfman took over the scripting duties from Len Wein and partnered with artist Ross Andru, Peter Parker decided to make a dramatic change in his personal life."</ref> [[Keith Pollard]] succeeded Andru as artist shortly afterward and, with Wolfman, introduced the likable rogue the [[Black Cat (Marvel Comics)|Black Cat]] (Felicia Hardy) in #194 (July 1979).<ref>Manning "1970s" in Gilbert (2012), p. 107: "Spider-Man wasn't exactly sure what to think about his luck when he met a beautiful new thief on the prowl named the Black Cat, courtesy of a story by writer Marv Wolfman and artist Keith Pollard."</ref> As a love interest for Spider-Man, the Black Cat would go on to be an important supporting character for the better part of the next decade and remain a friend and occasional lover into the 2010s.