If you look at some defunct Marvel comic series from the 70s you might come across 17 issues about a team called The Champions. Formed by X-Men founding members Angel and the Iceman, the group included characters as disparate as Ghost Rider and the female Russian hero, Darkstar. Poor sales killed the comic in the real world but in the 616 universe the group disbanded because of frustration among the members. Here is where we come across the Champions in these twin issues of Spectacular. Most of the members have left except for Iceman and Angel - and things are amiss.
The thing I liked most in this arc is Iceman's creative use of his powers. He makes a great villain; really dangerous and very formidable. Unfortunately I can't say the same thing for the Angel, early X-Men issues by Lee and Kirby presents the winged Angel in very imaginative ways; using his powers for mobility, rescue, distraction and such. But later writers seem to be baffled about how to use a guy with wings, Bill Mantlo included. Nonetheless, this is a great superhero tale based on solid premises. The art is clean and there is plenty of action.
The issue comes together wonderfully with the whole being greater than the sum of its parts.
Posted by Pete Albano - July 10, 2011
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Spectacular Spider-Man (1976) comic books
Other Spectacular SPIDER-MAN Stories
1-3 : Tarantula, Lightmaster, Kraven
7-8 : Morbius the Living Vampire
47-48 : Belladonna and the Prowler
80 : J. Jonah Jameson - Reporter
87 : Spider-Man unmasks before the Black Cat
113 : Thugs break into the Parker house
114 : The Spider-Man costume gets stolen