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The Spider: King Of Crooks by Jerry Siegel, Ted Cowan and Reg Bunn
28/11/2005 . Source: Geoff Willmetts 
pub: Titan Books. 120 page illustrated hardback. Price: £14.99 (UK), $19.95 (US). ISBN: 1-84576-000-X. Buy from Amazon US - Buy from Amazon UK
nb: US titles may only be available from Amazon US, and UK titles from Amazon UK. check out websites: www.titanbooks.com
British comics had a habit of revering villains as lead characters in their comicstrips back in the 60s. I remember reading a few 'Charlie Peace' in the barbers and had vague memories of the rather outlandish criminal mastermind, 'The Spider', although I didn't start reading the Lion comic proper until the early 70s. For those too young or from abroad, British comics from this period were very much age graded and as you got bored with one range, there was always something more suitable on the shelf to take over. That is, assuming you weren't always hi-jacked by the glamorous 4 colour American comics or were people like me, who had some of everything. With the demise of British comics today caused by attractions elsewhere, there has been little like this to draw children up through the ranks of comics and is probably a contributing factor as to why the comicbook industry has been in decline for so long.
Whether the 4 year run spread over the books issued by Titan featuring 'The Spider' will inspire the young is debatable but it might attract those of you out there in the 40 plus age group with a nostalgic bent to sample some of these books that they are issuing, especially with such as 'The Steel Claw' on the horizon.
The Spider is an arrogant American criminal mastermind who wishes to prove himself king of crooks. Despite his pointed-eared large nosed features, he's also very good with technology having a jet pack and guns that can administer gas concoctions and spider-webs and strands amongst other things. With this introduction, we see the Spider gathering the first of his gang as he proceeds with various robberies and always staying one step ahead of the police who are eager to catch him. He also takes it upon himself to take out any pretenders to be top criminal whenever anyone rears their head too much.
For these 4 early tales in this book, the Spider is a pure melodramatic villain and the interest is far more in how he gets out of the situations he gets himself into than any moral issue of whether what he does is ethical or not. I'm glad to say that for the most part, his writers don't resort to deux ex machina. He does pull back from killing police officers if he doesn't have to but the Spider has no fear of terrorising anyone, including his own gang to keep them in line. He is propelled by ego as much as greed.
Created by writer Ted Cown and artist Reg Bunn, the latter stayed practically the entire run, The Spider's writing chores was handed over to American writer Jerry Siegel from story 3. For those who aren't keeping up, Siegel was co-creator of an American icon called Superman. There, thought that might get a few of you sitting up. He was hired after leaving National Periodicals aka DC where his famous creation is still around today. There's a differing contrast in the comicstrip when Siegel took over with more spacious panels that added a lot more air this black and white story. Of course, having an American writing a story set in New York made a lot more sense.
Reg Bunn's artistic skill exemplifies that of 60s British comicbook art with a lot of scenery, detail and action bringing things to life. You're thrown into the action from the start but never have any problems running with the story flow. Having each 3 page story run in succession with nary a recap but easy to pick up from was always something we British could carry off without missing a heartbeat.
If anything, the Spider was the start of the anti-hero runs in British comics with an almost super-villain like stance with his exotic costume and weaponry. He was also a thinking character in terms of how he sorted out his problems which explained his longevity. I doubt if American comics could have carried him off quite so well. If you want a nice gentle dip into the past, then I think you'll enjoy this. If you do, look closely at the features of one of the plain clothes detectives as he looks uncannily like Jack Warner aka Dixon Of Dock Green.
GF Willmetts
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