It’s time for another Fabulous Find and you’ve found it. I’m back this week with a cool find, it’s the Power Records first Spider-Man book and record set from 1974. It’s numbered PR10 and it’s the first in a series of 45 RPM records featuring super-heroes from both Marvel Comics, as well as DC Comics. Power Records was also known as Peter Pan Records and also Zap Records, for those of you keeping track of such things. They also made records of Star Trek and classics like; Robin Hood, Davy Crockett, Robinson Crusoe, even Little Women. But I’ve only tracked down the super-hero book/record sets for my own collection, though I’m still missing a couple of the DC ones.
So what exactly is this set about? Well, it’s an adaptation of Marvel Comics’ Amazing Spider-Man #s 124 & 125 from October and November 1973. It takes the story that ran in those two issues and condenses it to twenty pages, which is roughly half of the original story. And how does it do that? By removing all the storylines and plots that have nothing to do with the Man-Wolf story itself. Here’s the cover:
Spider-Man Power Record & Book Set 1974
And here are the two covers from the original comics:
Spider-Man # 124 Sept 1973
Spider-Man # 125 Oct 1973
As you can certainly see, Power Records chose to use the cover from the Amazing Spider-Man # 124 as the cover to their book and record set.
For the record the above covers are drawn by John Romita Sr. The story behind the cover is entitled; “The Mark of the Man-Wolf” and it is written by Gerry Conway, with pencils by both Gil Kane (issue #124) and Ross Andru (issue # 125). The inking is done by John Romita Sr. and Tony Mortellaro. The record is produced by Herb Davidson and Charlotte Saunders.
Of note is that the voice actor providing the voice of Peter Parker and Spider-Man is Peter Fernandez, who voiced Speed Racer in the cartoons.
Here is the inside of the package, holding the record:
Spider-Man/Man-Wolf rear interior
Note that it lists twelve (12) book and record sets. After Spider-Man, there are ones featuring the Hulk, Captain America, the Fantastic Four, etc. I own the first eight, but do not own the four (4) Planet of the Apes sets.
And here is the back cover itself:
Spider-Man/Man-Wolf rear cover
Oh yeah, the story itself opens with J. Jonah Jameson getting a visit from his son, John, who is a former astronaut. John pleads illness to get out of a dinner engagement, but once he’s home, he changes into the Man-Wolf. The Man-Wolf then seeks out and attacks his father. Meanwhile, Peter Parker has seen the latest Daily Bugle headline condemning Spider-Man and decides to confront Jonah.
He arrives just as the Man-Wolf busts through the window going after Jonah. Spider-Man and the Man-Wolf battle with the Man-Wolf gaining the upper hand, knocking out Spider-Man. While Spidey is unconscious, Jonah comes face to face with the Man-Wolf. He notices the the Man-Wolf is wearing the same necklace as his son and a silent communication takes place between the two of them. The Man-Wolf flees.
Spidey regains his senses and Jonah surprisingly forbids him to go after the Man-Wolf, but won’t give any reasons why. Spider-Man leaves but he’s tracked by the Mna-Wolf. The Man-Wolf attacks Spidey and once again they battle, but the Man-Wolf escapes again, as the moon is setting and he is about to re-transform into John Jameson.
:ater, Jonah and John talk, and John tells him of the mysterious moon rock he now wears and it’s ability to turn him into the Man-Wolf upon a full moon. The problem is that the moon rock has grafted itself itself to John’s skin.
The next evening, still under a full moon, John again transforms into the Man-Wolf and attacks his father, but Spider-Man arrives yet again to prevent the Man-Wolf from killing J. Jonah Jameson. They battle for a third time and this time Spider-Man is able to tear the moon rock from the Man-Wolf’s throat thus forcing the transformation back into John Jameson. Spider-Man hurls the moon rock into the East River and walks away from the father and son ending the story.
These book and record sets are pretty nice and are actually pretty well done considering they are meant to be a child’s introduction to comic book characters. I definitely feel they are worth collecting. If you’d like to hear about some of the other sets in the series, please let me know in the comments section or via Facebook or Twitter, wherever you’re reading this. And be sure to come back next week for another RETRO REVIEW. Same bat time, same bat channel. And of course, I’ll be back in two weeks with another Fabulous Find. Be seeing you …
I have The Amazing Spiderman PR10. Can you tell me what it is worth?
Hi Bonnie, thanks for stopping by and reading my blog. Sorry to rain on your parade if you were hoping to strike it rich with this collectible. I’d say it is worth between 10 & 20 dollars, provided you can find the buyer and that the book and record are in excellent shape. I’ve bought my copies for as low as 5 dollars and the Spider-Man sets are a little more common than some of the others, so worth a tad less. hope that helps!
Hi Greg, my name is Marc Avery ,,,. I’ve recently come across several 45 records with all Peter Pan super hero power records and many other child or comic related 45s….. I’m wondering if there are any of these that are particularly rare if so could you possibly tell me
HI Marc, None are particularly rarer than the others. The super-hero ones might be a little easier to find than the monster ones. Though to have any monetary value you must have both the records and the books that they were packaged with. But as I said to Bonnie earlier, these collectibles are not going to make you rich! They are fun but just are not worth all that much. – greg
Thank you for your insightful review Greg. A member of a Facebook group of mine posted the set of these. Althogh I’m familiar with the comics I hadn’t come across the records before; hence my interest. Once again, thank you.
You’re welcome, Adam! – greg