Spider-Man vs. Mind Control! ASM #170, Doctor Faustus, and 1977 Comic Nostalgia

Released in July 1977, The Amazing Spider-Man #170 hit the shelves as Star Wars dominated theaters and Rumors by Fleetwood Mac topped the charts. In this issue, Spider-Man faces Doctor Faustus, a villain who uses mind-controlling gas in a plot involving a tampered vaccine. Spider-Man falls under Faustus' spell but recovers in time to stop his scheme. The story also features a key subplot with the burglar who killed Uncle Ben, which ties into future issues, especially The Amazing Spider-Man #200.Written by Len Wein, known for co-creating Wolverine, the story captures Spidey's evolution from a nerdy outcast to a more confident hero. However, Peter Parker doesn’t appear out of costume, keeping the focus on Spider-Man.Ross Andru’s artwork, inked by Mike Esposito and Frank Giacoia, showcases dynamic action scenes, though some panels scale Spidey oddly small compared to Faustus’ henchmen. Still, Andru’s cityscapes are iconic.The comic also features classic 1970s ads, including muscle-building courses and Hostess snack cakes with Iron Man. It’s a fun time capsule of the era, even if the story isn’t the most compelling.Like, subscribe, and comment if you enjoyed this breakdown—and remember, support real artists!Sources:Marvel ComicsDC ComicsWikipediaGoogle MapsPhotos:The queue outside the Vogue Theatre in Vancouver for the first screening of Star Wars on June 24, 1977. (Photo: Glenn Baglo/Vancouver Sun)By Deutsche Fotothek‎, CC BY-SA 3.0 de, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index...By "The Amazing Spider-Man Annual # 21 - The Wedding". Comic Vine. Retrieved 2005-03-05., Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?...By Bruce Wechtenhiser - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index...By Luigi Novi, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index...By qwesy qwesy, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index...Marvel 1977 sales: https://caroltilley.net/2019/06/a-sna....By "Pinguino" - "Pinguino's" flickr account, CC BY 2.0, .css-j9qmi7{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-flex-direction:row;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row;font-weight:700;margin-bottom:1rem;margin-top:2.8rem;width:100%;-webkit-box-pack:start;-ms-flex-pack:start;-webkit-justify-content:start;justify-content:start;padding-left:5rem;}@media only screen and (max-width: 599px){.css-j9qmi7{padding-left:0;-webkit-box-pack:center;-ms-flex-pack:center;-webkit-justify-content:center;justify-content:center;}}.css-j9qmi7 svg{fill:#27292D;}.css-j9qmi7 .eagfbvw0{-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;color:#27292D;}