the Amazing Spider-man by Gottlieb

    GALLERY

Spider-man (real name: Peter Parker), created by Stan Lee and originally drawn by Steve Ditko, is probably the most successful Marvel Comics character and he naturally dominates the pin's fantastic artwork, appearing 13 times on the playfield and New York skyline-inspired backglass. Other characters from the strip appear too:

  • Family and friends are: Mary-Jane Watson-Parker, Daily Bugle editor J.Jonah Jameson and Aunt May Parker
  • The villains are: Dr. Octopus, Kingpin, Kraven the Hunter, Scorpion, Lizard, Black Widow & Vulture.

    Gottlieb artist Gordon Morison is credited with the Amazing Spider-man, however he was not alone. Stan Lee's office at Marvel Films in LA stated that "The majority of the characters on the pin were taken from Marvel Style Guides. Some figures were pulled from comics (Amazing Spider-man issues) and the background was done by Marvel Staff Artists. The manufacturers of the pin did some additional technical corrections. Marvel was involved with the creation of the pin. Marvel worked with Gottlieb more on the art than anything else. Marvel also approved the product designs and content."

    • It's no surprise that art previously used in the comics should be lifted for use on the pin.

  • The image of Kraven the Hunter is identical except for a change to the left hand to that on the cover of issue #47, April '67.
  • Issue #68, January '69, drawn by John Romita has the familiar Spidey swinging pose in the outlanes.
  • The large Spidey on the backglass is from Marvel and DC Comics first collaboration in 1974 where Spidey meets Superman - original artwork by Ross Andru.
  • The large Spidey on the playfield is Gil Kane art from the splash page of issue #89, October '70.
  • Kingpin is taken from issue #69, February '69 (p.11) - the artist exactly reversed the John Romita image.
  • The Lizard is lifted from issue #102, November '71 (p.3) - the artist repositioned/redrew the left foot and added some outer detail (the original Gil Kane image was cropped).

    A copyright statement appears on the backglass and playfield: "Spider-man and the distinctive likeness thereof is a trademark of the Marvel Comics Group and is used with permission. Copyright 1980 Marvel Comics Group, a division of Cadence Industrial Corporation. All Rights Reserved."

    • Spidey leaps into action above the New York skyline! Green Goblin II blasts past Player 1's display on his jet glider, as Vulcan swoops under and Black Widow swings on a thread above Player 2, and Dr. Octopus waves his arms under Player 4.

    Great artwork and playfield layout and design: there may not be many frills but there are lots of great long shots and combinations of challenging targets to make.

    In a darkened room the true beauty of the comic book characters and mix of warm colours combine to produce a wonderfully inviting playfield.

    Thwippp! Spidey, in typically dynamic pose, shoots a web across from the left-side upper flipper to the bank of 5 drop-targets. Follow Spidey's aim to the centre target for that extra ball when lit!

    Mary-Jane Watson-Parker, J. Jonah Jameson and old Aunt May keep an eye on the multiplier bonus.

    The right bank of drop-targets: the key to enabling large bonuses and extra balls. Gottlieb cleverly used the spider-web design again on Haunted House.

    Bursting out of his suit, Kingpin rants and raves. Meanwhile, Kraven the Hunter (and Freddie Mercury lookalike) stands defiantly between the pop-bumpers. Scorpion looks on from right of picture.

    Thwippp again! The left side features the turnaround lane to a B rollover, the spinning target lane and the potentially rewarding but dangerous bank of 3 drop-targets.

    Thanks to Gerald Adams for researching the character artwork sources.
    Quotes from Stan Lee's office at Marvel Films in LA (8 October '98, signed by his assistant, Donna Boswell).
    Shoot a web back to the AMAZING SPIDER-MAN
    Last updated: 28.May 2007