British Spider-can!

These days Spider-Man changes his costume design all the time, but back in 1984 Peter Parker only wore one set of long johns. At least to British eyes. In America Spidey had took a trip to the stars with the Marvel Heroes, to the Beyonder planet in Marvel Superheroes, Secret Wars and came back with a black and white outfit. At first American fans hated it, but soon grew to love it. It was thought that British fans would also share their cousins dislike of it. We're not supposed to like change! I loved Spider-Man British weeky that had been running since 1972, but as a reader of the U.S. additions I knew what was coming and had no fear that the changes wouldn't spoil this love. MarvelUK wasn't to sure that the rest of the UK could handle it, so it was decided to carry on with the red and blue version of the web slingers adventures but written and drawn by Brits for a British readership. 

So on the 27th of October 1984 in issue 607 MarvelUK published Britished made Spider-Man adventures. This wasn't the first time MarvelUK had used American charactors as leads for strips, back in 1979 Dez Skinn created The Hulk Comic with Nick Fury, the Black Knight and the emerald giant starring in British created strips. Captain Britain, who had started in a MarvelUK comic, originally written and drawn by American creators, was also in a lengthy critically acclaimed British produced run, at that time Mighty World of Marvel monthly. To publicise Spidey's first British foray the plot used the creative idea that Spider-Man was asked to appear on ITV's Saturday morning kids TV show, Saturday Starship. A costumed Spider-Man look-a-like also appeared for real on the show that same day as the published comic. 

Mike Collins who's early work had appeared in a Marvel Showcase in MWOM monthly not to long ago was handed script duties. Barry Kitson handled the artwork, his first professional work. Mark Farmer finished it off with inks. Collins would go on to work successfully for publishers on both sides of the Atlantic as well as a story boarder for BBCs Doctor Who and sometimes artist on Doctor Who Magazine. Kitson went on to draw Transformers for MarvelUK which lead on to success for US and UK companies. Farmer became an inker well known for inking Alan Davis artwork. 

Collins took over the artwork from Kitson in issue 608 for part two. Possibly to keep up to the weekly deadline. This didn't damage the story in anyway, in fact his artwork looked very similar, possibly their style was intended to be the in house Spider--Man style. This style worked really well and was a very enjoyable read.

Kitson returned to pencil the third issue 609. In keeping with the UK Spider-Man style, which was helped by Mark Farmers classic inking.

For the final British instalment Collin scripted and penciled again. On the whole it was a successful experiment, but one that sadly wouldn't be continued. The product was great but it was seen impossible to maintain new continuity with the original US version and produce a strip weekly. Ironically MarvelUK would choose not to use American or British continuity to solve the question of black and white or red and blue. Instead when the time came they turned the comic into an infant rag comic much like Ultimate Spider-Man produced by Panini, a three weekly comic aimed at very young children. which ignores all and any continuity. This move did nothing but leaving many loyal readers to abandon the weekly for the original American imports. 

The 1984 tale finishes off with some modern pop culture references and then dovetails into the next issue, an American produced story written by the legend that is Stan Lee. The web slinger still wearing his original red and blue togs, but the black costume was on the way whether MarvelUK liked it or not. Sadly not soon enough. But that's a tale for another day. 

Make Mine Marvel.