Flashback: My first comic, how the collection started and why you should get your kid comic books

"Edderkoppen" 40 cover

Hey people, I decided to take a look at the first comicbook I ever owned, an issue of the Danish Spider-Man series, renamed/translated into “Edderkoppen”, “the Spider” in English. The issue came out in ’88 here in Denmark; I think I was around 4-5 years old when I got it in a supermarket in Sjaellands Odde where I was on vacation. I don’t remember much of “reading” the comic at that time, probably because I was 5 and didn’t read that well, if at all, yet. Mostly, I remember the pictures and this first comic also featured several more Marvel characters than just Spider-Man. Originally, the story in this issue is a part of the Secret Wars storyline, issue 5 to be exact. In Secret wars, a cosmic entity calling itself the Beyonder, has been observing the mainstream Marvel universe and finds itself fascinated by the concept of good and evil. As a result, the Beyonder takes a group of both super heroes and villains to Battleworld, a planet created by the Beyonder. The heroes and villains are promised their deepest desires coming true if they destroy their enemies.

The Lizard in The Amazing Spider-Man 

Among those on the heroes’ side are The Avengers, counting Captain America, Iron Man (though not with Tony Stark in the armor, but Jim Rhodes/War Machine), Thor, She-hulk, Hawkeye and Wasp, the Fantastic Four minus Susan Richards/Invisible Woman, Spider-Man, Spider-Woman and the Hulk and also the X-men with members Prof. Xavier, Cyclops, Wolverine, Colossus, Rouge, Storm and Nightcrawler.  To oppose the heroes are Dr. Doom, Kang the Conqueror, the AI Ultron, Dr. Octopus, the Lizard (featured villain of this summers The Amazing Spider-man film), The Wrecking crew, Klaw, Titania, Volcana and Molecule Man. It’s a classic “big-time-brawl” between good and evil and has been reprinted in collected editions both in the US and DK as well. Also noteworthy about this story is that it was on Battleworld Spider-man got his black suit and brought it back with him to earth. When Spider-Man later rejected the suit, actually a living alien being, it bonded with the previously scorned by Spider-Man journalist Eddie Brock and became the villain known as Venom. Venom quickly became one of Spider-Man’s most popular foes and also one of my favorites when I was younger. 

Venom in his own series

Cover of "Edderkoppen"
117

A couple of years after finding that first issue, my real collection of Spider-Man began with nr 117 in the Danish numbering. I consider that to be the beginning of the collection, because all issues I have before that were randomly bought at various times when I found them in antiques and the like. But from 117 and forth I have each and every Danish issue up until 3 years ago when I switched to the US comics. Today, no Superhero comics are printed in Denmark anymore, except if certain stories are reprinted in paperback or similar. No monthly series are being published anymore simply because there’s no market for it here right now. Superhero comics have been printed here with ups and downs for more than 50 years and I’m pretty sure they’ll return sooner or later. But until then I have to admit it saddens me that kids today won’t have the same opportunity to get familiar with this amazing world of heroes, villains, gods, demons and aliens, the same way I did. Until superhero comics return to DK, if they do at all, fans here will have to depend on the American issues. I personally prefer those in any case, but sadly, not being translated and printed in Danish prevents smaller children from enjoying more than just the pictures. Here’s my advice, parents: buy your kids some comics, either find the Danish issues in places such as antiques or collected editions in libraries and bookshops. Or the American in special shops and read them out loud, great way of practicing a second language as well as having fun with your kids. For the younger ages I’d recommend Spider-Man, since it features lots of humor and colorful villains or the Fantastic Four. Both Superman and Batman has also been published in more child friendly versions called Superman the animated series and The Batman adventures, so there’s lots of choices, get going!!!