The Astonishing Spider-Man UK Marvel Issues?

Hi,

Can anybody explain to me how the UK Spider-Man comic 'The Astonishing Spider-Man' relates to the US Spider-Man comics.

I just bought issue 86. it says it's 4 weekly and contains 3 comics worth of Spider-Man.

Is this a direct reprint/compilation of the US 'The Amazing Spider-Man' ? Does this mean that in effect UK readers are up to Issue 258 (3 x 86) whereas US readers are at Issue four hundred and whatever?

Cheers,

If no one else answers this directly, if you can post the storylines in that book I might be able to sort it out for you.

On 21 May 2002, Fred Finisterre wandered deep into the Valley of Knowledge and Confusion and emerged victorious, proclaiming:

As far as I can tell, 'Astonishing Spider-Man' is reprints of stories that occurred in 'Amazing Spider-Man' in the US. 'Astonishing' is available only in the UK.

For example (Snipped from the web):

ASTONISHING SPIDER-MAN #82 76 pages! Includes material reprinted from Sensational Spider-Man # 27, Amazing Spider-Man #434, and Sensational Spider-Man #27.

It appears that 'Astonishing' presents the whole story, whereas in the US, we have to get 3 or 4 different issues to complete it.

But someone else might know more.

Spider-man in the UK has always had a different history to the US.

For example when Spider-Man comics weekly used to come out in the 70's / 80's it would contain part of a spider-man story along with Thor / Avengers / FF / Iron Man / Hulk etc.. each week so you might have an 80's spidey, 60's FF and 70's Hulk in a single comic.

The editors (who included Neil Tennant from the Pet Shop Boys) used to make minor script adjustments to remove too much continuity and the stories would jump from week to week. I can remember one week it had an 80's Amazing (240ish) and the next week it was a 70's Marvel Two-In-One! But, as far as English spidey history goes this was the path of events.

Anyways, to get back on topic... Marvel UK now just reprint in the format you mention. Therefore, that is the latest spidey story over here and the format is now to reprint US stories in the appropriate order. All serious spidey fans will buy imported USA comics and this is only meant at the casual readers at the newsagents.

HTH,