Preview: ‘The Spider’s Syndicate of Crime Vs The Crook From Space’ – More Wonderfully Strange Adventures From Brit Comic History

The second volume of arachnid adventures from a classic Brit hero/villain from the ’60s – this time it’s The Spider versus an alien after his power!

The Spider appeared in the pages of Lion back in the 1960s, a classic example of how divergent Brit comics and their ideas of what superheroes were from that of the Americans. No clean-cut hero here, instead the Spider is a super-crook, incredibly (and wonderfully) arrogant, a cunning mastermind with a stunning array of weaponry and a vast network of villainous henchmen. The Fantastic Four this ain’t.

Created by Ted Cowan and artist Reg Bunn, the majority of his wonderfully British adventures were penned by Jerry Siegel, co-creator of Superman and it’s Siegel’s writing here in this second volume that’s so enjoyable, full of off-beat action and adventure, alongside Reg Bunn’s glorious artwork re-mastered and made to look its very best by those at the Treasury of British Comics.

Inside, it’s the Spider facing pushback from the criminal underworld he thought he’d vanquished. They’ve sent a strange assassin known as the Exterminator to lure the Spider into a trap.

And once that particular threat has been dealt with, the Spider faces a shape-shifting crook from another planet, intent on plundering the planet and toppling The Spider from power. And that absolutely won’t do at all!

The Spider’s Syndicate of Crime vs The Crook From Space

Written by Jerry Siegel, art by Reg Bunn

Published by The Treasury Of British Comics on 6th July 2023

Originally serialised in Lion from June 1966 to January 1967

Available in both standard paperback and webshop exclusive hardcover, with a brand new cover by Vincenzo Riccardi. That’s below… and after that, just a little preview for you…