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Amazing Spider-Man, The (1963 series) #103

Dec 1971 on-sale: Sep 7, 1971

Roy Thomas
writer
 |  Gil Kane
penciler

Amazing Spider-Man, The (1963 series) #103 cover

Story Name:

Walk the Savage Land!


Synopsis

Amazing Spider-Man, The (1963 series) #103 synopsis by reviewer Anthony Silvestro
Rating: 3 stars

Spider-Man swings down to tackle some mobsters, all the while thinking about how he’s going to explain to Gwen where he’s been. After dealing with the crooks, he notes that the Daily Bugle’s light is on awfully late but decides it’s none of his business. Inside the Bugle, J. Jonah Jameson is holding a meeting about their underperforming paper. He blames TV for the steadily sinking sales and tries to figure out a way they can get back in the black. On the TV, Jameson sees a report from a guide in Antarctica detailing an attack by a large, monstrous creature that ravaged their research camp. Jameson realizes the creature must have come from the Savage Land and decides that’s how they’ll get back on top! He clears out everyone except for Robbie and asks him to call Peter Parker. Jameson has decided to travel to the Savage Land so they can gather info for a whole series of articles, and he wants Peter there as his photographer. Robbie feels reluctant to put Peter in that kind of danger, but Jameson threatens to fire him, pointing out that he’ll be going too.

The next morning, Peter has made up with Gwen, though keeping vague on where he’s been. Peter gets the call from Robbie about the assignment and quickly agrees. However, Gwen is upset that Peter accepted the assignment now of all times, so Peter drags her to the Daily Bugle so they can explain things in person. When they get there, Jameson decides that Gwen is the missing piece this little expedition needed, to add more appeal to the photos. After some deliberation, she agrees and the three of them set off for the Savage Land! After multiple modes of transportation, including a plane, a boat, and a helicopter, the crew reach Antarctica and meet up with Calkin, their guide. After hours more in the helicopter, they finally complete the last leg of their journey and touch down in the Savage Land!

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Gwen reveals the secret outfit she packed for the trip and changes into a bikini so that Peter can snap some photos to go along with the exposé. Not long after that, they come across a huge stone idol of a reptilian creature with a gong. Thinking Ka-Zar must have built it, Jameson rings the gong and he’s quickly proven wrong, as they’re soon surrounded by Savage Land natives. Just as the natives are about to charge, they’re driven back in fear by the arrival of the very monster Peter and company came here to find: the creature called Gog! Gog snatches up Gwen and Peter tries shooting the monster, before warning the others that Gwen’s been grabbed! Peter snatches up the bag of gas bombs they brought along, hoping to create a smokescreen to cover his movements. However, he gets a little too close and Gog swats him away, sending him hurtling off a cliff and into the river below! Jameson decides to go after Gwen and hopefully avenge Peter!

Peter comes to and uses the opportunity to change to Spider-Man, regardless of the danger it presents to his secret identity! Gog brings Gwen to his master, who turns out to be Kraven the Hunter! Kraven is using Gog to carve out a kingdom for himself in the Savage Land, and he’s kidnapped Gwen to be his queen! Meanwhile, Jameson and Calkin run face first into Zabu, meaning that Ka-Zar is not far behind! Jameson fills Ka-Zar in on everything that’s transpired and Ka-Zar agrees to rescue Gwen for them. Elsewhere, Spidey follows Gog’ tracks and encounters danger along the way. He quickly deals with an overgrown snake and soon spots Gog across a large stream. With no trees to web-swing from, Spidey bends back a tough sapling and launches himself across the ravine! He aims to land in a patch of mud but that proves to be his undoing as the mud turns out to be quicksand instead, and he’s rapidly sinking! To be continued!

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Characters
Good (or All)
JJJAMESON  
J. Jonah Jameson
(JJ Jameson)
KAZAR  
Ka-Zar
(Kevin Plunder)
ROBBIEROBERTSON  
SPIDERMAN  
Spider-Man
(Peter Parker)
ZABU  

Enemies
KRAVEN  
Kraven
(Sergei Kravinoff)
Plus: Gog.

> Amazing Spider-Man, The (1963 series) comic book info and issue index



This comic is in the following collection:
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Collecting AMAZING SPIDER-MAN (1963) #86-104.

Main/1st Story Full Credits

Gil Kane
Frank Giacoia
Unknown
Gil Kane (Cover Penciler)
Frank Giacoia (Cover Inker)
Unknown (Cover Colorist)
Additional Credits
Letterer: Art Simek.



Review / Commentaries


reviewer
Amazing Spider-Man, The (1963 series) #103 Review by (September 24, 2025)

Review: Spidey heads for the Savage Land! There are quite a few aspects to this first part of two that are just a little bit dumb. First off, the general premise is kind of flimsy. The Daily Bugle is going under and Jameson decides that an exposé on a monster spotted near the Savage Land would be the perfect way to get the paper back on top! It’s unclear why he has so much faith in this particular story, and it would do little to combat his paper’s true nemesis: TV! Second, it’s somehow decided that Gwen should come along on the trip to add more sex appeal. I’m not kidding. Although it’s clearly super dangerous, Gwen tags along so that Peter can get bikini pictures of her to go with the articles. It feels wildly out of character for everyone involved; Gwen for agreeing to it and modeling in the first place, Jameson for suggesting it, and Peter for going along with it despite the danger. Naturally, it’s mostly so Gwen can get captured by the monster, Gog, to act as a damsel in distress but I feel there were better ways to go about this. Side note: Gwen calls Jameson “Mr. J” throughout the issue which is way too reminiscent of Harley Quinn and the Joker for comfort.

Turns out, Gog works for Kraven, who actually fits well into the Savage Land setting. He’s taken Gwen to be his queen (ew) and it begs the question how he even knows who Gwen is, since he addresses her by name. Also, in trying to prevent Gwen’s capture, Peter fires a gun! It is so weird to see! I guess photos aren’t the only shots he can take! Would make one heck of an upgrade to his web-shooters (okay, I’ll stop now). Ka-Zar also shows up towards the end, because Savage Land, but doesn’t get a chance to do all that much yet. The issue is also a few pages longer than usual, and I can only assume it’s because they realized there was very little Spider-Man in this issue, as most of his time in costume is in the last couple pages. Not that that’s saying a whole lot, since Spidey manages to get himself stuck in quicksand like an idiot to act as a pretty lazy cliffhanger for next issue. Overall, a pretty nonsensical issue though still with a bit of goofy charm and some even more Gil Kane-y art than usual!

Comments: Spider-Man’s first visit to the Savage Land. First time Peter Parker fires a gun (no, really!). First appearance of Gog.





Thor

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