The Amazing Spider-Man #133

The Amazing Spider-Man #133, published in June 1974, arrived during a transformative period for Marvel Comics under the guidance of editor-in-chief Roy Thomas. The story, titled 'The Tarantula is the Death That Creeps!', was penned by Gerry Conway and featured the interior artwork of Ross Andru, who was then establishing his long-running tenure as the primary Spider-Man artist. The issue is notable for being part of the mid-1970s narrative arc that saw Peter Parker grappling with increasingly grounded, gritty threats as the series moved away from the more fantastical villains of the preceding decade.

The creative team intended to introduce the Tarantula, a character designed to serve as a recurring, politically-charged antagonist who mirrored the darker tone prevalent in comics of the era. Ross Andru’s dynamic layouts and kinetic action sequences were aimed at maintaining the high energy fans expected from the title, while Gerry Conway focused on balancing the costumed conflict with Peter Parker's personal life. The issue was received as a standard but solid entry in the series, helping to solidify the Tarantula as a memorable, if secondary, addition to the Spider-Man rogues' gallery during the Bronze Age of comic books.