CATALOG RECORD

The Amazing Spider-Man #542

Marvel · Series began 1999 · August 2007

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Copies of #542 are not all the same book. Here is how to tell each one apart.

Direct edition

Direct Edition

No UPC barcode in the corner box: direct editions show artwork, a logo or a blank box there.

Barcode 75960604716154211
Source ↗
Newsstand edition

Newsstand

A UPC barcode in the cover's corner box.

Barcode 07447002457608
This edition’s page

This is part 14 of 18. Reading order by cover month and on-sale date; arc records can be incomplete.

pencils: Ron Garneyinks: Ron Garney, Bill Reinholdscript: J. Michael Straczynskicolors: Matt Millaletters: Cory Petit

Back in Black Part 4 · 23 pages
Kingpin is waltzing out of jail, when Spider-Man shows up for a final confrontation about the shooting of Aunt May. After going a few rounds in front of an audience of inmates, Spider-Man takes off his mask and tells Kingpin that, whereas Spider-Man would never kill the villain, Peter Parker is ready and willing to do just that. Peter beats the Kingpin to within an inch of his life and tells him that he is going to have to live with the shame of being beaten in front of those he claims to rule but only as long as Aunt May lives because, once she dies, Peter will be back to finish the job.

Spider-Man finally tracks down who gave the kill order, and it's someone from his past!

Peter ParkerSpider-ManMary Jane WatsonMay ParkerWilson FiskKingpin

Amazing Spider-Man by JMS Ultimate Collection (2009), Amazing Spider-Man by J. Michael Straczynski Omnibus (2018)