Panel Discussion: Comics were a bit faster then

Comic books sure were different in olden times. Check out the caption atop this panel from page 12 of "Amazing Spider-Man #5."

The glimpse of Spidey swinging around is cool enough, but I like that caption. Granted, this issue touted Spider-Man vs. Dr. Doom on the cover, and though we're 12 pages in, it hasn't happened yet, but I think it's hilarious that Smilin' Stan Lee feels obligated to apologize.

Look at it this way: We're only on page 12, but already:
*J. Jonah Jameson denounced the webslinger on TV.
*Doom recapped his last encounter with the Fantastic 4 and laid out his plan to recruit Spidey to battle them.
*Doom lured Webhead to his lair and had a conversation with him, followed by a brief skirmish before Spidey made a strategic retreat. Then Doom blew up the building and took off before Spider-Man went back in.
*Peter Parker sold his pictures of that building fire to Jameson and noticed Betty Brant sticking up for Spider-Man...and noticed "how pretty" she was.
*Flash Thompson and his friends set up an elaborate ruse to prank Parker, putting Flash in a Spider-Man costume.
*Doom mistakenly captured Flash.
*Doom seized the airwaves and broadcast a message that he was holding "Spider-Man" (really Flash) until the FF surrendered to him.
*Peter realized what happened and schemed to get out of the house despite the worrying, overprotective Aunt May's concerns.

Not bad for a prelude, I think.