Spider-Man Debut Comic Book in "The Naked City" (1962)

 

 

Christmas in September? September 19, 1962? And Spider-Man?

Yup.

Below is an episode of the TV series The Naked City (1958-1963). It's the fourth season opener of the series.

"It was inspired by the 1948 motion picture The Naked City and mimics its dramatic 'semi-documentary' format. As in the film, each episode concluded with a narrator intoning the iconic line: 'There are eight million stories in the naked city. This has been one of them.'"-- Wikipedia

Via Gary Dunaier:

"Most comic books fans are aware of the episode of the police drama "Naked City" that has a scene taking place in front of a newsstand, where an actual genuine real copy of Amazing Fantasy #15 is prominently visible.

 

"With a copy recently selling for a record-breaking $3.6 million*, it's fascinating to see Amazing Fantasy #15 presented as a current issue. Collectors will no doubt shudder at the sight of a mint copy being held aloft on a string by a clothespin, but the newsdealer would no doubt dismiss you as a loony if you were to tell him that someday that comic book would sell for over $397,000 (the 1962 equivalent of $3.6 million**).

 

"The scene is part of the Naked City Season 4 opener, "Hold For Gloria Christmas," and if you've ever wanted to see it in the context in which it originally aired, the complete episode is on You Tube.

 

"And there's no better time to see it than today, because "Hold For Gloria Christmas," season 4, episode 1 of Naked City, with the newsstand-fresh Amazing Fantasy #15 on the newsstand, was originally broadcast 59 years ago today - September 19, 1962.

_________

* Heritage Auctions, Comics and Comic Art Signature Auction #7246, lot #93001, September 9, 2021.

** Actually $397,416.36.

 

The appearance of Amazing Fantasy #15 is about 55 seconds into the teaser. Hat tip to Heidi MacDonald!