By the fifth issue of Fantaco’s CHRONICLES series, the bloom was off the rose in terms of their relationship with Marvel and Editor in Chief Jim Shooter, and so access to materials and permissions had been severed. This would be the final issue of the magazine devoted to Marvel, although Fantaco would publish one more CHRONICLES ANNUAL that would reprint a Slings-‘N-Arrows fanzine from the UK in which the creators reviewed every comic book series of the silver and bronze age. This is all too bad, as these CHRONICLES books were packed with insight and information, and very well done. Additionally, they typically contained at least one interview with a then-contemporary talent that is worthwhile to preserve. Today’s entry is exactly that.
On April 24, 1982, fan cartoonist Fred Hembeck had the opportunity to interview Marvel editor and writer Roger Stern at the yearly Ithacon convention, quizzing him about his plans for AMAZING SPIDER-MAN, which he was then writing. The conversation covers a broad range of topic, including Roger’s earlier work on PETER PARKER, THE SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN and provides us with a snapshot of just what he was thinking when he was putting together his classic run.
Fred himself also produced a three-page strip focused on the history of Peter Parker’s first doomed love affair with Betty Brant.
The Tom Brevoort Experience 
Never heard of the fifth issue or the annual before now!
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I got this and the earlier Fantaco Chronicles. Much enjoyed them. Hadn’t previously heard about a dispute with Marvel.
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Really nice interview between Hembeck and Stern. I wish there were more like this!
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I enjoyed all these Chronicle issues, but this one, the Spidey one, was the best. I refer to it as the “Spider-Man Bible” because I always felt it should be like television series bible but for Spidey comics. Should be required reading for any writer before getting started on Spider-Man. Particularly and especially the Stern interview.
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