F.M. :: BUSCEMA SAL

The Spectacular Spider-Man 179 page 1 by Sal Buscema

Artists: Sal Buscema (All) , J.M. Dematteis (Writer)

7 Comments - 372 Views - 11 Likes

The Spectacular Spider-Man 179 page 1 by Sal Buscema Comic Art

Click Image to View Full Size

Additional Images:

Published page

Next Item:
Incredible Hulk 298 page 8 by Sal Buscema & Gerry Talaoc

Artwork Details

Title:	The Spectacular Spider-Man 179 page 1 by Sal Buscema
Artist:	Sal Buscema (All)
Artist:	J.M. Dematteis (Writer)
Media Type:	Pen and Ink
Art Type:	Interior Page
For Sale Status:	NFS
Views:	372
Likes on CAF:	11 12
Comments:	7
Added to Site:	4/4/2023
Comic Art Archive:

Description

The (much too short) Spectacular Spider-Man run by J.M.Dematteis and Sal Buscema is probably my favorite run on the character, combining Dematteis� psychological approach that he fully embraced there and Sal inking himself and delivering his best work on Spidey.

And the child within story arc in which Dematteis revisited Vermin (yet again) remains my favorite part of that run. So, adding another page from it is special.

No Spidey here but a page fully devoted to Vermin being �psycho-analyzed� by Dr Kafka.

I strongly believe that the multiple panel grid during that run was Dematteis� doing as Sal never really used it before of after. And it worked perfectly for the type of stories they were telling.

Case in point, in 12 panels of the same size, mirroring a TV screen from which Dr Kafka is observing her patient, we go from super feral and trashing Vermin in panel 1 to his unsecure child persona in the last.

There are so many elements that subtly underline the progression from panel 1 to 12, the emotional progression of the character.

If you look at the first 3, you can tell that Vermin is less tense by the third than in the first, from his facial features and the disappearance of the saliva spits. His face being half covered in shadows in the third panel also indicates that he is cooling down, that his emotional state is changing and responding to the therapy.

The from panel 4 to 12, he is basically shrinking down to the childlike state we find him in the last.

The camera pulling away in panel 5 even seems like he is physically shrinking and then it�s only a succession of little gestures and body positions (in the corner of the room) that indicates him reverting to his child self.

Also an amazing (�) detail of note, you may notice that as Vermin reverts back to Edward and basically opens up to Dr Kafka, his whole body language go from an �open, unafraid position� to a fully closed one. How thoughtful and full of significance.

(I�m sure that any professional therapist would cringe at this page but it makes for such great visual storytelling).

Just great work by a seasoned visual storyteller at his best when paired with an exceptional writer.

Social/Sharing

About the Owner

	F M Premium Gallery Owner
Joined:	May 2005
Last Login:	September 2025
Country:	BELGIUM
On CAF:	F's Classifieds Artworks Commented On Liked Art Site Activity on CAF

Contact the Owner

Use can use a contact form to send an email to this gallery owner,
but, you must be logged in to use this feature.

Comments on this Artwork

You must be logged in to make comments.

Ruben DaCollector
Member Since 2008

1 - Posted on 4/4/2023

I remember this page vividly! I was so struck by the brilliant storytelling techniques that Sal employed that I tried telling my friend how great it was but he looked at me with a quizzically and said "It's just Vermin in a bunch of panels, who cares?!". Sigh....

That we're in the scene, watching him on the monitors is already cool enough. But that he goes from a frothing at the mouth, crazed animal to a docile little child while progressively being drawn ever smaller with each subsequent panel, is just brilliant!

James Dornoff
Member Since 2019

1 - Posted on 4/4/2023

A really fun piece and yes like the emotion of solitude as camera pulls back on lower panels. Nice find, congrats!

Jason Hussa
Member Since 2017

1 - Posted on 4/4/2023

Great write up, F M! What a fantastic visual "decrescendo" here by Sal; a brilliant use of that 12-panel grid. This is a perfect example of pure graphic storytelling that works on multiple levels, and it bookends beautifully (of course) with your page 18 from this same issue. Congrats on another Buscema add, Fred! Great page!

Mark V
Member Since 2021

1 - Posted on 4/4/2023

This is probably the most subtle storytelling I've seen from Sal. This isn't a criticism. It's more a knock against those writers who didn't always take advantage of Sal's full capabilities as an artist. Love how the focus slowly pulls back from the initial close-up to Vermin crouched in the corner.

Marcus Wai
Member Since 2005

3 - Posted on 4/4/2023

Vermin crashes
Psycho-analyzed
Sal Buscema draws to the floor

The Edward opens his eyes
The confusion sets in
Before the doctor can even close the door

Vermin crashes
Dematteis writes
His persona falls to the floor

The Edward closes his eyes
The confusion that was there
Belongs now, to the Spidey down the hall (Spidey down the hall, Spidey down the hall)

Oh, now feel it, Vermin’s back again
Like a Doctor Kafka chasing Sal’s inks
Forces pulling from the center of his worth again
Edward feels it

Vermin crashes
Psycho-analyze

This splash page we've been waiting for

K Gearon
Member Since 2011

1 - Posted on 4/6/2023

Won't forget this one! One of the pages outside of Kraven's Last Hunt I think of when I think of Vermin. Just...poor dude. Perfect example of Edward Whelan's ongoing plight. EFFECTIVE storytelling. Congrats!

Michael McIsaac
Member Since 2020

1 - Posted on 4/12/2023

Once again I'm in agreement with you as I thought the DeMatteis/Buscema Spidey issues were incredibly strong, outshining the rest of the line at the time. Congrats on picking up this great piece of sequential storytelling.

All
	Mark Graham 9/6/2025 5:34:00 PM
	J Murdock 9/6/2025 5:26:00 PM
	Shannon Weathers 9/6/2025 5:16:00 PM
	Dave E 9/6/2025 4:57:00 PM
	Chris Johnson 9/6/2025 4:55:00 PM
View All


	GP Bart 9/6/2025 4:33:00 PM
	Spencer McCarter 9/6/2025 4:31:00 PM
	Mike Haynes 9/6/2025 4:00:00 PM
	Richard Donnelly 9/6/2025 3:45:00 PM
	Paul Handler 9/6/2025 3:40:00 PM