With Great Power

By Rick L. Phillips, Christopher Brockow, Ron Athey and 10 more

This book has a series of fictional short stories as it follows one particular issue of Amazing Fantasy #15, that has the very first story to star the Amazing Spider-Man, from the time it is purchased in 1962 to the present. It shows how the story influenced the people that come in contact with it and the adventures they have because of its influence.
A group of celebrated writers and up and coming authors have joined together to share those stories in this book. Now follow this classic comic book on its journey from one person to another as it makes its trip through time.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dinky Publishing
• Release date: Mar 10, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386246039

Rick L. Phillips

Rick L. Phillips was born in Covington, Kentucky to Louis and Margaret Phillips. He received a BA in Radio, Television and Film Communications from Northern Kentucky University. He is an announcer and voice actor and his agent is the Heyman Talent Agency in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana. His first professional story was a short story titled "War Between Two Worlds" published in the book "It's That Time Again Volume 3". It was edited by the late, great writer and editor Jim Harmon. His next book that was published was a children's book. It was his creation called "Dinky the Elf". He is the author of the mystery "Last Train to Murder", the superhero series "Project: Hero" and wrote short stories for as well as conceived and edited the book "With Great Power" which follows the first Spider-Man story from 1962 to present and tells how it influenced the lives of each of its owners. Profits from With Great Power go to charity. Currently he is working on a new mystery novel as well having just published the second in the Project: Hero series, Project: Hero Atlantis Under Attack. Both of his parents were Sunday School Teachers and his father was a Deacon in his church. Rick is also a Christian. He was a Sunday School Teacher for 3 years and is active in the church choir and has sang solos and as part of a group at other churches. Like his Father he is now a Deacon in the church. He lives in Kentucky with his wife Violet.                

Book preview

FOREWORD

By Fred A. Hartley, III

I grew up in the world of comic books. My Dad’s art studio was in our home. While he was drawing Spider-Man, the Hulk, and Sergeant Fury for Marvel Comics, I was crawling on the floor between his legs. My father was Al Hartley.

By the time I was in high school my father was writing and drawing Archie comics. He often used me and my friends for storylines. My friends would frequently say, Hey, I was reading an Archie comic this week, and I saw a story that sounded a whole lot like us! It was.

Growing up around comics, I took them for granted. Now I admire them more than ever. Comics are a universal language. The simplicity. The humor. The graphic action. The abridged storyline. The way to create action with a few strokes of the pen. All of these things are signs of genius. They make comics a universal medium.

In mid-life my father was faced with a critical decision. He was offered a large salary to produce a risqué comic book. As financially beneficial as it was, my mother objected. Facing that decision led my father to think seriously about values, God, and the meaning of life. His search brought him to living faith in the person of Jesus Christ.

The year my dad won the Inkpot Award (the Grammy or Oscar of the Comic Industry) he sat between Charles Schultz and Jim Davis at the award ceremony. My mother still has the drawings each of them made on their paper placemats.

My father would often speak to large audiences. It was not unusual for him to speak five or even ten times a week. One of his favorite subjects was to speak on Comics, Creativity and Christ. For him all three topics were part of his life, and he was always happy to share them with others. He freely admitted that God was the source of his inspiration. The same God who created the heavens and the earth was allowing him  to extend that same creativity for the enjoyment of others. When he met Jesus Christ in mid-life, he came face-to-face with his Maker and understood the source of all true inspiration.

My family and I are happy to see Rick Phillips serve as a catalyst to extend the joy of comics to others.

Enjoy.

Follow Fred Hartley on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube

www.lilburn4Jesus.com

www.CollegeofPrayer.org

TO THE RESCUE

By Rick L. Phillips 

I remember it like it was yesterday. But it was 6 years ago. It was 1962 on a Friday afternoon and my friend Jerry and I, Mike Hammond, were walking home from school. We had just made our usual Friday after school stop at the drug store. There we each bought a comic book and a candy bar. Jerry always bought an Archie comic and a Hershey bar. Sometimes I bought an Archie comic but usually I bought Superman or Batman with a Snickers bar. Recently other superheroes started appearing on the stand. Not long ago I started reading a book called the Fantastic Four. As good as that one was I spotted a new one that day that excited me even more. The hero was swinging over the city streets. His muscles bulging as he carried the scared villain in his arm. In his red and blue suit covered with webs I was getting my first look at the Amazing Spider-Man on the cover of Amazing Fantasy #15.

When we got to my house our candy bars were already gone. We sat on the front porch and read our comics. As it became our tradition when we both were done we traded and read the others book. Now Archie and the gang can always make me laugh. Today it didn't. I just couldn't get my mind off of Spider-Man. Those wonderful powers of his and sadly how he could have prevented his Uncle Ben from dying but didn't. Was it really his fault? He didn't have to stop that burglar. But if he did he would have not only captured a robber but made sure that a future robbery and murder didn't happen. He would have saved his Uncle's life without knowing it. Spider-Man would have been a hero. Instead the policeman thought he was a jerk. When Jerry was done he gave me the book back. Jerry was like me. A kid with a wild imagination and excited about what he just read.

Wow! That was a great story.

I thought you would like it.

He has powers that I have never thought of a superhero having.

Yeah like a danger sense and climbing walls.

Hey! Batman can climb walls.

I know Batman is your favorite but even he can't climb walls without a rope.

It was Friday and, unlike most kids in our neighborhood, Jerry and I liked to get our homework done that night. That way we had the whole weekend to play and not worry if we would get done on time. So we said our good-byes. I went in and did my homework. Then we ate dinner. It was still light outside so I asked Mom if I could call Jerry and see if he could meet me across the street to play in the park. She said it was ok. I only heard the phone ring once when he picked up the phone. He had just finished his dinner and was about to call and ask me the same thing.

A few minutes later we were in the park playing Spider-Man on the monkey bars. Well I was playing Spider-Man. Jerry was playing Batman trying to prove that he could beat me, which he couldn't. The monkey bars were a warehouse where we did our battle. The winner of the first ever battle/team-up with Batman and Spider-Man has never been resolved. It never will be. But we had fun. Out of breath we sat on a bench and talked.

Did you know there's a burglar in this area, asked Jerry.

What! Who says?

My dad, he said that the Smiths up the street came home from work on Wednesday and all their furniture was gone.

Didn't anybody see anything?

Most of them were at work too.

It was getting dark so we said good-bye again for the second time that day. The rest of the weekend was pretty normal. Saturday morning I watched cartoons. Then it was outside to play with Jerry. Sunday morning I was in my best suit and went to church. Then after lunch I quickly changed and met Jerry at the park. Monday was different. It was an in service day at school. I didn't really know what an in service day was but I knew I didn't have to go to school. My mom only worked part-time but she had to work that day. Before she left she said it was ok if I wanted to play with Jerry but to come home for lunch. When I got to his house I found out that he couldn't play. His mom didn't work outside the house. She was usually at home by herself while her husband was at work and Jerry was at school. She said she wanted to spend time with him. That could only mean she was taking him clothes shopping. I missed him but I was perfectly happy to ride my bike by myself as long as I didn't have to go clothes shopping.

As I rode my bike I stayed pretty close to Jerry's house, just riding around the block. As I did I noticed a moving van with two men carrying furniture out of the house. At first I didn't think about it. Then I remembered that those people only moved in about two months ago. So I kept my eye on them. The people who lived there didn't have kids. If they did I hadn't met them yet. Wouldn't their kids be outside playing today if they had any? Maybe they were inside packing. Then I realized there was no car in the drive way. There was always a blue car in the drive way when they were home. This was beginning to look very odd to me. When I came around the corner again I notice the van starting to drive away.

What should I do? I don't know if these men were stealing, but if they were I can't let them get away. But there are no phone booths here and no one at home. By the time I could get home and call mom or dad at work they'll be gone. I remembered how Spider-Man let the burglar get away and then he killed Uncle Ben. If these guys are the crooks I couldn't let them get away. They may come and steal our stuff and may kill my mom or dad. So I decided to do the only thing I could. I rode my bike as hard as I could and followed them.

I rode for what seemed like hours. I thought I had lost them. My legs were ready to give out when just as I turned the corner I saw the van. It was parked outside a warehouse. I set my bike down quietly. Softly I approached the van. I looked in the back window. I saw a couch, chairs and tables. Lucky me, the drivers were inside the warehouse. The door was opened just a crack and I could hear them talking.

This is the best idea we've ever had.

Yeah robbing during the day when most of them are at work is working out great.

If anyone does see us they just think that the people are moving.

This is the first day job I've ever had.

I had heard enough. I went to the phone booth across the street and called the police. It wasn't easy convincing the dispatcher that I wasn't joking. But she seemed to believe me when I told her where I lived and how far I rode to this warehouse on Industrial Drive. She sent two squad cars. When the police showed up it seemed a bit strange. They didn't have their sirens on. I told them what I knew. They checked on the van and found out it was reported stolen. They put me in the back seat of one of the cars and got on the horn and told them to come out with their hands in the air. I just thought they would do what the police said but they started firing. The Police fired back. Suddenly the firing stopped and the men came out with their hands up. They could have saved everyone trouble if they did that in the first place.

All that happened very early because when the Police took me home it was noon. I was home in time for lunch just as mom got home from work. She didn't know she needed to be worried about me. When the Police told her I solved the burglary case she was so proud. Later that night when the news reported the early morning gun battle she grounded me for a week.

I had to go to court and tell them what I saw and did. The men went to jail for 15 years and all the families got their furniture back. The papers said it was all because of me.

Like I said that was 6 years ago. It's 1968 now. I'm 16 and driving. I want to ask this girl from my history class out on a date. Girls don't date guys who read comic books. I don't need a comic book to remind me how proud I am of that moment and how it showed me the strength and courage I have in me. My memories will last a life time. Comic books won't. At one time I was so proud of my collection that I branded them by writing my initials on the first page of all my books. I took them out to the curb to leave for the garbage man. A kid from down the street came by as I put them down. He looked at them and really took to the old Spider-Man books. I told him it was ok if he wanted to keep them. He wanted them all so I helped him carry them to his home. It is with pain and sorrow that I gave up my comic book collection but necessary for me to grow as I get older. After all they aren't really worth anything. Are they?

WITH GREAT POWER

By Rick L. Phillips

Hi! My name is David and boy do I have a story to tell. You see today I was just walking home when I saw this guy throwing out all these comic books. I asked him why he was throwing them away. He told me he was too old for this stuff now. He didn’t look much older than me. I’m 12 and he didn’t look older than 15 or 16. I asked him if I could have them he and he said it was ok. He even helped me carry them home.

When we got to my house Mom opened the door. He told her that he gave them to me. She thanked him and he went home. When Mom closed the door she told me that I should not have taken them from a strange man but she would let me keep them if they seemed ok after she checked them out. When she was done the only ones that she said I couldn’t keep were those that had a guy named Dr. Strange. I was happy keeping the ones like Spider-Man Fantastic Four and Iron Man. When I looked at the Spider-Man collection I couldn’t believe what I saw. Amazing Fantasy #15! This was the first Spider-Man story. Finally I was going to read the book that my friends and I had only heard about. As I opened the cover I noticed someone wrote a name at the bottom of the page. It hit me as odd that someone would write that name on the first page. Maybe it was part of a joke or maybe it was the name of the guy who gave me the book. Either way I was about to read the first story of my favorite hero. When I was done reading it I was drained. I couldn’t believe what Spider-Man went through. He was an orphan who was raised by his Aunt and Uncle. Then after that burglar broke in he lost his Uncle. Then he had to find out that he could have stopped the murder but didn’t. At least he learned his lesson from it and became one of the greatest superheroes in the world.

The next day I was at school. During study hall I was telling my friends about how I was now the proud owner of Amazing Fantasy 15. They were all very impressed. One kid who was listening was Harry. Harry was new in school. We had talked before and were on the way to being good friends. After school some of my friends asked if they could stop by and see the book. Most of them lived nearby. Harry heard us and asked if he could come too. I said sure it would be ok.

When we all got to my house was Mom surprised. There was at least a dozen and, much to Mom’s relief, they all said they couldn’t stay long. All of them got to read the Spider-Man story and were amazed that someone had written in the book.

When we were all done everyone left but Harry. He asked if he could get a ride home. It turned out that Harry lived on the other side of town. Dad was home by then and said he would give him a ride. Just before we left Harry asked if he could borrow my book. I didn’t want to seem like a bad friend since our friendship was just getting started so I let him take it home. I went with them and when we got to a stop light Harry got out. Dad stopped him but Harry said It’s ok! He pointed to a small dry cleaner with an apartment over it. We live over that store. Dad saw that there was no place for him to park so he said ok. The light turned green just as Harry got to the front door. We turned the corner to go home. As I was watching to see where Harry went Dad told me I should never bring home that many friends at one time without notice. I was still trying to see Harry. We were farther away now and I could barely see him but it looked like he didn’t go in the building. He was walking across the street with my Amazing Fantasy 15.

The next week at school I never got to talk to Harry. If he saw me coming down the hall he would duck into a classroom. If we had a class together he would not sit near me. Finally, I realized unless I did something I would never see my book again. On Saturday afternoon I went to the local drug store to buy my usual comic book, a Reese Cup and a Coke. Just as I entered the store I saw Harry at the comic book rack. He had not seen me so I went back out. I took my bike and hid in the alley between the drug store and the jewelers. Harry came out and got on his bike. When he was far enough away I started to follow. I