Ventura landmarks featured on exclusive cover of 'The Amazing Spider-Man' comic

Update: Marvel has delayed the release of the 900th issue of 'The Amazing Spiderman' to July 27.

Local Spider-Man fans rejoice: Spidey finally made it to Ventura County.

An exclusive limited-run printing of the 900th issue of ‘The Amazing Spider-Man’ comic will feature the costumed character swinging through Ventura landmarks, courtesy of cover art by Todd Nauck.

The cover will only be available at Arsenal Comics and Games, one of Ventura County’s longest-running independent comic book stores, with locations in Ventura and Newbury Park. The issue will be published on July 7 in honor of Spider-Man’s 60th anniversary, but online preorders are available now for as low as $20.

Timmy Heague, founder and owner of Arsenal Comics and Games, wanted to celebrate his favorite superhero for the anniversary issue and thought a retailer-exclusive cover would be the perfect way to do so.

“They don't always say yes to every idea or every artist, but we've done some really successful ones," he said.

Heague got the idea for the cover this past winter when he was talking to family members in England. While his family was complaining of the poor weather they were experiencing, Heague stepped out into the Ventura sunshine and realized he wanted to pay homage to the town where he grew up.

In addition to a sign that reads “Ventura” in big red letters, the cover prominently features the Ventura Pier stretching out into the ocean. The third, more subtle Ventura homage is the inclusion of Two Trees, a pair of iconic hilltop eucalyptus trees visible through much of the city. One of the trees was toppled by a storm in 2017.

"I wanted Spider-Man swinging at Two Trees, but how do I make Two Trees whole again?" Heague said. "Then I hear in my head: 'I am Groot.'" 

Groot is another Marvel character best known from the Guardians of the Galaxy series, a sentient tree-like organism that can only speak the phrase “I am Groot." Groot doesn't appear in the comic, but Groot's presence on the cover is a nod to Marvel fans, he said.

After months of planning and over 150 emails between Heague and Marvel, the cover was unveiled late last month. As for the book itself, the issue will feature Spider-Man facing off against the Sinister Six, which includes supervillains Doctor Octopus, Vulture, Mysterio, Sandman, Electro and Kraven the Hunter, as well as a new villain—the Sinister Adaptoid.

Heague said the store has already sold a quarter of its stock in preorders and will have 6,000 copies available in total: 4,000 copies with the conventional cover art, including the title and legacy issue number, while the remaining 2,000 will have “virgin” covers featuring the art without any lettering or labels.

You can preorder the issue at arsenalcomicsgames.bigcartel.com. Signed copies can also be preordered, though the store plans to offer in-store signings by the artist after the issue gets released. The store offers direct shipping or in-store pick-up at the Arsenal stores, located in Ventura at 3431 Telegraph Road and in Newbury Park at 1610-1 Newbury Road.

Additionally, Saturday is Free Comic Book Day in the U.S. Anyone who visits either location of Arsenal Comics and Games on Saturday will be able to take home a selection of free comic books offered while supplies last.

Jeremy Childs is a breaking news and public safety reporter covering the night shift for the Ventura County Star. He can be reached by calling 805-437-0208 or emailing jeremy.childs@vcstar.com. You can also find him on Twitter @Jeremy_Childs.