Meet the Spider — master of men! The protector of the weak... the ruthless nemesis of evil-doers! Go with him as he launches fearlessly upon the danger trail of the world’s most unscrupulous criminal. Share with him the thrills of undercover conflict as he closes, irresistibly, upon his madly struggling victim... Haste is needed, and daring skill, for if the criminal is not laid by the heels in a very few hours, one thousand innocent lives shall pay the penalty of the Spider’s failure!
If you’re looking for a fun read, then look no further than this pulp novel. I was expecting an origin story, but no such thing here—we’re right in the middle of a case for The Spider. It’s not high-brow literature, but it was never trying to be.
Oh, there’s a bit of both racism and sexism, so it’s a good historical record of changing norms in American society.
BLUF: The Spider #1 was not very riveting or good as The Shadow or even Doc Savage. There were some good twists and it would have been a good crime noir story but didn't live up to the hype for me.