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Where should I start?
Hey, I've always been interested in Spidey from his shows, movies, and games, but I'm more of a DC guy so I never actually read much of his comics before (aside from the first 10 issues of ASM.) Can someone recommend me a few of the most essential stories/graphic novels/trades for Spidey so I can find somewhere to start? Thanks.
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I wrote about this elsewhere, but I did lists of good Spider-Man comics for someone interested in the series
The first list is the required reading. The rest is stuff you should get to eventually because it's so damn good.
[URL="http://whatwouldspideydo.wordpress.com/2013/06/25/spider-man-101-where-do-you-find-the-comics/"]Part One: The Essentials[/URL]
These are the stories that consistently appear on "Best Of" lists, and that are referenced most often.
The Lee/ Ditko run is collected fairly often, although the most notable stories are probably Amazing Fantasy #15, Amazing Spider-Man #1, 3, 6, Annual #1, 20, and 31-33. The last three issues are the Master Planner saga.
The Lee/ Romita run is also worth reading in its entirety, although the highlights are Amazing Spider-Man #39-40, 42, 50-52 and 88-90.
Amazing Spider-Man #121-122 represented the end of the Silver Age.
Roger Stern's run on Amazing Spider-Man is probably the best since Stan Lee. Highlights include the Hobgoblin Saga ([I]Amazing Spider-Man[/I] #238-239, 244-245, 249-251), Nothing Can Stop the Juggernaut (Amazing Spider-Man #229-230) and the Kid Who Collects Spider-Man (Amazing Spider-Man #248).
The first appearances of Venom (Amazing Spider-Man #300, 315-317) are also quite iconic.
And the first 13 issues of Ultimate Spider-Man probably changed Marvel comics. That's a good and accessible reimagining of the series.
Three excellent accessible self-contained Spider-Man stories are Spider-Man: Blue, The Death of Jean Dewolff and Kraven's Last Hunt.
[URL="http://whatwouldspideydo.wordpress.com/2013/06/07/spider-man-102-amazing-spider-man-1-150/"]Part Two: The Classics[/URL]
You could probably make the argument that Amazing Fantasy #15 and the first 150 issues of Amazing Spider-Man (along with the first five annuals) are more important to understanding the series than anything that came since. Even the worst Lee/ Ditko villain is apt to reappear.
[URL="http://whatwouldspideydo.wordpress.com/2013/06/11/spider-man-103-later-peter-parker/"]Part Three: Later Peter Parker[/URL]
I made another list of notable Spider-Man comics after Conway's departure that are worth hunting down, but didn't make the first cut (sometimes these are great Spider-Man stories but not among all the all-time great, sometimes it depends on an understanding of the series from other titles.)
The Return of the Burglar saga (Amazing Spider-Man #193-200) had some big developments for the series.
Roger Stern's entire run of Amazing Spider-Man (#226-227, 229-236, 238-251) is worthwhile reading.
The Owl/ Octopus war from from Peter Parker the Spectacular Spider-Man #72-79 has one of the great battles with Doctor Octopus, and one of Spidey's great romances.
The Alien Costume saga from Amazing Spider-Man #252-259
[I]Amazing Spider-Man[/I] #267 and Web of Spider-Man #13 were two great single issue stories by Peter David. [I]Spectacular Spider-Man[/I] #134-136 brought back the Sin-Eater.
JM Dematteis and Sal Buscema's run on Spectacular Spider-Man #178-200 had great psychological depth, and the transformation of one of Peter's greatest friends into one of his greatest enemies.
There were a few notable stories from Michelinie's run, including Spider-Man's marriage (Amazing Spider-Man #290-292, Annual #1), The Return of the Sinister Six (Amazing Spider-Man #334-339) and the first appearance of Carnage (Amazing Spider-Man #361-363.)
I think Mark Millar's 12 issue run of Marvel Knights Spider-Man is a masterpiece, although it builds heavily on what came before.
Babylon 5 creator J. Michael Straczynski's first nine issues with John Romita Jr (Amazing Spider-Man Volume 2 #30-38) shook up the series. Amazing Spider-Man Volume 2 #50 featured a big moment between Peter Parker and Mary Jane, after being separated for several years. Amazing Spider-Man #506-508 ties up the Ezekiel saga. The Happy Birthday arc from Amazing Spider-Man Volume 2 #57-58, 500, 502 features glimpses of Spider-Man’s future referenced in recent comics.
Ultimate Spider-Man is a satisfying run in its entirety, but if you're looking for the later highlights, Ultimate Spider-Man #29-32 is the best version of the Spidey gets framed story. Ultimate Spider-Man #33-39 introduces this version of Venom. 97-105 feature a new version of the Clone Saga. 156-160 brings it all to to an end.
And there are some good single issues. Tangled Web #20 reveals a lot about J Jonah Jameson. Amazing Spider-Man #271 revealed the fate of Crusher Hogan, the wrestler from Amazing Fantasy #15. Spider-Man VS. Wolverine is one of the great tragedies, as well as the most notable team-up between Marvel’s two most popular characters, as Peter Parker getting involved in affairs way out of his league. Peter Parker the Spectacular Spider-Man #127 may just be the definitive Lizard story. “To Have And To Hold” from Sensational Spider-Man Annual #1 is a great standalone story from the Spider-Man era, although your brain may explode trying to figure out how all of that got reversed.
[URL="http://whatwouldspideydo.wordpress.com/2013/06/25/spider-man-101-where-do-you-find-the-comics/"]And there's an addition problem with the Spider-Man comics that the stories have been reprinted in so many forms that it's difficult to know what the best fit would be.[/URL] If you have a tablet, my recommendation is to get a monthly subscription to Marvel's Digital Comics program and read the notable Spider-Man stories available there.
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Great thanks a lot Mister Mets! I'll check these out and see what I can get.
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I came up with the list about an year ago and it doesn't include the recent comics.
[I]Amazing Spider-Man[/I] #1 is rather accessible.
Slott's solo run kicked off with [I]Amazing Spider-Man [/I]#648, available in The Big Time Ultimate Collection Volume 1. That's definitely worth checking out.