Essential Spider-Man Reading

[WebSlingWonder]

Hey everyone!

I'm brand new here and I'm so excited to get to talk to fellow Spider-Man fans!

I've read Spider-Man for nearly 12 years, and I've picked up a few back issues. But recently, I was blessed to be able to get all 11 volumes of Essential Spider-Man, all five volumes of Essential Spectacular Spider-Man, and both volumes of Web of Spider-Man. So I have 25 years of Spider-Man comic history in my backlog, and I'm psyched!

I was wondering: what would be some writer/artist runs you guys would recommend? I have a variety now, and I'm open to pretty much anything.

P.S.: If anyone has Essential Marvel Team-Up please let me know!

[Jekyll]

Hi and welcome! I’m a big fan of both the mini and current series of ASM Renew Your Vows. It’s a really fun read and kind of a different take on Spidey by adding the family element.

[WebSlingWonder]

Thanks for the warm welcome! I've read the original "Renew Your Vows" and I loved it! The series hasn't quite grabbed me as much, but this latest issue with Scott Koblish on art and the Parkers on vacation was definitely a step up for me!

[Mister Mets]

That's a lot of comics.

A big part of the appeal of Spider-Man is seeing Peter's adventures in sequential order, so I do recommend reading complete runs. A lot of the major stuff happens in the first 150 issues.

Beyond that, periods worth checking out.

Amazing Spider-Man 189-200: A stretch of key issues that marks the highlights of Marv Wolfman's run with the debut of the Black Cat, return of Uncle Ben's killer, and some major fights against important enemies.

Peter Parker the Spectacular Spider-Man 22-32: A good stretch of Spectacular Spider-Man, with a mystery threat and Frank Miller drawing Daredevil.

Peter Parker the Spectacular Spider-Man 43-61/ Amazing Spider-Man 224-251: The classic run by Roger Stern, widely considered one of the best writers on the series. Includes the debut of the Hobgoblin.

Peter Parker the Spectacular Spider-Man 72-80: A good stretch of crime drama from Bill Mantlo's run, including the Owl/ Octopus war.

Peter Parker the Spectacular Spider-Man 107-110, 112-113: A major arc by Peter David, as Spider-Man's chase for a murderer puts him in conflict with Daredevil.

Keep us posted on what you read, and what your favorites happen to be.

[Jekyll]

That's a lot of comics.

A big part of the appeal of Spider-Man is seeing Peter's adventures in sequential order, so I do recommend reading complete runs. A lot of the major stuff happens in the first 150 issues.

Beyond that, periods worth checking out.

Amazing Spider-Man 189-200: A stretch of key issues that marks the highlights of Marv Wolfman's run with the debut of the Black Cat, return of Uncle Ben's killer, and some major fights against important enemies.

Peter Parker the Spectacular Spider-Man 22-32: A good stretch of Spectacular Spider-Man, with a mystery threat and Frank Miller drawing Daredevil.

Peter Parker the Spectacular Spider-Man 43-61/ Amazing Spider-Man 224-251: The classic run by Roger Stern, widely considered one of the best writers on the series. Includes the debut of the Hobgoblin.

Peter Parker the Spectacular Spider-Man 72-80: A good stretch of crime drama from Bill Mantlo's run, including the Owl/ Octopus war.

Peter Parker the Spectacular Spider-Man 107-110, 112-113: A major arc by Peter David, as Spider-Man's chase for a murderer puts him in conflict with Daredevil.

Keep us posted on what you read, and what your favorites happen to be.

Wow! I’m a huge DD fan and will have to check those issues out!

[WebLurker]

I can second that the RYV series is great. Brian Michael Bendis's Ultimate Spider-Man is a must-read, IMHO; some really great stories and it's probably the most influential in terms of how the movies depict the character. "Kraven's Last Hunt" is one of the best stories from ASM, IMHO.

[WebSlingWonder]

That's a lot of comics.

A big part of the appeal of Spider-Man is seeing Peter's adventures in sequential order, so I do recommend reading complete runs. A lot of the major stuff happens in the first 150 issues.

Beyond that, periods worth checking out.

Amazing Spider-Man 189-200: A stretch of key issues that marks the highlights of Marv Wolfman's run with the debut of the Black Cat, return of Uncle Ben's killer, and some major fights against important enemies.

Peter Parker the Spectacular Spider-Man 22-32: A good stretch of Spectacular Spider-Man, with a mystery threat and Frank Miller drawing Daredevil.

Peter Parker the Spectacular Spider-Man 43-61/ Amazing Spider-Man 224-251: The classic run by Roger Stern, widely considered one of the best writers on the series. Includes the debut of the Hobgoblin.

Peter Parker the Spectacular Spider-Man 72-80: A good stretch of crime drama from Bill Mantlo's run, including the Owl/ Octopus war.

Peter Parker the Spectacular Spider-Man 107-110, 112-113: A major arc by Peter David, as Spider-Man's chase for a murderer puts him in conflict with Daredevil.

Keep us posted on what you read, and what your favorites happen to be.

Thanks, Mister Mets! I look forward to reading those. I have seen some of Roger Stern's work, and I liked what I saw!

[ngroove]

Hey everyone!

I'm brand new here and I'm so excited to get to talk to fellow Spider-Man fans!

I've read Spider-Man for nearly 12 years, and I've picked up a few back issues. But recently, I was blessed to be able to get all 11 volumes of Essential Spider-Man, all five volumes of Essential Spectacular Spider-Man, and both volumes of Web of Spider-Man. So I have 25 years of Spider-Man comic history in my backlog, and I'm psyched!

I was wondering: what would be some writer/artist runs you guys would recommend? I have a variety now, and I'm open to pretty much anything.

P.S.: If anyone has Essential Marvel Team-Up please let me know!

How about the best thing (next best things are reprints, that is): checking out that Comic Book Shop Silver Age display wall / trophy case, and buy some actual originals!

Any memorable Amazing Spider-Man covers that caught your eyes while flipping through those Essentials? Maybe Mary Jane Watson dancing on issue 59, or those Doctor Octopus covers on issues 55-56? Or, how about one of those un-comic coded "Drug Issues"?

Really, while I collect most of the Ditko and some of the Romita in Marvel Tales reprint form, not like I could ever afford first appearances, other than Prowler, which I have; I'm sure you could find and afford Kangaroo, Rocket Racer, and Big Wheel, if you're into them. My opinion, it is neat to actually have a few authentic issues with the then-still living, not a clone, original Gwendolyn Stacy in then-present day, not even a flashback either. Hey, I even have one with then-still living Captain George Stacy! Or, to have at least a few Stan Lee / Johnny Romita, and maybe someday muster enough money to invest on at least one Steve Ditko, even if that one might one day be one of his the early-mid thirties issues, the tail end of creativity of his run, that would be awesome. But hey, I can at least still say I have some Gwen issues, a Spidey / Kingpin battle royale issue, the first appearance and origin of the Prowler, even the issue of Peter Parker and Mary Jane's first kiss.

[WebSlingWonder]

How about the best thing (next best things are reprints, that is): checking out that Comic Book Shop Silver Age display wall / trophy case, and buy some actual originals!

Any memorable Amazing Spider-Man covers that caught your eyes while flipping through those Essentials? Maybe Mary Jane Watson dancing on issue 59, or those Doctor Octopus covers on issues 55-56? Or, how about one of those un-comic coded "Drug Issues"?

Really, while I collect most of the Ditko and some of the Romita in Marvel Tales reprint form, not like I could ever afford first appearances, other than Prowler, which I have; I'm sure you could find and afford Kangaroo, Rocket Racer, and Big Wheel, if you're into them. My opinion, it is neat to actually have a few authentic issues with the then-still living, not a clone, original Gwendolyn Stacy in then-present day, not even a flashback either. Hey, I even have one with then-still living Captain George Stacy! Or, to have at least a few Stan Lee / Johnny Romita, and maybe someday muster enough money to invest on at least one Steve Ditko, even if that one might one day be one of his the early-mid thirties issues, the tail end of creativity of his run, that would be awesome. But hey, I can at least still say I have some Gwen issues, a Spidey / Kingpin battle royale issue, the first appearance and origin of the Prowler, even the issue of Peter Parker and Mary Jane's first kiss.

I would love to buy some of the single issues, but right now I'm more interested in reading them en masse, you know?

[ngroove]

I would love to buy some of the single issues, but right now I'm more interested in reading them en masse, you know?

Well, at least I'd also suggest, to go out there, and snap up any Venom and Carnage covers, 80s an 90s Venom, 90s Carnage, the first when you see them. Like Deadpool or DC's Harley Quinn, those characters are HOT, and the market for them fluctuates quite often. For instance, I remember Amazing Spider-Man 361 on the back issue longboxes while it was still on a single-digited price, but if you happen to see it on comic book display wall / case, look at it now! And I got a good feeling VENOM the movie might once again drive those late eighties - early nineties McFarlane and Larsen Venom covers and stories up in value.

[WebSlingWonder]

I just got done reading "The Death of Jean DeWolff" in Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #107-110...whoa. That was quite a story. A little dark for Spider-Man, but so rich and nuanced with the various characters. Peter, Murdock, Sin-Eater, and all of them had so much character and grit to them. It felt real, despite this man with the radioactive spider venom inside of him.

Hats off to Peter David. If this is how he truly kicked things off with PPSSM, then I look forward to reading the rest. And I would be a fool not to mention the art by Rich Buckley. He blew my mind with his detail, linework, and mood with shadows and lighting.

Does anyone know of any trades that collect the rest of David's PPSSM run?

[ngroove]

I just got done reading "The Death of Jean DeWolff" in Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #107-110...whoa. That was quite a story. A little dark for Spider-Man, but so rich and nuanced with the various characters. Peter, Murdock, Sin-Eater, and all of them had so much character and grit to them. It felt real, despite this man with the radioactive spider venom inside of him.

Hats off to Peter David. If this is how he truly kicked things off with PPSSM, then I look forward to reading the rest. And I would be a fool not to mention the art by Rich Buckley. He blew my mind with his detail, linework, and mood with shadows and lighting.

Does anyone know of any trades that collect the rest of David's PPSSM run?

None of them, aside from possibly Sin-Eater story #1, are key issues, in the sense like Amazing Spider-Man #298-300 found for quite the higher price between #297 and #301 - I am sure most Peter Davids, being the late eighties - could be found in local comic store, a few dollars, perhaps even one-two dollars, apiece.

[Mister Mets]

I just got done reading "The Death of Jean DeWolff" in Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #107-110...whoa. That was quite a story. A little dark for Spider-Man, but so rich and nuanced with the various characters. Peter, Murdock, Sin-Eater, and all of them had so much character and grit to them. It felt real, despite this man with the radioactive spider venom inside of him.

Hats off to Peter David. If this is how he truly kicked things off with PPSSM, then I look forward to reading the rest. And I would be a fool not to mention the art by Rich Buckley. He blew my mind with his detail, linework, and mood with shadows and lighting.

Does anyone know of any trades that collect the rest of David's PPSSM run?

Peter David's 1980s work isn't collected in many trades. It can be found online pretty cheap.

Two other issues worth hunting down are Amazing Spider-Man #267 and Web of Spider-Man #13, two standalone issues he wrote at the time.

There is a color hardcover of his Sin-Eater story and its follow-up in Spec 134-136.

He came back to Spider-Man comics in 2006-2007 on Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, and his run on that title has been collected.