When it comes to Kingpin...

[CTTT]

is it necessary to read the earlier Spider-Man issues where he appears before Daredevil 170?

[jb681131]

is it necessary to read the earlier Spider-Man issues where he appears before Daredevil 170?

I don't think it is necessary.
But Daredevil #170 is part of the "Gang War" storyline wich start issue #169 and ends at issue #172 (+issue #180) <- this story exists as a tpb by the way
It is also part of Frank Miller / Klaus Janson 's run. If you haven't, you should start this run from the begining (Daredevil #158 to #191) <- exists as an omni or in 3 big tpb.

[Mike_Murdock]

I'll address this in two ways. One, Daredevil's storyline builds on an earlier storyline but it also serves as a fresh introduction to the character so you don't need to read any Kingpin stuff before.

Frank Miller's run builds on the Roger McKenzie run (which Miller drew). I don't think you need to read #158, which is part three of a story, but I would recommend reading #159-162, 163-164, and 166 before Miller's own run of #168-191.

I also don't believe #169 has any references to the Kingpin story that follows, although it is a great Bullseye story.