How good was JMS' Spider-Man overall?

[Hybrid]

J. Michael Straczynski, or JMS, is a sci-fi TV writer who's also been a lover of comics, and Spider-Man from 2001 to 2007 was his big comics impact. He was tasked with making Spider-Man relevant beyond just his name recognition in the '00s, after the infamous Clone Saga muddled him in the '90s.

How good was his run overall?

JMS' Spider-Man features several key retools such as the Spider-Totem, Aunt May learning Peter is Spider-Man, the inclusion of the Avengers elements (which was also a case of Bendis' New Avengers bleeding over), The Other (which gave Spider-Man new powers like stingers, telepathy with spiders, and organic web-shooters), and of course there's two very maligned storylines that came from his pen: Sins' Past and One More Day.

Sins' Past was terrible, and he's fully responsible, to which he'll freely admit was his biggest regret. However, I can't really fault JMS for OMD considering the story was forced on him by Joey Q, he wanted nothing to do with it, he distanced himself from the story as it was being made, and I heard he only wrote it because he didn't want the next new Spider-writer to begin with that storyline (imagine if Dan Slott opened writing OMD... his rep would be damaged beyond repair from the start).

There are some things I didn't like besides that. I wasn't fond of Peter's new powers, especially the organic web-shooters, which felt like a needless tie-in to the Raimi Trilogy, and I'm glad that part was undone.

Overall though, the first 38 issues was solid and helped to keep Spider-Man relevant within the comics. I guess you take the good with the bad. I also liked the idea of Aunt May and Mary Jane living in Avengers Tower, something about that was neat. It only got screwed up because of Civil War, leading to OMD... but in the context as it was written I liked it.

I was actually reading some of it the other day, and I liked this part where Peter thinks it'd be ridiculous if a movie about Spider-Man was ever made -- of course, it was a meta joke about the first Spider-Man movie at the time, and that made me nostalgic.

What do you think?

[Agent Z]

Overall good with some flaws. Not perfect but what run is?

[Hugo Strange]

Great and terrible moments, JMS' run was like a roller coaster ride.

[Batman Begins 2005]

Biggest strength by JMS characterisation: few wrote Peter, Mary Jane and Aunt May better than JMS, particularly Aunt May.

First 38 issues by JMS/John Romita Jr were great particularly Coming Home, The Conversation and Doomed Affairs. Three best of Spider-Man stories there.

Post JMS/JRJR - hit and miss, Sins Past and One More Day are terrible, really wretched. The second half of JMS run got tied into events.

Overall, I enjoyed most of JMS run. High highs and low lows.

[Revolutionary_Jack]

JMS' run has multiple parts:

Part 1 - The 38 issues with JRJR from ASM (Vol.2) #30-58, then ASM (Vol.1 original numbering)#500-508.

Interval - Sins' Past (ASM#509-512).

Part 2 - Spider-Man at Avengers Tower which ties into Civil War (lead-in and tie-ins), followed with Back in Black and terminating (and I mean all senses of the word) with OMD.

There is not a single bad issue in Part 1. Multiple classic issues.
-- "Coming Home"
-- The 9/11 Issue
-- "The Conversation"
-- "Doomed Affairs"
-- "ASM#500"
-- "The Book of Ezekiel"

-- The Digger Issue is also an excellent story. Likewise, the 2-Part Loki story with Fiona Avery probably did a lot to influence the modern Loki's conversion to cool anti-hero since Loki's characterization there is very much the ancestor to Hiddleston/Gillen's/Ewing's take on the character.

Then right after JRJR left, you had Sins' Past, which is bad all around.

Part 2 - Spider-Man at Avengers Tower is less consistent and less good as Part One. There are still wonderful good issues, like Spider-Man versus Hydra is an excellent story that basically works as "this is what Spider-Man can do for the Avengers". The lead-in issues to Civil War are also well done as is the Civil War tie-ins. I mean one of Captain America's all-time greatest moments comes in a Spider-Man comic (ASM #537), aka the 'you move speech".

And then there's BACK IN BLACK, which is a flat out masterpiece. It's JMS lashing out via Peter his anger at having to write OMD, his anger at him not being able to continue being as awesome as he is here, this is basically Spider-Man at his lowest ebb but also at his highest high at the same time. In that respects it's basically a long-extended version of ASM#122, and the fight between Spider-Man and Kingpin is awesome.

So on the whole JMS' run is one of the greats. I'd rank it above Michelinie's which also went on too long and got less consistent over time, over Defalco (which is also remembered largely for the character work). And most definitely way above BND and Slott's entire nosh. I still think it's better than Spencer's as well.

To me this is the last time Peter, MJ, and Aunt May were really Peter, MJ, Aunt May in an absolute real continuous to AF#15 sense.

[NC_Yankee]

JMS' run has multiple parts:

Part 1 - The 38 issues with JRJR from ASM (Vol.2) #30-58, then ASM (Vol.1 original numbering)#500-508.

Interval - Sins' Past (ASM#509-512).

Part 2 - Spider-Man at Avengers Tower which ties into Civil War (lead-in and tie-ins), followed with Back in Black and terminating (and I mean all senses of the word) with OMD.

There is not a single bad issue in Part 1. Multiple classic issues.
-- "Coming Home"
-- The 9/11 Issue
-- "The Conversation"
-- "Doomed Affairs"
-- "ASM#500"
-- "The Book of Ezekiel"

-- The Digger Issue is also an excellent story. Likewise, the 2-Part Loki story with Fiona Avery probably did a lot to influence the modern Loki's conversion to cool anti-hero since Loki's characterization there is very much the ancestor to Hiddleston/Gillen's/Ewing's take on the character.

Then right after JRJR left, you had Sins' Past, which is bad all around.

Part 2 - Spider-Man at Avengers Tower is less consistent and less good as Part One. There are still wonderful good issues, like Spider-Man versus Hydra is an excellent story that basically works as "this is what Spider-Man can do for the Avengers". The lead-in issues to Civil War are also well done as is the Civil War tie-ins. I mean one of Captain America's all-time greatest moments comes in a Spider-Man comic (ASM #537), aka the 'you move speech".

And then there's BACK IN BLACK, which is a flat out masterpiece. It's JMS lashing out via Peter his anger at having to write OMD, his anger at him not being able to continue being as awesome as he is here, this is basically Spider-Man at his lowest ebb but also at his highest high at the same time. In that respects it's basically a long-extended version of ASM#122, and the fight between Spider-Man and Kingpin is awesome.

So on the whole JMS' run is one of the greats. I'd rank it above Michelinie's which also went on too long and got less consistent over time, over Defalco (which is also remembered largely for the character work). And most definitely way above BND and Slott's entire nosh. I still think it's better than Spencer's as well.

To me this is the last time Peter, MJ, and Aunt May were really Peter, MJ, Aunt May in an absolute real continuous to AF#15 sense.

I will rank JMS Number 5 ( behind Ditko, Romita Conway ( despite Clone Saga) and Stern). Spencer has a chance to pass him though. As for Slott: I put him last. I give him credit for Spider-Island and RYV and that is all I liked.

[RyanParkerMan]

JMS' run has multiple parts:

Part 1 - The 38 issues with JRJR from ASM (Vol.2) #30-58, then ASM (Vol.1 original numbering)#500-508.

Interval - Sins' Past (ASM#509-512).

Part 2 - Spider-Man at Avengers Tower which ties into Civil War (lead-in and tie-ins), followed with Back in Black and terminating (and I mean all senses of the word) with OMD.

There is not a single bad issue in Part 1. Multiple classic issues.
-- "Coming Home"
-- The 9/11 Issue
-- "The Conversation"
-- "Doomed Affairs"
-- "ASM#500"
-- "The Book of Ezekiel"

-- The Digger Issue is also an excellent story. Likewise, the 2-Part Loki story with Fiona Avery probably did a lot to influence the modern Loki's conversion to cool anti-hero since Loki's characterization there is very much the ancestor to Hiddleston/Gillen's/Ewing's take on the character.

Then right after JRJR left, you had Sins' Past, which is bad all around.

Part 2 - Spider-Man at Avengers Tower is less consistent and less good as Part One. There are still wonderful good issues, like Spider-Man versus Hydra is an excellent story that basically works as "this is what Spider-Man can do for the Avengers". The lead-in issues to Civil War are also well done as is the Civil War tie-ins. I mean one of Captain America's all-time greatest moments comes in a Spider-Man comic (ASM #537), aka the 'you move speech".

And then there's BACK IN BLACK, which is a flat out masterpiece. It's JMS lashing out via Peter his anger at having to write OMD, his anger at him not being able to continue being as awesome as he is here, this is basically Spider-Man at his lowest ebb but also at his highest high at the same time. In that respects it's basically a long-extended version of ASM#122, and the fight between Spider-Man and Kingpin is awesome.

So on the whole JMS' run is one of the greats. I'd rank it above Michelinie's which also went on too long and got less consistent over time, over Defalco (which is also remembered largely for the character work). And most definitely way above BND and Slott's entire nosh. I still think it's better than Spencer's as well.

To me this is the last time Peter, MJ, and Aunt May were really Peter, MJ, Aunt May in an absolute real continuous to AF#15 sense.

This is exactly right. I will say, being born in 1987 and not reading the 60's or 70's yet when Sin's Past came out, that story was entertaining. I'm not fond of it now, but at the time, it was intense. It raised the stakes, it put real tension on Pete and MJ's marriage, it continued JMS' more mature, aged version of Peter. I didn't hate it at the time. The low point for me was The Other, but right that we got real drama and intensity in The War at Home and Black in Black. The book hasn't had that intensity or stakes or drama since, in my opinion.

[The Whovian]

JMS' run has multiple parts:

Part 1 - The 38 issues with JRJR from ASM (Vol.2) #30-58, then ASM (Vol.1 original numbering)#500-508.

Interval - Sins' Past (ASM#509-512).

Part 2 - Spider-Man at Avengers Tower which ties into Civil War (lead-in and tie-ins), followed with Back in Black and terminating (and I mean all senses of the word) with OMD.

There is not a single bad issue in Part 1. Multiple classic issues.
-- "Coming Home"
-- The 9/11 Issue
-- "The Conversation"
-- "Doomed Affairs"
-- "ASM#500"
-- "The Book of Ezekiel"

-- The Digger Issue is also an excellent story. Likewise, the 2-Part Loki story with Fiona Avery probably did a lot to influence the modern Loki's conversion to cool anti-hero since Loki's characterization there is very much the ancestor to Hiddleston/Gillen's/Ewing's take on the character.

Then right after JRJR left, you had Sins' Past, which is bad all around.

Anyone know what collections cover this run? Preferably HC's?

[charliehustle415]

Biggest strength by JMS characterisation: few wrote Peter, Mary Jane and Aunt May better than JMS, particularly Aunt May.

First 38 issues by JMS/John Romita Jr were great particularly Coming Home, The Conversation and Doomed Affairs. Three best of Spider-Man stories there.

Post JMS/JRJR - hit and miss, Sins Past and One More Day are terrible, really wretched. The second half of JMS run got tied into events.

Overall, I enjoyed most of JMS run. High highs and low lows.

This.

I think this is why he left Thor because he didn’t want it to be repeated.

His issues with JRJR are amazing as well as the fact his day job was being a teacher. I hope they revisit this, maybe become a college professor

[Spidey_62]

I like to think the run is just those first 38 issues. The first story is one of the best Spidey stories ever to me. It feels like the run with JRJR is pretty pure, it feels like what JMS wanted to tell pretty much unabated. I don't much care for thinking about the 2nd half of the run. I mean it starts off from there almost at the very bottom of the barrel with Sins Past, then it's really a mix of ok to terrible controversy after controversy with The Other, and One More Day. Wasn't a big fan of the Back in Black or Civil War stuff. I was losing interest at the time with all of that because Peter died and his life became crappier and crappier within the span of a year or two and it wasn't fun to read, it was just dark with not much else middle ground.

[Haquim]

While I forgive OMD (it was Quesadaphisto's fault) I cannot forgive Sins Past. That mess should never ever have happened!

[Undergrizer]

Post JMS/JRJR - hit and miss, Sins Past and One More Day are terrible, really wretched. The second half of JMS run got tied into events.

Do you know that wasn't JMS's fault. In original plans - Sarah and Gabriel should be children of Gwen and Peter/Spidey. But - Marvel change his plans, because they think - it's be not lees awkwardly. Well, you know - Peter married on MJ, but he learn about his children from his first love. And they make - more awkwardly.

[Lukmendes]

Do you know that wasn't JMS's fault. In original plans - Sarah and Gabriel should be children of Gwen and Peter/Spidey. But - Marvel change his plans, because they think - it's be not lees awkwardly. Well, you know - Peter married on MJ, but he learn about his children from his first love. And they make - more awkwardly.

It'd mean that Gwen had kids in secret and never told Peter for whatever reason, it'd be just weird, and I doubt the story would be much better.

[cable guy]

Great and terrible moments, JMS' run was like a roller coaster ride.

I thought the Great far outweighed the terrible.

It was a awesome ride for me.

[Spidey5640]

I thought the Great far outweighed the terrible.

It was a awesome ride for me.

Just the opposite for me, hated the totem aspect, Sins Past, the new powers, just didn't work for me