How would you rate Nick Spencer's current Spidey run compared to past writers?

[Spiderfang]

I have nearly all of the JMS run (missing OMD & BND), and just started the Slott run [Spider-Island, Superior, Parker Luck & Clone Conspiracy - yes I am a filthy trade waiter -- sue me!] I've been seeing/hearing good things about Spencer's Spider-Man run so far (I think he started in 2017?) and figured that enough time has passed that I can start collecting trades for reasonable prices (I've searched for Spider-Man Big Time, and Kaine's Scarlet Spider run -- which are apparently out of print and upwards of $120 USD!)

I genuinely enjoyed the Conway Spider-Man runs and the 90's interlude between Clone Saga and JMS, and I loved Superior Spider-Man, what would the consensus be on a trade-waiter should I jump on the Spencer run before it goes out of print and skyrockets in price??

[federicodettofred]

To me it is easily the best run in decades. I love '60s-'70s-'80s Spidey and some parts of the '90s (except for the Clone Saga and other WTF stories), but I'm not a big fan of JMS (after JRJR left everything went downhill) or Slott (I do love Superior and other story-arcs tho). Spencer's run has the right dose of humour and dark moments, but it also had the "friendly neighborhood" atmosphere in the first 20/25 issues that I really liked. Seeing Peter back with roommates and MJ was very nice to me (even though it is always the same Peter Parker with no money or a job, after that trash that was the ending of the Parker Industries). It feels like Spider-Man again, without sensationalism, out of character actions or secrets that suddenly jump out of the closet (let'see how the Kindred arc will end tho )

[Batman Begins 2005]

Hmm. JMS had higher highs but the lowest of lows in Sins Past/One More Day which really counts against him. The two worst Spider-Man stories ever. Slott had some highs but his lows were awful in TASM (Vol. 3) and (Vol. 4) made me drop the book. I'd take Spencer over Slott but I think I'd still go with JMS to Spencer even through what I said about Sins Past/OMD. JMS wrote a great and mature Peter, MJ and Aunt May.

[Batman Begins 2005]

I have nearly all of the JMS run (missing OMD & BND), and just started the Slott run [Spider-Island, Superior, Parker Luck & Clone Conspiracy - yes I am a filthy trade waiter -- sue me!] I've been seeing/hearing good things about Spencer's Spider-Man run so far (I think he started in 2017?) and figured that enough time has passed that I can start collecting trades for reasonable prices (I've searched for Spider-Man Big Time, and Kaine's Scarlet Spider run -- which are apparently out of print and upwards of $120 USD!)

I genuinely enjoyed the Conway Spider-Man runs and the 90's interlude between Clone Saga and JMS, and I loved Superior Spider-Man, what would the consensus be on a trade-waiter should I jump on the Spencer run before it goes out of print and skyrockets in price??

Hi. Brand New Day was after One More Day and it wasn't by JMS. Don't blame you missing OMD. Good luck working through the Parker Luck and the Clone Conspiracy. Spencer's ASM run started in 2018. Hope this helps.

[FFJamie94]

For me, it kind of sits around Slott's first half in terms of quality. There's a lot more good than bad, and a lot of fun ideas at play, but Spencer seems to be juggling so much and I don't think he can pull it off as well as he could.
I think Chip Zdarksy had a better run (even if he was on Spectacular), it's a good 20 issues, and it's to the point.

I think it'll be regarded as a classic, but only because it's miles better than what came before it.
As much as I like it and I think it's picking up the pace, I do look forward to when the next writer comes on now.

[TheCape]

I like it more than Slott for sure and i don't have a lot of good things to say about Zdarsky either (and i can i blame him for some of the stuff that i don't like in Spencer run). Spencer is solid most of the time and like his voices for the characthers more than most post-OMD, mind you is not perfect, is too descompressed sometimes and there has been some serious dubs like 2099.

[your_name_here]

I, like a lot of people, dropped the book around the time of OMD. I knew what was going on in Slotts book, but for whatever reason I just wasn’t invested. I came back Go Down Swinging which I really enjoyed.

To me, Nick Spencer’s run is the most accessible run since OMD. JMS and JRJR was great, but once JRJR left the hook I wouldn’t rank any story as good (Back in Black being the exception).
Spencer is having a ball and you can tell he’s a fan. You’ve probably picked a tricky time to ask this question as slot of people aren’t too pleased with the pacing or structure of the current ark. Personally, I think it’s all worth getting.

I’d rank JMS slightly higher just because he was able to give Peter more to do, Spencer’s run is more based around Spider-Man or supporting cast.

Sins Rising/Return of The Green Goblin is one of my favourite Spider-Man stories in such a long time, though.

[HypnoHustler]

Count me as another one who thinks JMS was overrated. Too much mystical mumbo jumbo, including giving us that awful Spider totem stuff. He always seemed like he’d rather be writing Dr Strange (much the same way Slott seemed like he would rather write Doctor Who). And that’s not even touching the truly dreadful stuff like Sins Past and OMD (yes, the story was changed, but his original idea wasn’t much better). Yes, he did have some good stories too, but his bad ones were very bad.

Slott had some early promising stories, but was just terrible post-Superior.

And Mackie...? Well, the less said about his later output the better.

So Spencer is definitely better than the last two decades of regular writers, but that still isn’t saying that much. I’d still only rank him mid-tier or maybe a little above. To me, upper tier is JM DeMatteis in his prime, Roger Stern, Peter David in his prime, and perhaps David Michelinie. Spencer has good ideas, but as seen in the current LR arc, his execution leaves something to be desired. At least he isn’t actively wrecking parts of Spidey’s character as Mackie, JMS and Slott did at various points in their runs.

[PeterParked]

Straczinky at the time was good because he brought a more mature and contemporary sensibility, and was addictive to the myth. Slott wrote some nice Spider-Man stories more on the classic side, but his Superior Spider Man was really good. Spencer didn’t bring anything new in terms of storytelling or sensibility, or any innovation, his run has been pretty on the safe side, nothing that will be really remembered for in my opinion, just going from classic story to classic story and revisit them.

[PCN24454]

I have nearly all of the JMS run (missing OMD & BND), and just started the Slott run [Spider-Island, Superior, Parker Luck & Clone Conspiracy - yes I am a filthy trade waiter -- sue me!] I've been seeing/hearing good things about Spencer's Spider-Man run so far (I think he started in 2017?) and figured that enough time has passed that I can start collecting trades for reasonable prices (I've searched for Spider-Man Big Time, and Kaine's Scarlet Spider run -- which are apparently out of print and upwards of $120 USD!)

When you say "Slott's run starts with Spider-Island", do you mean that's when he started writing Spider-Man exclusively? It feels weird that people describe Spider-Island as the start.