"He's pure power and doesn't even know it. He's the best of us."-Matt Murdock
"I need a reason to take the mask off."-Peter Parker
"My heart half-breaks at how easy it is to lie to him. It breaks all the way when he believes me without question." Felicia Hardy
Sins past isn’t that bad imo. It’s not like Gwen Stacy had a character to ruin.
They're not together for like the first 20 issues of the run, and the first arc and the issue where Peter and May discuss his being Spider-Man are among the most liked bits of the run.
I also like the stories where Peter helps out his students. Spider-Man helping out "little guys" are some of his best stories.
Literally everything.
1) We witnessed the very beginning and the very end of Spider-Man
2) It was, probably, the longest and most exhausting fight Peter even went through (had to battle ALL of his enemies in a gauntlet + relive some of the most tough situations)
3) Heartwarming talk with Uncle Ben about life, regrets and happiness. I don't remember if it ever was done before or after that. It doesn't feel cheesy, it feels earned.
4) It's ended on the very high note. Peter's life is always going to be dangerous, but he overcomes the odds, has a loving wife and supporting friends. This is it, this is the end. Roll the credits.
Return of Sin-Eater was very good and Tombstone was solid but I don't consider either to be truly great.
For me, Venom's first appearance is much like the bulk of Michelinie's run - it's an okay story with fantastic art that could have been so much more. Having reread most of this run is the past 6 months I'm surprised at how much it doesn't live up to my memories of it. The art from McFarlane, Larsen and Bagley is really the selling point.
Having said that, its not that I dislike every story after Kraven's Last Hunt. I just feel that this is a good end point for my version of the character. Peter has vanquished his foe, returned from the dead, come to terms with himself and gotten the girl. He's gone through the heroes journey and won. The bullied loser from Amazing Fantasy 15 has grown into a great hero, married the love of his life and found a happy place in life.