The Poet

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CV's Top 100 Spider-man Universe Stories List

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Since his first appearance in Amazing Fantasy #15 fifty plus years ago, Spider-Man and his legion of related characters including Gwen Stacy, Aunt May, Uncle Ben, Mary Jane, J. Jonah Jameson, Kraven the Hunter, Doctor Octopus, Venom, Norman Osborn and so many more have become apart of our pop culture so that is why we have dedicated a top 100 list to the stories of the Amazing, Spectacular, Astonishing, Ultimate, and everyone's favorite friendly neighborhood Spider-man!

Thank You's!

Like with the past top 100 lists, I would like to thank all of the nominators who participated in this list espeshelly since this was one our longest running list. In addition, I would like to thank @kfhrfdu_89_76k for his help in getting participants (and other stuff that would take forever to list), @razzatazz for her support, @etragedy for his help tie breaking (and also so much more) and of course all the community for their patience.

The Nominators

Comic Vine's Top 100 Spider-man Universe Stories: Sign-up

we collected the initial nominators who included: chalkshark, cyberchop979, Duo_forbidden, etragedy, Gambit1024, guttridgeb, Haydenclaireheroes, IanBeale, impossibilly, kfhrfdu_89_76k, Lvenger, michaelthemighty17, Moonchilde, Onemoreposter, Sora_thekey, SpidermanWins, Strider92, and TheAcidSkull.

Community Step

Comic Vine's Top 100 Spider-man Universe Stories: Community Step

After each nominator nominated 5 stories to make a list of 100 stories, the community added 12 additional stories and "co-sign" (add a single point to) their favorites. We had 33 Co-signers including:

Captain_Superior_Blue

chalkshark

consolemaster001

cyberchop979

DH69

Duo_forbidden

etragedy

Gambit1024

guttridgeb

haydenclaireheroes

IanBeale

impossibilly

jatoe48er

JimTheSurfer

jloneblackheart

kfhrfdu_89_76k

Lvenger

michaelthemighty17

Moonchilde

MrUnknown

ngroove

Ninjablade09

Onemoreposter

Sora_thekey

SpidermanWins

Squalleon

Strafe Prower

Strider92

TheAcidSkull

TheCannon

The Poet

VeganDiet

Final Order Voting/Tie Breaking

Comic Vine's Top 100 Spider-man Universe Stories: Final Order Voting

Finally, 51 users used their 5 votes (each multiplied by 1.thenumberofvoters then added to the cosigns for the final total) to move their favorites up. The 51 included:

Squalleon

Onemoreposter

SpidermanWins

Fallen_Crippled

SoA

Ninjablade09

fodigg

InnerVenom123

chalkshark

Sissel

Superguy0009e

Deadcool

PunyParker

Moonchilde

CapFanboy

Battle_Forum_Junkie

Auralaria

mewmdude77

jatoe48er

spidermonkey2099

DMXN

Jonny_Anonymous

Monarch_Chronicle

haydenclaireheroes

clonesaga2099

kfhrfdu_89_76k

Captain_Superior_Blue

Deranged Midget

NorrinBoltagonPrime21

impossibilly

AllStarSuperman

Mucklefluga

Lvenger

huaynacapac (voted for 4 stories so poet divided the extra pt among the 4 stories)

etragedy

Perethorn

Strider92

jumpstart55 (voted for 2 stories, so poet divided the extra pts between the two)

waezi2

austinmrkieross

TheTrollDance

tupiaz

kostisfire

skyjumpermike

E1000

GeekBait

AmazingWebHead

Darkseid011

CadenceV2

VeganDiet

The Poet

Then etragedy and myself broke ties.

Final Words

This was an exhausting list, but a fun list never the less. I hope you find it as interesting as I did and that someone finds this list useful. Not sure what the next list will be, but it will be interesting I'm sure...

To check out what the 12 Runners up were for this list, click on this link:

http://www.comicvine.com/profile/the_poet/lists/cv-s-top-100-spider-man-universe-stories-runner-up/45939

List items

  • "Everybody needs to shut the hell up. This is the best Spider-man story arc of all time. Nothing this audacious had ever been done in mainstream superhero comics before. Gerry Conway killed off a major character in the Spider-Man universe. Comics just got a whole lot better - this ushered in the much more realistic Bronze Age of comics - leaving the corny Silver Age in the dust. (PS-you may be seeing this on the big screen soon - just sayin') " -- etragedy

  • "JM DeMatres delivers a good, creepy dark psychological story-line, that legitimately catapults Kraven from a cheesy B-list villain, up to a genuine A-lister. Kraven, frustrated at his inability to defeat Spider-Man, hatches one last scheme to not only defeat Peter, but to replace him. The story delves deep into the psyche of both Peter and Kraven and we see Kraven struggling to prove to himself that he is "better" then the wallcrawler, while simultaneously witness Peter struggles to survive." -- Moonchilde

  • Amazing fantasy #15: "The comic that`s only known for Spideys first appearance in it. In this one, Spideys origin story is told, and it`s a doozy! The story doesn`t tell about Spidey at the peak of his heroism, of course. Frankly, it tells about a teenager who`s about 50 miles away from being a hero! When he gets these powers, what does he do with them, exactly? He doesn`t save lifes, that`s for sure(though, he did help his aunt and uncle with them)! Frankly, when an opportunity to stop a crime shows itself, he wont take it! He`s got superpowers, and he wont use them to do that! But, as pretty much everybody who has heard of Spidey knows, he didn`t get good Karma out of that. Which, of course, made him assault the crook he let away. Thus, Spider-man was born. In 11 pages. The writing by Stan Lee, pictures by Steve Ditko and story by both, are drastically different from the stories to come. Darker. Rougher. You could even say, primal. Even if the origin of Ultimate Spider-man brought it`s own, great aspects to the story, this is still the original. The one that feels as fascinating (Or maybe not. Depends on the reader.) every time, no matter how many times you`ve read it, as a retold version (when its even more decompressed, and is told in the course of some other story). It`s one of the best superhero-origin stories. Ever." - kfhrfdu_89_76k

  • "We all know that Spider-Man first appeared in Amazing Fantasy #15. The problem is, that’s never been the best version of the Spider-Man origin ever created - he makes his costume, comes up with the name Spider-Man, and creates his web shooters all in four panels. Ultimate Spider-Man was meant to bring Spider-Man to a younger audience – but ironically ends up being a much more grown up version of the story. This modernization of Spider-Man’s origin remains the best version to date." -- etragedy

  • "In the aftermath of the Marvel Civil War, Peter Parker finds himself as the target of a more personal war when his dear Aunt May is shot by a sniper. Furious, Peter becomes so enraged that he does the very thing he vowed never to do again: don the black suit. All restraint is behind him now. This time, he's going to make his enemies suffer, and he doesn't care what lines he will have to cross to find who is responsible and kill him. This is a story arc that truly breaks Spider-Man down to his core as he embarks on a rage-fueled hunt for the man who left such a scar on his heart, shoving a dark shroud over Peter Parker's world. Will Peter come out of the darkness the same hero we know and love, or will he be consumed? This tragic chapter in the "Book of Peter", brings our beloved Web Slinger to his absolute breaking point. Peter is willing to do whatever it takes and sacrifice anything as the one he loves most slips away. This is Spider-Man in his darkest hour." -- SpidermanWins

  • "Simply amazing. This story continues to carry the weight that the death of Ultimate Peter brings, but so eloquently! Plus, the idea of universe travel has never looked better." -- Sora_thekey

  • "This is where Peter quits being Spider-man. But Peter learns that the responsibility of his powers will always bring him back into suit. So, he will never be able to truly quit being Spider-man. I love how iconic the cover is for this story, when Peter walks aways from his costume that he throws away in the trash." -- haydenclaireheroes

  • "This was a very powerful story arc for the ultimate universe and comic books in general. Peter Parker has his last battle with the Green Goblin and saves the people he loves. Peter has always regretted that he couldn't save his Uncle Ben, but with his last adventure he has the opportunity to save his Aunt May and walk to the other side with his uncle. It was great to see the ultimate universe to take a risk, by killing the character that created their universe in the first place." -- haydenclaireheroes

  • Amazing Spider-Man #248: "A young boy, dying of leukemia, is just about the biggest fan of Spider-Man in the whole world. Thanks to a Daily Bugle article telling his story, he gets a visit from his idol, Spider-Man. Over the course of one night, Spider-Man will reminisce about his old cases, answer all of the boy's burning questions, and ultimately, reveal his true identity, knowing that the boy will soon be taking that information to his grave. It's a deeply personal and moving story, both tragic and joyful. One that reveals the towering humanity, and heart, of Peter Parker." -- chalkshark

  • "For nearly a decade, Detective Jean DeWolff inhabited the fringe of Spider-Man's supporting cast. She was the rare police officer who was not only willing to assist Spider-man on cases, but actually admired him. Perhaps even loved him. Her brutal murder came as a shock not just to Spider-Man, but to the fans as well, and it's just the prologue to the story. A story that is perhaps the finest Spider-Man-Daredevil team-up ever written. One that compares and contrasts both characters, while they work together... & cross swords.. on a case that stirs up strong emotions in both men." -- chalkshark

  • "This story saw a much more personal assault from Venom on Spider-Man than we've seen before. While Peter grieves over the end of his relationship with MJ, he discovers some of his parent's possessions. In short, this eventually leads to a close childhood friend of Peter's - Eddie Brock - attacking him in the Venom suit created by their fathers to cure cancer." -- guttridgeb

  • "The dread lord Dormammu has found his way into our dimension and the only one who can stop him is… Well, Dr. Strange actually. But in order to do that Strange needs the help of Spider-Man. Strange sends Spider-Man through space and time in order for him to stop Mr. Fantastic from accidentally opening a portal from which Dormammu can get through. While traversing the space/time continuum, Spider-Man is forced to re-live many of his historic moments, both good and bad. To me this story was basically a love letter to Spider-Man and his fans, written by Staczynski and Romita. It’s a fun storyline in which we get to re-experience much of what we love about Spider-Man in the first place. And it’s a rare Spider-Man story that actually has a happy ending, which Peter rightly deserves from time to time." -- Moonchilde

  • "Big Time is a story arc, written by Dan Slott, that certainly made a huge impact on Peter Parker's life, and the history of the character in general. Introducing a plethora of new supporting characters, as well as Horizon Labs, Big Time is a great moment in time for Peter, and is very new-reader friendly for anyone interested in catching up with the wall-crawler." -- Gambit1024

  • Amazing Spider-Man #300: "This arc is important because it features the first appearance of Venom, a Spider-Man villain who, even today, remains extremely popular worldwide. After a long time of wearing the black symbiote suit, this issue also houses the moment where Peter Parker finally returns to his classic and iconic red and blue look. Drawn by comic book legend Todd McFarlane, this arc is one that shouldn't ever be overlooked. Ever!" -- Gambit1024

  • "Set against the back drop of Marvel's "Civil War", Spider-Man makes the decision to reveal his identity to the entire world. It's a game changing moment that shatters the status quo of the past, nearly, 50 years' worth of Spider-Man stories. The fallout from this single act has repercussions for every single member of Spider-Man's cast. From the staff at the Daily Bugle, to his friends, to his peers in the super-human community, to his worst enemies. As the story progress, Spider-Man will find himself increasingly questioning his stance on registration, ultimately switching sides. His regrets over revealing his identity will culminate in the brutal attack on his Aunt May. After breathing fresh life in the decade's old character, Marvel got cold feet and reverted the title back to the status quo. Unfortunately opting to trade away real forward progress with the character for a return to form." -- chalkshark

  • Spectacular Spider-Man #200: "This is a classic, heartbreaking, tear-jerker of a issue issue that brings about the death of Harry Osborn, who dies after an explosive battle as the Green Goblin with a certain Spider-themed hero who was really his friend, his best friend, who stays with him in his final moments You simply must read it." -- SpidermanWins

  • Amazing Spider-Man #477: "Captain America may be the most iconic American hero, but Spider-Man is the most iconic New York hero. It's only fitting that he reflect on the events of September 11th, 2001." -- etragedy

  • "In Jeph Loeb's Spider-Man chapter for his "Color Series" as I call it, it tells and defines the relationship between Peter Parker and Gwen Stacy. Yes, kiddies, before Mary Jane Watson, there was Peter's first and best (come at me, haters) love: Gwen Stacy. For anyone interested in that moment in Parker's life, this is certainly the story for you, as Loeb sweetly covers in this well-written mini-series. It should also be noted that longtime collaborator of Loeb's, Tim Sale, draws a beautiful book. If Loeb's name doesn't grasp your attention, at least give Sale's art a look. It's gorgeous!" -- Gambit1024

  • "Maximum Carnage is a long, gigantic, epic of a battle that was more like a war really. This "war" having two sides: Carnage and his sadistic "family (Shriek, the Spider-Man Doppelganger, Demogolbin, and Carrion) who mercilessly slaughters hordes of innocents on a rampage through New York, and Spider-Man, Black Cat, Venom, and friends (Captain America, Iron Fist, Deathlok, Cloak and Dagger, Firestar, Nightwatch, and even Morbious) who fight to end their chaotic crusade. Perhaps this story's most interesting qualities are Peter's references of Harry and Norman Osborn; "monsters" of the past, his actions when the city goes insane, and his conflict with Venom's more brutal form of "justice". Still, with all that Carnage has done, you kind of get Venom's sense of responsibility to stop Carnage for good for all of his offspring's crimes be it a little too vengeful for his own good. Awesome fights between the two symbiotes. This story is a dramatic arc and though not perfect, a good one at that." -- SpidermanWins

  • "Spider-Island is probably one of the best Spider-man stories in recent years and my favorite story that Dan Slott has told for Spider-man. We get to see how NYC deals with Spider-man's powers. They lived in his shoes for a little while. Some people acknowledged the responsibility and others used their powers foolishly. In this one story arc Spider-man is not special everyone is just like Spider-man, but he still tries his best to save the day." -- haydenclaireheroes

  • "One of spider-man's great and awesome stories. We get a remodeling of some villains like the rhino, who have never bee truly evil, and turned him into so much more. great story." -- TheAcidSkull

  • "This is a story that really shows a lot about the spirit of Spider-Man. He never gives up, never accepts the impossible, and keeps fighting no matter how useless it seems. Even when faced with the quite literally unstoppable Juggernaut, he never gives up until he finds a way to take him down using his brain and quick thinking against the Juggernaut's brawn. It's a classic that sure has cemented its place in memorable Spider-Man lore." -- Moonchilde

  • "This 90's Spider-Man story arc would had ramifications that are still affecting the Marvel Universe today. This two year long story (94-96) showcased the return of the dastardly Jackal and the introduction of Kaine (the current Scarlet Spider) and Spider-cide (the third clone). The story line also featured the death of fan favorite Ben Riley after his short lived debut as the first Scarlet Spider. Still a controversial story among fans, The Clone Saga Epic remains one of the most important Spider-Man storylines from the 90s." -- Onemoreposter

  • "One of spider-man's Iconic Villains return, even more brutal than before, the while Spider-family is involved as they are hunted down. So yet again, spider-man is forced to cross a line! and so is Kaine!" -- TheAcidSkull

  • #1-3: "The debut and origin of Miguel O'Hara, a geneticist inspired by Spider-Man. In this future, Miguel was a scientist working for a company called Alchemax. In the future, the world is more or less run by corrupt corporations. Miguel developed a process to rewrite a human's genetic code, but then attempted to quit Alchemax, since he was sick of it. The head of Alchemax, Tyler Stone, tricked Miguel into taking a drug called Rapture, which is highly addictive. Miguel knew that he couldn't be a drug addict, so attempted to reset his genetic code so that he wasn't addicted to Rapture. Unfortunately, a jealous colleague altered it so that Miguel had his genetic code reset to that of a spider. And so Spider-Man 2099 was born!" -- cyberchop979

  • "This was the original Hobgoblin story arc. A mystery man manages to acquire access to one of the Green Goblin’s hidden lairs and begins his criminal career as the Hobgoblin. In this first arc, Peter actually defeats Hobgoblin relatively easily, but this new goblin is smart enough to understand the value of strategic retreat and manages to elude capture. This story kicks off a series of related Hobgoblin stories that unfold like a mystery, as this new goblin simultaneously makes a name for himself in the criminal underworld while searching for the strength enhancing goblin formula (initially he had the weapons but not the powers) and always staying ahead of Spider-Man enough to escape capture. Unfortunately Stern was forced off the title before he got to write his big reveal story, but the ride up until that point was fun to say the least." -- Moonchilde

  • "Hang tight, True Believer! It's five all-new, old-school adventures featuring your favorite web-headed hero and his pal, the walking matchstick! Follow them through the years – from high school to present day, from the Negative Zone to the Coffee Bean, from Dorrie Evans to Mary Jane Watson-Parker. It's all here!" - Marvel

  • The first appearence of the Sinister Six

  • "This is one of my personal favorites. Eddie brock, after being passive for so long, gets a second chance, and he uses it well, well sort of :P. Not to meantion that this book featurs one of spider-man deadliest villains called norman osborn AKA the green goblin! :D" -- TheAcidSkull

  • Amazing Spider-man #700: "In this milestone of an issue, longtime enemy Doctor Otto Octavius finally beats Peter Parker. Yes, after doing a brain swap comparable to Freaky Friday, Otto not only becomes Peter Parker, but manages to kill him while Peter's should remained in the dying villain's body. While it left fans of the character utterly divided, one can't deny this of being an important story to the continuing history of Spider-Man. The issue isn't entirely a downer, as it also houses several back-ups, the best one being "Date Night," an extremely strong, charming, short, and sweet story about Black Cat and your friendly neighborhood web-slinger." -- Gambit1024

  • "This is where the Green Goblin (Norman Osborn) truly starts to step up his game. In this classic story, the Goblin develops a formula that dulls Spider-Man’s spider sense, which he then manages to spray on Spidey. With Peter’s spider sense dulled, the Goblin is then able to discovers Spider-Man’s identity by simply following him home. There the Goblin ambushes and easily defeats Spider-Man and takes him to his lair, where he intends to broadcast Peter’s identity nationwide. In a shocking twist, the Goblin first reveals his own identity both to Spider-Man and to the reader (Norman’s identity as the Goblin had been a mystery up to this point). Of course Peter is able to escape and defeat Norman before he has the chance to complete his scheme, but here we see the groundwork laid for what would eventually led to the death of Gwen Stacy. In addition to the monumental struggle between Peter and Norman, as well as the revelation of the Green Goblin’s identity, this story-arc also featured the debut of legendary artist John Romita, Sr on Amazing Spider-Man." -- Moonchilde

  • "This story arc introduced Mile Morales, and what makes him tick as a person, and not in the costume. Bendis shows a character that's far different from Peter, but at the same time, just like him in someways. It also showed that even with a different ethnicity, Spider-Man is still a beloved character." -- Duo_forbidden

  • Avengers vs X-Men #9: "Great issue that focuses on Spider-man. Really digs deep into his character and his "with great power comes great responsibility" mantra. Also great character development into his role in the avengers, and his mentoring of Hope Summers." -- cyberchop979

  • Amazing Spider-Man #129: "The Punisher and the Jackal team up to take on Spider-Man in the first appearance of both characters. Jackal, having convinced the Punisher that Spider-Man is a criminal and a killer attempts to use the budding anti-hero to eliminate Spider-Man so that Spidey won't stand in the way of his future plans. After a couple of confrontations between Castle and Parker, Spider-Man finally convinces the Punisher that he's not a bad guy and the Punisher realizes that he wants to be one of the "good guys." The devious Jackal however, escapes." -- Onemoreposter

  • "Spider-Man teams up with his new girlfriend – the X-Men’s Kitty Pryde, who gets a new super-hero identity for when she’s not hanging with her mutant mates! Plus: Meet the dangerous Ultimate Deadpool – and the Ultimate Reavers! It’s mutant action, with Spidey caught in the middle!" -- Marvel

  • "Fantastic else world story that reeks of shades of the JMS era that could possibly come true. The ever antagonist to Web head, Jonah pulling a down n out ( he's pretty mental talking to dead people) inspiring him to pull back on those tights, with no planning could the return of Doc Oc be linked to our modern day Superior Spidey? Inadvertently still relative to todays story arc." -- jatoe48er

  • "In 1987, Peter Parker followed Wolverine to Russia, who was on the trail of a friend working for the KGB. Realizing that the KGB would eventually kill his friend, Wolverine wanted to put her out of her misery. Peter tried to stop him, but accidentally killed the friend instead. Haunted by his actions, Peter fled home into the waiting arms of Mary Jane. But WHAT IF…Peter never went home? WHAT IF…the Spider never came out of the cold? This is my all time favorite What If? story. It showcases a Spider-Man willing to kill with powers and skills beyond the 616 Spidey we know." -- Onemoreposter

  • "Long suffering Betty Brant Leeds gets drawn into a mysterious cult, led by 'The Teacher'. Despite Spidey's best attempt to rescue her, Betty resists, screaming and pulling off his mask - on this occasion, being a superhero has its drawbacks. Ben Urich and Flash Thomson eventually spirit her away (dressed as cult members), and the difficult task of 'deprogramming' her begins." -- IanBeale

  • "After all this time The Lizard has been nothing more than a green Reptilian in purple pants and a lab coat, but shed takes the Lizard down into a much darker place. And it is amazing! it brings much more gritty concepts to the table." -- TheAcidSkull

  • Amazing Spider-Man #90: "Though not as high profile as the death of Gwen Stacy, the death of her father Captain George Stacy is another brilliant chapter in Spider-Man's career. The story sees a fight between Dr. Octopus and Spider-Man leading to Captain Stacy's death while saving a child from falling debris. Captain Stacy's last words are truly touching and the aftermath leads to another great story." -- guttridgeb

  • "This is a great story and really steps up Doc Ock's game from what we've known him for, as he holds the whole earth hostage, mind controls the Avengers, and sets Spider-Man up against impossible odds. Dock Ock has a hell of a bucket list. Spider-Man's new suit is awesome in this and really shows how much of a genius Spidey is, as he gathers all his knowledge of the Six and specializes his new suit toward every member of the Sinister Six (immune to electricity)... except for the Master Planner himself. By the climax, Peter is forced to break his new promise "no one dies" in a climatic moment. Good story by Slott. Definitely a classic Spidey arc in my opinion." -- SpidermanWins

  • "The first appearance of one of Spider-Man's greatest villains, the Green Goblin, saw him teaming up with the Enforcers to take Spider-Man down. Green Goblin persuades a film producer to create a film starring Spider-Man, Green Goblin and the Enforcers - which Spider-Man soon agrees to. This was an entertaining issue guest starring Hulk and we even got to see Spider-Man's amazing power of chest expansion!" -- guttridgeb

  • "This is the story that got me started reading Spider-Man's Tangled Web. Peter Milligan and Duncan Fegredo adapted the novel Flowers for Algernon into this story. The Rhino, tired of being a joke, decides to get an operation to increase his intellect. At first, it is a success, but after a while, the same intelligence he craved causes him to lose touch and exist apart from his loved ones. It's one of my favorite Spider-Man villain focused stories." -- impossibilly

  • "The first appearance of...Doctor Octopus! Spideys first archenemy is still far away from his best appearance, which is one of the best things about first appearances. They lay the ground work, and the characters are interestingly rough. But enough of that. The best thing about this ish, isn`t Ocks first appearance. Its the effect that he causes to Spidey. Doc totally defeats him. And Spidey`s bummed out. But then, when a familiar dude encourages him, Spidey wins the day again! With his intelligence. And it has, of course, courageous collaboration by Ditko and Leiber/Lee." -- kfhrfdu_89_76k

  • Ultimate Spider-Man Annual #1: "I loved the pairing of Peter and Kitty Pryde. Loved it loved it loved it! I think it goes down in history as one of the best super hero pairings ever written (after Hawkeye & Mockingbird). Too bad Pete's fate is written to be with MJ, otherwise this would've worked so much better." -- Sora-thekey

  • Amazing Spider-man #655: "It starts of with a silent funeral. I love silent comics. Then, the real fun begins. Peter falls asleep, and sees all those who he has accidentally killed, in one way or other. And given that this is a dream, it`s surreal. It`s funny. It`s grim. It has tons of guest stars. It`s a celebration of visual storytelling. Also, when he wakes up, Peter makes a daring promise, which will start to play out in the next issue. Slott steps up his game, to heights he use to soar in, just a few months ago. I dunno why exactly, but his main Spidey-run hasn`t been as great as many others led me to believe, and not great as I had hoped it to be (sure, it has good bits in it, but the overall-story isn`t my cup of tea). But this...THIS is one of his best written stories. Classic Slott. Not only that, it`s drawn by MARCOS MARTIN. MARCOS, MARTIN. Easily one of the best Spidey-stories ever told." -- kfhrfdu_89_76k

  • "This story chronicles one of the biggest milestones in Spider-Man history when Aunt May tells Peter (for real this time) that she knows he is Spider-Man. The story is a turning point in the relationship between Aunt May and Peter Parker, it’s an emotional rollercoaster of straight talking and touching sincerity. JMS radically altered Peter’s life and gave him another strong supporter when he got Aunt May and Peter to open up to each other." -- Lvenger

  • "A new era unfolds as acclaimed writer J. Michael Straczynski takes the reins of Marvel's flagship character! As Peter Parker gets back into the swing of his life, a sudden encounter with an enigmatic stranger will forever change the way he will look at himself?and his alterego, the ever amazing Spider-Man! He's launched two hits with Rising Stars and Midnight Nation, and now Straczynski teams up with penciler John Romita Jr. to form the Spidey dream team supreme! And can you believe we have none other than J. Scott Campbell on covers?" - Marvel

  • "It was the inevitable team-up that couldn't happen. The flagship characters of two rival publishing companies sharing an adventure fans, heretofore, could only dream about. Marvel and DC set aside their differences to bring the fans the epic story of Spider-Man's first meeting with Superman. Along the way, fans were also treated to the the staff of the Daily Bugle interacting with the staff of the Daily Planet, and the criminal combo of Lex Luthor & Doctor Octopus. It was a story so big that only the large format treasury edition could do it justice." -- chalkshark

  • Ultimate Spider-Man Annual #3: "Most comics these days don't talk about sex, especially the comics featuring teenaged superheroes. Because Ultimate Spider-Man features a younger Peter Parker and Mary Jane, it was both the perfect couple and perfect series to talk about it. What makes this issue works is Bendis' dialogue on the topic, the artwork by David Lafuente, and the fact that it marks the first appearance of Ultimate Mysterio." -- Duo_forbidden

  • Amazing Spider-Man #28: "Spider-Man has always been a character that not only relates to us but has grown up (albeit very slowly) moving onto new places in life rather than staying in one particular point in life. Stan Lee made this first transition with Peter’s high school graduation and giving Peter a place at Empire State University. This was a major transition in Spider-Man’s life and showed the reader that Peter Parker would be moving onto new places from here." -- Lvenger

  • "One of the biggest problems with the initial conception of Spider-Man, is that it stretched credibility that Peter Parker could be a genius chemist who spent hours in a lab, and had a social life, and took care of Aunt May, and fought crime as Spider-Man, and still managed to be a top photographer contributing to New York's largest circulating daily publication. Brian Michael Bendis fixes that by having Peter work part time maintaining The Daily Bugle website, which is way more believable in a modern context. The main plot is also a good one: Spidey decides to go after organized crime, which pits him against The Kingpin. As the title suggests, he quickly learns that power comes in many forms, and The Kingpin has lots of it, connections, smarts, ruthlessness, money, and superpowered henchmen of his own, including The Enforcers and Electro. And if all that weren't enough, the romance between Peter and Mary Jane is smoldering hot!" -- etragedy

  • "Without this we wouldn't have had an amazing, spectacular run by JMS, which got me fully integrated back into comics. Despite a lot of criticism the serious took (wolverine esc tusks) it all began here. The beautiful JRJR art and the setting of the greatest run in Spideys history (my opinion)." -- jatoe48er

  • "Blood washes the streets of the Big Apple. Torment plunges Spider-Man into the darkness within us all as he hunts the Lizard through the streets and sewers of New York City, trying to put an end to the bloodthirsty, homicidal rampage left in his wake. But what is driving the Lizard? Is it an answer that Spider-Man is prepared to face? Or will it be so shocking that it will make even the most courageous hero question his sanity? Torment is a terrifying, action-packed epic that made -- and continues to make -- comic history! Collecting SPIDER-MAN #1-5 (and MARVEL AGE #0 or The Spectacular Spider-Man annual #10 back-up.)" -- cyberchop979

  • Amazing Spider-Man #12: "Following immediately on the heels of 'The Return of Doctor Octopus! (The Amazing Spider-Man #11), Spidey and Doc Ock meet in battle, yet again - except this time Peter Parker is recovering from the flu and in a greatly weakened state, which allows Doc Ock to get the drop on him and pull his mask off in public! This story is not a dream or an alternate reality. Spidey's secret identity is revealed in full view of many people, including those who recognize him! Great writing." -- etragedy

  • Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars #8: One of the things I always disliked about Spider-Man was his costume. When was the last time you saw a red and blue spider? As a kid I used to try to imagine the costume was red and black. Then along comes Secret Wars, Marvel's lame attempt to cash in on the success of DCs Crisis on Infinite Earths. But Marvel didn't have big plans to kill off characters and retcon their entire universe the way DC did. So instead, they had to start shaking things up to boost sales by doing things like revealing Dr. Doom's face... and giving Spidey a new costume. That costume was the best thing to come out of Secret Wars. It still looks bad ass today; simbiote-schmimbiote, I wish they would just retcon this costume back in as the official Spider-Man's uniform. -- etragedy

  • "After months of suffering from amnesia, Norman Osborn AKA the Green Goblin suddenly remembers both his own identity and that of Spider-Man, and returns in full force. Meanwhile, Osborn son, and Peter's best friend is hospitalize due to a drug overdose. This three issue saga is important largely due to the fact that it was the first comic book published that did not receive the approval of Comics Code Authority. Although the story may seem tame by todays standards, it was the first to deal with issues such as drug abuse, and by standing up to the CCA it opened up the comic industry to darker stories to follow." -- Moonchilde

  • "Spidey decides to piss J. Jonah Jameson (Jr.) off, and stay up 24/7. Then a new cool Vulture starts to terrorize the streets. And Aunt May finds herself a new boyfriend! First of all, I like how natural this feels. Peter not sleeping, and the effects it has are realistic. Him screwing over JJJ jr is funny and something that Spidey really would do. It has humor at first, but by the end of it, things get serious. Just like real life. The plot is a doozy, for a good reason it`s written by Mark Waid! This is my favorate Spidey-story written by him. And I can`t say that the art would be terrible, either. Not spectacular, but good. Also, even if not really a definitive part of the story, the covers by Joe Quesada are great." -- kfhrfdu_89_76k

  • "The repercussions to Peter Parker's death in the Ultimate Universe might not include the character himself, but it does have the best events to take place in this universe: The hug that Aunt May receives just as she enters her nephew's funeral, the slap that Captain America receives, the introduction of Miles Morales, and more." -- Sora_thekey

  • Spectacular Spider-Man #189: "After years of fighting it, Harry Osborn finally goes off the deep end and fully embraces his legacy as a Green Goblin. Here Harry kidnaps his own family, his son Norman, wife Liz, and brother-in-law the Molten Man and forces them to attend a rather surreal dinner party where he explains to them his plans to fully become the Green Goblin and the part his wishes for them all to play in rebuilding the Osborn Legacy. His rantings are clearly that of a man gone mad, which understandably distresses Molten Man and Liz, but young Norman eats it up, thinking daddy is just throwing a fun Halloween party. Spider-Man of course arrives to save they day (tipped off due to an explosive present Harry gave him at the start of the issue), but in many ways he’s to late. What was left of the Harry Osborn that was once Peter’s best friend is now gone, permanently replaced with the madness that is the Green Goblin." -- Moonchilde

  • Amazing Spider-man #502: "My faf J.M. Straczynski-written Spidey-story. Besides his whole run (sometimes aided by another writer, for some reason, but not on this one), of course. It`s funny, lighthearted, a bit dramatic and presents us with a new, great character. The costume maker of heroes and villains? Outstanding. It`s mostly talking, like most of Straczynskis stories. Which I like, because it`s different from Spidey-stories in general. There`s also the mandatory fighting, though. The art by JR JR and Scott Hanna makes it even better." -- kfhrfdu_89_76k

  • "Erik Larsen, just before bolting to form Image, wrote and drew this 6-part follow-up to The Return of the Sinister Six story from Amazing Spider-Man. Spider-Man teams up with some of Marvel's most popular heroes at the time (Hulk! Ghost Rider! Deathlok! Nova! Sleepwalker?) against the new Sinister Six (New meaning that the deceased Kraven the Hunter was replaced by the demonic Hobgoblin). It's a very fun story that saw the debut of Cyborg-armed Spider-Man, which both poked fun at and had fun with a popular 90s trope." -- impossibilly

  • Amazing Spider-man Annual #21: "One of the most iconic couples in comic books gets married, which is MJ and Spider-man. Even though this story gets erased with One More Day. It is still nice to see Peter settle down and be one of the few married superheroes in the Marvel universe." -- haydenclaireheroes

  • Amazing Spider-Man #11: "A lot of Spider-Man villains second appearances are actually better than there first. Such is the case with 'The Return of Doctor Octopus!' Doc Ock is back in a complex story that involves gangsters, loan sharks, prison breaks and Betty Brant, and a tale that takes us from the heart of New York city to the harbors of Philladelphia!" -- etragedy

  • Amazing Spider-Man #7: "The Vulture has been released from prison for good behavior, but he doesn't plan to stay good! In this issue the Vulture carefully plans his revenge on Spider-Man - he won't be defeated the same way twice! The knock-down drag out fight goes on for pages, and the Vulture is the first villain to actually physically injure Spider-Man in hand-to-hand combat!" -- etragedy

  • "These three issues have some big historic moments in Spidey's life. They introduce Mary Jane (and her famous line "Face it tiger, you just hit the jackpot.") and the Rhino (who holds the distinction of being the first Spider-Man villain created by the team of Lee and Romita). These issues also hold a personal place for me because they were some of the first Spider-Man stories I read, reprinted in Marvel Tales in the 1980s." -- impossibilly

  • Amazing Spider-Man #87: "Here Peter Parker suspects that he may be losing his Spider-Man powers and in a feverish state turns up to Gwen's birthday party announcing that he's Spider-Man. After recovering in hospital and concocting a plan involving the Prowler, Peter is in the clear. Lee gave us a startling change of pace in this story as we see how those closest to Peter reacted to the possibility of him being Spider-Man as well as a feverish Peter overcoming his illness and doubts to rise up once again in an entertaining tale." -- Lvenger

  • Amazing Spider-Man #149: "This issue features the first appearance of the Spider-clone Ben Reilly. The Jackal is back, this time blaming Spider-Man for the death of Gwen Stacey. After cloning him he forces the two Spider-men to fight....to the death! This issue in the penultimate chapter of the original Clone Saga." -- Onemoreposter

  • Amazing Spider-Man #491: "Peter Parker & Mary Jane have been estranged for several month. Finally, the time for reconciliation has come. All they want is to have a heart-to-heart. So, of course, terrorists pick that moment to attempt to assassinate Dr. Doom, mere feet from where Peter and M.J are talking. Peter is forced to put his responsibilities as Spider-Man before his relationship with Mary Jane, at the worst possible time. With an able assist from Captain America, Spider-man is able to keep Dr. Doom from being murdered, while reforging his relationship with Mary Jane during the lulls in the conflict. It's a great juggling act that drives home the difficulties of maintaining a double life. It's also the story that brought Peter and Mary Jane back together." -- chalkshark

  • "Peter discovers he is dying of an unexplained ailment that modern medicine cannot diagnose let alone cure. This begins to push Peter in to a nevous break down. To make matters worse Morlun returns bent on hunting down and devouring Spider-man. The story is broken down into four acts each of which is based on the Kübler-Ross model. Despite the controversy behind the story It was a breath of fresh air into the series as a whole and gave us a new look at who and what Spider-man actually. Granted I would probably say this is either a love it or hate it storyline but the little subtle things in this series such as each act representing Kübler-Ross's model of the five stages of grief (Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression and Acceptance) were really nice touches. I think the main reason I in particular like this storyline was because it was completely different from what we had seen before and took a risk in changing how we look at Spider-man." -- Strider92

  • "Beneath the backdrop of Spider-Man facing a gamma irradiated monster called Digger comprised of 13 murdered gangsters and the moral dilemmas Spider-Man has with protecting the man responsible for their murders, there is the touching reuinion of Peter and Mary Jane after being estranged for so long. JMS juggles a wild adventure with examining the relationship between Peter Parker and Mary Jane. In this story at least, Mary Jane comes off as still being a colourful character despite being a wife now and Peter still comes off as the appealing character he is well known for." -- Lvenger

  • "After an experiment to map Peter's blood goes wrong, he temporarily loses his powers, but Peter later realises this could be a blessing and goes back to have his powers removed permanently, letting him lead a normal life. This leads to some very interesting issues, with a powerless Spidey being forced to go up against The Tarantula and The Scorpion (with a little help from the Black Cat), forcing him once again to get his powers back and don the mask of the Amazing Spiderman." -- IanBeale

  • "One of the best spider-man stories i've read, well i haven't read TONS but thus far this is a great one. It manages to toggle so much spider-man villains and not make it seems so chaotic and stupid! and it finely gives harry Osborn some kind of meaning, other than being peters annoying friend , not to mention that it features one of spider-mans greatest villains aka DOCTOR Octopus! ( before 700) The Plot is solid, fun , and interesting, so yeah, i really like this one." -- TheAcidSkull

  • "A story I love simply because it proves how close Peter's relationship is with the Fantastic Four." -- Sora_thekey

  • "This is the finale of the whole "search for Aunt May" in the first volume of Marvel Knights: Spider-Man. Here Peter's now unveiled secret enemy: the kidnapper of Aunt May is revealed. After an epic battle with the sinister twelve, the arc showcases confrontations with (and between) his worst enemies: Venom, Doc Ock, and the now released Green Goblin in this intense conclusion. This is possibly the best part of the Marvel Knights: Spider-Man line and features super high stakes and great dialogue." -- SpidermanWins

  • What If? #105: "This is a What if story that shows the reality of Spider-man's daughter never dying. This is the first story to contribute to the longest running female series for Marvel, which was Spider-girl. In this story MJ and Peter finally get their happily ever after. Peter gets to retire as Spider-man, and have a normal life with a wonderful family. But Peter's happily ever after comes to a halt when his daughter inherits his spider like abilities." -- haydenclaireheroes

  • Amazing Spider-Man #18: "The issue relentlessly pounds the reader with Parker's daily problems - Jameson slamming him in print and on TV, Aunt May sick, money running out, Peter's schoolwork suffering, relationship problems with Betty Brant, and Flash Thompson getting himself into trouble trying to defend Spider-Man. Finally, at wit's end, Peter Parker tosses the Spider-Man suit in the trash. But as Aunt May fights her way to recover, and reminds him that Parkers aren't quitters, he realizes that Spider-Man is who he was born to be!" -- etragedy

  • "Unlike DC Comics during the Silver Age, Marvel comics weren't stagnant. During this period Peter Parker goes off to college for the first time - there he meets some people who will play a big role in his future - Professor Warren, Harry Osborn and Gwen Stacy! Meanwhile he's trying to stop the theft of nuclear materials, and he learns that Aunt May is not only sick but dying! Things go from bad to worse when Aunt May slips into a coma and Spider-Man learns that he's responsible for her condition - and the keys to her salvation may be held by his old enemies! But no matter how bad things get, Spider-Man just will not give up; pushing himself beyond anything he's ever done before!" -- etragedy

  • Spider-man #17: "This is a great one and done story that ties into the Infinity Gauntlet. Spider-Man dies trying to save the life of a little girl. Before moving on, he encounters Thanos and Death, and reflects back on his own life. The whole issue is pretty meta-physical. It's one of the better, and lesser known, Infinity Gauntlet tie-ins." -- impossibilly

  • "Not a Spiderman title but I'll be dammed if this isn't a spiderman story. Visiting the Raft for his own reason ( Electros shock blast) and like the original Avengers, circumstance throws them into the mix which leads to major milestone events such as Civil war ( un masking of our hero) ,putting that aside it's an awesome book!" -- jatoe48er

  • "On Spider-Man's fiftieth anniversary, he finds himself putting a young boy in a situation not unlike his own five decades ago." - Marvel

  • Spectacular Spider-Man #27: "What can I say... I love Gwen Stacy!" Sora_thekey

  • Amazing Spider-Man #480: "Publishing companies are big on stunts. For one month, in 2002, Marvel challenged it's creators to tell their story in purely visual terms. Not a single line of dialogue. The Spider-Man team was up to the task. Perhaps inspired by the mute nature of the issue, Straczynski tells a quiet tale that follows Mary Jane and Aunt May, as they go about their day. Though Spider-Man appears only in newscasts until the very end of the story, the wallcrawler weighs so heavily in the minds of his supporting cast, that he seems almost present on every page. Romita, Jr. knocks it out of the park on the artwork, and reminds us all that it isn't enough for a comic book artist to be a great illustrator. First and foremost, they must be a good storyteller." -- chalkshark

  • "This is from one of the most interesting eras of the aracnoid-hero. The early Lee-Ditko-era. When the stories were still shaping up to their status quo. This is one of that eras gems. First Electro-story! Once again, the villain of the piece (Electro. Duh.) works as the simple MacGuffin of the story, while the main story rests on the shoulders of our web-slinger hero. But that`s not all. There`s also silly silver age-stuff (not Superman silver age-silly), a more realistic take on Electro, great art, disastrously dramatic dialogue and straightforward plot told in 22 crisply colored pages! Sure, there`s a few excruciating clichés (that you`ll have to forgive, `cause it`s a goddamn comic book)...But there`s also a not-too-over-the-top, nice and bit romantic ending." -- kfhrfdu_89_76k

  • #83-85: "A pleasantly surprising Spider-Man tale which sees the arise of a new villain called The Schemer intent on taking down the Kingpin only for it to be revealed that the Schemer is in fact the Kingpin’s son. This story gave us an intriguing look into the family history of one of Spider-Man’s most notable villains, the Kingpin and fleshed out the Kingpin as a husband and a father figure as well as a crime lord, giving Fisk a more tragic element to him. Plus the Schemer poses a competent threat to Spider-Man too and we get to see Peter Parker juggling more problems like money and making time for Gwen and his friends in a way that never gets old in a Spider-Man story." -- Lvenger

  • """A mysterious villain has discovered Spider-Man's secret

    identity...and is using the information to slowly destroy everything and

    everyone that Peter Parker cares about. But how far will Spider-Man go

    to protect the people he loves? Is he willing to cross a boundary we

    thought we'd never see him cross? Featuring Spider-Man's most fearsome

    foes and avenging allies!"" - Marvel"

  • "Once upon a time, Annuals were reserved for truly special stories. A year end treat for the readers, that actually justified the higher cover price. This one was a classic. Spider-Man finds himself charting some pretty unfamiliar waters in a tale that finds him teaming up with that other famous Steve Ditko creation, Dr. Strange. Frank Miller does his best impersonation of Ditko, as O'Neal weaves a tale that brings together Dr. Doom and the Dread Dormammu in a dark scheme that will forever change the world. Unless, that is, Spider-Man can put a stop to it." -- chalkshark

  • "Spider-Man and Wolverine! Everyone's favorite wisecracking web-spinner and ferocious furball come together in their first major series ever! The superstar creative team of Jason Aaron (WOLVERINE: WEAPON X, PUNISHERMAX) and Adam Kubert (ULTIMATE FANTASTIC FOUR, ULTIMATE X-MEN) send Spidey and Wolvie to the edges of the Marvel Universe as they face such awful beings as the Czar, Big Murder and Doom the Living Planet! But who is the major Marvel villain pulling the strings? And can Spidey and Wolvie refrain from killing one another long enough to find out?" -- Marvel

  • "Following directly after 'Kraven's Last Hunt' - another inter-title crossover. A great trilogy with some standout unsettling Bill Sienkiewicz covers. Peter finds himself locked up and drugged to the eyeballs on the Mad Dog Ward." -- IanBeale

  • "Spider-Man, Daredevil and the Punisher team up in order to protect the Omega Drive from the Megacrime organization." -- guttridgeb

  • "As Ultimate Spider-Man was the very first series I recall reading in my ten-year love of superhero comics, it would be blasphemous of me to not mention something from that still-going run. Spider-Man's rogues gallery is certainly a colorful one, and the concept of villains teaming up against one hero has always been a fascinating one. In Brian Bendis's mini-series, Ultimate Six, he gives his new take on the Sinister Six (if the name didn't already give it away). For anyone like me who simply adores this team of villains, it's certainly one checking out and giving a chance, as it's extremely well done (and that's saying a lot because sometimes, that writer and I really don't mix). It's great, and you should give it a shot if you already haven't!" -- SpidermanWins

  • Amazing Spider-Man #15: "Hate it or love it, this story has to be on the list because of the SO much controversy it brought. On the one positive, it gave us Brand New Day and Big Times. While some of the stories and issues weren't all great, I don't think they could all of those stories could had worked with Peter and MJ still together, and the whole world knowing his identity after Civil War." -- Duo_forbidden

  • "The first appearance of Kraven the Hunter ranks up there with the first appearance of Doctor Octopus as one of the greatest of the early issues of The Amazing Spider-Man. The Chameleon is back in town and when he narrowly escapes capture by Spider-Man, he reaches the conclusion that he will never be safe as long as Spider-Man is about. Thus he contacts the one person he thinks can successfully hunt down and kill Spider-Man, a big game hunter named Kraven. The final battle between Kraven and Spider-Man is one of the best fights in Marvel's Silver Age - the two seem so evenly matched." -- etragedy

  • Amazing Spider-Man #24: "This is a very different kind of Spider-Man story. It starts out the same as many of the early Spider-Man issues. Peter Parker has financial woes. Peter Parker has love life woes. Peter Parker has trouble with Flash Thompson. And, J. Jonah Jameson is smearing Spider-Man in the press. But then it takes a right turn when it comes to the main plot. Instead of Spider-Man fighting one of his regular opponents who's been released from prison only to plan a new crime caper, it features a psychiatrist who tells Jameson that in his expert opinion, Spider-Man is on the verge of losing his sanity. Peter initially dismisses the notion, but soon he starts worrying and hallucinating, and he realizes there might be something to that claim." -- etragedy

  • Daredevil #16: "Spider-Man may have been co-created by Steve Ditko, but he wasn't the best artist in Spider-Man history. The artist we most associate with the webslinger is John Romita. Here Stan Lee tests John Romita out before using him to replace Ditko on Spider-Man. The best, most iconic artist in Spider-Man history first drew Spider-Man in this story where Spidey meets Daredevil." -- etragedy

  • Marvel Team-Up #79: "Spider-Man has teamed up with a lot of characters over the years. but the one people probably never expected to see grace a Spider-Man adventure had to be Red Sonja. Spider-Man rubs shoulders with two of Robert E. Howard's characters in a story that would actually have ramifications for all of Marvel's New York based heroes, several years later. Kulan Gath is running amok in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, but thanks to Red Sonja's spirit taking over Mary Jane's body, Spider-Man is not going to have to face him alone. The acclaimed X-Men team of Claremont and Byrne were in their prime. In a run of great Marvel Team-Up stories, this is the stand out." -- chalkshark

  • Mary Jane #1: "This comic tells the story of the Harry Osborn-Peter Parker-Mary Jane love triangle from Mary Jane's point of view. It also explores the interactions between Liz Allan, Flash Thompson and the supporting cast of the Spider-Man lexicon in a way we haven't seen before. This is the 'chick flick' version of Spider-Man comics." -- etragedy

  • Amazing Spider-Man #277: "charles Vess is a beautiful illustrator, with a penchant for fantasy stories. So it is that one harsh winter night, what would seem to be a routine Spider-Man-thwarts-a-kidnapping story, under Vess' brush, becomes a wonderful little tale with just a hint of the Twilight Zone lurking around the edges. By keeping the color palette minimal, Spider-Man, in his black costume, stands out in sharp contrast to Vess' snow-covered backgrounds. Thankfully, while this was the first time Vess illustrated Spider-Man, it would not be the last." -- chalkshark

  • "When Spider-Man, Hulk and Deadpool get transported to another reality, Spider-Man finds the Uncle Ben of this reality to be still very much alive. While stuck in that reality, Spider-Man takes over for his injured counterpart: the Amazing Spider. However, the Amazing Spider and his Uncle Ben turn out to be corrupt versions of their 616 selves, taking Spider-Men from various realities and placing their power inside the Amazing Spider - making him powerful enough to stand up to the likes of Thanos and Galactus. This made for an interesting read as Spider-Man deals with the fact that Uncle Ben isn't always the kind figure he loved so much." -- guttridgeb

  • "Spider-Man punches the Hulk into orbit! It's Todd McFarlane's final issue of Amazing Spider-Man. It's an Acts of Vengeance crossover issue, and part of the Cosmic Spider-Man story that had Spider-Man gain access to Captain Universe's Uni-power. And did I mention that Spider-Man punches the Hulk into orbit?!" -- impossibilly
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