Spider-man is one of the most iconic characters around and if you want to know why check out my The Franchise entry on him here. But today I’m not here to break down what makes him tick, I’m just here to recommend some good wall-crawler reads. Remember this is not a top ten list. I’m mostly aiming for longer stories or starting points that will give you something to due during your lockdown. So I’ve left out some classic one or two issue stories. But I think you’ll enjoy what’s left.
- Ultimate Spider-Man- I could have named just about any arc from Brian Micheal Bendis’ modern retelling of the Spider-Man mythos and it would be worthy of a read. But you’ve got the time so you should probably just read the whole thing from the start. Bendis cuts out all the fat and avoids the storytelling missteps that come with fifty years of continuity to tell the Ultimate Peter Parker story.
- Kraven’s Last Hunt- The greatest Kraven the Hunter story ever told and a fantastic deconstruction of what it means to be Spider-Man. An essential read with a dark ending.
- The Death of Jean DeWolfe- A very human story about loss, grief, and justice. This story cemented the friendship between Spider-Man and Daredevil and serves as an excellent psychological examination of both heroes. This was the point when prolific comics writer Peter David really arrived.
- Spider-verse- While the potential extinction of every Spider-Man in the multi-verse might seem like a grim and bloody story this arc is actually quite a bit of fun. The different versions of Spider-Man are a riot and the addition of Spider-Gwen to the cannon makes this a hugely important arc for the modern spider-fan.
- Superior Spider-Man– A dying Doctor Octopus body swaps with Peter Parker and vows to become a Superior Spider-Man. This run was fantastic and fun and provided the most complete portrait of Otto Octavius ever written. At the heart of this series is the question “What makes Spider-Man a hero?”
- The Gauntlet- Often compared to Batman’s Knightfall saga, The Gauntlet is not a singular storyline but rather a series of escalating costumed battles with his classic foes and emotional conflicts with his closest friends that leave Spider-Man battered and broken. The whole run culminates in “The Grim Hunt” a sequel to another item on this list “Kraven’s Last Hunt”.
- The Night Gwen Stacey Died- This arc is only two issues but it’s impossible for me not to include it. This is arguably the most influential story in Spider-Man’s history, with Gwen Stacey’s death haunting Peter Parker as much if not more than Uncle Ben’s. It’s amazing how one panel can change so much about a franchise.
- Spider-man: Blue– I’m not usually one for the sappy stuff, but damn this series just might maker you cry. On Valentine’s Day, a more mature Spider-Man reflects on his relationship with his first love Gwen Stacey. It’s a poignant reflection on loss and those deep wounds inside us that never truly heal.
- Coming Home- J. Michael Straczynski’s very first arc on Amazing Spider-Man; introducing the new villain Morlun who would quickly become one of Spider-Man’s deadliest foes. Straczynski is one of my favorite authors, but even he will tell you that his run on Spider-Man didn’t end as well as he would have liked. But these early issues are well worth your time and rank up there with any of the greats.
- “Shed”- A dark tale that redefines one of Spider-Man’s greatest rogues. This take on the Lizard is as brutal as it is tragic. This is one of those books that in lesser hands could have gone horribly awry but Zeb Wells and Chris Bachalo are at their career bests here. This is actually part of “The Gauntlet” but it is significant enough to warrant its own shout out here.