The Top 28 Best Spider-Man Comics

Everything’s coming up Spider-Man lately. Barely a week passes without quality of immoderate caller movie, TV oregon crippled featuring our favourite wall-crawler. Currently, fans are celebrating the instrumentality of Tom Holland’s Peter Parker successful Spider-Man: Brand New Day

To observe our emotion of the fantastic wall-crawler, we're looking backmost connected his top comic publication stories -- not an casual feat with implicit 60 years of past to excavation through. Be warned, though, if you've ne'er work these stories, determination are spoilers within. Most of said spoilers are decades old, but hey, you ne'er know. And conscionable to support things simple, we’re limiting the database to stories focused connected Peter Parker, not different characters similar Miles Morales, Venom, oregon Spider-Gwen.

Check retired the slideshow assemblage beneath oregon scroll down to spot the indispensable Spider-Man comics each instrumentality should read.

Note: This database has been updated with the latest, top Spider-Man comics for 2026.

28. Spider-Verse

The Amazing Spider-Man Vol. 3 #9-15 (2014-2015) | By Dan Slott, Olivier Coipel & Giuseppe Camuncoli

Spider-Man crossovers don’t get much epic than this. Spider-Verse pits our leader against the 1 villain who successfully killed him - vampiric totem-feeder Morlun. Worse, Morlun’s full household has surfaced with the extremity of devouring immoderate and each Spider-Men they tin find. Spidey’s lone anticipation is articulation forces with his counterparts from crossed the Marvel multiverse and support the Web of Life earlier it’s destroyed for good.

Spider-Verse is afloat of play and precocious stakes, but it’s besides immoderate of the astir amusive you’ll person speechmaking a Spider-Man comic. The crossover pays tribute to galore antithetic incarnations of the Spidey franchise successful comics and television. Even the Spider-Men from the 1960’s animated bid and the Hostess Fruit Pies ads are drawn into this fight.

While the main crossover is contained wrong the pages of the monthly Amazing Spider-Man series, fans truly beryllium it to themselves to work the galore tie-ins and instrumentality successful the afloat scope of the crossover. The Edge of Spider-Verse prologue bid is particularly key, arsenic it introduces important caller characters similar Spider-Gwen and Sp//dr. We wouldn’t person the Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse movie without this crossover lighting the way.

27. How Green Was My Goblin/Spidey Saves the Day

The Amazing Spider-Man Vol. 1 #39-40 (1966) | By Stan Lee & John Romita

By their ain admission, Stan Lee and Steve Ditko ne'er had a coagulated program successful caput for who was down the disguise of the Green Goblin erstwhile they created him. Luckily, the eventual determination to marque him Norman Osborn successful this two-parter became 1 of the astir important moments of the full Spidey saga. Having been precocious acquainted with Harry Osborn astatine school, Norman’s relation arsenic the Goblin instantly created a idiosyncratic transportation to the quality that would spell connected to go Spidey’s astir fashionable rogue.

Perhaps much importantly is that not lone is Green Goblin unmasked – truthful excessively is Peter Parker. For the archetypal time, Peter’s worst fears travel to fruition erstwhile 1 of his enemies discovers his civilian identity. The resulting narration betwixt Spidey and the Gobby is everlastingly altered, giving the duo a twisted, unbroken enslaved that would aboriginal go indispensable to Spider-Man’s tragedy-ridden career.

26. Ultimate Spider-Man: Ultimatum

Ultimate Spider-Man #129-133 | By Brian Michael Bendis & Stuart Immonen

2008's Ultimatum is wide regarded arsenic 1 of the worst Marvel Comics crossovers ever published, but it's not each bad. Brian Michael Bendis and Stuart Immonen genuinely made lemonade retired of lemons erstwhile their ongoing Ultimate Spider-Man bid tied into the lawsuit and explored however Peter Parker dealt with the monolithic clime catastrophe unfolding successful New York City.

Like galore large Spider-Man stories, Ultimatum explores the lengths to which Spidey volition spell successful bid to prevention lives. Even J. Jonah Jameson walks distant from the acquisition profoundly moved. While this storyline didn't crook retired to beryllium the extremity of Bendis' long-running saga arsenic we feared astatine the time, it profoundly shaped the absorption of the bid going forward.

25. Goblin Nation

Superior Spider-Man Vol. 1 #27-31 (2014) | By Dan Slott & Giuseppe Camuncoli

Dan Slott has the longest tenure of immoderate Amazing Spider-Man writer, and it goes without saying helium did a batch to reshape the franchise and redefine Peter Parker during that time. No Slott-penned storyline was much ground-breaking oregon arguable than Superior Spider-Man, a publication wherein Doctor Octopus’ caput took implicit Peter Parker’s assemblage and acceptable retired to beryllium himself arsenic the amended hero.

It’s a hazard that paid off, arsenic the climactic “Goblin Nation” storyline proves. The bid wraps successful the lone mode it good, with Otto Octavius warring a losing conflict against a resurgent Norman Osborn and his underground service of Green Goblins. This is Otto’s infinitesimal of truth. The bid climaxes with his realization that, for each his resources and tech and ambition, helium lacks the self-sacrificing quality that genuinely makes Spider-Man a leader for the ages. His determination to dice truthful that Peter tin unrecorded again is simply a cleanable end-cap to a years-long quality arc. And the country wherever Osborn realizes he’s nary longer battling Octavius ranks among the champion Spider-Man moments ever.

24. The Wedding

The Amazing Spider-Man Vol. 1 Annual #21 (1987) | By David Michelinie & Paul Ryan

After sidesplitting disconnected Gwen Stacy successful bid to ne'er spot a joined Spider-Man, Marvel had Peter and Mary Jane necktie the knot – a matrimony that would past for implicit 20 years – successful 1987. While the archetypal information of the contented is fundamentally a by-the-numbers bout with Electro, the communicative picks up steam erstwhile the bride and groom statesman to get acold feet.

MJ ponders becoming domesticated, giving up her beingness of parties and affluent boys to go the woman of a superhero. For his part, Peter reflects connected Gwen’s decease and however his being Spider-Man straight contributed to it. Each concern is made worse by the information that neither 1 of them tin speech to anyone – but each different – astir their fears. It’s a heartfelt look astatine the couple’s narration utilizing the accustomed storytelling tropes of a sitcom-like wedding episode.

Ultimately, of course, the mates goes done with it and unrecorded happily ever after. At slightest until Mephisto did that mind-erasey happening galore years later…

23. Ultimate Spider-Man by Jonathan Hickman

Ultimate Spider-Man (2024) #1-24 | By Jonathan Hickman, Marco Checchetto & David Messina

It's nary tiny feat to travel up a bid arsenic venerated and influential arsenic Brian Michael Bendis' Ultimate Spdier-Man, overmuch little to bash that bid justice. But that's precisely what Jonathan Hickman, Marco Checchetto, and David Messina pulled disconnected successful their 24-issue Ultimate Spider-Man run.

This bid is acceptable successful Hickman's mentation of the Ultimate Universe, a satellite wherever the involution of The Maker has robbed galore would-be heroes of their destinies. So what happens erstwhile a middle-aged, joined Peter Parker is abruptly talented with a radioactive spider and an precocious costume? What benignant of leader does helium become?

Ultimate Spider-Man succeeds successful telling a genuinely caller benignant of root communicative for Spidey, 1 wherever Peter chooses to go the leader alternatively than uncovering that beingness thrust upon him. The bid tells a thrilling, moving communicative that advances successful real-time implicit the people of 2 years. And if you bask the ride, there's a full bigger Ultimate Universe enactment to excavation into.

22. The Gift/The Conversation

The Amazing Spider-Man Vol. 1 #400 (1995) / The Amazing Spider-Man Vol. 2 #38 (2002) | By J.M. DeMatteis & Mark Bagley / J. Michael Straczynski & John Romita Jr.

Technically we’re cheating by including 2 abstracted stories here, but it seems fitting to spotlight 2 azygous issues that attack a akin conception from radically antithetic angles. Both “The Gift” and “The Conversation” woody with the fallout of Peter yet revealing his concealed to Aunt May.

The erstwhile takes spot successful the midst of the infamous Clone Saga storyline. And portion fans would conscionable arsenic soon hide astir of that bloated crossover, Amazing Spider-Man #400 stands retired arsenic a existent highlight. Peter faces 1 of the top tragedies of his beingness arsenic helium opens up to a dying May. Before she passes, May reveals she had ever known her nephew was Spider-Man. Truly, it’s 1 of the astir poignant Spider-Man moments ever, adjacent if Marvel wiped the slate cleanable by revealing May had been replaced by an impostor.

Writer J. Michael Straczynski revisited this conception respective years aboriginal successful his Amazing Spider-Man run. Shortly aft his near-fatal run-in with Morlun, an unconscious, still-costumed Peter is discovered by his aunt. This time, however, May has a overmuch harder clip accepting the truth. The twist comes with JMS giving May her ain stock of guilt implicit Ben’s decease – it seems the brace had a tiff the nighttime helium was killed, and she’s felt liable for what happened.

After being acrophobic of telling Aunt May for truthful galore years, the 2 are brought adjacent person unneurotic by a shared guilt and communal understanding. JMS manages to debar the expected beats of the speech and alternatively provides a fascinating caller furniture to the May/Peter relationship. It’s a shame that Marvel again reverted to the presumption quo by restoring Peter’s concealed identity. Maybe the 3rd clip volition beryllium the charm.

21. Ultimate Fallout

Ultimate Comics Fallout #1 (2011) | By Brian Michael Bendis & Mark Bagley

Though the archetypal Peter Parker has ne'er truly died, Marvel Comics shocked america each erstwhile the Ultimate mentation of Spider-Man – a quality nether the guidance of writer Brian Bendis for implicit 10 years – got the axe. Fortunately, the unsocial setup of the Ultimate Universe allowed his decease to beryllium 1 of meaning and consequence, yet resulting successful caller web-head Miles Morales taking implicit thwipping duties.

However, it was the precise archetypal section of Ultimate Comics Fallout that was the champion infinitesimal to travel Peter’s tragic death. As we know, Spider-Man isn’t typically liked by the public. But here, erstwhile helium was removed from the equation, we got to spot a nationalist amusement of appreciation astatine Peter’s ceremonial that we tin lone ideate would beryllium connected par with idiosyncratic similar Captain America. New York City showed their gratitude for this kid – present revealed to the satellite arsenic Peter Parker, precocious schoolhouse pupil – and the tears came accelerated and furious.

The pivotal infinitesimal comes astatine the issue’s conclusion, erstwhile Aunt May is confronted by a small miss who had been saved by Spider-Man and offers her a hug. It’s a gut-wrenching finale to a heroic life, and proves however indispensable Peter’s bequest is to the Ultimate Universe.

20. Spider-Man/Human Torch: I’m With Stupid

Spider-Man/Human Torch #1-5 (2005) | By Dan Slott & Ty Templeton

The Peter Parker and Johnny Storm narration is 1 of the astir fascinating amongst superhero friendships, and possibly nary different comic has explored it arsenic good arsenic this mini-series from 2005. A postulation of 5 stand-alone stories that hap in-between the pages done the past of Marvel – from the earliest days of Spider-Man and the Fantastic Four close up done the tally of J. Michael Straczynski – Spider-Man/Human Torch is simply a emotion missive to not lone the Peter/Johnny bromance , but Spider-Man’s past arsenic a whole.

Covering everything from the affectional downturn of Peter’s beingness aft the decease of Gwen Stacy, to his romance with Black Cat, to poking amusive astatine the Clone Saga, to in-jokes astir the symbiote costume and beyond, the bid reaffirms Peter’s relation arsenic Spider-Man by showing america that contempt everything he’s lost, he’s gained household and friends that are irreplaceable. Perhaps it’s summed up champion erstwhile Johnny references the ol’ “Parker luck” – a operation that’s typically been utilized to picture Peter’s changeless tribulations – and shows him that from the outside, Peter’s got everything a feline could want.

19. The Original Clone Saga

The Amazing Spider-Man Vol. 1 #139-150 (1974-1975) | By Gerry Conway & Ross Andru

Before the much-maligned and seemingly endless Clone Saga of the mid-90s, determination was the archetypal Clone Saga published successful the pages of The Amazing Spider-Man successful the 70s. The communicative is astir the Jackal – primitively Miles Warren, Peter Parker’s biology prof astatine ESU – who we larn had a concealed obsession with Gwen Stacy and blames Spider-Man for her death. Out of his symptom helium clones some Gwen and Peter, starring to a alternatively tormenting bid of events for the wall-crawler.

In a batch of ways, the communicative is Peter’s worst fears brought to life. He’s forced to physically face his guilt by looking Gwen successful the eyes, ne'er caput facing the antheral helium holds liable for her decease – himself. If there’s immoderate constituent of weakness to onslaught amongst Spidey’s repertoire of spider-strength and agility, it’s his endless guilt for those he’s caused to suffer. Though the clone happening would turn retired of manus successful the years to follow, the archetypal melodramatic implications of the plotline are excessively meaty to ignore.

18. Cracked Hourglass

Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man Vol. 1 #308-309 (2018) | By Chip Zdarsky & Chris Bachalo

Marvel revived Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man successful 2017 arsenic a companion to the ongoing Amazing Spider-Man series, 1 aimed astatine telling a much intimate bid of stories successful an epoch wherever Peter himself was astatine the caput of a multinational corporation. Nowhere did that look enactment amended than successful the two-part “Cracked Hourglass” storyline.

Easily 1 of the champion Spidey vs. Sandman stories ever told, “Cracked Hourglass” is simply a testament to the information that adjacent Peter’s worst enemies person existent extent and humanity. In this story, Flint Marko faces his imminent death, adjacent arsenic helium grapples with unusual memories of a beingness helium ne'er lived. The effect is simply a communicative that manages to equilibrium high-concept subject fabrication with a precise grounded communicative astir 1 sworn force doing his champion to prevention another. The 2 issues are cleverly structured truthful that the archetypal revolves astir Sandman confronting his mortality, portion the 2nd is astir the adjacent greater fearfulness of a beingness without end.

17. And Death Shall Come

The Amazing Spider-Man Vol. 1 #90 (1970) | By Stan Lee & Gil Kane

The worst mistake the Stacy household ever made was getting progressive with Peter Parker. Though the Death of Captain Stacy storyline, which came to fruition done a conflict with Doctor Octopus, ran for galore chapters earlier the existent decease happened successful Amazing Spider-Man #90, it’s this climactic section that marks the archetypal important calamity successful Peter Parker’s beingness since the decease of Uncle Ben. Captain Stacy had go thing of a surrogate begetter to Peter – a mentor – and readers suspected that the quality knew Peter’s concealed astir being Spider-Man. It wasn’t until this contented that those suspicions were confirmed, arsenic Stacy laic dying successful Spider-Man’s arms.

It’s a brutal infinitesimal successful which Peter realizes, erstwhile again, he’s to blasted for the decease of a loved one. Modern readers person the payment of an added melodramatic bushed erstwhile Captain Stacy begs Peter to support his daughter, Gwen, to which Peter promises that helium will. Of course, lone years later, Peter would neglect to support his promise. More instantly astatine the clip though, Captain Stacy’s decease led to a caller complication successful Peter and Gwen’s narration erstwhile she blamed his alter-ego for the decease of her father.

16. The Gauntlet

The Amazing Spider-Man Vol. 1 #611-637 (2009-2010) | By Various

During the Brand New Day epoch of Amazing Spider-Man, Marvel employed a rotating lineup of artists and writers to archer a azygous Spider-Man epic published 3 times a period for respective years straight. That process culminated successful The Gauntlet, an ambitious and hugely influential look astatine 1 of the astir harrowing ordeals successful Spider-Man’s career.

Not dissimilar the Knightfall crossover successful the Batman books, The Gauntlet deals with a mysterious force manipulating Peter Parker and pushing him to the carnal and intelligence breaking point. Each communicative pits Spidey against a antithetic foe, with the communal thread being that astir battles extremity with Spidey successful an adjacent worse authorities than before.

The Gauntlet contains aggregate all-time classics similar “Rage of the Rhino” and “Shed,” some of which pat into the human, tragic sides of Spidey’s iconic rogues. But to get the afloat impact, it’s champion to work this full grueling saga from commencement to finish.

15. Spider-Man: Life Story

Spider-Man: Life Story #1-6 | By Chip Zarsky & Mark Bagley

Like astir Marvel and DC characters, Spider-Man volition everlastingly stay a youthful character, ever acceptable for the adjacent large adventure. But what if that didn't person to beryllium the case? What if a originative squad tried to weave unneurotic each the large Spider-Man stories into 1 cohesive communicative that unfolds implicit the people of six decades of Peter Parker's life? The reply to those questions is Spider-Man: Life Story.

Life Story is simply a expansive epic that traces the Peter Parker of a standalone Marvel Universe from his aboriginal teenage capers to his last battles. This satellite feels similar a living, breathing palce wherever there's nary reset fastener erstwhile characters dice oregon endure large tragedies. And it's precise fitting that the full happening is rendered by Mark Bagley, 1 of the astir prolific and influential Spider-Man artists determination is.

14. Ultimate Venom

Ultimate Spider-Man #33-39 (2003) | By Brian Michael Bendis & Mark Bagley

Though he’s enjoying a immense resurgence successful the main Marvel Universe, astatine the clip of Ultimate Spider-Man’s Venom arc, the quality had go a stinging reminder of the excess of the 90s. However, with his rejuvenation of Spider-Man’s satellite nether the Ultimate banner, Bendis recovered a mode to marque Venom and Eddie Brock a cardinal portion of Peter Parker’s past and bring backmost the flesh-devouring “symbiote” successful a mode that was integral to Peter’s idiosyncratic history. Now a forgotten puerility person of Peter’s, a college-age Eddie is continuing his father’s enactment connected a cure for crab successful the signifier of a “bio suit” – a task his begetter had been moving connected with Peter’s father.

The 2 rapidly reconnect, but not earlier the achromatic slime hits the fan. When Peter discovers what the experimentation is truly susceptible of, helium realizes that Eddie is not the idiosyncratic helium thought helium was. Bendis manages to weave the Venom communicative into the decease of Peter’s parents, suggesting that their decease mightiness not person been an mishap aft all. Like astir of Bendis’ Marvel Ultimate Universe successes, Venom is to beryllium commended for streamlining 1 of the much outrageous elements of Spider-Man’s past and transforming it into thing new, interesting, and champion of each – cardinal to Peter’s origins.

13. The Commuter Cometh

The Amazing Spider-Man Vol. 1 #267 (1987) | By Peter David & Bob McLeod

In a batch of ways, The Commuter Cometh is the quintessential Peter David story. The conception is truthful elemental yet approaches the cardinal quality from an space ne'er truly explored before, with plentifulness of wit to boot. Here, David presents Spidey successful what is fundamentally a fish-out-of-water story, bringing ol’ web-head retired of his comfortableness portion of Manhattan precocious rises and bustling streets to – gasp – the suburbs.

This isn’t a showcase of spectacular rogues oregon a heavy exploration of Peter Parker’s guilt (though there’s plentifulness of that elsewhere connected this list). It’s axenic and elemental amusive that explores Spidey’s narration to New York City and perhaps, his over-reliance connected its architecture. David and McLeod play up the situational drama for each its worth, from having a small kid connection Spidey his large instrumentality for proscription to the wall-crawler having to conscionable suck it up – and instrumentality the bus. It’s a comedic masterpiece that shouldn’t spell unread by immoderate fan.

12. No One Dies

The Amazing Spider-Man Vol. 1 #655-656 (2011) | By Dan Slott & Marcos Martin

Sadly, though Spider-Man is 1 of the astir fun, good-natured superheroes around, galore of the stories that specify him and are the astir fondly remembered revolve astir 1 topic: death. Such is the lawsuit with No One Dies. Though it’s a two-part tale, it’s truly the archetypal fractional that makes this a communicative worthy of this list. Reeling from the decease of Marla Jameson, JJJ’s beloved wife, Spidey’s formed attends her ceremonial rendered successful silent-but-gorgeous manner by creator Marcos Martin. Later, Peter falls dormant into a hellish nightmare, confronted by each of those that he’s failed to save.

Slott runs the gamut with cameos of dormant characters, from the accustomed folks similar Uncle Ben and the Stacys to the little expected similar Rhino's woman Oksana Sytsevich and Timothy Harrison (of The Kid Who Collects Spider-Man fame). Peter, wracked with guilt, wanders done the dreamscape trying to marque consciousness of the messiness he’s made of everyone else’s lives. More startlingly, helium comes crossed his parents, who present person nary faces due to the fact that his memories of them are truthful vague. He relives the nighttime of Gwen’s decease portion she talks to him, caput drooping to her broadside from a breached neck. Scene aft country features Peter’s satellite getting turned upside down arsenic we genuinely consciousness for our leader – but the masterstroke is successful knowing that there’s plentifulness of information wrong the horror. Slott besides manages to crook the contented into a meta-commentary connected decease successful comics, repeating however it seems to beryllium lone the atrocious guys who travel backmost from decease clip and again.

However, the symptom and torture each leads to a caller spot for Peter, arsenic helium comes retired of the contented with a caller vow that has since travel to specify Slott’s tally connected the book: nether Spidey’s watch, nary 1 dies. Holding himself to specified an intolerable modular had a profound interaction connected Spidey for years to come.

11. Nothing Can Stop the Juggernaut

The Amazing Spider-Man #229-230 (1982) | By Roger Stern & John Romita Jr.

There’s thing overtly singular astir the crippled of this now-classic storyline. It’s thing we’ve seen earlier successful countless superhero comics earlier and since – unstoppable unit meets immovable object, bully vs. evil, superhero stopping supervillain from doing thing dastardly. But Nothing Can Stop the Juggernaut is simply a premier illustration of however pitch-perfect characterization and enticing enactment tin instrumentality adjacent a by-the-numbers communicative and elevate to thing worthy of being included connected a database similar this.

Roger Stern presents a streamlined communicative that nixes astir of the communal tropes of Spidey storytelling – tropes that look successful astir different entries connected this database – similar Aunt May successful peril, narration troubles, and/or overwhelming guilt implicit the decease of assorted characters. Instead, Stern delivers a hard-and-fast action-packed escapade that encapsulates the “superhero” broadside of Peter Parker’s beingness to the fullest.

10. Spider-Man!

Amazing Fantasy Vol. 1 #15 (1962) | By Stan Lee & Steve Ditko

What tin 1 truly accidental astir the communicative that started it all? Spider-Man’s debut covers each of the basics that stay the halfway of the quality to this time – Peter Parker is bitten by a radioactive spider, gets powers, smugly lets a transgression escape, said transgression aboriginal murders his Uncle Ben, and retired of the symptom and guilt of that situation, the heroic Spider-Man is born. In the span of lone a fewer pages, Stan Lee and Steve Ditko gave the satellite 1 of the astir iconic -- and tragic -- root stories of each time.

Though galore person added to its bequest since 1962, the halfway has ever remained the aforesaid successful each azygous retelling. Say it with me, kids: with large powerfulness comes large responsibility.

9. If This Be My Destiny

The Amazing Spider-Man Vol. 1 #31-33 (1965-1966) | By Stan Lee & Steve Ditko

This communicative from aboriginal successful Spider-Man’s beingness is indispensable for truthful galore reasons. From a humanities perspective, this communicative – contented #31 successful peculiar – is noteworthy for Peter’s enrollment successful Empire State Universe and thus, his archetypal gathering with Gwen Stacy and Harry Osborn, 2 characters that would spell connected to go cardinal staples successful Spider-Man mythology. More importantly, this communicative serves arsenic a template that Spider-Man adventures would replicate for eternity. It’s virtually got it each – Peter’s emotion troubles (here, though, it’s with Betty Brant – and he’s benignant of a jerk to boot), Aunt May successful dire peril, a classical rogue down an elaborate plot, Peter’s dependence connected his subject skills to prevention the day, and adjacent J. Jonah Jameson piling onto Peter’s troubles by trashing his photos. All of the elements are there, and the effect is simply a thrilling introduction into the web slinger’s career.

Most importantly, though, is the enactment of Steve Ditko. This is immoderate of the champion enactment you tin find connected a comic publication page, successful 1965 oregon currently. Of course, this communicative is possibly astir remembered for its now-iconic splash leafage of Spidey freeing himself of the debris he’s trapped under. It’s not lone the infinitesimal itself, but the pages starring up to it – trapped nether the dense value of it all, clip moving abbreviated to prevention Aunt May from decease – Ditko’s pacing is the explanation of storytelling perfection, keeping the scholar thrilled and enhancing some the interior and outer spot that has since go synonymous with Spider-Man.

8. Best of Enemies

Spectacular Spider-Man Vol. 1 #200 (1993) | By J.M. DeMatteis & Sal Buscema

Best of Enemies is 1 of those stories that harps connected each the close affectional beats. Having gone cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs, Best of Enemies begins with Harry Osborn – present the Green Goblin – closing successful for the termination connected Peter, acceptable for a last confrontation with his erstwhile champion friend. However, it’s wide that Harry is bonkers arsenic helium perpetually waddles backmost and distant betwixt his convulsive demeanor arsenic the Goblin and a loving hubby and father. The communicative builds to the climactic showdown betwixt the erstwhile champion pals aft each of the parties progressive are brought to their breaking constituent and tensions are high.

Though they walk the full contented proclaiming their hatred for 1 another, Mary Jane’s changeless reminders of however adjacent the 3 of them utilized to beryllium – and Gwen, excessively – plays an omnipresent relation that looms implicit each stroke traded betwixt Spidey and the Goblin. In the end, Harry dooms himself, Peter, and, unbeknownst to him, his young lad and Mary Jane to dice successful an explosion. With Spidey drugged and incapable to move, Harry yet acts valiantly to prevention MJ and his son, and past yet defeats his demons erstwhile helium goes backmost to prevention Peter, too. Tragically, Harry collapses and dies with Peter by his side.

It’s different devastating stroke for Spider-Man that would haunt him for rather immoderate clip to come, but it’s arsenic tragic for Harry himself. J.M. DeMatteis depicts him arsenic a antheral claiming to person surpassed his begetter successful each mode – achieving his goals without forgetting his household and friends – yet is truly conscionable a frightened small lad trying to unrecorded up to daddy’s expectations. Only astatine the end, successful death, does helium yet measurement retired of his father’s shadow.

7. Spider-Man No More

The Amazing Spider-Man Vol. 1 #50 (1967) | By Stan Lee & John Romita

Not lone does this classical Spidey communicative clasp the archetypal quality of Wilson Fisk – The Kingpin of Crime – but it’s besides go the template for each aboriginal “the leader gives up” stories. Here, Peter Parker realizes that he’s serving a nationalist that volition everlastingly beryllium unappreciative, meantime ignoring his idiosyncratic beingness – friends, family, and schoolhouse work. He quits – resulting successful the iconic John Romita imagery of Spidey’s outfit successful the garbage tin – lone to find his ngo reaffirmed aft rescuing a information defender that reminds him of Uncle Ben.

This is simply a taxable that Spider-Man would acquisition galore times during his existence, but it’s ne'er been executed with rather arsenic overmuch grace and simplicity arsenic it is successful Amazing Spider-Man #50. This communicative became truthful iconic, successful fact, that it served arsenic the subplot of Spider-Man 2, which is astir universally hailed arsenic the champion Spidey movie to day and 1 of the champion superhero movies successful general.

6. Kraven’s Last Hunt

Web of Spider-Man #31-32, The Amazing Spider-Man #293-294, Spectacular Spider-Man #131-132 (1987) | By J.M. DeMatteis & Mike Zeck

Kraven’s Last Hunt is 1 of the astir memorable Spider-Man stories of each time, without a doubt. The communicative features Kraven the Hunter completing the eventual situation – “killing” Spider-Man, his eventual game, and replacing him, lone to let Spidey to awaken to spot however thoroughly defeated he’s been. Though predominately a communicative centered connected Kraven himself, this arc does clasp immoderate bully moments for the newlywed Peter and Mary Jane. Here, we get the archetypal existent trial of their resoluteness arsenic a joined mates erstwhile Peter is “killed” by Kraven, causing him to vanish for 2 weeks. Upon his return, we witnesser Spidey’s devotion to his metropolis arsenic helium leaves his caller woman astatine location to seizure the murderous Vermin, who Kraven has acceptable escaped upon New York.

At the extremity of the day, though, this is Kraven’s story. It’s an exploration of what happens erstwhile a villain achieves his eventual goal. What happens erstwhile Kraven utterly defeats Spidey? What would hap if Lex Luthor killed Superman? What if the Joker killed Batman? What would their intent beryllium then? That’s the benignant of thought explored successful Kraven’s Last Hunt, and arsenic we see, the results permission america bizarrely teary-eyed implicit a quality we should hate.

5. To Have and to Hold

The Sensational Spider-Man Annual #1 | By Matt Fraction & Salvador Larroca

No different communicative has truthful perfectly captured the essence of Peter Parker and Mary Jane Watson’s narration than this one. Released successful 2007, earlier the dividing unit that was One More/Brand New Day, this one-shot finds MJ being interrogated by S.H.I.E.L.D., who is connected the hunt for Spider-Man aft his individuality has been made nationalist successful the aftermath of Civil War. Stalling for time, MJ recounts immoderate of her astir potent memories of their times together, portion Peter does the aforesaid from his ain position elsewhere.

What results is simply a stunning relationship of existent emotion and the definitive crushed wherefore MJ volition ever beryllium the miss for Peter. In a beingness truthful rife with tragedy, this communicative shows the bully that came retired of it all. And, successful airy of the dissolution of some Peter and MJ’s matrimony and Spider-Man’s nationalist identity, this communicative holds adjacent much interaction successful that it excessively present is tragic; this utterly axenic narration has been mislaid to the request to “freshen up” Spider-Man’s world. Fortunately, these kindred spirits find themselves unneurotic erstwhile again successful Marvel’s existent comics.

4. The Death of Jean DeWolff

Spectacular Spider-Man Vol. 1 #107-110 (1985-1986) | By Peter David & Rich Buckler

This classical Spidey communicative is notable for galore reasons. It does truthful overmuch successful the abstraction of simply 4 issues, and not conscionable successful tackling the main enigma astatine hand. The archetypal happening of enactment is the bizarre operation of the story. Despite the arc being named aft her, DeWolff’s decease is simply a footnote, the archetypal unfortunate of a larger execution mystery. She’s dormant by leafage 3 of the archetypal chapter, successful her sleep, and without overmuch fanfare. Indeed, this is simply a grim communicative that pushes Spider-Man to his limits similar fewer stories person done. Because of this, there’s an constituent of realism that was fewer and acold betwixt for Spidey astatine the clip – the deadly slayer known arsenic Sin-Eater wasn’t a ace villain successful the least. In summation to pushing Spider-Man’s conscience and morals to the utmost – reminiscent of his infinitesimal of rage against the Green Goblin successful The Night Gwen Stacy Died – this communicative coiled up planting immoderate aboriginal seeds of the thought that the achromatic symbiote costume was affecting Peter’s personality.

Finally, The Death of Jean DeWolff holds a stepping chromatic for the narration betwixt Peter Parker and Matt Murdock, Daredevil. Though secondary to the ongoing execution plot, Daredevil’s engagement is important due to the fact that helium acts arsenic a equilibrium to Spider-Man’s unleashed fury astatine the climax of the story; had it not been for Daredevil, the antheral known arsenic Sin-Eater could precise good person been beaten to decease by the web-slinger himself. Spectacular Spider-Man #110 besides features the 2 heroes sharing their concealed identities with 1 another, an enactment that would bring them person unneurotic than ever before.

3. The Kid Who Collects Spider-Man

The Amazing Spider-Man Vol. 1 #248 (1984) | By Roger Stern, Ron Frenz & Terry Austin

You won’t find supervillains here. No "Parker luck" to talk of. No clones, nary guilt trips. This abbreviated back-up communicative is 1 of those tales that hits similar a motortruck the archetypal clip you work it, past ne'er leaves your memory. It’s a elemental communicative astir Spider-Man visiting his fig 1 fan, a young lad that collects each sorts of Spidey memorabilia – paper clippings, remnants of his battles with supervillians, adjacent the derogatory headlines spearheaded by J. Jonah Jameson.

On archetypal read, it’s a spot of an unusual recollection of Spider-Man’s origin, but the twist comes erstwhile Spidey opts to uncover his concealed individuality to the boy. Even then, the scholar stands shocked and alternatively confused arsenic to wherefore Peter would bash specified a happening aft being truthful protective for each those years. Finally, the past leafage comes arsenic we ticker Spidey plaything distant from the boy’s location – a halfway for terminally sick patients. There’s 1 sheet with Spidey lasting atop the hospital’s partition – he’s formed successful shadiness and we’re astatine a bird’s oculus presumption – but we tin spot Peter holding his caput successful his hands successful grief. It’s heartbreaking; a classical illustration of a superhero having truthful galore fantastic abilities but not being capable to bash a azygous happening astir 1 of life’s top villains: cancer.

It’s a touching communicative astir Peter’s passionateness to bash bully and a reminder that contempt each of the slanderous headlines Spidey’s endured passim the years, the sentiment of an impressionable kid is 1 100 times much important to him.

As an honorable mention, it’s besides worthy checking retired 2019’s Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man #6, which sees writer Tom Taylor and creator Juann Cabal tackle a likewise heart-wrenching communicative astir Spidey bringing joyousness to 1 fan’s life.

2. Spider-Man: Blue

Spider-Man: Blue #1-6 (2002-2003) | By Jeph Loeb & Tim Sale

As with each of Loeb and Sale’s “color” books astatine Marvel, Spider-Man: Blue takes a look betwixt the panels of the hero's formative years, successful this lawsuit Spidey's budding romance with Gwen Stacy – which grows analyzable by his archetypal gathering with Mary Jane Watson. While the communicative holds the acquainted operation of a travel done Spider-Man’s rogues gallery, the bid is framed astir Peter speaking into an aged portion recorder connected Valentine’s Day, trying to seizure his feelings successful a signaling to Gwen that she’ll ne'er hear.

The communicative is honorable and heartfelt, capturing 1 of Peter’s top tragedies done the eyes of the modern time incarnation of the character. It’s an country that’s traversed often, but it’s ne'er been arsenic idiosyncratic arsenic it is Blue. We get to witnesser moments from classical Spidey past (although with immoderate continuity adjustments) – from “Face it, Tiger, you conscionable deed the jackpot” to Flash Thompson joining the service and much – but Loeb shows america however each of those moments are inevitably tied to Peter’s feelings for Gwen.

Best of all, the ending manages to encapsulate and reaffirm the narration betwixt Peter and MJ arsenic well, erstwhile she overhears astir of his recording. Instead of being aggravated for remembering different woman, she simply asks Peter to accidental “hi” to Gwen for her. It’s a saccharine infinitesimal that reminds america of however important everyone successful our lives tin be; however each narration contributes to, and hopefully betters, who we are arsenic people.

1. The Night Gwen Stacy Died

The Amazing Spider-Man Vol. 1 #121-122 (1973) | By Gerry Conway & Gil Kane

If Uncle Ben’s decease was the infinitesimal that defined Peter Parker’s translation into the wall-crawler we cognize and love, past it was Gwen Stacy’s decease that defined what his beingness arsenic Spider-Man would everlastingly become. Shocking astatine the clip and devastatingly potent today, Gwen’s decease has go arsenic important to Spider-Man’s trajectory arsenic a leader arsenic Uncle Ben’s death, if not – situation I accidental it – much so.

While Gwen’s decease would spell connected to go an important portion of Peter’s beingness successful aboriginal issues successful presumption of his guilt and fearfulness of adjacent relationships, the contiguous interaction wrong this communicative is possibly much important for Spidey successful the agelong term. Here, Peter is flooded with rage similar we’ve ne'er seen him before, acceptable to termination Norman Osborn -- successful oregon retired of costume -- implicit the decease of Gwen. When helium yet confronts Green Goblin, helium stops himself from beating the villain to death, lone for Norman to beryllium killed by his ain glider – a country utilized successful the climax of Sam Raimi’s archetypal Spider-Man movie.

Peter undergoes a caller awakening successful airy of Gwen’s decease and his consequent rage. He realizes that decease should mean thing – adjacent for the atrocious guys – that it’s a last judgement he’s not qualified to make. Through being breached by the decease of his archetypal love, Peter learns that revenge isn’t the solution to his problems – a acquisition he’d transportation for the remainder of his life.

What are your favourite tales of wall-crawling adventure? Sound disconnected successful the comments below! And beryllium definite to cheque retired IGN's picks for the 25 champion Batman graphic novels for bully measure.

Jesse is simply a mild-mannered unit writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intelligence thicket by following @jschedeen connected Twitter.