Based on the number of customers we have on a weekly basis asking us, “Where’s the best place to start with [insert character here]?” – we’ve started a series of reading lists, recommending the best of what’s currently in print, and in chronological order. Spider-Man is one of the most iconic comic book heroes of all time, and Stan Lee’s best-loved creation. Peter Parker first appeared in Amazing Fantasy #15 back in 1962 and was given an ongoing series just a year later. That’s going waaaay back, so this list will concentrate on the modern era of Spidey comics, with more to be added both further back and further ahead. Going back to the turn of the century, here are some of the wall-crawler’s best contemporary tales, in reading order! This is Spider-Man Part 3:

SPIDER-MAN VOL. 1: BIG TIME (COMPLETE COLLECTION)
Dan Slott (w), Various (a)

Peter Parker has finally hit the big-time when he lands his dream job as a lead scientist in the research division of the world’s leading company in creating advanced technology, Horizon Labs. Not only do his paycheques contain a whole lot of zeroes, he’s also in a prime position to put his resources toward becoming a better Spider-Man! Peter’s team is led by rock star scientist Max Modell, and comprised of six other whiz kid colleagues: Grady, Bella, Sajani, Uatu, and Tiberius (plus one other member who works under conditions of complete anonymity).
His personal life is looking up too; he’s got a steady girlfriend, a spot on the Avengers team and even a solid friendship with his ex, Mary Jane. What could go wrong?

Well, everything… obviously!

When the world’s most dangerous metal is stolen from Horizon Labs by a deadly new Hobgoblin, Peter enlists the help of the best thief in the business to steal it back… Felicia Hardy, the Black Cat! But will they both be out of luck when they find out the Hobgoblin is working for the Kingpin of crime?
As if that isn’t enough, an upgraded version of the Spider-Slayer arrives on the scene to exact revenge on J. Jonah Jameson. His Spider-Slayer army is out for Jameson blood and they don’t care whom they have to harm to get it.

And of course there’s still enemy number one: Doctor Otto Octavius, AKA Doctor Octopus. No matter what catastrophe is taking place in the forefront, there’s always Otto scheming in the wings. The Slott run is Otto’s story nearly as much as it is Peter’s; what Brian Michael Bendis did for Norman Osborn throughout his Avengers run (the best use of the character in modern times) is what Slott does for Doc Ock, on an even grander scale.

Also in Volume One: Peter loses one of his most important senses, Flash Thompson is given a high-risk mission that will test the limits of his self-control and Spidey joins the Future Foundation! This volume also contains the stunning issue #655, one of the trippiest, most devastating translations of guilt and grief ever to grace the pages of a superhero book.

BIG TIME (COMPLETE COLLECTION – VOL. 2)

Dan Slott (w), Various (a)

Inspired by the outbreak of bedbugs making headlines as they plagued major cities around the world, Spider Island is a little stroke of genius that came off the back of a traumatic event. For the uninitiated, bedbugs are near-indestructible bloodsucking insects that set up camp in peoples’ homes (usually around their beds) and feast on them in their sleep. They are pretty much the worst and, unless you happen to work for a pest-control agency, come with no redeeming features.

Slott found a silver lining when he dreamt up a scenario in which the Jackal engineers these pests so that every insect-bite transferred Spider-Powers into those they sank their teeth into, and nearly every person on the island of Manhattan becomes infected!
People all over New York are developing Spider powers, including some of those closest to Peter. But when everyone starts to mutate, Spidey must find out who is behind the epidemic before it spreads beyond Spider-Island.

Also in Volume 2: Shang-chi teaches Peter Kung-Fu! Madame Web brings foreboding news! The Avengers, the X-men and Reed Richards lend a hand!

Plus, comedy gold occurs when some very familiar characters develop Spider-Powers.

BIG TIME (COMPLETE COLLECTION – VOL. 3)

Dan Slott (w), Various (a)

This volume kicks off with a two-part crossover with Mark Waid’s Daredevil series, in which the Black Cat is framed and Spidey and Daredevil must join forces to clear her name. It’s one of those rare stories that gets right to the core of all three characters and uses those dynamics to their full effect. Talk about a bad luck trifecta! These issues feature gorgeous art by Emma Rios and Kano respectively and stands out as a little gem among recent crossover stories.

Following this is another short but strong two-parter “Shrodinger’s Catastrophe”. When Peter’s co-worker Grady creates a time-warping doorway that allows the user to step one day into the future, Peter steps in and finds the city destroyed, because Spider-man was unable to stop the destruction. With Grady’s help he must try to recreate Spider-man’s movements from the day before to save the day and avoid certain death.
The main story arc in this volume is ‘Ends of the Earth’, which takes Peter out of his comfort zone by pitting him against a global threat. Peter is very much a hometown hero. He says it best when he admits to Silver Sable, “I’m not used to this ‘end of the world’ stuff. Gimme a me a bank robbery or one of my regular bad guys.”

Now Peter is public enemy number one, with the entire world hunting him down– literally.

Also in Volume 3: a Daredevil crossover. Surprising absolutely no one, Peter Parker kicks off this story is having some trouble with his lady friends, and everything that he experiences through the rest of the story has that piece of the infamous Parker Luck right at its center. It’s focused on that aspect of his character, and the idea that even when he uses Spider-Man as an escape from his problems, he never really wins. His entire arc in the story is built around that idea, executing that arc in one of the most entertaining ways possible.

THE SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN VOL. 1-6

Dan Slott (w), Various (a)

When an old foe takes control of Peter Parker’s body, there is no telling what he might do. He could carry on with his villainous ways, or run away without ever looking back. Instead he takes the opportunity to become a hero and carry on the legacy of Spider-Man— except he is plans do it better than Peter Parker ever did. Far more effective at cleaning the streets than that moralistic, namby-pamby Parker ever was, he will be the Superior Spider-Man!

Fans were indignant but point-for-point, Dan Slott addressed all misgivings with intelligence, empathy and a large dose of humour. Fans were won over when they realised what Superior was really about. This story delves into ideas of heroism, villainy and the area in between in ways that bear relevance not only to superhero comics but to situations we in real life. Through our misguided, morally dubious hero we experience equal measures of good and bad, love and tragedy, treachery and redemption.

For thirty-one issues this series continually surprised and delighted as Slott explored each new facet of the idea. The Superior Spider-Man remains my favourite Spider-Man story in recent memory, and one of the funniest, most thought-provoking sagas in the character’s history.

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN VOL. 1: THE PARKER LUCK
Dan Slott (w), Humberto Ramos (a)
Marvel Comics

After a long absence, Peter Parker returns, but things aren’t back to normal for our favourite wall-crawler yet! His friendships have been tested, his love life dissolved and he has a newfound responsibility in managing his own Parker Industries! There’s a new spider-themed lady in town who could make his job easier or a whole lot worse, and it looks as though Peter’s bad luck isn’t running out yet!

Based on the number of customers we have on a weekly basis asking us, “Where’s the best place to start with [insert character here]?” – we’ve started a series of reading lists, recommending the best of what’s currently in print, and in chronological order. Spider-Man is one of the most iconic comic book heroes of all time, and Stan Lee’s best-loved creation. Peter Parker first appeared in Amazing Fantasy #15 back in 1962, and was given an ongoing series just a year later. That’s going waaaay back, so this list will concentrate on the modern era of Spidey comics, with more to be added both further back and further ahead. Going back to the turn of the century, here are some of the wall-crawler’s best contemporary tales, in reading order! This is Spider-Man Part 1:

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN (ULTIMATE COLLECTION – VOL. 1)

J. Michael Straczynski (w), John Romita Jr. (a)

The JMS run is largely defined by the decision to let Peter truly grow up. Over the course of Straczynski’s six-year tenure, Peter naturally matures into a confident adult in all areas of his life without ever losing his snappy sense of humour and trademark hard luck.

Things don’t start out that way, of course. Having recently separated from Mary Jane, Peter is restless, jobless and especially susceptible when he is approached by Ezekiel, a wall-crawling mystery man who seems to know more about Peter’s powers than Peter himself. Ezekiel blows Peter’s mind (and the minds of the readers) when he tells him to consider the possibility that his Spider powers didn’t come to him by accident, essentially challenging the entire Spidey mythos. According to Ezekiel, Peter is a “totem”, a conduit between man and beast (in Peter’s case a spider) which even reflects in his rogues gallery of Rhinos, Lizards, Vultures and Scorpions, etc. Ezekiel warns him that he has enemies who would seek him out for precisely this reason. Enter Morlun, a vampiric villain who feeds on just such creatures…

Also contained in the first volume: the 9/11 tribute issue, appearances from Doctor Strange and Doc Ock, and the beautifully crafted issue #39 (JRJR at the height of his powers), which explores the lingering connection between Peter and Mary Jane even as they live their lives apart. The most memorable development is when a central character discovers Peter’s double-life as Spider-Man, the aftermath of which is so well-handled and believable that it stands as one of my favourite “secret identity reveals” of all time.

CIVIL WAR: THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN

J. Michael Straczynski (w), Ron Garney (a)

It was an unforgettable moment in Spidey history when Peter removed his mask on live television, revealing his secret identity and breaking the internet. This story takes place late in the JMS run, at which point Peter has found an unlikely father figure in Tony Stark, who has taken Peter under his wing and even built him a fancy, high-tech new costume. Tony convinces Peter to take his side in the fight against Captain America over the Superhero Registration Act, a decision that will result in major consequences for Peter and his loved ones. Between the tie-in issues collected here and the main Civil War title, it’s worth the price of admission just for J. Jonah Jameson’s reaction to Peter’s unmasking alone. It is also memorable for the Iron Man/Spider-man relationship, which has never been as complex before or since.

This is also one of the books that certainly looks to have informed the Spider-Man: Homecoming film.

BRAND NEW DAY (COMPLETE COLLECTION VOL. 1)

Various (w), Various (a)

Readers were up in arms after the Straczynski continuity ground to a halt and back-pedaled following final arc “One More Day”, which sees Peter and MJ make a deal with Mephisto: in order to save Aunt May, they must allow their marriage to be erased from existence. The idea behind this decision was to bring the character back to basics, and Brand New Day essentially reboots Peter as a single, hapless Daily Bugle photographer whose secret identity is Spider-Man. This era started off a bit uneven, but things soon shaped up and some of the most wonderful stories and characters came out of it. Creative duties were split between rotating teams on the Amazing Spider-Man title, which published three times monthly. The “Spidey Brain Trust” included Bob Gale, Marc Guggenheim, Dan Slott and Zeb Wells, with the later additions of Joe Kelly and Mark Waid.

Changes in the status quo meant that Peter’s identity was once again a well-kept secret, and that Harry Osborn (who’d been dead since the ’90s) is still alive. Having recently returned from…Europe, Harry introduces Peter to his new girlfriend Lily Hollister and her friend Carlie Cooper, a forensic specialist for the NYPD. We also meet a number of new friends and foes including Jackpot, Screwball, Mister Negative and the mysteriously Goblin-esque Menace.

BRAND NEW DAY (COMPLETE COLLECTION VOL. 2)

Various (w), Various (a)

By the second volume, BND has really hit a stride. Following the events of the crossover event Secret Invasion, Norman Osborn is being hailed as a national hero. More politically powerful than ever, he and his team of super-powered enforcers, the Thunderbolts, are gunning for Spider-Man with the full force of the law behind them. With Menace on the loose and Norm back aboard his Goblin Glider in his finest purple duds, Spidey is dodging Goblins left and right, but not without first being hunted by the Kravinoffs!

The first of the Joe Kelly issues commences with a focus on Hammerhead, who’s working as muscle for rising crime lord Mister Negative. This volume also includes some exciting Spidey team-ups with Daredevil and the Punisher and features the famous issue where Flash Thompson loses his legs in battle, paving the way for a more (ahem) symbiotic relationship with Spider-Man in the future.

BRAND NEW DAY (COMPLETE COLLECTION VOL. 3)

Various (w), Various(a)

Mark Waid makes his debut on the writing team with “Unscheduled Stop”, a two-part story in which Spider-Man must save a subway car full of people trapped in a tunnel by what appears to be an earthquake, but turns out to be something more sinister. It introduces the character J. Jonah Jameson Senior, who will come to play a big role later on (with hilarious long-term consequences for both Peter and Jonah).

The third volume also provides answers to long-running questions such as: who is the mysterious goblin Menace? How is Harry Osborn still alive and where was he when he was supposedly living in Europe? And why doesn’t anyone remember what Spider-Man looked like when he unmasked on live television?

Harry’s storyline is one of the most compelling as he struggles to stay on the right path but keeps being tested. His death (in Spectacular Spider-Man #200) had been such a seamless and inevitable ending for the character that it was going to be difficult to offer a satisfying reason for him to be brought back. Fortunately, the explanation is extremely plausible, well handled and respectful of the Spectacular storyline that preceded it.

Also in the pages of Volume 3: New York City gets a very unlikely new Mayor! Spidey saves President Barack Obama (a Spider-Man fan in real life) at his inauguration in the Presidents Day Celebration issue!