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Post by Duragizer on Jan 11, 2018 18:24:21 GMT -5
I'm a big Spidey fan, but aside from Ditko's run, some of Romita Sr.'s early issues, a lot of not-so-great '90s stuff, and a smattering of minor Bronze Age stories, I'm not well versed in the Spiderverse.
I want to rectify this, but there's a lot to digest. From the '60s through to the '90s, Spidey had, what, four, five titles to his name, some running several hundred issues each? I believe that's too much to digest, really. I want to pare that down to the must-read stories — the stories which concentrate on worldbuilding and character development. I'd be grateful to anyone who could provide lists of those stories for me.
Also, I'm only interested in stories published before the Clone Saga. I'm quite familiar with the good, the bad, and the ugly of that particular saga, so I need no familiarization there, and I have no interest in post-Clone Saga stories; tales of genetically modified actresses, spider totems, and deals with the devil are of no worth to me.
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Post by pinkfloydsound17 on Jan 11, 2018 19:39:02 GMT -5
Welcome:) As a huge Spidey fan, I would suggest the following:
1) Kravens last hunt. Ran in Amazing Spider-Man 293, 294, Web of Spider-Man 31, 32 and Spectacular Spider-Man 131 and 132. Great story and art
2) The original clone saga from the 70s. Start with Gwen Stacys death in 121 and read up to 150 in Amazing Spider-Man.
3) Spectacular Spider-man 107-110. Another great story.
4) Amazing Spider-Man 248. Another really strong story.
5) Hobgoblin arc from Amazing Spider-Man 238 to 289. Has its good and bad and great moments.
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Confessor
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Post by Confessor on Jan 11, 2018 21:01:50 GMT -5
I'm a big Spider-Man fan too. Spidey's my number 1 favourite superhero and has been since childhood. I can't argue with too many of pinkfloydsound17 's choices. In particular, "Kraven's Last Hunt", the original Hobgoblin arc, the first Clone Saga, and the "Jean DeWolff" arc in Spectacular 107-110 are must-reads. Other's that I would recommend, in terms of world building and significant events in Peter Parker's life, are... - Amazing Spider-Man #121-122 (The Death of Gwen Stacy)
- Amazing Spider-Man #196-200 (featuring a significant event for Aunt May and other surprises)
- Amazing Spider-Man #224-252* (the Roger Stern run, featuring classics like "Nothing Can Stop the Juggernaut" & "The Kid Who Collects Spider-Man")
- Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man #64, #69 and #70 (not that significant, apart from introducing Cloak & Dagger, but a great story nonetheless and a real all-time favourite short story-arc of mine)
- Spider-Man: Parallel Lives graphic novel (features an important and controversial revelation about Mary Jane and what she knows about Peter)
- Amazing Spider-Man #290-292 + ASM Annual #21 (featuring Peter's proposal and he & MJ's marriage)
- Untold Tales of Spider-Man #1-25 + Annuals '96 & '97 (brilliant early stories set between issues of the Lee/Ditko run)
Also, I know that you said to steer away from the Stan Lee/John Romita era, have you read Amazing Spider-Man Annual #5 from 1968? I won't spoil it for you, but in terms of world building, that's a must-read too. Great, rip-snorting adventure story, with some tasty artwork by Larry Lieber and Mike Esposito pencilling and inking over Romita's rough breakdowns. * = This run intersects with the beginning of the Hobgoblin storyline that pinkfloydsound17 recommended. |
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Post by Duragizer on Jan 11, 2018 22:23:15 GMT -5
I know that you said to steer away from the Stan Lee/John Romita era I'm afraid you misunderstood me. I mentioned that I have some familiarity with that era, but not much. I am actually very much interested in familiarizing myself with more of Romita's run. It's only the post-Clone Saga stuff I'm actively avoiding. |
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shaxper
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Post by shaxper on Jan 11, 2018 22:28:49 GMT -5
3) Spectacular Spider-man 107-110. Another great story. Yes yes yes! |
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Post by brianf on Jan 11, 2018 22:33:34 GMT -5
I enjoy the Marvel Team-Up issues drawn by John Byrne, a run of the Claremont & Byrne issues was collected in 2011  |
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Post by pinkfloydsound17 on Jan 11, 2018 23:47:40 GMT -5
Love ASM annual 5! Thanks for reminding me of that one! I think I will reread that ish this weekend
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Post by coke & comics on Jan 12, 2018 4:49:07 GMT -5
Pre-Clone Saga:
Amazing Fantasy #15, Spider-Man
Amazing Spider-Man #1, Spider-Man
Amazing Spider-Man #2, Vulture
Amazing Spider-Man #3, Dr. Octopus
Amazing Spider-Man #4, Sandman
Amazing Spider-Man #9, Electro
Amazing Spider-Man annual 1, Sinister Six
Amazing Spider-Man #11-12, Unmasked by Dr. Octopus
Amazing Spider-Man #17-19, The End of Spider-Man
Amazing Spider-Man #24, Spider-Man Goes Mad
Amazing Spider-Man #27-28, Green Goblin vs. Crimemaster
Amazing Spider-Man #31-33, Master Planner Saga
Amazing Spider-Man #39-40, Unmasked by Green Goblin
Amazing Spider-Man #41-43, Spider-Man vs. Rhino
Amazing Spider-Man #47, Hands of the Hunter
Amazing Spider-Man #50-52, Spider-Man No More
Amazing Spider-Man #53-56, Disaster
Amazing Spider-Man annual 5, To Become an Avenger
Spectacular Spider-Man #2, The Goblin Lives!
Amazing Spider-Man #96-98, Harry Osborn on Drugs
Amazing Spider-Man #121-122, Death of Gwen Stacy
Amazing Spider-Man #129, The Punisher Strikes Twice
Amazing Spider-Man #136-137, The Green Goblin Lives again
And then comes the Clone Saga, which is actually a pretty good story.
And then there are plenty more good stories to come even after that. Len Wein, Marv Wolfman, Roger Stern... let me know if you change your mind about reading past the Clone Saga.
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Post by Duragizer on Jan 12, 2018 5:29:05 GMT -5
Pre-Clone Saga: Amazing Fantasy #15, Spider-Man Amazing Spider-Man #1, Spider-Man Amazing Spider-Man #2, Vulture Amazing Spider-Man #3, Dr. Octopus Amazing Spider-Man #4, Sandman Amazing Spider-Man #9, Electro Amazing Spider-Man annual 1, Sinister Six Amazing Spider-Man #11-12, Unmasked by Dr. Octopus Amazing Spider-Man #17-19, The End of Spider-Man Amazing Spider-Man #24, Spider-Man Goes Mad Amazing Spider-Man #27-28, Green Goblin vs. Crimemaster Amazing Spider-Man #31-33, Master Planner Saga Amazing Spider-Man #39-40, Unmasked by Green Goblin Amazing Spider-Man #41-43, Spider-Man vs. Rhino Amazing Spider-Man #47, Hands of the Hunter Amazing Spider-Man #50-52, Spider-Man No More Amazing Spider-Man #53-56, Disaster Amazing Spider-Man annual 5, To Become an Avenger Spectacular Spider-Man #2, The Goblin Lives! Amazing Spider-Man #96-98, Harry Osborn on Drugs Amazing Spider-Man #192-200, Return of the Burglar Amazing Spider-Man #121-122, Death of Gwen Stacy Amazing Spider-Man #129, The Punisher Strikes Twice Amazing Spider-Man #136-137, The Green Goblin Lives again And then comes the Clone Saga, which is actually a pretty good story. And then there are plenty more good stories to come even after that. Len Wein, Marv Wolfman, Roger Stern... let me know if you change your mind about reading past the Clone Saga. Sorry. I was referring to the '90s Clone Saga before. |
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Confessor
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Post by Confessor on Jan 12, 2018 7:18:38 GMT -5
I know that you said to steer away from the Stan Lee/John Romita era I'm afraid you misunderstood me. I mentioned that I have some familiarity with that era, but not much. I am actually very much interested in familiarizing myself with more of Romita's run. It's only the post-Clone Saga stuff I'm actively avoiding. Personally, I think all of the Lee/Romita era is essential reading. It's every bit as essential as the Lee/Ditko era. |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 12, 2018 7:47:41 GMT -5
. I'm afraid you misunderstood me. I mentioned that I have some familiarity with that era, but not much. I am actually very much interested in familiarizing myself with more of Romita's run. It's only the post-Clone Saga stuff I'm actively avoiding. Personally, I think all of the Lee/Romita era is essential reading. It's every bit as essential as the Lee/Ditko era. Pretty much agree with that. I'd read the whole lot of the Lee/Romita ASM era, as coupled with he Lee/Ditko stuff that set the scene, those eras define Spider-Man and they are the ASM classic era. Nothing since has topped them for me. |
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Post by james on Jan 12, 2018 9:18:07 GMT -5
Here are some of my favorites:
Amazing Spider-Man 191-193 Amazing Spider-Man 213-218 Amazing 229-230 Juggernaut Amazing Spider-Man 233-236 OF course Kraven's Last Hunt Amazing Spiderman 334-339 Sinister Six and probably my favorite Spider-Man story of all Peter Parker Spect Spider-Man 25-31 Carrion saga. |
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Post by brutalis on Jan 12, 2018 10:56:00 GMT -5
Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man: #64 premiere of Cloak and Dagger along with issues 73-79 where Doc Ock and The Owl and others compete for control of New York underworld.
Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man: 107-110: the Death of Jean DeWolff.
Spectacular Spider-Man: 178-200: Harry Osborn returns as Green Goblin
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Post by Deleted on Jan 12, 2018 12:03:40 GMT -5
Pre-Clone Saga: Amazing Fantasy #15, Spider-Man Amazing Spider-Man #1, Spider-Man Amazing Spider-Man #2, Vulture Amazing Spider-Man #3, Dr. Octopus Amazing Spider-Man #4, Sandman Amazing Spider-Man #9, Electro Amazing Spider-Man annual 1, Sinister Six Amazing Spider-Man #11-12, Unmasked by Dr. Octopus Amazing Spider-Man #17-19, The End of Spider-Man Amazing Spider-Man #24, Spider-Man Goes Mad Amazing Spider-Man #27-28, Green Goblin vs. Crimemaster Amazing Spider-Man #31-33, Master Planner Saga Amazing Spider-Man #39-40, Unmasked by Green Goblin Amazing Spider-Man #41-43, Spider-Man vs. Rhino Amazing Spider-Man #47, Hands of the Hunter Amazing Spider-Man #50-52, Spider-Man No More Amazing Spider-Man #53-56, Disaster Amazing Spider-Man annual 5, To Become an Avenger Spectacular Spider-Man #2, The Goblin Lives! Amazing Spider-Man #96-98, Harry Osborn on Drugs Amazing Spider-Man #192-200, Return of the Burglar Amazing Spider-Man #121-122, Death of Gwen Stacy Amazing Spider-Man #129, The Punisher Strikes Twice Amazing Spider-Man #136-137, The Green Goblin Lives again And then comes the Clone Saga, which is actually a pretty good story. And then there are plenty more good stories to come even after that. Len Wein, Marv Wolfman, Roger Stern... let me know if you change your mind about reading past the Clone Saga. Read about half of the stories on this list ... great list here! |
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Post by tarkintino on Jan 12, 2018 12:04:11 GMT -5
Pre-Clone Saga: Amazing Fantasy #15, Spider-Man Amazing Spider-Man #1, Spider-Man Amazing Spider-Man #2, Vulture Amazing Spider-Man #3, Dr. Octopus Amazing Spider-Man #4, Sandman Amazing Spider-Man #9, Electro Amazing Spider-Man annual 1, Sinister Six Amazing Spider-Man #11-12, Unmasked by Dr. Octopus Amazing Spider-Man #17-19, The End of Spider-Man Amazing Spider-Man #24, Spider-Man Goes Mad Amazing Spider-Man #27-28, Green Goblin vs. Crimemaster Amazing Spider-Man #31-33, Master Planner Saga Amazing Spider-Man #39-40, Unmasked by Green Goblin Amazing Spider-Man #41-43, Spider-Man vs. Rhino Amazing Spider-Man #47, Hands of the Hunter Amazing Spider-Man #50-52, Spider-Man No More Amazing Spider-Man #53-56, Disaster Amazing Spider-Man annual 5, To Become an Avenger Spectacular Spider-Man #2, The Goblin Lives! Amazing Spider-Man #96-98, Harry Osborn on Drugs Amazing Spider-Man #192-200, Return of the Burglar Amazing Spider-Man #121-122, Death of Gwen Stacy Amazing Spider-Man #129, The Punisher Strikes Twice Amazing Spider-Man #136-137, The Green Goblin Lives again And then comes the Clone Saga, which is actually a pretty good story. And then there are plenty more good stories to come even after that. Len Wein, Marv Wolfman, Roger Stern... let me know if you change your mind about reading past the Clone Saga. Excellent choice, and yes, the original Clone Saga was a grim cap on all of the tragedy caused by Gwen Stacy's and Norman Osborn's deaths, with callbacks to Parker's early time (in comic time, that is) in college. Essentially, all that ripped the title apart (in a dramatic way) in 1973 still had great influence on stories well into 1975, a level of quality which is rare to sustain in comic books. |
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