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Post by chadwilliam on Jan 12, 2018 12:17:22 GMT -5
There's actually a great collection from 2004 out there put out by Wizard of all companies. I know Wizard doesn't hold a lot of credibility with a lot of people (including me) but I have to admit, this sounds exactly like what you're looking for and its selection of 'The 10 Greatest Spider-Man Stories Ever' is a well researched list. Some of the Contents (some of which are re-iterations of what's already been mentioned but they're worth repeating): Amazing Spider-Man 229-230 "Nothing Can Stop the Juggernaut". Spider-Man has to get from Point A to Point B - if he doesn't, someone important to him dies. The Juggernaut stands between those two points and Spider-Man can't go around him. He knows hes completely outmatched; he understands that this is in all likelihood a suicide mission, but he's Spider-Man and he can't just let someone die. Amazing Spider-Man 248 "The Kid Who Collects Spider-Man". I can't really get into this one without spoiling it for you, but the last page is a punch in the gut. Spider-Man visits a kid at his home and tells him whatever he wants to know about himself. However, this isn't a filler introduction for new readers story, but a classic in its own right which you don't fully appreciate until you learn just why Spidey's being so open with all of his secrets to this kid. Spectacular Spider-Man 107-110 "Death of Jean DeWolff" There's more death and violence to be found in this tale than a typical Spider-Man story, but the responsibility of adding such a tenor to a title which never really dealt with serial killers and mass murder isn't something that's been shirked here. It's very down to Earth and said violence isn't something that's just been added to make Spider-Man kewl for adolescents - the characters all remain in character throughout though they are put into a situation they're unaccustomed to - a 'Mature' story that for once, is actually mature. Amazing Spider-Man 315-317. An early Venom story (perhaps his second?) and while I've never been a big fan of the character, this storyline exploits something I do like about him - he's a villain who holds all the cards. He's stronger than Spider-Man, he knows his identity, and in spite of being a bit looney, he seriously intends to kill him rather than just toy with him long term. Peter Parker works best when he's in over his head and when Eddie Brock shows up at Aunt May's place asking if his buddy's home you know this is exactly the type of story you're about to read. Also includes Amazing Spider-Man 231-232 "Hyde and Seek".  |
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Post by coke & comics on Jan 12, 2018 13:54:51 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. Ah. That's not a good Spider-Man story, but there are plenty of good Spider-Man stories after that too. I'll expand my list at some point. |
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Post by tarkintino on Jan 12, 2018 14:28:48 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. If not more essential, as that period sent Spider-Man rocketing to the status of an event comic where characters had so much depth, and were not so much the 50s TV-style environments of hero vs. villains that shaped the Lee/Ditko period. As soon as Romita/Lee hit the ground together, the first story was one--without question--one of the greatest--not only in Spider-Man publishing history, but comic history overall, with its new level of danger (the Goblin learning Spider-Man's true identity, then revealing his own) forcing its way into the hero's personal life in way that was rarely seen up to that point in comics history (e.g. Dr. Doom already knew Reed and Ben from the past, while DC constantly flip flopped on Luthor discovering who Clark Kent was). Then, there's the introduction and exploration of the Kingpin--a recurring mob character with a layered past making the mobster--for the first time--more than the usual one-and-done "syndicate" characters knocked around in so many comics since the Golden Age. Thanks to his numerous, brilliant stories/character exploration in ASM, Kingpin would go one to make a mark in other areas of the Marvel universe. It goes on and on with the kind of rich character development in and out of the costumed side that all happened in the Romita/Lee era. There's hardly any doubt that if Ditko (with his peculiar approach the title) continued on ASM for the remainder of the decade & into the early 1970s, Spider-Man would not have exploded to pop-culture icon as quickly as it occurred--if at all. So, the Lee/Romita era is essential for the medium, not just superheroes and/or Marvel. |
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Post by String on Jan 12, 2018 18:01:52 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. From what I've read here previously about Carrion Saga, that does indeed sound like a great arc, especially since Daredevil has a role in it as well. However, I was quite surprised to learn that #27 of this arc is apparently Miller's first credited work on DD which means the asking price for this particular issue can become quite high in some cases. *sigh* I will also second Spectacular Spider-Man #73-76, the war between the Owl and Doc Ock with Spidey and Black Cat caught in the midst. |
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Post by james on Jan 12, 2018 18:25:53 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. From what I've read here previously about Carrion Saga, that does indeed sound like a great arc, especially since Daredevil has a role in it as well. However, I was quite surprised to learn that #27 of this arc is apparently Miller's first credited work on DD which means the asking price for this particular issue can become quite high in some cases. *sigh* I will also second Spectacular Spider-Man #73-76, the war between the Owl and Doc Ock with Spidey and Black Cat caught in the midst. Issue 27 isnt as pricey as youd think relatively speaking. I sold mine for 27.00 |
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Post by pinkfloydsound17 on Jan 12, 2018 20:59:50 GMT -5
^ For some (myself included) $27 is much too much for that issue I paid $3  |
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Post by Phil Maurice on Jan 12, 2018 22:39:55 GMT -5
I paid $3 Well done! I paid subscription price (and got the crease), lucky lad that I was.  There isn't much left that hasn't been mentioned, though I have to recommend Marvel Two-In-One Annual #2. Spider-Man legit saves the universe, inelegantly and largely through physical comedy, blundering, crashing and flailing his way to victory over none other than Thanos! |
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Post by berkley on Jan 12, 2018 23:02:17 GMT -5
Was the Death of Gwen Stacy in #121-122 just a two-issue story on its own, or was it the climax of a longer storyline? I remember reading the famous issue when I was a kid but have never seen it since and don't recall many details after all this time.
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Confessor
CCF Mod Squad
Not Bucky O'Hare!
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Post by Confessor on Jan 13, 2018 6:38:56 GMT -5
Was the Death of Gwen Stacy in #121-122 just a two-issue story on its own, or was it the climax of a longer storyline? No, it wasn't really the climax to a longer storyline. It is pretty much a stand alone two-parter. I mean, obviously it's the culmination of the Norman Osborn/Green Goblin story that had been going on intermittently since Amazing Spider-Man #14 in 1964, but Spidey was in Canada facing off against the Hulk just prior to the Death of Gwen Stacy story. So no, it is basically stand-alone. |
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Post by pinkfloydsound17 on Jan 13, 2018 10:16:13 GMT -5
I really feel that the first 200 issues of Amazing Spider-Man are excellent. A few slow single issues but for the most part, it weaves a strong story. After 200 there is a 20 issue stretch where I feel it weakened before picking back up again with the Juggernaut story and Hobgoblin soon after that.
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Post by Icctrombone on Jan 13, 2018 10:24:17 GMT -5
I wouldn't call myself a big Spider-man fan but I really enjoyed Amazing from 189-260 and PPSS from 39-100.There was a nice Debra Witman subplot in the Parker issues. I liked the romance stuff in his books.
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Post by Slam_Bradley on Jan 13, 2018 12:17:14 GMT -5
I thought this thread might be about the conception May "Mayday" Parker given the thread title.
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Post by coke & comics on Jan 13, 2018 15:17:47 GMT -5
Was the Death of Gwen Stacy in #121-122 just a two-issue story on its own, or was it the climax of a longer storyline? I remember reading the famous issue when I was a kid but have never seen it since and don't recall many details after all this time. The story is standalone. Appreciating it involves an appreciation of Peter's history with both Gwen, Noman, and Mary Jane. |
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Post by berkley on Jan 14, 2018 2:48:21 GMT -5
Was the Death of Gwen Stacy in #121-122 just a two-issue story on its own, or was it the climax of a longer storyline? No, it wasn't really the climax to a longer storyline. It is pretty much a stand alone two-parter. I mean, obviously it's the culmination of the Norman Osborn/Green Goblin story that had been going on intermittently since Amazing Spider-Man #14 in 1964, but Spidey was in Canada facing off against the Hulk just prior to the Death of Gwen Stacy story. So no, it is basically stand-alone. The story is standalone. Appreciating it involves an appreciation of Peter's history with both Gwen, Noman, and Mary Jane. That makes sense. As a young reader I could follow even my favourite series only intermittently, and Spider-Man probably was a rank below my top favourites at the time. That might explain in part why it felt like the end of a long Spider-Man vs Green Goblin story to me. Another reason would of course be the dramatic nature of the story itself, which felt like big, important event in the world of Spider-Man as i read it. |
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Confessor
CCF Mod Squad
Not Bucky O'Hare!
Posts: 10,220
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Post by Confessor on Jan 14, 2018 3:47:33 GMT -5
I really feel that the first 200 issues of Amazing Spider-Man are excellent. A few slow single issues but for the most part, it weaves a strong story. After 200 there is a 20 issue stretch where I feel it weakened before picking back up again with the Juggernaut story and Hobgoblin soon after that. I agree about ASM #1-200 and attendant annuals, Amazing Fantasy #15 etc. That run is one of the greatest coming of age stories in comics or any other medium. |
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