Omar, how could you make Kraven's Last Hunt your favorite? Peter and Mary Jane were married. Everyone knows a married Spider-Man is no good, at least according to Marvel NOTE: This is sarcasm. Great list!
I'm super late to this video, but I just had to comment after watching it. When I first started reading Spider-Man, it was in the 90s with the marriage ongoing and the bait and switch on Peter & MJ about to have a kid. Seeing a relationship have problems, but struggle through them was hugely positive as a young adult, and while I ultimately stopped reading comics for a long time due to burn out, it felt like Peter still embodied the idea of being the responsible hero in the Marvel universe. So over a decade later when I started picking things up again, I somehow managed to stumble onto the Sensational Spider-Man Annual #1 issue that you have as your #5 in this list. Seeing that the relationship still had trouble, with the stakes extremely high after Civil War, but also that they fought tooth and nail for each other and reaffirmed how much they wanted to be together made me love the characters all the more. Honestly, that single issue is probably my biggest motivation for collecting all the old Spider-Man comics to eventually read through. Seeing such a triumphant depiction of the characters embodying the ideals presented from day one was just inspiring to see. And then I found out about One More Day. Hate is not a strong enough word to describe my feelings about what that story did to Spider-Man as a character. That story is selfish, creatively bankrupt, egotistical people at Marvel turning Peter Parker from a flawed but ultimately responsible hero who fought hard to keep his remaining family in the face of tragedy and personal mistakes to a selfish man-child clinging desperately to childhood at the expense of everything he had fought for built in his life. It is anathema to the character's foundation and completely and utterly breaks him as a role model. That story makes me question the personal morality of those who wrote and continue to defend and perpetuate it as the status quo, because I can't comprehend how anyone could see what they did as acceptable, and especially so for the characters involved. While I fully admit that there are fun stories that occur in the eras that follow, I can no longer see Peter Parker as a good person until this is reckoned with and reversed. Frankly, if you love the relationship Peter and MJ had all those years, I feel like there is an argument to be made that that annual is a decent stopping point for their story entirely in the 616, with the Renew Your Vows AU books as a decent follow up to see more of their life down the road. So absolutely, everyone should read that issue, but be prepared that if you love it, the end is soon to come, and something entirely different, and in my opinion significantly diminished, is all that is waiting around the corner.
As a Spider-Man fan, I agree with your entire list. All of these stories are freaking incredible and bring out the best in our favorite Wall-Crawler. I'd probably add "Spider-Man: Life Story," "Go Down Swinging," "Ultimate Clone Saga," "Three Hundred" from Peter Parker: Spider-Man, and "Coming Home" from JMS...but these are great picks too! 😁
Nice list. Here's mine: 15.) The Tombstone Saga (Spectacular #139-142, 150-157) 14.) Back in Black (Amazing #139-143) 13.) Carnage (Amazing #361-363) 12.) Origin of The Hobgoblin (TPB) 11.) Revenge of the Green Goblin (TPB) 10.) Coming Home (Amazing #471-476) 09.) Return of the Burglar (Amazing #193-200) 08.) Down Among the Dead Men/Venomous/The Last Stand (Marvel Knights #1-12) 07.) The Death of Jean DeWolff (Spectacular #107-110) 06.) The Owl/Octopus War (Spectacular #75-79) 05.) Kraven's Last Hunt (TPB) 04.) Nothing Can Stop The Juggernaut (Amazing #229-230) 03.) The Harry Osborn Saga (Spectacular #178-184, 189-190, 199-200) 02.) The Master Planner Saga (Amazing #31-33) 01.) The Night Gwen Stacy Died (Amazing #121-122)
Spider-Man was my first superhero comic. I had been reading more cerebral graphic novels like Sandman and V For Vendetta and thought superhero comics were for kids. But being a fan of JMS I had to at least see what his Spider-Man run was like. And wow was I sold right away. His 9/11 story, his Aunt May finds out story, his Ezekiel story. They were brilliant. And mature. I didn’t feel like I was reading a kids book because I wasn’t. Fortunately I was mature enough to see this. As at the time superhero comics didn’t have a good reputation. So Spider-Man was my gateway to other great books, like Brubakers Captain America, Geoff Johns Green Lantern, Brian Michael Bendis’s Daredevil. All amazing comics. I feel I got so lucky in picking up some of the best comics ever written one after another. As these are still some of my favorite books today.
Omar, thank you for this video. Really thank you. Tears almost come down on how you express how you feel about ASM #400. When I read it in the 90´s (1995) I was moving from junior high school to high school (around 15 years old, probably same as you) and those moments of Aunt May and then the clone completely alone was dificult to me to express that, but there was something there, and as I listen to your words I understand what was it. Then, Roger Stern in the kid that collects Spider-Man, when I read the first time I didn´t understand the first time why they give us two stories on that issue and I didn´t understand why "leucemia" means at that moment (I was around 7 or 8) but years after, re-reading that same story and undestanding why Spidey unmasked and the reason of the visit, means how a person can do a difference in the world, and the stories of love between MJ and Peter, uff, real love. Thank you for this video.
Nothing Can Stop the Juggernaut is my all-time favorite Spider-man story from Amazing 229 & 230 by Stern and JR Jr. I got these issues off the old spinner rack of my local drug store, before I discovered my first comic shop. I had no idea who the Juggernaut was before this and he seemed like an impossible foe for Spider-man to defeat. But Peter never gave up and found a way to stop him. This defined Spider-man for me as a kid and this story made me into a huge Spider-man fan to this day, over 40 years later! :)
YES!!!! Finally someone who also has given that run it’s credit!…we need an Omnibus ASAP no idea how Spencers run has already gotten 2 omnibus! Before Zdarsky has gotten even reprints of his TPBs….and Spencers run was weak
@@shinyocelot04archive HEY THAT IS TRUE!!!…..those runs were ALSO amazing!!! Or in this case, Spectacular 🤣 Spencer is getting his 3rd Omni later this month….this is sad
@@ZemogEkim Yeah Spencer's run just felt like the best elements of Ant-Man slapped onto a different book with none of the charm that Ant-Man had. It felt like the book was more focused on wacky hijinks and not the core of Spider-Man. I didn't hate it but I felt like Zdarsky captured more of what felt like a Spider-Man story. Spencer mostly felt like budget Ant-Man aside from the occasional quality moment with Peter's supporting cast. The stuff with Aunt May, MJ, and Black Cat were all highlights of an otherwise mediocre book. Which is really fascinating to me since I liked Spencer's writing in Ant-Man.
Great list! Here's mine: 15. Spider-Man: Blue 14. Superior Spider-Man 13. Spider-Hunt/Identity Crisis 12. Marvel Knights Spider-Man by Mark Millar 11. Clone Saga 10. Spider-Girl 9. Ultimate Spider-Man 8. Rob Coway's 80's Gang War storyline 7. Maximum Carnage 6. JMS run with JRJR 5. Kraven's Last Hunt 4. The Hobgoblin Saga 3. The Alien Costume Saga 2. The Night Gwen Stacy Died 1. The Harry Osborn Saga/Best of Enemies
Fantastic list, Omar! I agree with the majority, but I would need to put the Death of Ben Reilly in there somewhere. That hit me almost as hard as Aunt May's passing!
Great list Omar. It pains me every day to think back on Peter and MJ’s marriage and how Marvel had to ruin that, and then act like that’s what’s best for the character to this day
I went with a Top 10, here’s my favourites; 1. Unscheduled Stop (BND) 2. Coming Home (JMS) 3. Rage of the Rhino (BND) 4. Spider-Man: Blue (Perfection) 5. Ultimate Spider-Man 155 (Prelude to the final story) 6. Doom Affairs (JMS) 7. Back to Basics (Nick Spencer) 8. Maybe Next Year (Paul Jenkins) 9. Astonishing Spider-Man and Wolverine (Jason Aaron) 10. If This Be My Destiny (Lee Ditko)
Great video, Omar, here are my Top 5 Favorite Spider-Man Stories 1. Kraven's Last Hunt 2. Confessions/Ult. Spidey 13 3. Stand Tall/Amazing Spidey 36 4. Gang War 5. Spider-Man Reign
Surprised not to see Life Story here. One of my personal favorites. Chip Zdarsky is one of my favorite Spider-Man writers, he really gets the character and always knocks it out of the park imo
Started my Spiderman full read through starting at Amazing Fantasy #15 this summer. I will return to this video whenever I am all caught up. So see you in a few years Mintees! 😀
I’m hoping for an omni with Kraven’s Last Hunt eventually. maybe PlayStation’s Spider-Man 2 taking inspiration from it will push them to put it out? I hope so
@@DrakonR okay? You just trying to start arguments for no reason? Lol kind of the wrong place for that, this is about comics man no need to bring negativity here bro
My list is close to yours hermano. I think Nothing Stops the Juggernaut is on there for me and Stern's Hobgoblin saga. I also liked the Venom saga more than Carnage. But great list.
Some of my favourites are Stern and De falco Spider-Man eras, Spider-Verse, Ultimate Spider-Man, Spider-Man noir, brand new day and Spider-Man coming home.
I was so worried Kraven’s Last Hunt wouldn’t be your number one, but thank God! It’s the best! The story is soooo dark, Zeck’s pencils are second to none and how they crossed titles for a complete classic is still mind blowing! Great work, cheers. 💀🔥🕷🕸
Even though i also love the Conversation by J.M.Strackzynski,the Gift in ASM #400 would be the PERFECT send off for Aunt May..was gutted they retconned it and glad to see many ppl remembering it fondly ))
My top 5 Spider-Man Stories that I need to read are Death of the stacys, Brand New Day, Ultimate Spider-Man Miles Morales, Spider-Verse, and Kraven's Last Hunt. I'll take Superior Spider-Man and Spider-Man Life Story as Honorable Reading recommendations.
We need DeMatteis to return to writing a regular comic title. He’s been doing the occasional short Spider-Man run and his writing is still SO good. Bring him back full-time with a new Spectacular or Sensational I say!
My top 10 favorite: 10. If This Be My Destiny (ASM 31-33) 9. The Lost Years (Limited series; 0-3) 8. Carnage (ASM 361-363) 7. A Death In The Family (ASM 400) 6. Back in Black (ASM 539-543) 5. Coming Home (ASM vol 2 30-35) 4. Harry Osborn Saga ( J.M.DeMatteis Spectacular Run up to 200) 3. Kraven’s Last Hunt ( Web of 31-32, Spectacular 293-294, ASM 131-132) 2. Spider-Man: Blue ( Limited Series; 1-5) 1. Happy Birthday (ASM 498-500)
This was a great video. I wish before introducing each story line you would mention what issues of what comic and the year they come out, just for more context. Thanks
Omar, may I please ask if the epic collections, Ghosts of the Past and Kravens Last Hunt also cover the defalco and frenz hobgoglin stories you mentioned in the countdown?
You’re spitting rn. I love that series as the natural successor to Ultimate Peter. A lot of people say he’s just black Peter but I think those people have never read his original series and the second 12 issue series.
I don't have time for 15, and these were all good choices, but Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man #310 is an all-timer. My dark horse pick is the recent A.X.E.: Judgment Day crossover issue
Agree with most on this list…criminal to not have original ultimate Spider-Man on this though. The first 50 some issues have a few top Spider-Man stories ever written. Totally disagree on Kravens last hunt as well…always felt it was an overrated story and the writing was all over the place. For me - Spider-Man Blue has to be the top spot. The artwork, love for the character, and attention to the nuances that make Spider-Man GREAT just elevates it. That final scene is a callback of when MJ first consoled Peter after Gwen’s death (one of my favorite panels in comic history)…except now instead of staying with Peter she leaves him to grieve. Such a wonderful reflection and nod to their love and growth as characters. Beautiful story.
I will riot in the streets by myself if peter porker spider ham is not on this list. but in all seriousness Im glad we are getting Spidey in gallery edition coming up soon
I read Spiderman yellow last year and was underwhelmed. That being said when I finally read Kraven's last Hunt after years of hype I was disappointed. Subsequent re-reads of Last Hunt have changed my mind so maybe I just need to go back to Yellow at some point. I would put The Child Within and The Death Of Vermin (Spectacular Spiderman 178-184 and 194- 194) before Last Hunt if only because I very strongly related to these stories. They had a profound impact on me. I would include Amazing Spiderman vol 2 36 because of its powerful meditation on September 11. I would also include Amazing Spiderman vol 2 38 because of the wonderful conversation between Aunt May and Peter. I have a love/hate relationship with Slott's run. I found it largely gimmicky. I did really enjoy Superior Spiderman as it showed that Peter's morals and decency could not easily be copied.
Number 10 and the top 5 are ok. Number 6 is the best Spider-Man story and possibly the best superhero story full stop. The rest are plagued with ridiculously cartoonist artwork.
I agree with most of the list.. But when making these lists you should get some rules.. anything Spider-Man? Any in universe Spider-Man? In One case i would put Life story on the list.. in the other Miles however doesn't belong.. From jms i prefer the conversation with aunt May and Peter talking about the secret revealed.. From slott i prefer nobody Will die.. And lastly slott wrote a story (which title i can't Remember) very similar to the Kid Who collects Spider-Man..
Great list with some turds tho 😅 I would definetly replace Spider-verse, Superior and Miles. Anyways we need that J. M. DeMatteis Spectacular run in Omnibus format! It's long overdue!
"If This Be My Destiny" is high up there for me. "The Night Gwen Stacy Died" ranks below that for me. Certainly, Amazing Fantasy #15 is towards, if not AT, the top.
@@NearMintCondition I also might be nostalgiclly partial, since it was the story that was the first I read and that got me into Marvel in the first place. Read the sh*t out of those magazines when I was like 8. So great art!
I like the concept of Spiderman, but as much as I tried, I found the “best” stories, pretty average. The exception being Kraven’s Last Hunt. Also, why is it so hard to find these books??? I went to my local library and found all of the most popular Batman books, for example. Finding these is like pulling teeth.
